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MALONE, TEXASHill County,
North Central Texas
Highway 171 and FM 308
15 miles SE of Hillsboro
Population:
278 (2000) 306 (1990)
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Entering
Malone from the east
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006 |
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History in
a Pecan Shell
The town of Malone had its beginning in 1884 or 85 when settler Alonzo
Dru Walling, planned a townsite and modestly named it after himself.
With the anticipated arrival of the International-Great Northern Railroad,
the town moved two miles to the east in 1902. The following year the
Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway created an east-west route to intersect
with the I-GN tracks at Walling.
William Malone, president of the I-GN wasn't happy with a competing
railroad but Alonzo Walling sold him on the potential of a two-railroad
crossroad town. Renaming the new town Malone just sweetened the proposal.
Investors platted the town and lots were auctioned off in December
of 1903. Officials of both railroads received a percentage of revenues
and the T&BV built a depot. |
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Downtown
Malone
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006 |
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The
Post Office
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006 |
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| Malone started
with an instant population of 125 from the day of the auction. A post
office opened the same year and A. D. Walling, clever man that he
was, sued the I-GN to build a second depot and schedule regular stops
at Malone. The former town of Walling declined in proportion to Malone's
growth but if Alonzo Walling felt sad about his namesake town, he
made up for it by owning most commercial properties in Malone. |
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Malone
city hall and Volunteer Fire Department
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006 |
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The town throve.
By 1913 there were as many as eight grocery stores operating in Malone
and in the 1920s the population had grown to 550. Even during the
Great Depression, Malone's decline was slight when compared to other
regional towns. In 1936 Malone still maintained a population of 481.
After WWII there were still 429 people but in the 50s time caught
up with Malone and the population fell to 352 residents served by
a mere 12 businesses. It hit a low of 255 people and then increased
to 305 by the mid 1970s - and has remained at that level. |
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Close
stores in Malone
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006 |
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