| |
| | Water
Valley Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, August 2005 |
| History
in a Pecan Shell
Two
men known as Phelin and Glynn, dammed the North Concho River and dug an irrigation
ditch opening up the area to (mostly English) settlers.
A Capt. Wm. Turner, arrived around 1878, establishing the Whitbarrow Ranch, and
building a stone ranch headquarters. The post office had been known as Yandell,
Argenta, or Stella from 1885 to 1888, and then went by Rethaville, Mayes Store,
or Mayesville from 1888 to 1889 according to the Handbook of Texas. Two men named
S. S. McCrary and J. O. Hanson put an end to confusion when they decided to rename
the community Water Valley in 1889.
The population was 175 by 1914.
There was a railroad connection for freight - but no passenger service.
Children were taught in private residences until a public school was built. In
1900 the teacher-student ratio was 48-1. In 1933 Water Valley had its greatest
number of businesses – seven. The population returned to 140 by 1940 and has gradually
declined. |
| | The
old one-room schoolhouse |
"This
is the Walnut Schoolhouse that was once a thriving little schoolhouse on the banks
of Little Walnut Creek in Coke County. Most of it's residents were citizens of
Water Valley. Walnut opened it's doors in 1911 on the Ainslie Turner ranch."
Photo courtesy Michelle Doss, Water Valley August
26, 2004 |
| | Water
Valley High School
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, August 2005 |
©
John Troesser
Water
Valley Texas ForumMy
father, Elmo Nowlain went to school in Water Valley and I was just wondering if
[anyone there in Water Valley] knew him or had any information on him. He passed
away in September 2005, of colon cancer, and I just wish I knew a little more
about him such as his track records, etc. He was in school at Water Valley from
the second grade through his freshman year. He left Water Valley in January of
1982. He finished his freshman year and then got his GED. He played sports the
whole time he was there. He played football, basketball and ran track. If he had
stayed in classes there he would've graduated in 1984. If anyone knew my father
or has information on him, they can contact me at my email address: kristykn21@hotmail.com
Thank you. Sincerely, Kristy Nowlain, Austin, Texas, February 21, 2006
Anyone wishing to share information, memories or photos of Water Valley,
Texas , please contact
us.
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