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Mayberry
goes wild!
Flooding in Wharton circa 1935. Photo courtesy TXDoT |
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Only
one county from Houston
and one county from the coast, Wharton is in a somewhat enviable
position. As Houston
extends into Ft. Bend County, Wharton has time to study the changes
from a safe distance.
Its inland
location has and continues to provide fertile land for a variety
of crops and grazing land for cattle. We at TE are sold on Wharton's
attitude on preservation and its extraordinary potential. They still
have all of the important elements (courthouse,
depot, jail, theater) a town needs, along with the Colorado River
complete with park, restaurant, and bridge.
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Not
all Whartonians became award-winning playwrights or network anchormen
like Horton Foote and Dan Rather.
Some were content being human cow-catchers.
Courtesy of Wharton County Museum |
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Wharton
Attractions & Landmarks
Wharton
County Courthouse
The Wharton County Historical Museum: Located at 3615 Richmond
Road. 409-532-2600. Hours: 9:30 - 4:30 Tues. through Fri., and Sat.
1-4. Knowledgeable staff and interesting exhibits covering all facets
of Wharton County history.
The 1930 Highway 59 bridge has recently been repainted
a handsome green. It was chosen as the photo to accompany the introductory
text in the LCRA 2000 Calendar. Just downstream is Riverfront
Park and the large building in between is the soon-to-be-opened
(January 2000) Los Cucos Restaurant.
The Plaza
Theater (on the square) has recently been restored to its former
glory and now hosts live musical performances as well as theatrical
productions.
Wharton has
5 antique shops as well as 3 in nearby Glen Flora and 1 in
Egypt.
The Colorado
River Band: Dr. Lowell Miller, formally of Houston, was instrumental
in organizing this 100-member group which performs at City functions
and events. A sub-group called The Brass Ensemble does weddings
and funerals.
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Nearby
Destinations:
Glen
Flora: Halfway to Egypt on FM 102
West, you'll find a cluster of antique shops and a restaurant. The
rest of the town consists of comfortable yards and homes under huge
pecan trees so regularly spaced that it must have been a pecan grove
at one time.
Egypt:
Although it's not large, this picturesque village is reminiscent
of the Pennsylvania Amish Country. A small cemetery, an empty silo
and lots of barns, as well as the general store/barbecue outlet
make this a place worth the 12 mile drive from Wharton.
Columbus
/ Alleyton: Continue
on FM 102 North another 28 miles to I-10 El
Campo: Wharton County's "Second City"
was named after the site where vaqueros would camp while cutting
grass for their cattle. Many brick buildings surround the park where
herds rested on their way to Northern Markets. Just off Highway
59, 14 miles South of Wharton.
Danevang:
A Danish farming community now mostly a large cemetery. Large obelisk
next to the church details the history of the town, including storms,
and the date the first tractor was bought - all carved in stone.
On Highway 71; 19 miles south of El
Campo
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Early
Wharton County steamboat
Courtesy Wharton County Chamber of Commerce |
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Wharton
Texas History
Wharton "was
part of the Caney Run mail route established by the Republic of Texas
in 1838. The community was named after two leaders in the struggle
for Texas independence, brothers John and William Wharton. The plantation
community was first settled in 1846 by some of Stephen F. Austin's
original colonists, and a post office was established in 1847. The
first lieutenant governor of Texas, Albert Horton, was an early settler...."
- See Handbook of Texas Online
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/WW/hfw1.html
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Wharton
Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture
225
North Richmond Road
979-532-1862. E-mail: torieblakely@sbcglobal.net
Website - www.whartontexas.com
Located in the beautiful brick Dr. T. M. Neal Building (circa
1912), the enthusiastic and efficient staff can provide you with
brochures for dining, antiquing, and shopping as well as an excellent
History pamphlet on the town, the county, and the Wharton Brothers.
Wharton
Hotels >
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
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First
East Bernard School Bus circa 1928
Courtesy Wharton County Chamber of Commerce |
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