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History
in a Pecan Shell
Established by the Lee-Irvine Lumber Company in 1901, Bonami was a typical
sawmill town built along the tracks of what was then the Gulf, Beaumont and Kansas
City railroad.
First called Leeton for businessman, D. J. Lee, the town
was renamed by the first postmaster in 1902. Postmaster R. J. Cooper, named it
after a town in Louisiana.
The post office closed in 1914, but the name
remained. The Bonami sawmill operationed until 1929. In 1948 the population was
only 200.
While there is no town center today, an abandoned sawmill
and the Freewill Baptist Church are reminders of the once vital town. Sand and
gravel operations, and some logging fuel the current local economy.
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Jasper
Hotels
Beaumont
Hotels |
1940s
Jasper County map showing Bonami (S of Jasper)
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office | |
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