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History in
a Pecan Shell
William Rabb and
his son John were members of Stephen
F. Austin’s Old
300. They and other Rabb family members cleared the land and planted
the first crops here between 1822 and 1825.
Frequent flooding of the Colorado River caused them to name the place
Bay Prairie at first. When voting districts were set up in
1830, one was in Wm. Rabb’s home.
Growth was curtailed by the community’s proximity to La
Grange, but nonetheless, a post office was applied for. It was
granted in 1900 and opened in the store, but it only remained open
through 1904 when mail was again routed through La
Grange.
Likewise, the local school merged with La
Grange schools and the former schoolhouse was moved to Halsted
to become a store. Little history is available for the 40s and 50s
but in 1950 the census counted 60 residents – served by three businesses.
The Rabbs Prairie store closed in 1987 and the following year the
community had not a single business. |
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Rabbs Prairie
Michalk Gin, circa 1940
Courtesy Fayette Co Hist Comm; submitted by Carolyn
Heinsohn, FCHC member |
| 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. |
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