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| "The
[above photo] shows the People's State Bank and, on the second
floor, the Laurel Opera House. Unfortunately, I have no information
about the occasion surrounding this gathering of the townsfolk, nor
of its date, although I believe it to be about 1920. In later years
a third floor was added to this building, and it eventually housed
the A & C Hardware store. Today (April 2006) it is home to the Cactus
Bowl Cafe, which moved from its former location at the corner of North
Oak and Rio Grande streets in 2005." - George C. Toalson, April
28, 2006. More Texas
Banks |
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History
in a Pecan Shell
The
town's name was taken from the vice president of the International-Great
Northern Railroad Thomas W. Pearsall.
Travelers between Frio
Town and Pleasanton in the
1870s stopped for water at a place called Wagner's Well. The International-Great
Northern Railroad bought the land around the well and in February
of 1882 the railroad platted the town of Pearsall.
As in many other Texas towns, one formerly prosperous town (in this
case the county seat of Frio
Town) abandoned their homes (and courthouse) to move closer
to the railroad tracks and a connection with the rest of the world.
Excursion trains came from San
Antonio
to entice people to buy lots in the new town. Two years after being
platted, Pearsall had 700 people and had been declared the new county
seat.
They also had a school, churches and weekly newspaper known as the
Pearsall News.
A fire burned much of downtown, but in 1890 there were 1,000 Pearsallians.
In 1907 the Frio Cotton Oil Company was founded and also the Pearsall
Artesian Well Company, which provided the town with electricity.
A bank was opened
in '08 and the city incorporated in '09.
In 1914 Pearsall's population had climbed to 2,000 and amenities included
several newspapers, stores, and the 500-seat Laurel Opera House.
In 1936 Pearsall's population was 2,536.
Oil was discovered in the 1930s, so the town didn't fare as poorly
as other places. Most of Pearsall's roads were paved in 1947.
In 1980 Pearsall had an estimated population of 6,450. In the early
1990s the town had something of an oil boom.
Frio County
Courthouse - next page
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Pearsall Attractions
Old Frio
County Jail Museum - Housed in the original county jail c. 1884
was formally dedicated in 1976.
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Frio
County Jail
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, December 2005 |
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Pearsall
Tourist Information
Pearsall
Chamber of Commerce:
In the Old Frio County Jail Museum - 830-334-9414.
At the corner of Pecan and Medina Streets
Website: http://www.pearsalltexas.com/welcome.htm
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Windmills
TE photo, July 2001 |
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