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History in
a Pecan Shell
The
town was named after John M. Burton who was an early settler. The
town of Union Hill (2 miles NE of present Burton) moved to
the Houston and Texas Central Railroad tracks when it came through
Washington County
after the Civil War.
In 1885 there were only 150 people in town, but there were 400 just
eleven years later in 1896. The highest population was in the late
1940s when there were nearly 1,000 people living in Burton. |
Burton, Texas
Landmarks & Attractions
Includes historic
buildings.
The chamber of commerce has a detailed walking guide |
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Burton Railroad
Depot Museum & Visitors Center
The Houston and Texas Central Railroad Station (c. 1898)
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, September 2010
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The Knittel
Homestead c. 1880
Probably the largest residence in Burton;
it's said to have been built to resemble a steamboat.
TE Photo, July 2007
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H. Knittel Store
TE Photo, July 2007
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View of H. Knittel
Store and the Ed Schatz Store across the street
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, September 2010
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The
Ed Schatz Store
c. 1906
Formerly on the Historic Commission's Endangered Buildings list
TE photo, 2001 |
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Burton Grocery
Store
TE Photo,
July 2007
See Coca-Cola
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Mount Zion
Baptist Church and Cemetery
- Going East on FM 390 (La
Bahia Road), after a few miles, you will see a sign directing
you to the Mount Zion Baptist Church and Cemetery.
Matson Park
- Across the highway (290) from Burton is Matson Park. The
park was bought so that the Black citizens of Burton could have
their own area for community events. Although "Juneteenth"
is celebrated officially as the 19th day of June each year, Burton's
Black community didn't hear of the Emancipation Proclamation until
August 4th so they hold their own celebration on the first weekend
of August.
The Otto
Wehring Shoe Shop (c.
1933) - next to the Gin.
The Otto
Wehring Store
- next to the Gin. The building has been locked since the death
of the owner in 1976 and is part of the cotton gin complex.
The Steiner
& Dallmeyer Building (c. 1871) - a mercantile business operated
here for over 50 years
Brenham
Hotels > Book Hotel Here
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The
post office at Burton
TE photo, 2002 |
Burton, Texas
Post Office
"Can't
wait to explore this newest addition
(Going Postal) to your site! As a Postmaster, I am especially
going to enjoy it. Wanted to clue you in on my own office. Even
though the building is only about 3 years old, it's facade is built
to resemble the mercantile store that sat on the site over 100 years
ago. The town's residents gathered the money to pay an architect
to modify the standard format the Postal service was planning for
the location. Thus as Glen
Flora's Post office is the "oldest" new Post Office, Burton
has the "newest" old Post Office. Come see us!" - Kathryn Cockroft,
Postmaster, Burton TX 77835, July 03, 2002
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View
of Burton Depot, showing Burton Post Office across the street.
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, September 2010
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A Scenic Drive
from Burton
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| 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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