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The former bank in Britton
in 2000
TE
Photo |
History
in a Pecan Shell
The estimated population of Britton is about
30 people. But while most communities in Texas with a population this small are
comprised of scattered dwellings, Britton's population is rather concentrated
on just a few streets.
The post office was started in 1895 when the
town was named Hellandville. The name must not have meant much to the citizens
(or else Mr. Helland died) for it was changed the very next year to Britton.
Britton
sits in a rather remote corner of Ellis County and as the old saying goes
- if you find yourself there, you must've been looking for it.
The school-age
children attend classes in nearby Mansfield
or Midlothian,
and not Waxahachie.
Britton's
high water mark (population-wise) was reached with 300 people around 1925. |
The
bank building today
Photo
courtesy Karen Webb, June 2005 |
A
view of the bank interior
Photo
courtesy Karen Webb, June 2005
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Britton
Texas Forum The
Only Bank in the Region Not Robbed by Bonnie and Clyde
Dear
TE, I happened across your magazine while doing a little family research. The
old bank belonged to my great grandfather, John William Bobbitt, a banker, in
the 1920s. As family legend has it, his two claims to fame in the banking business
in Britton were: 1) his was the only bank in the region not held up by Bonnie
& Clyde, and 2) He paid all his depositors before closing at the crash of 1929.
My father was born in Britton in 1930. The family moved to Dallas shortly afterward,
but we had extended family living in the region for many years.
When I
was little, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, we as a family would drive to Britton
and see the ruin of the old bank, which as I remember had chickens living in it
at that time. I haven't been back in years and had assumed it was completely gone. |
| | Four
generation of Bobbitts |
Attached is a photo
of four generations of Bobbitts taken in 1929 or 1930, probably in Britton. In
the foreground my father's elder brother, Dick Bobbitt Jr, born in Britton in
1925, standing from left to right: Dick Bobbitt Sr., my great grandfather John
William Bobbitt and great-great grandmother, who was known as "Granny Bobbitt"
by all who knew her, who's name was Laura. - Sincerely yours, John William
Bobbitt, Dallas, January 10, 2007
Britton,
TX Bank Building
Here
are two pictures I took recently of the bank in Britton, TX. It doesn't look like
it will be standing much longer without a lot of love and care. Most banks seem
to be on a corner in a town, seeing this one standing alone is rather unique in
my traveling experiences. I am glad I found this treasure. - Karen Webb, Burleson,
TX, June 23, 2005
I
found your web site and was enthralled by its candor in preserving history and
to say the least, wanted to know more about our town that has been annexed by
Mansfield.
By chance I was made aware of someone coming from UT at Arlington
photographing Britton's old bank building. My father, Amado Benavidez SR, owns
the house and the old bank building. He has always wanted to fix the old building
up to preserve history and do something for the community. My father is paralyzed
on the left side and I am the only son left alive to help him. I am inviting you
to our town to show you some historical building not accessible to the public
or anyone until now. - Best Regards, Amado Benavidez Jr.,
February 28, 2004
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