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  Texas : Towns A-Z / East Texas : Frankston

FRANKSTON, TEXAS

Anderson County, East Texas
Highways 175 and 155, near Lake Palestine
25 miles SW of Tyler
17 miles NW of Jacksonville
21 miles N of Palestine
25 miles SE of Athens
Population: 1,209 (2000)

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Downtown Frankston Texas
Downtown Frankston
Photo courtesy Lori Martin, 2001
History in a Pecan Shell

Founded around 1902 with the arrival of the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, the first citizens relocated from the village of Kickapoo, Texas, two miles southeast of present Frankston. The first post office was named Ayers (as was the town) but the name was changed when a Miss Frankie Miller donated land for a city park.

Lumber and cotton were the town's major economic engines. As the lumber played out, peach orchards and tomato fields took up the slack.
Old store in Frankston Texas
Old store in Frankston (Ellis Merchantile)
Photo courtesy Lori Martin, 2001

The railroad depot, just south of the town square was the nerve center of old Frankston. During its heyday, Franston had three hotels, several cafes, a basket factory (for the tomatoes), a Masonic hall, and even a theater. The town's population ranged between just over 800 to 1,500 from the mid 20s through the 80s.

In the 1980s Frankston was still thriving with two car dealerships, stores, gas stations, a bank, savings and loan association, newspaper, and funeral home.

Tourism has become increasingly important to Frankston in recent years and the former depot has become a library.

Frankston Texas water tower
Watertower

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2005

Frankston Chronicles

The Possum Dinner by Bob Bowman
While most East Texans were planning Thanksgiving dinners in 1929, four old friends in Frankston were sitting down for a meal of possum and sweet potatoes...
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Frankston Texas Forum

Anyone wishing to share stories or photos of old Frankston, Texas, please contact us.

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This page last modified: July 3, 2007