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History
in a Pecan ShellBorn
with the arrival of the Gulf, Texas and Western Railroad, the name was borrowed
from the surname of J. W. Stevens’s wife’s family.
Westover had a school
as early as 1913, and for a time operated its own ISD. The school is remembered
in both a historical marker and a headstone
complete with image.
The community was granted a post office in 1910 which
managed to stay open through 1957. No one knows when the town peaked – although
the number of students in the 1920s was around 170.
After WWII
the number of residents declined from nearly 100 to 61 for the 1970 census. Twenty
years later it had reached 58 and the 2000 census reported a mere 18 people left. |
Westover
Historical Marker
Hwy 114 and Hale Rd.
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, June 2010 |
Historical
Marker Text Westover
Platted in 1910
on the Gulf, Texas and Western Railroad, Westover developed into a small market
center providing goods and services for area farmers and ranchers. J. W. Stevens
offered part of his ranchland for the townsite, which was given the maiden name
of his mother-in-law. James H.B. Kyle served as first postmaster when the post
office was established in 1910. Businesses, including a bank, barbershops, cotton
gins and dry goods stores, as well as churches, a school and a cemetery were established
to serve area residents. After the commercial area suffered a fire in 1921 and
the rail line was abandoned in 1942, many settlers and businesses moved to Seymour.
(2002) |
Westover
School Historical Marker
Hwy 114 and Hale Rd.
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, June 2010 |
Historical
Marker Text Westover
School One-half
mile east of this site is the location of the former Westover School, which served
students in this part of Baylor County from 1910 until 1950. School classes first
met in the Church of Christ building in Westover until trustees constructed a
frame schoolhouse in 1911. Six years later, that building was replaced by a two-story
brick building, which held all eleven grades and included seven classrooms, a
library and an auditorium. Enrollment reached 400 students by the 1930s, but with
abandonment of the rail line in 1942 and the general movement of people from rural
areas after World War II,
the student population declined, and Westover School closed in 1950.
(2002) | |
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