PURMELA, TEXAS

Coryell County, Central Texas North

31° 29' 2" N, 97° 57' 44" W (31.483889, -97.962222)
FMs 932 and 1241
13 miles NW of Gatesville the county seat
2 miles N of South Purmela
Population: 61 est. (2000)

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Purmela Baptist Church

Photo courtesy Jim and Lou Kinsey, August 2003

History in a Pecan Shell

Purmela was granted a post office in 1879 and according to local legend, the name is a mistake. Postmaster / storekeeper Martin Dremien had submitted Furmela - the name of his girlfriend. Dremien took the mistake personally and moved out of state. Regretfully, no one has recorded an epilog for the story of Martin and Furmela.

Basham, Sycamore, and Evergreen schools consolidated in 1901 to form the Purmela ISD. In 1950, Purmela was consolidated with the Gatesville ISD.

U.S. Post Office in Purmela

Photo courtesy Jim and Lou Kinsey, August 2003

The population remained constant at 125 through the mid-1960s, but by 1970 it had dropped to 40.

Purmela, Texas Forum

Subject: Purmela's Smith Cemetery
I was hoping that someone had written [additional information] about the families in Purmela's Smith cemetery. What I know about the families: Coffey J Basham who is buried there started the school. The Bashams tamed horses. Family lore says the enclosure inside the cemetery is where the original school once stood. There is a grave in it now and I have heard it was the school marm.

My ancestors buried in the Smith cemetery are Edward Augusta Kornegay and Lucinda Jane (Monroe) Kornegay. They are buried not far from the enclosure as is their son T.D. Kornegay and his wife. Her name is not on her tombstone which is simply incribed "wife of T D Kornegay." Actually, she was Arie Basham and her family is buried up on the hill in back of them. - Eddie Lynn Kornegay Davis, Dallas, Texas, January 7, 2007

Subject: Purmela Texas
My name is Purmela Ison Varga. My story is that my mother was born in Purmela, Texas in the 1910's. They moved away when she was a child and she always liked the name so----. None of the family lives in Texas now, but I've driven through the town three times over the years and visited with the Post Office people. I have found that the name Purmela always makes people ask where it came from and from what nationality. Enjoyed your site. - Purmela I Varga, February 28, 2006

See also: South Purmela

Take a road trip

Purmela, Texas Nearby Towns:
Gatesville the county seat
See Coryell County | Central Texas North

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