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History
in a Pecan ShellIn
1888 a railroad section house was named Rowena Station after a woman who
was either the paramour of Jonathan Miles (namesake of Miles, Texas) or the wife
of the railway's clerk. Postal authorities felt the spelling was too close to
Ravenna in Fannin County, so they wouldn't grant a post office under that name.
The town was platted in 1898 and named Baronsville after developer Paul
J. Baron. In 1900, the town was briefly renamed after a land agent named John
Bolf.
Postal authorities changed their mind in 1901 and the post office
was named Rowena. Paul Baron allowed the name to become official in 1904.
Rowena
was settled principally by German and Czech Texans - many from Fayette County,
Texas. Even today townspeople in Fayetteville
(Fayette County) have relatives in Rowena.
In 1904 the population was
fewer than 100, but it swelled to nearly 600 by 1908. By 1930 it had reached a
zenith of 800 Rowenans.
Rowena was the birthplace of Bonnie Parker, and
was the scene of a bank robbery that made national headlines in 1968 when Doc
Newton decided to make one last try at bank robbery. |
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Rowena street
scene with St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Photo courtesy Jim
& Lou Kinsey |
San
Angelo Hotels > Book
Hotel HereRowena
Texas ForumRowena,
Texas
My mother's
family is from Rowena, and my mother lived there until 1958 or 1959. I remember
her telling me that she attended the Rowena School so it could not have closed
in the 1940's (she was born in 1950). My grandmother is buried in the Rowena cemetery
along with several other family members including her parents. We still have our
family reunion in Rowena in the church basement, as the church was never completed
and a big set of steps leads up to the roof of the basement. There was a building
in Rowena that my mom showed me when I was a kid that had been struck by lightning
many years before that still had a hole in the center of the roof. I would love
to see if it is still there, and get some histories on the buildings from older
family members. Thanks. - Allegra Watson, Mineral Wells, June 06, 2006 Rowena,
Texas
I grew
up in and around Rowena. My Dad and his family moved there from Mexico I am assuming
in the 40’s or 50’s. My dad is still living there, not much is left there as in
businesses, or really anything (lol). From what I remember about the school, I
am thinking it was more in the 70’s that is closed, because I remember my cousins
going to school there. The parish hall/gym is still used for events. Just a little
information I remember. - Becky Fierro Fuentes, April 14, 2006School
in Rowena Texas
I
wanted to share a little information about Rowena, Texas that I have aquired over
my 24 years of life. I lived in Rowena for the first 18 years of my life and my
mother was born and raised in Rowena. She was born in 1949 and attended the school
of which you have posted a picture. So the info about the school closing in late
40's is not correct. To my mother's memory it was mid 60's when the school closed.
I would love to share as much info. about this fantastic town, just let me know
what you want to know about this town. Thanks - Sonia, March 25, 2006
School
in Rowena Texas
Photographer's Note: This is the old school (see
top photo) at Rowena in southeastern Runnels County. I found a little old lady
with a long but somewhat fuzzy memory who seemed to think it closed in the great
wave of consolidations in the late 40's. It sits on a half-block near the center
of town. It has a good roof and is sealed against the elements. Bed and breakfast,
maybe? Of course, who goes to Rowena these days? This was taken Chrismas Eve,
and things were quiet. I have no information on when this was built. There is
no plaque or anything to give a clue. However, it does not appear to be standard
WPA architecture. I believe it predates the WPA and probably dates back to the
1920's.- Stephen Taylor, December 28, 2005
Book
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in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that
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please contact
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