|
LAKEVIEW,
TEXAS
Hall County, Texas
Panhandle
34°40'22"N 100°41'51"W (34.672880, -100.697637)
Highway 256
10 Miles SW of Memphis
the county seat
30 Miles SE of Clarendon
(Via hwy 70)
ZIP code 79239
Area code 806
Population: 95 Est. (2019)
107 (2010) 152 (2000) 202 (1990)
Lakeview, Texas Area Hotels
Memphis
Hotels |
|
History in
a Pecan Shell
Of
the eight or so Lakeviews in Texas, most of them are in the Panhandle.
The one in Hall County
actually occupied two sites.
Lakeview # 1 sprang up near the geographic center of Hall
County in early 1890. Its prime location and the fact that it
had essential businesses gave the townfolk hope that it would become
the county seat. But Lakeview lost the vote and the disheartened citizens
sold their houses and moved on. Even the post office was moved - not
once but several times. It eventually found a home in 1902 on land
belonging to storekeeper David H. Davenport. Three years later Davenport
purchased land just north of his farm that had desirable water - perfect
for town building. Moving his store and post office in June 11, 1908,
Davenport platted Lakeview #2.
The town's first school opened in 1908 followed by a bank two years
later. The Altus, Roswell and El Paso Railroad built a roadbed through
town, but financing fell through and the rails were never laid. But
despite this serious setback, Lakeview grew. The town suffered back-to-back
fires in 1918 and 1919.
Lakeview was on a roll in the late 1920s and with a population over
1,000, the town's horizons seemed limitless. But a third fire hit
downtown Lakeview just as the Great Depression was getting started.
The Lakeview bank was forced to merge with the First National Bank
of Memphis
in the early 1950s - when the population had already shrunk to 244.
It declined further, reaching just over 200 in 1990 and remaining
at 202 for the 2000 TxDoT map of Hall
County. |
|
School at Lakeview
Photographer's
Note:
This building is probably the oldest school building still standing
in Lakeview; it stands next to the site of the old high school. Looks
like a WPA building to me although I never did find a marker. It's
being used as a community center and is nicely kept up. The main,
new campus is across the highway and has been abandoned; apparently
the Lakeview ISD combined with Memphis
in 2000. - Stephen
Taylor
More Texas
Schoolhouses |
Lakeview, TX
- home of my grandparents & father
Photographer's
note:
"I remember the little town intact, before the bulldozers came."
- Nancy Cecil, May 12, 2012
|
"Grandfather's
old general store in the middle of the block."
Photo courtesy Nancy Cecil, 2011 |
"Lakeview's
old Davenport bank was being restored"
Photo
courtesy Nancy Cecil, 2011
More Texas Banks |
"The most
imposing building in Lakeview"
Photo courtesy Wes
Reeves, October 2006 |
Lakeview
Barbershop
Photographer's
note:
"The elements have claimed nearly all of this barber shop, but
like the wreck of the Titanic, porcelain and stainless steel fixtures
look almost new. My grandfather Don Wright was a gin manager in Lakeview
in the 1930s and no doubt spent time in this barber shop." -
Wes
Reeves |
Barbershop Interior
Photos courtesy Wes
Reeves, October 2006
|
Closeup of sink
in abandoned barbershop in Lakeview
Photos courtesy Wes
Reeves, October 2006
|
"View through
car window, old gas station, now has tables in front"
Photo
courtesy Nancy Cecil, 2011
More Texas Gas
Stations |
Lakeview, Texas
Forum
Subject:
Lakeview Native Son
The Olympic high hurdler Jack Davis was born in Lakeview. He was my
first cousin and died recently. I flew to his Celebration of Life
last week in San Diego, ironically the day before the Olympics. There
is an interesting obituary in the Los Angeles Times; if interested
you can google and type Jack Davis in Search. - Nancy Cecil, Granbury,
August 03, 2012 |
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. |
|
|