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History in
a Pecan Shell
William Melton
is credited with being the town founder. Melton arrived in 1845 and
was soon joined by others although the community didn't get it's first
store until 1878, The name of the settlement was borrowed from a previously
named creek. Settlers had said the stream didn't "babble" but sounded
more like a sobbing woman.
In the late 1870s, the community was granted a post office (which
later moved to Barry).
Cryer Creek in the mid-1880s supported 100 residents. Amenities included
a school, two stores, three churches and three combination gins/ gristmills.
By 1892 the community had a population of 200 and the future looked
good. Hopes were dashed when the Texas and St. Louis Railway bypassed
the town. The decline began during the Great Depression and slowly
continued, reaching a population of 75 in the late 1960s. The 1970
census showed an abrupt decline to just 15 people - where it has remained
ever since. |
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Navarro
County 1920s map showing Barry
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, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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