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HALE CENTER,
TEXASHale County,
Texas Panhandle
I-27 and FM 1914
35 miles N of Lubbock
17 miles SW of Plainview
Population:
2,263 (2000)
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What's
not to like about Hale Center? Even the town's founding brought together
two rival towns. According to the Handbook of Texas, these towns were
named Hale City and Epworth and both were founded the
same year of 1891. While Texas has a well-known history of small town
rivalry, this is the first case we've heard of where both towns moved
homes and buildings to a common location. Since it was a very centralized
location, the name Hale Center was given as the requested name for
the new post office.
The Santa Fe Railroad came through in 1909 and the town rebounded
from a slump. After losing people during the Great Depression, growth
was slow, but steady through the 40s and 50s. A devastating tornado
occurred in 1965 which destroyed most of downtown.
Hale Center Physician Roy Freeman and wife Marjorie were instrumental
in starting the Hale Center Mural Project. www.angelfire.com/tx3/halecenter/index.html
Hale Center
Attractions
Bell Park
Cacti Garden: Over 350 specimens at the intersection of Ave
K and Cleveland Street.
Hale County
Farm and Ranch Museum: One mile south of town on Hwy 27 will
bring you to the 5 acre museum built around the 1910 Santa Fe Depot.
Over 200 pieces of antique farm equipment are on display. Open daily
1 to 5. 806-839-2556
Nearby Destinations
Hwy 27 about 30 miles south to
Lubbock.
Hale Center Local and Tourist Information
Chamber of Commerce: 702 Main Street 806-839-2642
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Hale Center,
Texas Forum
Subject:
another displaced Hale Centerite
Hello out there in West Texas.
I Just read Madrid's letter from Arizona that was born in Hale Center.
I grew up on a farm and ranch 5 miles south and 2-3 miles west on
the Cotton Center road (old Iowa Avenue). I was a McKnight born
in 1934. Have great memories, but am now trying to find the history
of the place I was born on. I even have an oil painting of the house.
I was a McKnight. My dad and relatives owned land all around that
part of the county, but I've never known who the Harrell people
were that we rented this place from. We never saw them in the 18
yrs I was growing up. We dealt with Mr. Hicks of Abernathy State
Bank all those years. It had been an old ranch headquarters I always
thought. It had first been an adobe smaller house, and later built
over and onto with lumber. It was considered very old when I was
born in 1934. I remember it had one of the gorgeous old oak wall
phones that we kids played with, as there was no phone service in
the 30's. It had old trees planted of course at that time. It also
had some beautiful stained glass in one of the doors that was fast
deteriorating. After we all left Hale County the Tullis family farmed
that and I think Bob Watson some. Still the same thing, heirs, and
no direct contact. I took small things from the old house and wanted
to take it all, but as was not mine I did not. I was very sad indeed
to find later that the farmer had burned the remains. I do have
2 adobe bricks and a closet door, of which I have memories of being
locked in that closet as punishment. This ranch was in the area
and era of Frank Norfleet, our neighbor that I remember when he
was in his 90's. I have an autographed copy of his book.
Anyone know anything about the origin of the Harrell place, as my
family has forever called it?? - Marita June McKnight Wood Barnett,
Hanford Ca. dbarnet@sbcglobal.net, September 17, 2006
Dear TE, My
name is Marylou Madrid. I was born in Hale Center, Texas but moved
to Phoenix, Arizonia at the age of six. I am now forty-nine and
don't know much about my hometown. I would love to see my hometown
before my end of time. I was told that we lived next to some railroad
tracks and I kind of remember looking out of a big picture window
when it was snowing and hanging out with a little boy by the name
of Willie picking up all kinds of frogs and putting them in empty
coffee cans. To this day I still collect nic nacks of frogs. My
parents are deceased now and I don't have not one picture of my
home town. When people ask me where I was born and I tell them Hale
Center, Texas - they look at me like I'm nuts and say "I never heard
of Hale Center - where in the heck is that?" Even if I don't know
much about my hometown, all I can say is that I'm proud to be a
Texan. Thank you and God bless Hale Center, Texas....forever. -
Marylou Madrid, August 11, 2006
Anyone wishing to share stories, memories or historic photos of
Hale Center, Texas, please contact
us.
© John Troesser
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