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History in
a Pecan Shell
The
first community in Burnet
County to be named Mahomet was only a few miles NE of present-day
Bertram. The community
was named after the city of Mahomet, Illinois by early settler George
Alter, a former resident of that city around 1853. Alter’s home was
very near a stage line which began service in 1855, operating between
Lampasas and Austin
– a perfect place to start a town.
Alter applied for a post office in his home which was granted in 1857.
It remained there for the next 25 years. In 1882 the town was bypassed
by the railroad (the Austin and Northwestern) who decided to establish
the town of Bertram.
Moving the post office to Bertram
would be logical, however it was moved to Sycamore Springs, a community
ten miles NE of Bertram
near the Williamson
county line. The name of the community thereafter became Mahomet.
In the mid 1880s the town had a population of 50 served by a steam
corn mill, a cotton gin, school, and church.
Population estimates rose to 60 for the 1890 census but declined drastically
to only ten residents in 1896.
The Mahomet post office was closed in 1916 and thereafter mail was
routed through Bertram.
The population was 40 in the late 1930s and rose to a high-water mark
of 75 in the 1960s. It has settled in at 47 residents – through the
2000 census. |
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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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