| |
| | The
Site of the Glidden Ax Murder - March 1912
"Six persons, four children
and two adults were murdered in their sleep in Glidden in March of 1912. No one
was ever convicted of the crime. The photo shows the home in which the murder
occured and many of the vistim's neighbors." - Photo courtesy Nesbitt Memorial
Library Photo # 00033 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Originally
a railroad town with shops, a switch yard and a round-house belonging to the Galveston,
Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. After construction of the switching yards
was completed, a plat was filed in the Spring of 1885. |
| | Water
Tower and Roundhouse at Glidden Railroad Shops
Photo courtesy Nesbitt Memorial
Library Photo # 01820 |
| Two
years later the town was thriving despite its proximity to the county seat of
Columbus. A large hotel was
in operation as well as other stores and businesses that catered to the railroad
employees. A post office was granted in the late 1880s established in 1888. The
population in 1891 was over 200 and tiny Glidden became the largest railroad-maintenance
facility between Houston and El
Paso. |
| | Railroad
men pose on Turntable at Glidden Shops
Photo Courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library
File #01818 |
In
1896 Glidden worked hard and played hard - with three saloons providing most of
the recreational activities. Glidden was essential for the war effort - and troops
from San Antonio passed through
on their way to Florida during the Spanish American War.
The two world
wars were no exception and the shops at Glidden kept the troop transports rolling.
The town prospered and no one complained of the noise coming from the roundhouse.
|
| | Engine
593 and railroad men at Glidden
Photo courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library File
# -01817 |
As
steam locomotives gave way to diesel, the round house and shops at Glidden were
soon obsolete. As they were phased out - Glidden declined.
From a population
estimate near 400 in 1925, it had fallen to a mere 150 by 1949. It remains active,
but shopping is done in Columbus
and the population is still well under 300. | |
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