|
|
Rabb Switch
historical marker
TE Photo, 2004 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Although John Morris,
a traveling Methodist preacher once held the grant, little is known
about him. In the 1880s Dr. Edward M. Rabb arrived and acquired the
property. The land may have remained part of Dr. Rabb's estate, but
in 1918 the Texas and New Orleans Railroad arrived - connecting this
part of Lavaca County
to Houston.
The railroad negotiated with Dr. Rabb and built a spur (switch) as
a collection point for wood and water. The site now had a name and
two stores opened there. An older schoolhouse was relocated here in
1919 and enrollment was said to have exceeded 30 students. But the
community was too close to the county seat to grow beyond the two
stores.
The school was closed in 1953 when road improvements allowed students
to attend the Hallettsville
ISD. With the school gone, and the railroad discontinued, people left
for greener pastures. No population figures are available for the
community's early years, nor are any available for its later years. |
 |
Lavaca
County 1940s map showing Rabbs,
Texas & New Orleans Railroad, and Navidad River
From
Texas state map #4335
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
Historical Marker:
RABB SWITCH
Edward M. Rabb
(1855-1908) a native of La
Grange, Fayette
County, Texas, was the son of William and Prudence Smalley Rabb.
In the 1880s Dr. Edward M. Rabb settled in this area and purchased
2089 acres of land from S. W. Campbell.
At his death, Dr. Rabb left a will with instructions calling for a
wood and water switch to serve the railroad to be built on a portion
of his land. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad was built across
the Navidad River in 1887. The switch was constructed and local residents
cut and loaded firewood for shipment to Houston.
The land that was cleared of firewood was used to farm cotton
and corn, the primary source
of income for farmers in the area. Two stores opened at Rabb Switch,
and a school built in the 1800s was moved to the community in 1919
and served 30-35 students.
The railroad ceased operations during the 1950s, at the same time
that U.S. Highway 90-A was improved. When the school was closed in
1953, students were transferred five miles west to the Hallettsville
Independent School District, and the population declined thereafter
as businesses closed.
(1997) |
 |
Lavaca
County 1920s map showing
The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad,
the Navidad River
and Rabbs, E of Hallettsville
From
Texas state map # 10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
| 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, please contact
us. |
|
|
HOME
Texas
Gulf Coast
East
Texas
Central
Texas North
Central
Texas South
Texas
Panhandle
South
Texas
Texas
Hill Country
West
Texas
Texas
Ghost Towns
Texas
Counties
