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US
Post Office 78142
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, August 2007 |
History
in a Pecan ShellThe
area had been a Mexican land grant back in 1831. In 1874 it was named Walton
Station after Sheriff D.A.T. Walton.
Norwegian immigrants
moved into the area in 1893, and formed the nucleus of their colony just 2 miles
from Walton. When the postal authorities rejected the application for a
post office under the name Walton, Normanna was submitted and accepted.
The name loosely translates as "the place of Norsemen" but closer to the true
meaning is "far North." Seeing that's where they were from, the name was appropriate.
Families descended from the original Norwegian settlers still live in the
area.
Normanna has a museum in a building that has served as ranch headquarters,
a hotel and a residence. |
"Great
old ghost house here, stated as a museum."
- Ken
Rudine, August 2007 photo |
Normanna
Historical Marker
Medio Creek crossing on US 181, south city limit
Photo
courtesy Ken
Rudine, August 2007 |
Historical
Marker Text: Community
of NormannaSettlement
dates from about 1850. First town, 2 miles west, was called San Domingo for its
location near junction of San Domingo and dry Medio
Creeks. After railroad
was built, 1886, citizens moved to Walton (new flag station) to be on line. Name
honored sheriff D. A. T. Walton.
When Norwegians settled area, 1890's,
Walton became Normanna. Word originally suggested the qualities of old Norse heroes,
but through local usage came to mean "Home of the Norseman".
Town thrived
for years; then declined after series of fires and advent of the automobile.
(1969) |
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Nearby
on CR 241 is the historic and picturesque MEDIO CREEK BRIDGE.
The bridge
was the idea of Viggo Kohler, a man who later built the large Viggo Hotel in Hebbronville
(1915). He petitioned the Bee County Commissioners to accept bids in June of 1897.
The bridge arrived in kit form and was assembled by the Austin Brothers Bridge
Company.
Nearby the bridge - the town of Mineral
had been something of a health resort in the 1890s. Deepening the well caused
the mineral content to decline to the point where people no longer came. |
National
Register of Historic Places
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark |
Reader's
Email:
Young Family Photo Postcards and Letters
"Here are some of the
postcards dated 1909-1915 from the Young Family. I would like to find any decendents
of the family and send them to them. I have over 25 photo postcards and a few
letters. The names on them are Earle and Loretta, Cy, Frank, Rose Elizabeth. I
believe they all lived in the Normanna area." - paint320@sbcglobal.net
April 21, 2004 | |
| Anyone
wishing to share history or photos of Normanna, Texas, please contact
us. | |
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