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Ruins of San
Fernando Academy in Pontotoc
(Collapsed in March, 2016)
Photo courtesy Erik
Whetstone, August 2005 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The owner of the
town's first store came from Pontotoc, Mississippi so that's likely
the source. The town dates from the arrival of several families in
1859 and a post office was established in 1880.
The San Fernando Academy was founded in 1882 and Pontotoc's success
seemed a certainty. That was until a typhoid fever epidemic decimated
the population.
In Van Horn they bragged
the town was so healthy they had to shoot a man to start a cemetery.
In Pontotoc it became so unhealthy that in 1887 they filled up one
cemetery and had to open another in 1888.
A proposal was made in 1890 for Pontotoc to become the county seat
of a new county to be named Mineral. But the citizens of Mason
felt it would take too much Mason
County acreage and they collectively threw a wrench in the legislative
works.
Pontotoc never got a railroad although several came within a few miles
of the town. The Academy closed in 1890 and the decline began.
A small boom in the form of a mica-mining operation came about in
the 1920s which increased the population by 50% but even then - it
only reached 300.
A disastrous fire in August 1947 took out a good portion of the stores
downtown.
The town wisely left several of the fire-gutted stone buildings and
the photo opportunities are worth driving out of the way for.
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Pontotoc, Texas
Landmarks
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The handsome
ruins of the former San Fernando Academy.
In Pontotoc, even the ruins have a picket fence
TE Photos, September 2000 |
Historical Marker:
Pontotoc and
San Fernando Academy
Pontotoc, settled
about 1859, was named by first merchant, M. R. Kidd, for his former
home town in Mississippi. Post office was opened 1878 in the B. J.
Willis home, with Mrs. Willis postmaster. Founded by interested citizens,
San Fernando Academy (probably named for nearby creek), opened 1883.
Pupils (200 during academy's career) took regular subjects or courses
leading toward teacher certificates. Principals were K. T. Hamilton
and W. C. Roaten. After academy failed, site was sold by W. J. and
B. J. Willis and used by the public school until 1927.
(1972) |
L - Another view
of the ruins
R - Well drilling business in Pontotoc
TE Photos, September 2000 |
Ruins of San
Fernando Academy in Pontotoc
(Collapsed in March, 2016)
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, January 2006 |
Pontotoc Texas
Post Office
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, January 2006 |
Native Son
General
Ira Eaker by Bill Bradfield
Pontotoc was the birthplace of US Air Force Gen. Ira C. Eaker, WWII |
Pontotoc, Texas
Forum
San Fernando
Academy in Pontotoc collapsed
Thought you guys might want to know the San Fernando Academy in
Pontotoc collapsed. I did a blog about it here... http://www.jasonrweingart.com/blog/2016/3/19/when-history-dies
- Best, Jason Weingart, March 21, 2016
In Everyone
We Trust
Back in the Summer of 2001, my family and I were on a trip
and stopped in Pontotoc. We had recently moved to San
Angelo and were in route to Austin.
In that part of Texas, there are few towns between the cities so
when we saw a sign for Pontotoc, we decided to stop and find a store.
The town looked just like the pictures you have posted and to our
surprise, there actually was a little store, so to speak.
Having 3 small children, invariably somebody had to go to the bathroom
and everybody wanted a drink. We went into the store but found nobody
there. Assuming somebody would show up, we waited for about 10 minutes
but nobody appeared. I happened to notice that on the counter there
was a note pad where people had put their names and what they had
purchased. After 10 minutes alone in the store, we decided to write
down what we were purchasing, we noted how much each item cost (guessed
if the price was not on the item) and left a suitable amount of
money to cover the tab. We merrily left the store realizing what
a unique town Pontotoc is. Over the next couple of years while we
lived in San
Angelo, every time we drove through Pontotoc, my wife and I
would laugh about our experience at the Pontotoc store. - Grant
Nichols, San Antonio, June 01, 2007
I had the
chance to drive through Pontotoc last Saturday. I decided to check
your superb website for a taste of what I missed but could see again
this weekend. I was surprised to see "Pontotoc still has a newspaper
(The Enterprise) for its estimated population of 125" written on
the Pontotoc page. I was curious enough to call the post office
to ask if the Enterprise was still being printed (as there was no
phone listing for the paper). The two ladies I spoke to said Pontotoc
didn't have a newspaper (one has lived in Pontotoc for 50 years).
For the record, they wish there was a newspaper. Since I believe
in the accuracy of your site, I'll ask around this weekend. In the
meantime, do you know if the Pontotoc Enterprise is still published?
Have you seen an edition? Thanks. - Bill Turner, August 12, 2004
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