|
Files Valley
Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Also known as Files,
Texas, the name honored David Files who built the first house
in what had been known as Eureka Valley. The renaming occurred
in 1879 and with abundant natural springs (albeit somewhat Sulphur-tainted)
the budding community seemed to be guaranteed quick growth and lasting
prosperity.
A post office was granted in 1880 under the name Files. The post office
was closed in the massive closures of 1907. But in the first ten years,
Files could boast of several blacksmiths and doctors as well as a
school, store, church and cotton gin. The 1890 census counted 50 Filians.
Files missed out during the railroad expansion of the 1880s, and then
in 1905, residents thought they would finally get their wish. But
the town was bypassed.
In 1906 the Southwestern Home and School for Orphans was founded and
the facility remained open. In the 1980s it underwent a change of
name to the Presbyterian Children's Home.
Files still retained 100 residents through the 1930s and three businesses
to sustain them. The population remained at 100 (more or less) when,
in the 1970s, it dropped to half that number.
With the decline, people started referring to the town as Files
Valley and the population continued to be given as 50 for the
2000 census. |
FILES VALLEY CEMETERY
32°13'13.2"N
97°04'32.2"W (32.220328, -97.075614) |
Files Valley
Cemetery
Est. 1876
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Files Valley
Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Files Valley
Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Files Valley
Cemetery graves
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Files Valley
Cemetery tombsone
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Files Valley
Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, June 2020 |
Files Cemetery
sign
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2017 |
Files Cemetery
in Files Valley
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, November 2017 |
Sarah Files
Tombstone
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, November 2017 |
Ambroas Files
Tombstone
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, November 2017 |
| 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. |
|
|
HOME
Texas
Gulf Coast
East
Texas
Central
Texas North
Central
Texas South
Texas
Panhandle
South
Texas
Texas
Hill Country
West
Texas
Texas
Ghost Towns
Texas
Counties
