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The Bartlett landscape with water tower seen in the distance.
Photo courtesy Genevieve
B. Shockley, April 2006 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Bartlett
was officially formed when the Katy Railroad started their survey
in 1881. Earlier settlers had been living in the area for the 30 previous
years.
One J. E. Pietzsch donated land for the townsite although it was actually
named after John T. Bartlett. Lots were sold in 1881 and the railroad
reached the town the following year. There were two stores in operation
by the time the railroad arrived and the post office opened in 1882.
The population was around 300 in '84 and the town was established
as a shipping point for cotton.
There was also a cotton gin, hotel, grocer, butcher and school.
Bartlett incorporated in 1890 when it was a thriving town with two
weekly newspapers and a bank. |
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Bartlett
outgrew its second school building and plans were made for a new building
to be built at the same location. When the time came to begin construction
on the new building, the old building first had to be moved. The contract
was let to move the old school to the southwest corner of the block
so that work could begin on the new building and classes could continue.
The architect for the building was A. O. Watson of Austin, and a local
contractor, Flick and Son, won the bid to build the school.
The building, which was actually Bartlett’s third school building,
was completed in 1909 at a total cost of around $21,000. It was located
on a full city block and centered diagonally on that block. It featured
ten rooms, three offices, and an auditorium. It housed all grades
from 1909 until 1917, the elementary grades from 1917 through 1966,
and the primary grades from 1966 until 1988.
The doors of our building opened for classes the first time on September
13, 1909. Enrollment on opening day was 250 students and the faculty.
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| Photo
courtesy Bartlett Activites Center |
A
railroad running from Bartlett to Florence
was charted in 1909. The logical name of Bartlett-Florence Railway
Company was changed to the Bartlett
Western.
Being the eastern terminus of this busy shortline railroad only added
to Bartlett's prestige and economy. In 1914 the town reached its population
zenith of 2,200 citizens. The town had two railroads, three banks,
three gins and four churches.
The decline of cotton in the 20s
and 30s, forced the railroad into bankruptcy in 1935.
In 1931 Bartlett had 1,873 people with nearly 100 businesses. With
the Great Depression, the town lost 25% of its businesses although
the population loss was a mere 10%. It reached a low of 1,556 in 1988
and has increased slowly to the present 1,623. |
An eagle on
the former Bartlett Bank
Photo
by John Troesser,
July 2002 |
The First National
Bank Building in downtown Bartlett.
Note the elevated downspout just to the left of center.
Photo
courtesy Genevieve
B. Shockley, April 2006
More Texas Banks |
Photographer's
Note:
"I grew up in Holland, Texas and remember seeing this same type
of doorway plate on the older buildings there, as well. This type
of doorway plate is on many of the Bartlett buildings." - Genevieve
B. Shockley |
Bartlett, Texas
Chronicles
Phantom
Alligators
by Clay Coppedge
The old community of Alligator, a few miles east of Bartlett, lives
in legend, lore and in the memory of ...
Bartlett Western
Railroad by Clay Coppedge
The Bartlett
Bank Robbery That Wasn't by C. F. Eckhardt
Little Mysteries
by Mike Cox
In 1936, Dr. R.S. Sutton of Bartlett knew exactly where a silver Swiss
watch once owned by Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's could be found-in
the good doctor's personal collection... |
Bartlett as
Movie Location
Bartlett's long
(and wide) commercial strip of buildings built during its heyday
has made it a natural for shooting movies. Stars Fell on Henrietta,
The Newton Boys, and The Whole Wide World (based on the
short life of Texas author Robert
Howard) were shot in Bartlett as well as several of the familiar
truck commercials.
|
Order
Here
Star Fell on Henrietta |
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Order
Here
The Newton Boys |
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Order
Here
The Whole Wide World |
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Bartlett, Texas
Forum
Bartlett's
Old Red Brick School First Annual Event
My husband Paul and I wanted to give Texas Escapes and its readers
an update on the restoration
of Bartlett's old red brick school.
We joined the BAC with the idea of starting an annual festival/benefit
to help fund the continued renovation of the school. We are having
our first fundraiser on June 24th from 3 to 8 pm with musical entertainment,
a dance, silent auction and art displays. We will also have a coloring
contest for the kids (what if the school was any color you wanted
it?), face painting and snow cones.
We are hoping to draw in crowds, but are mainly interested in getting
the "new" Bartlett and "old" Bartlett residents interested in their
city again. Hopefully we will get volunteers that will be interested
in hosting a much bigger event next year. We hope to attract more
local artists to use the auditorium for concerts and maybe even
get a community theatre started. By the way, almost all of Barlett's
downtown buildings have been bought and now house antique stores
and a coffee shop soon. It went from nearly extinct to thriving!
Thanks for such a wonderful [magazine]. - Cindi and Paul Reaka,
Bartlett, Texas, June 12, 2006
I remember Bartlett
...I remember taking my shoes off, walking near the tracks, and
feeling the exhilaration and excitement of laying out pennies to
be squished. When we got home, my feet were black, and my cheeks
were bright red from the heat... more
- Carolyn Ripper, May 07, 2006
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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 and vintage/historic
photos, please contact
us. |
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