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History in
a Pecan Shell
First known as
Bluff Creek, the original site was just east of what is present-day
Soda (The Soda Church and the Bluff Creek cemetery). The Bluff Creek
post office opened in 1860 although it closed six years later.
There was also a school for the children of local farmers. Things
were quiet in this part of Polk
County and it took until 1898 for residents to decide they would
give a post office another try. Four surnames of locals (now forgotten)
were submitted. In a compromise, an anagram was made of the first
letters of the submitted names. resulting in SODA.
A sawmill built in 1902 gave the town a chance at prosperity. Forty
workers were hired which resulted in a store being opened. The lumber
produced by the mill gave the community a railroad connection, but
Soda suffered the same fate as hundreds of East
Texas towns. After the timber was cut, the mill closed. The year
was 1913.
The post office kept its doors open until finally closing just as
the Great Depression was turning a corner (1936). After the school
was consolidated at the end of that decade, the writing was on the
walls. Residents went looking for greener pastures, leaving behind
their dead in the Bluff Creek cemetery and the Soda Church. |
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Polk
County 1907 Postal Map showing Soda
8 miles E of Livingston
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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