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History in
a Pecan Shell
Originally named Mound Prairie, the community began life around 1850
on a 100 acre tract of land donated by David Hall Love when the location
was chosen to be the county seat. A post office was granted in 1851
and by the following year, there were three dry-goods, a grocery,
at least two hotels and a jail.
The first courthouse (of four) was constructed in 1852, and the others
came in 1854-56, 1891-92, and 1919-21. In 1891 and again in 1918 Wortham
and Teague both challenged Fairfield
for the role of county seat but both lost to the established Fairfield.
The towns first paper was the weekly Texas Pioneer, set up
in 1857. In1854 a school for girls opened in the second floor of the
Masonic lodge and two years later a boy’s school opened in another
building. The Fairfield Female College opened in 1859, enrolling over
100 students the first year.
During Reconstruction, Freestone County was (briefly) one of four
Texas counties placed under martial law.
The town had a population of 500 in the mid 1880s served by four general
stores, five groceries and two hotels. The town enjoyed the 1880s,
unaware of the calamities that were on the way.
A meningitis outbreak in 1890 killed 32, but this was almost forgotten
in 1900 when a 1900 tornado struck. In 1903 the boll
weevil infestation destroyed the cotton
crop and if that wasn’t enough, a fire in 1911 burned much of what
was missed by the tornado.
Despite the serious setbacks, and never having a railroad connection,
Fairfield grew. By 1904 the population was up to 629, growing slowly
but steadily to 1,047 by 1940 and doubling to 2,074 by 1970.
Fairfield never acquired a railroad. It had been bypassed by the Trinity
and Brazos Valley in 1907, but managed to survive – a most unusual
occurance in Texas. Fairfield got a waterworks
and infrastructure in the 30s, although the town never had a library
until the mid 50s.
From 1890 through the early 1930s, Fairfield hosted a 3-day Confederate
reunion of Confederate veterans. In 1951 the town’s centennial celebration
was held on the former reunion campground which morphed into an annual
homecoming festival, and later became the Freestone County Fair. |
Butler
Church Bell historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2007 |
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