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| | A
few relics from more prosperous times TE photo |
| History
in a Pecan Shell
Electo Creek had several towns founded along its banks. Here, a Mr. Carl Edward
Riedel dammed the creek in 1869 and set up a small gristmill shortly after
others had settled there. They decided to name the town in his honor
when the time came for a post office in 1871. The postal authorities granted the
application, but misspelled the name as Riddleville. The town
underwent a change of name in 1905 when newspaper publisher E.G. Gillett
of Runge was honored for his contributions toward Riddleville's development.
The town's location made it a hub of activity for NE Karnes County.
The town was practically self-sufficient with post office, hotel, café, two
stores, two saloons, two drugstores and a school. By the prosperous
20s Gillett had a population of nearly 200. |
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Gillett
Baptist Church TE photo |
| | The
storm orroot cellar is all that remains of one business TE photo |
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