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MONTGOMERY,
TEXASMontgomery
County, East Texas
Highway 105 and FM 149
15 miles W of Conroe
50 miles NW of Houston
Population: 489 (2000) |
Texaco
Gas station and crossroad
Vintage Photo Courtesy Jean Broussard
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Gas Stations |
History
in a Pecan Shell
The town of Montgomery predates Texas Independence. Andrew J. Montgomery established
a trading post west of town as early as 1823. In 1837 it became the first county
seat of the third county formed by the Republic of Texas. The east-west boundaries
of Montgomery County had originally been between the Brazos and Trinity Rivers.
The town was granted a post office in 1846 and it was incorporated two
years later. Montgomery was at the crossroads of two stage lines - the best status
a town could have in pre-railroad
Texas. In 1850 it had its courthouse as well as a Masonic lodge, and Baptist and
Methodist churches.
Montgomery's first problem occurred in in the 1850s
when the town was hit by a yellow fever epidemic. The second problem was when
the railroad arrived. In 1870
when the Houston and Great Northern Railroad came to Montgomery County, the tracks
came directly through the center of the county. This one act bypassed Montgomery
and established Conroe at the same time. The third blow came when Conroe
was declared the Montgomery county seat in 1889. Conroe
had taken everything but its name.
The courthouse and railroad depleted
the population of Montgomery from 1,000 in 1890 to only 600 by 1892. By 1925 there
were only 350 Montgomerites. After WWII
it increased to 750 in 1950 but this was short-lived. The town's population shrunk
again back to only 300 in the 1980s.
Montgomery
Attractions/LandmarksPhotographer's
Note:
Montgomery
is a photographer's dream...
Ferland Historical Park is a work in progress.
- Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
 |
1902 Old Baptist Church
Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
Montgomery Baptist Church Historical
Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
First State Bank of Montgomery
Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
Montgomery County Strap Iron
Jail
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
Montgomery County
Jail1855-1889
Jail
built by Pauly Jail Company in St. Louis, Missouri. Cells were in wooden one room
building that sat next to the courthouse which was located on this lot. Cells
were moved down to the railroad depot after courthouse was moved to Conroe. Cells
remained at railroad until being moved to its present location in 1981 by A.E.
Smallwood of the Montgomery Civic Association.
-
Text on display |
Montgomery County C.S.A. Historical
Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
Historical
Marker TextMontgomery
County, C. S. A.A
wealthy farm area in 1861. In Civil War, supported Texas with goods, funds and
men. 2 companies from here were in famed Hood's Texas Brigade-- with only 9 men
in one living to return. Young boys, old men and the partially disabled formed
5 home guard and state companies. The county clothed its own soldiers. The Courthouse,
then on this site, had a sewing room for that work; home looms, cotton cards and
needles also cooperated. Homefolk ate sparingly, had few new clothes. By 1864,
so much was given to war effort that not a store was open in Montgomery. |
Restored Log Cabin on display
in Fernland Historical Park
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
A
closer look at the station
Vintage Photo Courtesy Jean Broussard
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