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History in
a Pecan Shell
First
known as Patton Springs (after a hunter who had camped at the
springs) prior to the 1890s, a post office was granted under the name
of Beckton (after the first postmaster). The post office soon
closed and the community started using the name Cottonwood.
When the time came to open a new post office, the name was already
in use by another post office and so Patton Springs/Beckton/Cottonwood
was in a quandary. Enter citizen and romantic Myra Kelly who suggested
the name from the English song "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton."
The new post office opened in 1900 when the town was populated by
Myna Kelly and nine of her friends. The town was so poor that the
grocer (Afton's sole business) operated out of a tent. Other businesses
opened and by the time the 20s had arrived people were (perhaps facetiously)
calling Afton "Little Fort Worth."
Afton kept an estimated population of 100 for the 1970 and 1990 censuses,
but by 2000 there were only 15 people remaining. |
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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