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CR2500 Fredonia
Road Sign
Photo
courtesy Gerald
Massey, March 2011 |
History on
a Pecan Shell
Founded on the
banks of the Sabine River when it was still Rusk
County, the site is now firmly in Gregg
County. Founder Haden Edwards was awarded a contract to colonize
the area in 1825, but this was later canceled. The disagreement had
led to a rebellion against Mexico which could be thought of as a prelude
to the Texas Revolution. It wasn't, but it could be thought of as.
After the Revolution, which Edwards survived. He filed his survey
and started selling lots on both sides of the Sabine. No plat for
the future town is extant, although inexact maps include the intended
towns of Fredonia and it's planned sister - Cotton Plant.
A ferry was in operation in the 1840s but it wasn't until the 1850s
when the town was thriving as a cotton town (not from the sale of
lots). The Sabine River was navigable at that time and business was
brisk with supplies forwarded from merchants in New Orleans. The town
had three huge warehouses and around 50 permanent structures including
a post office (1849 to 1859 and then reopened in 1856 to remain until
1859). River navigation was rough and overland routes were established
when the water was low but it was eventually the Civil War that doomed
"Old" Fredonia.
By 1870, realizing things would never get back to normal, the town
was dropped from the national post office registry.
A second Fredonia, formed by emancipated slaves, formed two miles
south of the original site and it is this Fredonia that appears on
most maps from 1870 on.
The Gregg County Historical Museum in Longview
has detailed information of both Fredonias. |
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From 1858 Texas
state map showing Upshur
County, and Fredonia (N of New Danville)
on the bank of Sabine River
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and contemporary or vintage/historic photos, please contact
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