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History in
a Pecan Shell
Mangum started
in the early 1890s with a great advantage over most Texas
towns. While most struggling communities would be happy with one
railroad connection, Mangum had two. They were the Eastland, Wichita
Falls and Gulf (East to West) and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (north
to south) lines.
The settlement was named for Robert Mangum and other Mangum family
members. "Bob" was the community's first store owner who became postmaster
in 1899 when the post office was opened in Mangum's store.
Pete Mangum became the depot agent for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
and used his position to ship bottled water to other parts of Texas.
Texas was then going through its curative water boom times and Mangum
had plenty of examples on how to capitalize on the water.
The Mangum Mineral Water Company shipped the bottled product while
another man (Dave Switzer) a hospital and bathhouse under the name
Maurice Mineral Water Company. Switzer also operated the Don Carlos
Hotel to take in the visitors who weren't taking the waters.
Although the permanent population of the town was just 150, many found
work associated with the town's most plentiful resource - at least
until the fad started to fade. Competition was brutal and more advertised
spas (like those in Mineral Wells
and Marlin) siphoned off
business.
The Magnum post office closed in 1929 and the Great Depression was
Magnum's final blow. It was dropped from maps by the mid-1930s but
fifteen hardy people (maybe it's the water) managed to be included
on the 2000 census. |
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1920s
Eastland
County map showing
Mangum
SW of Eastland
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic
photos, please contact
us. |
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