| |
Black-Eyed
Pea Festival, which began in 1937
and ran three consecutive years until WWII.
1930s vintage photo courtesy Jean Broussard |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Centerville
was the original spelling and the name was chosen for the geographic location
in the county. Leona had served as county seat until
it was discovered it was not exactly in the center of the county. Buffalo
served for a short time, which was also off-center.
A timeline
of significant events in Centerville's history
1846: Leon County is organized
and named after Martin de Leon.
1850: Centerville becomes county seat, post
office opens and a log cabin was built as a courthouse
1851: First school
classes are held in the back room of a store
1852: The Leon Pioneer is published
1853: Frederick Law Olmstead (the landscape architect who designed New York City's
Central Park) visits Centerville
1858: Leon County gets its first brick courthouse
During Reconstruction an infantry company was stationed in Centerville.
1872:
The International-Great Northern Railroad bypasses the town
1884: Population
reaches 300
1886: The 1858 Courthouse burns and is replaced
1910: First
bank is opened
1914: Centerville population reaches 600
1930: Centerville
is incorporated - population had declined to 388
1937: An annual Black-Eyed
Pea Festival is established
1950: Population comes close to breaking 1,000
with 961 people calling Centerville home. |
 |
Native
Sons Lightnin'
Hopkins by Bob Bowman ("All Things Historical" column)
Blues
singer Lightnin' Hopkins was born Sam Hopkins at Centerville on March 15, 1902.
When his father died, his mother moved the family -- five brothers and sisters
-- to Leona... more |
| "Buildings
on Commerce (Texas 75) on the west side of the courthouse. The center building
with the "PIX" sign looks like an old theater. The building on the far right is
the Leon County Annex. A second County Annex building was completed in 2008 on
the east side of the courthouse square." - Terry
Jeanson, 2008 photo |
| "Buildings
on Saint Mary's (Texas 7) across from the courthouse. The one marked "Library"
contains the Chamber of Commerce." - Terry
Jeanson, 2008 photo |
| "Leon
County veteran's memorial on the west side of the courthouse square." - Terry
Jeanson, 2008 photo |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us. | |
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