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History
in a Pecan Shell
David and Matilda Green, the reputed earliest settlers, moved onto
land in the 1840s. In 1847 Green submitted the name Greenville
on his application for a post office. It was rejected. The name was
changed to Moscow in 1853, although no explanation is listed
in the Handbook of Texas. (See the 1858
Polk County map. Note spelling of Moscow.)
Moscow soon became a center for farm trade. It incorporated in 1856
and was well on its way of becoming a major city. The Moscow Masonic
Male and Female Academy opened its doors in 1857and besides the essential
businesses of a developing town, Moscow also had several cotton gins
and sawmills.
The railroad reached Moscow in 1880 (The Houston, East and West Texas
Railway) and in 1899 a second line ( the Moscow, Camden and San Augustine)
was constructed from Moscow to Camden,
Texas. Moscow even had a streetcar linking the town to the depot.
Magnolia trees were once havested throughout the Southern U.S. for
their soft wood and straight trunks. Moscow added a column factory
and a cannery to its already diversified businesses.
A newspaper The East Texas Pinery was published weekly, beginning
in 1885.
With its population estimated to be 228 in 1880, Moscow was Polk
County's largest town. As the pine forests disappeared, Moscow
suffered along with hundreds of other East
Texas towns. The construction of highway 59 probably prevented
Moscow from joining the long list of East
Texas ghost towns, nevertheless, it's still a shadow of its former
self. |
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| 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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