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History in
a Pecan Shell
The name was cobbled
together from Ora Reese and Anna ("Annie") Patterson, daughters of
Will Reese and J. D. Patterson, local landowners who donated land
for the railroad right-of-way. The community was granted a post office
in the Spring of 1901. Other businesses in the fledgling community
were a gin and a store.
Another nearby community named Antioch
saw the advantage of having a railroad connection, so they merged
with Oriana, however both populations eventually moved to Peacock.
(See map below.) The post office
moved to Peacock in early
1918 and the town's school merged sometime around 1930. By the mid-1930s,
only four people were left, however, the 1945 population of Oriana
was listed as 20 - with one business hanging on.
The railroad (originally the Stamford and Northwestern and after 1952
as the Fort Worth and Denver Railway) pulled up tracks in the late
1960s. It was said the railroad had a bridge running alongside the
one shown above.
The Oriana Cemetery is shown on TxDoT maps of Stonewall
County - one mile west of the Salt Fork of the Brazos River. |
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Stonewall
County 1907 postal map showing Oriana
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Oriana, Texas
Forum
Our thanks
to Delores Miles for suggesting Oriana's inclusion.
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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
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