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History
in a Pecan Shell
While one might assume the town was named for being on a watercourse, it
may have actually been named after a "branch" store. Merchant W. B. Easterwood
had a store in operation in Port Sullivan, when he expanded - opening a branch
here. The name became official when the post office opened in 1878. (It closed
in 1908.)
From a modest population of 20 in 1884, it blossomed into 85
by 1896.
In 1903 Branchville had three schools. Thirty white students
were taught by a single teacher in one building and two one-teacher schools taught
a total of 133 black students. In the 1940s, Branchville had a population of 100
and its schools integrated in the 50s and consolidated with Cameron
schools in the 1970s. |
Branchville
street Sign
Photo courtesy Tracy Burries-Hall, November 2010 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us. | |
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