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History in
a Pecan Shell
It was once
known as Mount Hecla - but no one can remember why. The community
did have postal service under that name in 1878. Henry Bryson showed
up and built a log cabin that same year and the name was changed
in his honor. Mr. Bryson was evidently a persuavsive type for he
later became a county commissioner. The Chicago, Rock Island and
Texas Railway arrived in 1903 - always a milestone event in the
life of a small town.
Despite it being alongside a railroad, Bryson remained a quiet town
- described by the Handbook of Texas as "a business and school community
of area cattlemen." Oil was discovered in Jack County in 1898, but
no one really knew what to do with the stuff. By the 1920s they
did and the town become a processing center.
Bryson was
soon Jack County's "second city." Incorporated in 1931, it had just
over 800 residents by 1947 - the high-water mark.
Oil production fell and people started leaving as the jobs and money
evaporated. It was down to 450 by the late 70s but has since regained
a few people.
In 1988 there were an estimated 690 residents and the figure given
for the 2004 highway map was 528.
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