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The
simple and elegant Engle Depot
Photo Courtesy the George Koudelka Collection |
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History in
a Pecan Shell
The area was settled in the 1850s by Czech immigrants. Nearby Praha
became the cultural center of the area - especialy after the church
was constructed in the 1880s. Engle residents worshipped in Praha
and the Praha cemetery made a separate one for Engle unnecessary.
J. E. Engle, an engineer for the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio
Railway was the namesake of the community after a railroad stop
was established in the late 1870s.
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Another
historic photo of the Engle Depot
Photo Courtesy the George Koudelka Collection |
The
Post Office was reportedly closed shortly after 1930
TE Photo, 2002 |
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A post office
was established at Engle in 1888 and closed in the 1930s. By 1900
Engle had a blacksmith, a tinsmith, a lumbersmith, and three saloonsmiths.
Historic photos reveal that a photography studio also operated in
Engle.
The 1950 census showed Engle had a population of 250. Today much
of "downtown" Engle is occupied by a machine shop utilizing many
of the town buildings. The population retains strong community ties
with nearby Praha.
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SPJST
Lodge 21 as it appeared in January 2002
TE Photo |
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