|
Photographer's
Note:
"The town is off 172 to the right (west) on an unmarked turn."
- Ken
Rudine |
The Great Texas
Coastal Birding Trail sign
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, October 2010 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The town has a
similar beginning to nearby Danevang.
Both we started as Lutheran Colonies within two years of one another
(Danevang 1894 and Olivia 1892). The primary difference was Danevang
was Danish while Olivia was made up of Swedes.
The Reverend C.J.E. Haterious brought the settlers to the area
and then named the town after his wife, Olivia Olson Haterious.
Cotton was the primary crop
and after taking their cotton all the way to Edna
for ginning in 1893; they soon bought a small gin to use right where
they were.
The town had only 50 residents in 1927, but improvements like a highway
and electricity brought the population back during the 1930s. The
school was consolidated in the wave of statewide school consolidations
during the early 1950s. Today it has about the same number of people
as it did in 1914. |
Olivia Historical
Marker
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, 2008 |
Historical Marker:
TX Hwy 172 at Olivia city limits
OLIVIA
Established in
1892, the community of Olivia was named for Olivia Haterius, wife
of the Rev. Carl J. E. Haterius, a Swedish Lutheran minister who bought
land in the area and advertised a new settlement to other Swedish
immigrants in the Midwest. Twelve Swedish families responded to the
initial advertisement and moved to Olivia with others following in
a few years By 1900 a number of non-Swedish families had settled here,
as well.
The first public building in Olivia was a one-room schoolhouse where
children were taught during the day and parents attended classes at
night to learn English. The Eden Lutheran Church held services in
the schoolhouse until 1910, when a sanctuary was built.
John Lind built the first store in the community on Carancahua Bay
in 1894. The post office was housed in Lind's store and mail was delivered
once a week. Lind moved his store to the center of the townsite in
1900. In 1906 Edward Wilson, another Swedish immigrant, bought the
Olivia store and was appointed postmaster. Other businesses included
a hotel, doctor's office, grocery store, blacksmith shop, and cotton
gin. Since 1900 the thriving community has changed and grown, but
retains its proud Swedish heritage.
(1992) |
 |
| Today the park
at the end of the road (Hwy 172) is a quiet and spacious place to
have a picnic or go crabbing. It's relatively isolated location almost
guarantees a quiet visit. |
Olivia on the
The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, October 2010 |
Ibis in Olivia
Haterius Park
TE photo,
2001 |
A view from Olivia
Haterius Park
TE photo, 2001 |
The park on Kellers
Bay
TE photo 2001 |
Historical Marker:
TX Hwy 172 & CR 317 (Marker missing)
Olivia Cemetery
In 1892, the Rev.
Carl J. E. Haterius of Galesburg, Illinois, acquired land at this
site with the intention of establishing a community for Swedish settlers.
He named the settlement for his wife, Olivia. When the townsite was
laid out in 1893, land was set aside for this burial ground in association
with the Swedish Lutheran Eden Church. The earliest marked grave is
that of Anna Bernardino Wilson, who died in 1902. Swedes and non-Swedes
together contributed to the early development of Olivia, and the community
cemetery serves as a reminder of their contributions.
(1986)
Correction: The oldest marked grave in the Olivia Cemetery is that
of Christina B. Cavallin, who died in 1897. |
Calhoun
County 1907 postal map showing Olivia
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| 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. |
|
|
HOME
