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Entering Shannon
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, September 2009 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Still shown on
the state map, Stampede Springs, Texas was the colorful name
of this community in the late 1870s when residents clustered around
the store of Rachel D. Ivie. Shortly thereafter, the name changed.
A local Irish family was said to have honored the name of their former
home in Ireland (The Shannon Valley). A post office was granted in
the 1890s.
Although no population figures are available prior to the mid-1920s,
112 people were listed at that time. That number was used for the
next 30 years, decreasing to 80 in the late 1960s and then to 23 in
the late 70s - the same number in use today.
A Visit to
Shannon, Texas
Photographer's
Note:
A few homes, an odd building or two, and a nice cemetery are about
all you can say about Shannon. The old white church is across from
Silver Hill Cemetery which is much closer to Post
Oak than Shannon. The same for the ranch entrance. - Mike
Price, September 2009 |
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Shannon Cemetery
historical marker
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, September 2009 |
Historical Marker
Shannon Cemetery
Established near
a flourishing spring of water and a general store in 1878, the settlement
around this site was known as Stampede Springs. The first burial in
this cemetery was that of Mary W. Gibson (1824-1879). Trustees of
the Stampede Springs School community purchased five acres including
this site for a school, church and graveyard in 1880. A post office
opened in 1893, and the town was renamed Shannon, either by the U.
S. Postal Service or by local settlers. In 1907 another acre was donated
to the cemetery. The population of Shannon was 112 in the mid-1920s.
A cemetery association was established in 1949. In 1990 the population
was 23. There were 311 graves in the cemetery at the end of the 20th
century, with 104 family names represented.
2000 |
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Shannon, Texas
Forum
Not Yet
A Ghost Town: Once Upon a Time in Shannon...
I stumbled onto your magazine and began surfing. I was a little disappointed
in not being able to locate a small Texas community named Shannon
in your coverage. It is approximately 30 miles out of Jacksboro, Texas
when you take Hwy 148 north toward Henrietta. My parents, uncles,
aunts and many other relatives attended the Lodge Creek school in
Shannon. Once upon a time, Shannon had a bank and the bank vault,
I believe, is still standing to this day. Believe it or not, there
are still people who live in this small community. There are probably
less than 50 but it's not a ghost town yet. If you happen to make
contact with Mike Castle, Claudia Castle or Sarah Johnson, tell them
Mary Nell Castle sent them your way. They're my relatives and Mike
can talk your ear off when you ask him about Shannon's history. Thanks
- Mary Nell Castle, January 07, 2007 |
| 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
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