|
History in
a Pecan Shell
Maypearl
got it's name the same way as Penelope
in Hill County.
When the International-Great Northern Railroad came through, (1902)
Penelope was named
after the Railroad President's daughter and when it reached Eyrie,
in 1903, the town was renamed in honor of two other railroad official's
daughters.
Further north, Venus was
on the railroad's route, but was named after a local girl.
Maypearl was
incorporated in 1910 and its history is not unlike its neighbors.
All enjoyed prosperity immediately after World
War I and all lost people to the draw of larger cities during
the Great Depression.
Maypearl's population, however, remained somewhat constant through
the depression. In fact the population was virtually unchanged from
1925 to the mid-60s with 350 to 400 people. People from Maypearl
call themselves Maypearlians.
Maypearl has
suffered several fires and vacant storefronts where the buildings
once stood are filled in to conceal the gaping spaces.
|
|
|
A
shell for Maypearl
TE Photo, 2001 |
|
|
The
Maypearl Watertower
TE Photo, 2001 |
Maypearl Cemetery
Ellis
County
FM 157
1/2 mile NW of Maypearl
|
Maypearl Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Historical Marker:
Maypearl Cemetery
The community
of Maypearl was established on the International and Great Northern
Railroad line in 1903. The 1907 death of landowner William P. Wilemon
and subsequent burial on his farm led Maypearl citizens to discuss
the establishment of a cemetery for the community. Wilemon's widow,
Minnie, sold four acres of land, including the burial site of her
husband, to trustees J. P. Claunch, A. W. Dowd and Isaac Griffith
for that purpose.
The Maypearl Cemetery stands as a testament to the people who lived
and worked in the community, including doctors, business owners, teachers
and farmers. Members of various fraternal organizations rest here
as well. Tombstones mark the graves of military veterans, including
those who served in the Civil War, the Spanish-American
War, World Wars I
and II, the
Korean conflict and Vietnam.
In the latter part of the 20th century, the descendants of William
and Minnie Wilemon and Betha Jackson donated additional land for the
graveyard. As a reflection of the community's heritage, the Maypearl
Cemetery is a significant reminder of the history of this part of
Ellis County.
(2001) |
 |
Maypearl Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Maypearl Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Maypearl Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Maypearl Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Maypearl Cemetery
Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Maypearl School
1920
Courtesy Robert N. Hudspeth |
Maypearl, Texas
Forum
Subject:
Maypearl photo
Your website asks for photos of Maypearl, so here is one of the
high school ca. 1920, from which my mother graduated that same year.
- Best, Robert N. Hudspeth
Subject:
Maypearl, Texas
Dear TE, My aunt Maypearl Branam was named for Maypearl TX, where
she was born in the early 1900's. She went by Pearl, and her siblings,
my father and other aunt, were subsequently named Earl and Mearl
to rhyme. - J.P. Branam, Grand Prairie, Texas, November 02, 2006
Subject:
Maypearlians
You said you didn't know what people of Maypearl called them says
but your guess was Maypearlers. Well we call ourselves Maypearlians.
- Niki Larson of Maypearl, January 12, 2006
|
| 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. |
|
|
HOME
Texas
Gulf Coast
East
Texas
Central
Texas North
Central
Texas South
Texas
Panhandle
South
Texas
Texas
Hill Country
West
Texas
Texas
Ghost Towns
Texas
Counties
