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History
in a Pecan ShellThe
community dates from 1837 when first settler (Captain) Nelson Merrill arrived.
He opened a store a short time later (which became the community post office in
1851). Although the population was a mere 35 residents by the mid 1880s, the community
was self-sufficient with its own gin, gristmill, store, church and school. Ten
years later the population had risen to an estimated 100 residents. The post office
closed the same year as the one in nearby Duval, Texas
and soon both towns were on the route of the Round
Rock post office.
Merrilltown schools were merged with Round
Rock and Pflugerville schools in 1949.
Although some houses marked the community on the Travis county map in the 1940s,
Merrilltown has disappeared after being annexed by Austin.
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Footnote
in Merrilltown’s History:Austinite
Anna Galloway suggested Merrilltown for inclusion in our town pages and included
this personal footnote in Merrilltown’s history:
“My father lived
in Merrilltown, Texas... the family home stood where the water tank is currently
located to the west of Mopac toll-road. [He] and his dad saw the smoke from a
fire at Duval. He saddled up horses for himself
and 2 or 3 sons and took tools to fight the fire. My dad said they were too late
as the Merchantile Store was the building that started the fire. A strong wind
had blown embers to the roof of each house in the small town. All houses burned
except one and it was later moved south of its former location. The buildings
owned by the railroad did not burn nor did the depot and the post office. There
were five other houses located on small farms that did not burn. The depot was
closed and moved in the late 1920's or early 1930's. Post Office closed as well.
- Anna Galloway, Austin |
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