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CHILLICOTHE,
TEXAS
aka "Iris Village"
Hardeman County
Highways 287, 91, and FM 2006
15 miles E of Quanah
15 miles W of Vernon
Population:
798 (2000)
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
Vernon
Hotels
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Chillicothe
Mural - A 40 x 12 mural on the side of a building adjacent to
the Downtown Memorial Park expansion project.
Artists: Teresa Byrd, Marcia Haynes and Jeanne Moffett.
Completion date; July 1, 2006.
"The
mural depicts some of the history of Chillicothe and includes Medicine
Mounds, the Santa Fe Doodlebug, Ft. Worth & Denver Zephyr, grain
elevators, Wanderers Creek, ranching, oil and the school mascot
(the Eagle) holding the banner. The First United Methodist Church
built in 1916 is in the center." - Teresa Byrd, July 07,
2006
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Chillicothe
City Limit
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, July 2006 |
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History in
a Pecan Shell
The town was
named by A. E. Jones for his previous home in Missouri. Begun in
the 1880s, a post office was granted in 1883. Things really started
jumping when the railroad (the Fort Worth and Denver City) built
through the county in 1887. The town had been on the north side
of the railroad tracks, but after a devestating fire, the rebuilding
was done on the south side.
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Grain
elevators
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, July 2006 |
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More
grain elevators
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, July 2006 |
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| The town had
grain elevators constructed in 1892-93, and Chillicothe incorporated
in 1907 with a population of 800. A second railroad arrived in 1908
(the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway) and Chillicothe's future
seemed bright. |
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The
former city jail.
Photo
Courtesy Teresa Byrd, July 2006
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Jail
detail.
Photo Courtesy Teresa Byrd, July 2006 |
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| The town reached
its high-water mark in 1950 with over 1,400 Iris Villagers living
there. The population decreased slowly - but was still over 1,000
in 1980. In 1990 the population had dropped to just over 800. |
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Chillicothe's
water tower
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, July 2006 |
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| The Chillicothe
Fire Department's Ghost Sign: |
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The
area in the red rectangle (far right just below the middle of photo)
is a relic from the buildings previous incarnation as a smithy or
livery stable.
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Detail
of the sign: "Buggies, wagons and repair."
Photos
courtesy Teresa Byrd, July 2006
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Chillicothe
Irises in San Francisco
Subject:
Chillicothe
Just wanted to say thank you for the info on Chillicothe; my father
grew up there. The Methodist Church is where my grandmother and
grandfather met, married, and were both eulogized upon their passing.
When I bought my home in California, I obtained some Iris bulbs
from my Father who took a handful when they sold the house there.
That Iris Village is alive and well in San Francisco and my children
think the violet ones are the most beautiful flowers they have ever
seen (and they are). Thanks again, Bruce Derr, son of Walker
Derr, son of E.L Derr, Sr., January 18, 2008
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