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History in
a Pecan Shell
Caps dates from
1882 from a wedding gift of an acre of land. The newlyweds / first
citizens were Ira and Anna Rollins Borders. The town was granted a
post office under the name Border’s Chapel in 1894 but it closed
by 1916 when mail was routed through Abilene.
According to local legend, the name was changed to Caps during a meeting
held to select a new name. One resident threw his cap up into the
air and said "Let's call it caps." Sadly, no one suggested anything
better and thus the name was changed.
By 1920 the community had a school, two churches, a gin, two stores
and a blacksmith. In 1935, Caps and neighboring View,
Texas built a school halfway between the two communities. It managed
to survive the school consolidations after WWII
but finally merged with Wylie schools
in the late 1970s.
In 1940, Camp Barkeley
opened which drew the community toward the highway. After the war
the base reverted to a cattle feedlot.
In the early 1950s, Dyess Air Force Base was opened.
From a mere 20 residents in the mid 1930s, Caps reached a population
of 125 after WWII,
fell to less than one hundred in the mid 1960s and peaked at 300 in
1985.
Abilene annexed part
of the town in the 1980s, dropping the population to 100 where it
has remained for the 2000 census. |
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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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