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History in a Pecan
Shell
Originally
known as White Flat for the local terrain, the name posed a problem when
a post office was applied for around 1890. The town was then renamed after Vera
Kellogg, the daughter of early an early settler (Holt Kellogg).
Stock-raising
and farming were the first businesses and these were joined by cotton
production about 1900. During a series of school consolidations, Vera came out
on top - but finally lost out in 1960 when students started attending classes
in Seymour or Benjamin.
From
just 100 people reportedly living there in 1960, Vera hit a record high in 1970
with 276 people and then declining to 176 in 1980. Both 1990 and 2000 figures
tie with the 276 people enumerated in 1970. |
Yea, Vera-ly…by
Rick Vanderpool
Coming into the small community of VERA (Knox County,
Texas) from the west on US82/TX114, attached to the speed limit sign is one that
reads simply VERA. No welcome to… No population figure… Just VERA.
Immediately
on the left, is a residence with a sizeable sign on the front that declares, GRAY
FOX. Raises lots of questions, none of which I had time to pursue this visit.
A hundred yards further up 82/114 the roof of a nice structure (looked like an
impressive residence once upon a time) screamed in large, faded red letters, HOMESTYLE
MEALS. Same thing on the east side roof. No other signage and I assume that nothin's
cookin' at this address these days. |
| No more than a dozen
other residences (or buildings of any sort, for that matter) are visible from
the highway, but taking a North at a sign for the cemetery, I noted a couple more
residences. VERA Cemetery was as quiet and peaceful as, well, you know…
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| Back to the highway,
then a South at a sign for VERA Baptist Church. A few more nice residences were
tucked among the trees along this little lane. Back to the highway. |
| About the center of
town, is the former VERA Post Office – zip code 76383. Next to it with ample parking
is the VERA Community Center, a large, open pavilion, complete with basketball
hoop at one end and enclosed meeting room on the other. In between were two large
pews and two picnic tables. |
| VERA has one or two
former enterprises, now empty buildings. One is for sale and the others' structural
integrity might be in serious doubt – just a casual observation, from a safe distance.
I noted the ubiquitous collection of new and very used agricultural equipment,
strewn along the highway, rusting quietly until next season. Or the next life. |
The VERA United Methodist
Church is located at the eastern boundary of the little town, and the next thing
I knew, I was in Baylor County.
©
Rick Vanderpool
Texas
Plains Trail Journal entry for April 24, 2010 |
A Visit to Vera
after Winter Frost | |
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