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History
in a Pecan Shell
There were too many Midways in Texas when the Texas
and Pacific reached this spot in June of 1881. The post office made
it Midland and that's the way it has remained.
Midland got their post office in 1884 and promoters convinced about
100 Midwest families to move here by 1885.
By 1900 the population was right around 1,000.
Midland suffered 3 fires in a brief period (1905-09).
A second railroad (the Midland and NW Line) ran off the Texas and
Pacific and connected Midland with Seminole.
(According to some sources the train crews had to open and shut cattle
gates along the rails). By 1921 the M & NW railroad had gone out of
business.
During WWII,
the Army Air Corps opened a bombardier school from 1942-1945. It later
evolved into the Midland-Odessa
Airport. |
Midland, Texas
Landmarks & Attractions
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The Sibley
Nature Center:
1307 E. Wadley (in Hogan Park). 432-684-6827
Midland
County Historical Museum:
301 W. Missouri. 432-688-8947
Permian
Basin Petroleum Museum & Chaparral Racecar Gallery:
1500 I-20 West, Exit 136. 432-683-4403
American
Airpower Heritage Museum and Confederate Air Force Headquarters:
At the Midland International Airport
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Midland's skyline
as seen from Wadley Barron Park.
Photo Courtesy James Rowland, 12-20-04 |
Chinese Pavillion:
A gift to Midland from Dong Ying, China, Midland's Sister City
Photo Courtesy James Rowland, 12-20-04 |
Pinkie's Liquors
1960 Neon Sign
Jimmy
Dobson Photo, June 2017 |
West Wind Motel
1958 Neon Sign
Jimmy
Dobson Photo, June 2017 |
"Bowen's
Grocery neon sign from the late 50s, sadly lost in a storm later the
same day this photo was taken"
Jimmy
Dobson Photo, June 23, 2017 |
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A mural in Midland
Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier
See Texas Mural |
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The
road to Midland
Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier, 11-01 |
Midland, Texas
Chronicles
Roping
a Locomotive by Mike Cox
In the early 1880s the Texas and Pacific Railroad was laying a line
across West Texas,
headed eventually for El Paso
and points west. Meanwhile, the Fort Worth and Denver railroad was
putting down track in the direction of the vast Panhandle
plains. By June 1881, the Texas and Pacific neared the mid-way
point between Dallas
and El Paso . When the
mostly Irish track layers got roughly 30 miles from Big
Spring, the railroad built a section house it called Midway.
Within a year, the government established a post office there. However,
since the nation had no shortage of post offices named Midway, the
name got changed to Midland.
As the rail line continued its westward progress, Midland became
a shipping point for the large cattle ranches that had developed
in the area. Cowboys employed by those ranches worked hard, but
not all the time. Occasionally, they came to town to recreate. First
told in 1965 by the late Tanner Laine, longtime state editor of
the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, a story about one way the boys came
up with to amuse themselves is probably just folklore. Still, it
might have happened. ... more
The Home Run that Never Was by Charles Watson
Midland has always been a baseball town, as long as I can remember.
The current class AA team is called the Midland Rockhounds and is
a member of the Texas League...
Failed
Rain Making in 1892 History Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
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A
pumpjack in Midland
Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier |
Midland Tourist
Information
Midland Chamber
of Commerce
109 N. Main, Midland, TX 79701, 1-800-624-6435
http://www.midlandtxchamber.com/
The Midland
Convention and Visitors Bureau
109 N. Main. Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. 1.800.624.6435
CVB Website: www.visitmidlandtx.com
Book Hotel Here > Midland
Hotels
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Midland,
Texas Forum
"You don't
need to put bars on your windows - I'm from Vermont"
Hi Folks, Came across your web site and found it very interesting.
I'm a native of Hoosick Falls, NY now living in Schenectady, NY.
I lived in Midland, Texas for 4 years from 1975 to 1980 and loved
every minute of it. If I could I would go back there to live. I
think the people of Texas are the nicest people I have ever met.
Moved to Midland from New York State and when I first met my neighbor
she thought about putting bars on her windows. But she quickly changed
her mind. From then on I told people I was from Vermont. As a matter
of fact, Barbara Bush, Sr. and I had the same pediatrician, Dr.
Dorothy Wyvell. Many friends were made in Texas along with wonderful
memories I will cherish forever. Now I'm going to sit here and remember
for awhile. - Regards, Eileen Jones, May 29, 2006
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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 and vintage/historic
photos, please contact
us.
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