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Depot Street
looking south, Rowena, postmarked 1912
Click on image to enlarge
Photo
courtesy Dan
Whatley Collection |
History in
a Pecan Shell
In 1888 a railroad
section house was named Rowena Station after a woman who was
either the paramour of Jonathan Miles (namesake of Miles,
Texas) or the wife of the railway's clerk. Postal authorities
felt the spelling was too close to Ravenna
in Fannin County,
so they wouldn't grant a post office under that name.
The town was platted in 1898 and named Baronsville after developer
Paul J. Baron. In 1900, the town was briefly renamed after a land
agent named John Bolf.
Postal authorities changed their mind in 1901 and the post office
was named Rowena. Paul Baron allowed the name to become official
in 1904.
Rowena was settled principally by German and Czech Texans - many from
Fayette County,
Texas. Even today townspeople in Fayetteville
(Fayette County)
have relatives in Rowena.
In 1904 the population was fewer than 100, but it swelled to nearly
600 by 1908. By 1930 it had reached a zenith of 800 Rowenans.
Rowena was the birthplace of Bonnie
Parker, and was the scene of a bank robbery that made national
headlines in 1968 when Doc
Newton decided to make one last try at bank robbery. |
 |
Rowena Chronicles
The
Zentners by Mike Cox
The first time I talked with Zentner was shortly after the movie
"Bonnie and Clyde" came out. The biographical material on Clyde
Barrow and Bonnie Parker that rolled after the bloody ending of
the film noted that Bonnie had been born in Rowena. That seemed
like a story to me, so I asked Zentner if he or anyone else around
Rowena had known the woman who went on to become the nation's most
famous female outlaw... more
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Rowena, Texas
Forum
Rowena,
Texas and School
My mother's family is from Rowena, and my mother lived there until
1958 or 1959. I remember her telling me that she attended the Rowena
School so it could not have closed in the 1940's (she was born in
1950). My grandmother is buried in the Rowena cemetery along with
several other family members including her parents. We still have
our family reunion in Rowena in the church basement, as the church
was never completed and a big set of steps leads up to the roof
of the basement. There was a building in Rowena that my mom showed
me when I was a kid that had been struck by lightning many years
before that still had a hole in the center of the roof. I would
love to see if it is still there, and get some histories on the
buildings from older family members. Thanks. - Allegra Watson, Mineral
Wells, June 06, 2006
Rowena,
Texas and School
I grew up in and around Rowena. My Dad and his family moved there
from Mexico I am assuming in the 40’s or 50’s. My dad is still living
there, not much is left there as in businesses, or really anything
(lol). From what I remember about the school, I am thinking it was
more in the 70’s that is closed, because I remember my cousins going
to school there. The parish hall/gym is still used for events. Just
a little information I remember. - Becky Fierro Fuentes, April 14,
2006
School in
Rowena Texas
I wanted to share a little information about Rowena, Texas that
I have aquired over my 24 years of life. I lived in Rowena for the
first 18 years of my life and my mother was born and raised in Rowena.
She was born in 1949 and attended the school of which you have posted
a picture. So the info about the school closing in late 40's is
not correct. To my mother's memory it was mid 60's when the school
closed. I would love to share as much info. about this fantastic
town, just let me know what you want to know about this town. Thanks
- Sonia, March 25, 2006
School in
Rowena Texas
Photographer's Note: This is the old school (see top photo)
at Rowena in southwestern Runnels County. I found a little old lady
with a long but somewhat fuzzy memory who seemed to think it closed
in the great wave of consolidations in the late 40's. It sits on
a half-block near the center of town. It has a good roof and is
sealed against the elements. Bed and breakfast, maybe? Of course,
who goes to Rowena these days? This was taken Chrismas Eve, and
things were quiet. I have no information on when this was built.
There is no plaque or anything to give a clue. However, it does
not appear to be standard WPA architecture. I believe it predates
the WPA and probably dates back to the 1920's.- Stephen Taylor,
December 28, 2005
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