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Jim Naylor, A.M.
Handly,JR. and Effert Uzzell
Clareville, Texas, ca1910
Photo courtesy Will
Beauchamp |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Mexican War veteran
and rancher Henry T. Clare, his brother and his five sons founded
the town of Lomita here in the mid 1870s. The name changed
to Clareville in the 1880s. After a Biblical plague of grasshoppers
in 1879, the discouraged family sold out their interests.
The community’s first store opened in 1886. The community’s proximity
to Beeville stunned growth
as the automobile transported fickle shoppers to the county seat.
By the time of the 1940 census, the population had decreased to a
mere 50 people and the local schools merged with the Skidmore-Tynan
ISD. |
Clareville High
School Basketball Team
Vintage photo courtesy Will
Beauchamp |
Photographer's
Note:
Here are a few pic's of what's left of the town of Clareville, Texas.
There are no signs of any businesses left but there is still a nucleus
of a few residences. My Grandparents lived just across the county
line in Live Oak County
and claimed being from Clareville as well as the community of Jarrett
which was the same distance in the opposite direction.
One pic shows where the 2 story school stood. A small little building
covered in brush on the left was the Spanish school and at one time
sat across from the Cemetery. There is one more Cemetery about 2 miles
south that also serves the community.
The one farm scene shows representatives of 3 of Clarevilles family's.
L/R - Jim Naylor, A.M. Handly,Jr. on buggy (my G-Grandfather), & Effert
Uzzell. - Will
Beauchamp, 2009 |
Clareville,
Texas Today
Subject: Clareville,
Texas
"Just to clarify, the tiny community of Clareville is now mostly
owned by my family, The Munoz's . My grandparents were born in Clareville
back in early 1900's and lived there until their deaths. Uncles later
purchased the surrounding land to include that shown in picture with
Hispanic school house, the land across the street and opposite side
of street where an old farmhouse and post office once stood. I used
to roam the wooded area as a child and find so many old horseshoes,
coins, belt buckles and even a few tricycles and plow equipment left
behind." - Munoz, February 27, 2022 |
Clareville Cemetery
sign. Notice spelling.
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, May 2013 |
1907 Bee
County postal map showing Clareville
(Below "B" in "BEE")
From Texas state map #2090
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 recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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