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LINDSAY, TEXASCooke
County, North Central Texas
Highway 82
6 miles W of Gainesville
Population: 778 (2000)
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History
in a Pecan Shell
The town was named for Judge J. M. Lindsay when it became a switching
station in 1887 on the Gainesville, Henrietta and Western Railroad.
Anton and August Flusche arrived on the scene and wanted to promote
the town as a German-Catholic colony. In 1891 the brothers acquired
9,300 acres alongside the railroad for settlement.
The townsite was platted for farms in the spring of 1891 and the first
Lindsayans started arriving that Fall. In January of 1892 the first
colony meeting was held with eleven men present - each representing
a separate family.
On March 25, 1892, Father Hugo Bardenhewer held the first Mass in
Lindsay in the home of William Flusche. This date is now regarded
as the town's "birthday." Judge Lindsay donated about eight acres
to the Diocese of Dallas for a church, school, and cemetery. Rev.
Joseph Blum of Muenster chose the location for a church and a 20 x
50 building was constructed at a cost of $800 - paid for by the Brothers
Flusche, Judge Lindsay and people from Gainesville. |
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Saint
Peter's Catholic Church painted interior
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, January 2004 |
The
frame church was replaced in 1903 by a brick building, but this was
destroyed by a tornado 14 years later. A replacement was built in
October of 1919 - which is shown above.
A parochial school operated by the Sisters of Divine Providence opened
in October of 1893 with an enrollment of sixty. In 1932 the school
became public.
Lindsay incorporated in late 1959, and in early 1960 alcoholic beverages
were permitted to be sold within the city limits. In the 1980s the
population was nearing 600 - most of whom were descended from the
original colonists. The population has since increased to it's present
778. |
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The
Prayer Chapel
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson |
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