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| | One
of Ezzell's former stores
Photo by John Troesser, February 2006 |
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| History
in a Pecan Shell
Ezzell is noted for being the oldest settled area in Lavaca county. Initial
settlement was between 1830 and 1836 when members of Stephen F. Austin's "Old
300" arrived. The name comes from storekeepers Sam and Ira Ezzell who operasted
a store here prior to the Civil War.
Classes were taught in various
church buildings after the war until 1883 when a proper school was constructed.
No population figures are available prior to 1980 when 55 residents were
reported. The town has a church, school, and a historical marker, however there
are currently no businesses.
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| | A
rusting relic provides an early example of the first type of "screen-saver."
Photo by John Troesser, February 2006 | |
|
| | The
long closed Bishop's Grocery
Photo by John Troesser, February 2006 |
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Historical
Marker TextEzzell
SchoolIn the early
1850s pioneers of this area erected a building 2 miles north of this site which
they called White House Christian Church and School because of the contrast
its lime coating presented against the surrounding green prairie. In 1883 the
school was moved to a building in the community of Ezzell on land donated by Andrew
Garner. It was the community's first public school and was named Ezzell for local
merchants Sam and Ira Ezzell. In 1922 a new 4-room school building was erected
at this site on land donated by Dr. E. A. Evans. Three additional acres were purchased
from L. A. Bishop in 1923. In 1925 students from the nearby Live Oak School began
attending Ezzell School. Ezzell's three teachers and nine grades served more than
100 pupils in 1935. Prior to World
War II the Ezzell School building also served as the site for draft registrations.
Unlike many area rural schools which closed during the 1950s and 1960s, Ezzell
continued to grow as the area it served expanded. In 1975 a new wing was added
to the east side of the building to accommodate more students. In 1989 three classrooms,
a science lab, and several physical education facilities were added. Today Ezzell
operates as an elementary school.
1994 |
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Lavaca
County Texas 1907 Postal map showing Ezzell
(Below "VA" in
"LAVACA". South of Hallettsville)
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
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photos of their town, please contact
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