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Arden Community
Historical Marker
Photo courtesy MF
Peck, July 2017 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
The former town dates from 1885 when John and Katie Arden “settled
a claim” here. A post office opened five years later and a school
two years after that.
By 1915 Arden had a population of 14 and consisted of the school,
post office, church and the homes of residents. Growth was extremely
show and had only risen to 30 by 1947 when the school merged with
Mertzon. By the
mid 1960s the town supported no businesses although it did keep a
polling place for county elections. The population was drawn to larger
towns and Arden faded to where only a single resident was listed for
the 2000 census. |
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Historical
Marker (FM 853, about 14 miles NE of Mertzon)
Arden Community
This ranching community
was named for John Arden, a sheep raiser who arrived in 1876. After
1900, small homesteaders moved into the area. Joe Funk gave land for
a school and cemetery in 1903. Baptist Church of Christ and Methodist
congregations shared the schoolhouse for worship. Camp meetings were
held at "the Grove" on Rocky Creek. In 1916 the school moved to a
brick building at this site. Following a series of droughts, Arden
began to decline. The post office closed in 1942 and the school in
1947. A frame polling station replaced the brick schoolhouse here.
(1979) |
Joseph Funk &
Bros Ranch letterhead
Arden, Texas. Jan 29th 1898
Courtesy
General Land Office
More Letterheads |
Arden Community
Historical Marker
Photo courtesy MF
Peck, July 2017 |
Approaching
Midway Cemetery
Photo courtesy MF
Peck, July 2017 |
Midway Cemetery
Historic Texas Cemetery
Photo courtesy MF
Peck, July 2017 |
Cattle - Joseph
Funk & Bros. Ranch letterhead detail
Image courtesy General Land Office |
Joseph Funk &
Bros. Ranch letterhead, Arden, Texas
Image courtesy General Land Office |
Joseph Funk
& Bros. Ranch letterhead detail
Image
courtesy General Land Office
See Texas Ranching
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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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