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History in
a Pecan Shell
Moran was born
with the arrival of the Texas Central Railroad in 1882. Once known
as Hulltown, for first storekeeper Swope Hill, the town was
renamed Hicks, Texas in 1891. Finally, in 1892 it settled on
Moran to honor railroad president John J. Moran.
The town had a population of just over 200 in 1900 and with the discovery
of natural gas in 1910, the town became a service center for the oil
industry.
Moran reached its high-water mark in 1940 with 710 citizens. By 1950
it had declined to 610 and by 1980 there were 344 people calling Moran
home.
According to the Handbook of Texas, the town had two grain
elevators as well as schools and three churches in the 1980s. The
population was 285 in 1990. |
The old Christian
Church (with a museum)
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
Christian Church
cornerstone
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
First Baptist
Church Cornerstone
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
|
Moran's WPA
Project school built with native stone
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007
|
Main Street in
Moran
Photo courtesy Rodney Stegall 2006 |
View
of Moran Downtown Mural
Photos courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
View
of Moran Downtown Mural
Photos courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
View
of Moran Downtown Mural
Photos courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
Moran, Texas
Forum
Subject: Moran,
Texas
Greetings, folks! Loved the photos and "History in a Pecan Shell"
on Moran, Texas. I've been surfing around trying to find out something
about the place. My grandfather was born there in 1895. Guess his
father, A. D. Norcop, and his father-in-law, Savory O. Larche, were
early residents (1870s?)
I tried to call the Moran Historical Museum, but the number didn't
work. When I saw the photo in your article, I had to laugh. No wonder!
I'm wondering if you could put me in touch with the author, Rodney
Stegall. He says his mother's family goes back there. Also, if you
have any contacts for Moran who might be able to help me find records,
that would be great. I looked at a couple of other articles on Texas
Escapes and it's been very interesting to see the creaking remains
and the dignified monuments of old-time Texas.
Good work! Blessings! - Christopher Logan, Eugene, Oregon, March 06,
2012
Subject: Moran, Zedlers Mill, Sagerton etc...
I grew up in Moran from 1963 to 1973 & I still consider it home, I
could tell you tons of stories about this little town, but time and
space does not permit. My grandparents on my mother's side grew up
around there, and a lot of my family lived and died there. My grandparents,
great-grandparents, father,sister, aunts,uncles etc...are all buried
in the Dennis Cemetery about three miles out of Moran going toward
Cisco. Four generations of my family
graduated from Moran High School: my grandmother in 1929, my mother
in 1951, my sister in 1971, and my niece in 1993. We still have our
family reunion there in the Moran community center every year. I believe
we have been having it for about 25 years. There is a museum in the
old Christian church (above). I still love going to Moran since it
reminds me of my childhood, when times were simpler and a lot less
stressful, where most people knew each other & most got along. One
of the downtown buildings collapsed when I was a kid I'm guessing
the early 70s, but it's on the opposite side of where the photo was
taken. As I said, I could tell you lots of stories from my memories
of Moran, but there wouldn't be enough room... Thank You - Rodney
Stegall, February 16, 2006 |
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