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History on
a Pinhead
Once Clay County’s
center of economic activity, Cambridge developed in the early 1870s.
By 1875 a post office was granted and the following year the U.S.
Army installed a telegraph office here.
In July of 1882 the Fort Worth and Denver Railway chose Henrietta
over Cambridge and the all-too-familiar story, citizens and businesses
moved to the new county seat. Cambrige’s last chance came and went
when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (KATY) Railroad decided to cross
the tracks of the FW&D at Henrietta.
Only the cemetery remains to mark what was once a prosperous town
with limitless horizons.
A Visit to
Cambridge, Texas
Photographer's
Note:
The Cambridge marker was mounted on the Clay
County Courthouse wall. Tried to see the Cambridge Cemetery but
it was on private property with a locked gate. - Barclay
Gibson |
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Early County
Seat
CAMBRIDGE
(Located 3.5 miles
to the east)
Founded 1860, but abandoned to marauding Indians, 1863. Settlers returned
in 1870 and installed a grist mill. Developers surveyed townsite in
1874; school, church, shops, and hotel were built. Post office was
established and Fort Sill-Fort Richardson military telegraph line
came through in 1876. First newspaper in county was founded there.
Rapid growth halted when town was bypassed by Fort Worth and Denver
Railroad in 1882. By then place was known as Henrietta
-- the name retained when county seat was moved here. Cambridge Cemetery
still exists (a mile north of historic townsite).
(1971) |
1907 Clay
County postal map
Curtesy Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
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