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Downtown Elkhart
circa 1900
Photo courtesy Maurice Higginbotham |
Elkhart History
in a Pecan Shell
The town dates
from 1851 and is said to have been named after an Indian who befriended
the settlers.
Jay Gould's International - Great Northern Railroad ran through
the town for years, providing both passenger service and freight
shipping. The railroad phased out its operations as the economy
slumped during the Great Depression.
Elkhart suffered a devastating fire in 1912.
The town became a minor resort in the late 1800s because of mineral
waters.
Professor Janet Mace Valenza mentions Elkhart in her excellent Taking
the Waters in Texas: Springs, Spas, and Fountains of Youth (University
of Texas Press, 2000)
She states that the springs were about one mile Southeast of Elkhart.
"The 1889 First Annual Report of the Geological Survey of Texas
reported that a hotel was being built [there] and a health resort
started. Some waters tasted strongly of sulphur and others of alum
and iron salts. These waters probably were the same as those called
Loretto Mineral Wells in 1907 by the USGS."
See
Elkhart Chronicles ›
Elkhart High School Class of 1928
›
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1928 Elkhart
High School Photo
Center back tall fellow Soffus Torkelson,
All the way right tall blond fellow is Isaac Davis
and to his left Lester Starr.
Click on image to enlarge
Photo courtesy Kathy Torkelson |
Elkhart Elks
circa 1928
Right seated front - Team Captain Soffus Torkelson.
Standing middle with tilted head - Lester Starr.
Photo courtesy Kathy Torkelson |
Elkhart circa
1928
Left front - Soffus Torkelson
Third from left - Isaac Davis
Photo courtesy Kathy Torkelson |
Elkhart, Texas
Chronicles:
Ghost
Turkey and Hitchhiking Spirits by Mike Cox
Plunder
In The Pines by Dana Goolsby
East Texas is full of legends, mysteries, and folklore. Just beneath
the surface of the Pineywoods, buried treasure is said to be scattered.
There may not have been pirates roaming about the region, but over
the years plenty of booty was left behind in East Texas.
One of the many fortunes left behind is believed to be in southern
Anderson County. Mexican gold bars, gold coins and jewels have eluded
treasure hunters for well over a century, but some still believe there
is buried treasure in Elkhart, Texas.
Today, little remains of the pre-Civil War settlement known as Pilgrim
Community just outside the city limits of present day Elkhart. An
old church and an even older graveyard bring back dim memories of
days gone by. A replica of a Spanish mission has also been erected
on the property in recent years. Pilgrim Church was reputed to be
the first Protestant church in Texas. ... more
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Old schoolhouse?
WPA project?
Located next to the Myrtle Springs Cemetery in Elkhart
Photo Courtesy Rhonda Kirkwood, 2016 |
| Photo
Courtesy Rhonda Kirkwood, 2016 |
| Photo
Courtesy Rhonda Kirkwood, 2016 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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