MALAKOFF, TEXAS

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History in a Pecan Shell

Malakoff joins Odessa, Moscow and Sebastopol as another Texas town named after a Russian city.

Like many Texas towns, Malakoff started out under a different name. Actually two: Caney Creek (whose name is still found just north of town) and Mitcham Chapel. In 1854, they applied for a Post Office under the name Mitcham or Purdon, but both names were being used. According to the Handbook of Texas, postal authorities in Washington-on-the-Potomac suggested Malakoff after a Russian town that played some role in the Crimean War. We checked with the Crimean family next door and they told us that the British capture of the towered fort at Malakoff was the battle that resulted in the treaty being signed. We don't normally encourage small towns to let bureaucrats name their communities, however in this case it worked out.

Unlike many towns that have a fraction of their peak population, Malakoff presently enjoys its peak. Somewhere around 2,200 people call Malakoff home.

Malokoff's Finds

"Malakoff Man", Coal, Clay & Brick


In the 1930s, several heads were found which closely resembled the Olmec heads found in the Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz. Collectively they were known as "Malakoff Man" and their origin remains a mystery.

They were actually found closer to Trinidad, but naming them "Trinidad Man" may have caused some confusion. Maybe these "Malakoff Men" built the mysterious rock wall in Rockwall County. A total of three heads were found, although extensive excavations failed to yield other artifacts.

But the soil revealed other things. Coal and Clay. Coal was discovered in 1912 and mining became the dominant industry in Henderson County during the 20s and 30s. Texas Power and Light built a generating station close to the lignite source and as many as 600 miners worked the veins of coal. There has been a Miner's Reunion held every five years in Malakoff since the mines closed in 1945.

Brick was the town's other industry, although ironically, most of the downtown buildings were built prior to the plant's construction. The two huge kilns remain today and brick production continues under the name of Acme. Bricks that are found around the state marked MALAKOFF are usually light-colored.

In 1904 Mr. Thomas Anthony Bartlett of Malakoff devised a way of coloring brick, touching off a new age of architectural elegance. He took his discovery to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and won a Blue Ribbon for his white brick.

Today efforts are underway to celebrate Malakoff's (and perhaps the rest of the state's) brick manufacturing heritage, through a display and perhaps even the formation of a Malakoff Brick Museum. The idea is spearheaded by Matsy and Dave Walker, enthusiastic local historians, antique dealers and (incidentally) brick collectors.

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The Walker's Malakoff Antique Mall (202 Terry Street in "Old Town") had formally been the town's General Store. Matsy told us that during the Depression, the two Kirby Brothers who owned the store had a kind of mini-WPA project of their own.

Rather than lay off their employees, the Kelly Brothers created work where none had previously existed. One woman's job was to search for straight pins that had fallen in the cracks of the floorboards. Another watched children handling toys to insure none were broken. These were "make-work" jobs that enabled Malakoffers to eat and keep their dignity.

Murals by Charlie Bullock and Brad Smith

Malakoff has several exceptional murals. We regret that we were unable to speak with anyone with information on artist Charlie Bullock.

Local artist Brad Smith's mural pictured above faces Malakoff's Cornbread Square and individuals in the mural are actual townsfolk. He also painted the mural of the former Carnegie Library on our Corsicana page. Mr. Smith is a Malakoff Rennaisance Man. Besides his obvious talent with a brush, he also tours with a band as drummer and handcrafts bows from Bois d'Arc wood.

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Malakoff Events
The Square is where Malakoff's Cornbread Festival is held every year. Although only eight miles from Athens and their famous Black-Eye Pea Festival, Malakoff serves pinto beans with their cornbread.

Nearby Destinations
Hwy 31 east 8 miles to Athens.
Hwy 31 west 13 miles to Kerens, another 14 miles to Corsicana.

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