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Texaco gas station
and crossroad
Vintage
Photo Courtesy Jean Broussard
More Texas Gas
Stations |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The town of Montgomery
predates Texas Independence. Andrew J. Montgomery established a trading
post west of town as early as 1823. In 1837 it became the first county
seat of the third county formed by the Republic
of Texas. The east-west boundaries of Montgomery
County had originally been between the Brazos and Trinity Rivers.
The town was granted a post office in 1846 and it was incorporated
two years later. Montgomery was at the crossroads of two stage lines
- the best status a town could have in pre-railroad
Texas. In 1850 it had its courthouse as well as a Masonic lodge, and
Baptist and Methodist churches.
Montgomery's first problem occurred in in the 1850s when the town
was hit by a yellow fever epidemic. The second problem was when the
railroad arrived.
In 1870 when the Houston and Great Northern Railroad came to Montgomery
County, the tracks came directly through the center of the county.
This one act bypassed Montgomery and established Conroe
at the same time. The third blow came when Conroe
was declared the Montgomery county seat in 1889. Conroe
had taken everything but its name.
The courthouse and railroad depleted the population of Montgomery
from 1,000 in 1890 to only 600 by 1892. By 1925 there were only 350
Montgomerites. After WWII
it increased to 750 in 1950 but this was short-lived. The town's population
shrunk again back to only 300 in the 1980s.
Montgomery
Attractions/Landmarks
Photographer's
Note:
Montgomery is a photographer's dream...
Ferland Historical Park is a work in progress. - Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
 |
Restored
Log Cabin on display in Fernland Historical Park
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
1902
Old Baptist Church
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
Montgomery
Baptist Church Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
First
State Bank of Montgomery
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
Montgomery
County Strap Iron Jail
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
Montgomery
County Jail
1855-1889
Jail built by Pauly Jail Company in St. Louis, Missouri. Cells were
in wooden one room building that sat next to the courthouse which
was located on this lot. Cells were moved down to the railroad depot
after courthouse was moved to Conroe. Cells remained at railroad until
being moved to its present location in 1981 by A.E. Smallwood of the
Montgomery Civic Association.
- Text on display |
Montgomery
County C.S.A. Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
Historical Marker:
Montgomery
County, C. S. A.
A wealthy farm
area in 1861. In Civil War, supported Texas with goods, funds and
men. 2 companies from here were in famed Hood's Texas Brigade-- with
only 9 men in one living to return. Young boys, old men and the partially
disabled formed 5 home guard and state companies. The county clothed
its own soldiers. The Courthouse, then on this site, had a sewing
room for that work; home looms, cotton cards and needles also cooperated.
Homefolk ate sparingly, had few new clothes. By 1864, so much was
given to war effort that not a store was open in Montgomery. |
A closer look
at the station
Vintage
Photo Courtesy Jean Broussard
More Texas Gas
Stations |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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