|
US Post Office
78142
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, August 2007 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The area had been
a Mexican land grant back in 1831. In 1874 it was named Walton
Station after Sheriff D.A.T. Walton.
Norwegian immigrants moved into the area in 1893, and formed
the nucleus of their colony just 2 miles from Walton. When
the postal authorities rejected the application for a post office
under the name Walton, Normanna was submitted and accepted.
The name loosely translates as "the place of Norsemen" but closer
to the true meaning is "far North." Seeing that's where they were
from, the name was appropriate.
Families descended from the original Norwegian settlers still live
in the area.
Normanna has a museum in a building that has served as ranch headquarters,
a hotel and a residence.
Served by the Pettus Independent
School District. |
"Great old
ghost house here, stated as a museum."
- Ken
Rudine, August 2007 photo |
Normanna Historical
Marker
Medio
Creek crossing on US 181,
south city limit
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, August 2007 |
Historical
Marker:
Community of
Normanna
Settlement dates
from about 1850. First town, 2 miles west, was called San Domingo
for its location near junction of San Domingo and dry Medio
Creeks. After railroad
was built, 1886, citizens moved to Walton (new flag station) to be
on line. Name honored sheriff D. A. T. Walton.
When Norwegians settled area, 1890's, Walton became Normanna. Word
originally suggested the qualities of old Norse heroes, but through
local usage came to mean "Home of the Norseman".
Town thrived for years; then declined after series of fires and advent
of the automobile.
(1969) |
 |
Nearby on CR 241
is the historic and picturesque MEDIO CREEK BRIDGE.
The bridge was the idea of Viggo Kohler, a man who later built the
large Viggo Hotel in Hebbronville
(1915). He petitioned the Bee County Commissioners to accept bids
in June of 1897. The bridge arrived in kit form and was assembled
by the Austin Brothers Bridge Company.
Nearby the bridge - the town of Mineral
had been something of a health resort in the 1890s. Deepening the
well caused the mineral content to decline to the point where people
no longer came. |
Reader's
Email:
Young Family Photo Postcards and Letters
"Here are some of the postcards dated 1909-1915 from the Young
Family. I would like to find any decendents of the family and send
them to them. I have over 25 photo postcards and a few letters. The
names on them are Earle and Loretta, Cy, Frank, Rose Elizabeth. I
believe they all lived in the Normanna area." - paint320@sbcglobal.net
April 21, 2004 |
|
| 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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