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PEARSALL, TEXAS
"Home of the
Potato Fest"
Frio
County Seat, South Texas
28°53'29"N 99°5'42"W (28.891458, -99.094873)
I-35 and FM 140
50 miles SE of Uvalde
55 miles SW of San Antonio
41 miles W of Pleasanton
100 miles N of Laredo
ZIP code 78061
Area code 830
Population: 10,609 est. (2019)
9,146 (2010) 7,157 (2000) 6,924 (1990)
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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 1908 and the city incorporated in 1909.
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. |
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Pearsall, Texas
Attractions & Landmarks
Photo Gallery
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Pearsall Presbyterian
Church
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1971
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
Pearsall Presbyterian
Church historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
Historical Marker:
Pecan Street and Comal Street, Pearsall
Pearsall Presbyterian
Church
Organized on March
31, 1884, in home of Mrs. Mary Dorsey. Elders: Dr. J. R. Boyd, James
Ferries, James Thompson; Trustees: C. W. Gribble, R. J. Harkness,
J. S. Powell, E. B. Rutledge, James Thompson. First pastor was the
Rev. W. S. Wright. Church structure was dedicated on December 8, 1885.
The oldest church building in continuous use in Pearsall, this has
its original pulpit, communion table, pews. In 1970 church became
ecumenical.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1971 |
Red Chain Feeds
Ghost Sign
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
"Sal And
Lillie Armstrong on Frio County Ranch near Pearsall in 1906 (year
they left for Big Wells)"
- Photo courtesy Bill Armstrong |
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Pearsall, Texas
Forum
Subject:
"Birdhouse" picture in Pearsall
Hi, Sarah, Thanks for the pictures of things in Pearsall that you
submitted to TexasEscapes. However, I think I must tell you that
the "birdhouse" is not a birdhouse at all, although it seems to
be very attractive to birds. In reality, it is a siren that
was formerly used to summon volunteer firemen to the fire station.
It was also used to warn residents of Pearsall about impending severe
weather events or even air-raids (during World
War II).
By the way, the People's State Bank building is now home
to Garcia's Restaurant instead of the Cactus Bowl. A bar and gaming
room is on the second floor. It seems to be very popular with the
multitude of oil-field workers and residents of the area.
I enjoyed your website. Thanks again. - George C. Toalson, December
05, 2011
Subject: People's State Bank
"The [top] 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.
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Windmills
TE photo, July 2001 |
1920 Frio
County map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
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