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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
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 (Ellis Merchantile)
Photo courtesy Lori Martin, 2001 |
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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.
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Watertower
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2005 |
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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... more
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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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