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History in
a Pecan Shell
The mine at Dabney closed in 1900, but they had a school with 31 students as late
as 1906. The mine was reopened by a former employee who had gone into the paving
business himself in San Antonio.
This fellow was R.L. White and he married John Smyth’s (See Blewett,
Texas) daughter Ethel.
The mine was in full operation in 1935 and when
White was able to pay off the property – he felt there was a stipulation where
he was entitled to additional tonnage. A dispute arose in 1941. WWII
kept everyone busy, but after the war the Texas Supreme Court ruled against White
and the town was abandoned, as well as production.
The population was a
reported 25 in 1966. And that’s the figure given on the map today. Employees had
been bussed in to work the mines from Uvalde
and Sabinal, but that’s not being done today. What
is being done is commendable. The Vulcan Company in a cooperative effort with
a Maryland Conservation Group and Texas Parks and Wildlife, has stocked the lakes
with fish and has built nesting boxes for migratory birds. The entire area owned
by the mines is now an animal sanctuary.
Since FM 1022 is a county road,
you are free to drive its length and see the pits from the road. We were told
that the office in Knippa can provide tours of
plant’s operation if they receive advance notice.
ON
DABNEY:
"As
I remember, this town consisted of only 10 homes and, it was located directly
across the White's Mines. This town was approximately two miles south of Blewett,
also on FM 1022. This town housed the employees for White's Mines. This town became
a ghost town way before Blewett." - Raul
Nolasco, Jr.
Photographer's Note:
Dabney, Texas - "2
Texas Mining towns --- no town to see but the mines in the area are still active.
A Blewett Ranch sign and an intersection are about it for Blewett.
Not much to see at the end of the road at Dabney." - William
Beauchamp, June 22, 2012 |
 |
A
view from FM 1022
TE Photo, April 2001 |
"The
mines in the area are still active."
TE
Photo, April 2001 | |
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