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Cottonwood,
late 1890s.
Photo courtesy cottonwoodtexas.com
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History in
a Pecan Shell
Cottonwood was
settled around 1875 or 1876. The man given the credit – J. W. Love
- didn’t have the type of name that lends itself to town-naming, so
they choose the local abundant Cottonwood trees.
The region received a (relatively) large influx of families from East
Texas since the land was somewhat stump-free.
Dr. H. O. Broadnax built the first store and a post office was established
shortly thereafter in 1882*.
A weekly newspaper, the Prodigal was published in 1890 when the town
reached it’s high water mark of 350 residents.
According to interviews with the Newton Brothers (train and bank robbers)
from Uvalde
– the Newtons had once lived near Cottonwood.
It is reported that Cottonwood experienced a rash of shootings “with
fatal results” during it’s embryo period.
Fruit and vegetable canning looked like it would become Cottonwood’s
economic niche when a cannery opened in 1903, but as transportation
became affordable, people left Cottonwood and those who remained went
into ranching.
The population fell to 300 by 1915 and by 1940 there were only 120
people left in town.
The 1980 census reported 65 people and it was the same in 1990. |
Cottonwood,
Texas
Landmarks/Attractions
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Cottonwood former
bank & post office
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2013
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Historical
marker at FM 1079 and Center Street:
Cottonwood Bank and Post Office
W. F. Griffin opened a bank about 1911 in this small
frame building. With Griffin as a director, Paul Ramsey served as
the first president. His duties included teller, cashier, loan officer
and custodian. When the railroad bypassed Cottonwood, merchants and
residents moved away. In January 1915, the bank closed. In 1918* Hazel
Respess opened a post office in the building and ran it for the next
50 years. In 1975, postal service here was stopped. This spot has
been a gathering place for the community.
(1978)
*There seems to be a discrepancy in the
date of the post office opening. The historical marker states 1918
while the Handbook of Texas states about 1882. |
Photographer's
Note:
"The building is maintained by the Cottonwood Historical Association,
which also maintains the Methodist Church and both Cottonwood Cemeteries.
The association meets the first Saturday of May in the Community Center."
- Teri Brown |
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Cottonwood Post
Office,
originally a bank and still has the bank vault inside.
Photo
courtesy cottonwoodtexas.com, 3-2003
More Texas
Post Offices | Texas Banks
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Cottonwood
Old Schoolhouse /
Community Center
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Cottonwood Old
Schoolhouse / Community Center
Photo
courtesy cottonwoodtexas.com, 3-2003
More Texas
Schoolhouses |
Photographer's
Note:
"Cottonwood Community Center, once the school house in Cottonwood.
The Center is maintained by the Cottonwood Quilting Club, which quilts
at the center on Thursdays.
Up until a few years ago, the building housed the "Cottonwood Musical"
on the third Friday of every month. Fiddlers, guitar players and other
musicians would come from miles around. Folks would enjoy country
music and homebaked pies. "Turkey Supper" night and "Rehab Night"
a benefit for the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, both projects
of the Quilting Club, are still held at the Community Center.
The first Saturday in May the Community Center is the site for the
Cottonwood Historical Association's annual meeting." - Teri Brown |
Old Methodist
Church in Cottonwood.
Photo
courtesy cottonwoodtexas.com, 3-2003
More Texas Churches
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Old Cottonwood
Cemetery
Photo
courtesy cottonwoodtexas.com, 3-2003
More Texas Cemeteries
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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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