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For
the last 35 years Calvert has enjoyed a relative success as an antique
“capital.”
Steady traffic on Highway 6 and the towns halfway position between
Waco
and Bryan / College
Station has helped. The effecicency of the town's tag-team police
cruisers is something to behold.
Calvert’s buildings present an attractive row of 19th century buildings.
The length of main street is evidence of the town’s once prosperous
history. Although
many are now just facades, Calvert makes an excellent case for saving
the fronts of buildings, even if the interiors cannot.
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Calvert
Landmarks & Images
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| Long
shadows and light traffic in downtown Calvert |
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The
original sign has been altered to read First Star Bank
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| Citizens
Bank & Trust Building historical marker |
| Calvert:
Where enamel becomes watercolor. |
| The
Jacques Adoue Building stands next to the old theater. |
| The
Jacques Adoue Building historical marker |
| A store
that couldn't be saved becomes a main street lawn. |
| Looking
through the back of Salazar's Garage |
| A wet
Spring has provided some deep green (May 2008) |
| Same
building on the side. |
| Bloodweed,
Brick, Stucco and Paint |
| A decoupaged
map of Calvert sits in a front window. |
| Weathered
brick melts into a shared wall. |
| The
front wall of Salazar's Garage is now braced by wooden beams. |
| Calvert's
Southside as viewed from the Northside |
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Calvert
was multicultural years before the term was coined. Several Black
families retain Chinese surnames to this day. Calvert's Chinese
are mentioned in Mel Brown's book: Chinese
Heart of Texas.
Above photos courtesy Stephen
Michaels
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History
in a Cotton Boll
One of the
earliest settlers was Joseph Harlan, who received a land grant in
1837. The town’s namesake, Robert Calvert, established a plantation
here around 1850.
The Texas Central Railway laid tracks to Calvert in 1868 with the
trains arriving the next year. Population was drawn from the communities
of Sterling and Owensville and in time, Calvert replaced Owensville
as the Robertson County seat of government.
A post office was granted that same year (1868) and Calvert prospered
as a cotton shipping point. In the 1870s the town reportedly had
the largest cotton gin in the world.
In 1873 a severe yellow fever epidemic killed many in the community.
In 1899 the town suffered floods and in 1891 a fire burned much
of the town’s center.
Population estimates over the 20th Century:
1900: 3,322
1910: 2,500
1925: 2,100
1950: 2,100
1965: 1,950
2000: 1,400
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Eloia
Theatre, "named after the wife, Eloise, who owned the theatre...
The theatre burned, probably late 40's or early 50s, and what remains
is the modern updated theatre. It had a cry room, double seats, and
was very modern."
TE Photo, 8-03 |
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The weigh station where they weighed cotton for the gin across the
street - Gibson's Gin was one of the largest in the world.
TE Photo, 8-03 |
Calvert Texas
Forum
Subject:
Theatre and Weigh Station
The name of the theatre in Calvert is Eloia, named after the wife,
Eloise, who owned the theatre. She sold tickets. Her husband operated
the projector and did various jobs around the business. The owner
of the antique store next door to the theatre bought the theatre
years ago, and made an opening through to his business. The theatre
burned, probably late 40's or early 50s, and what remains is the
modern updated theatre. It had a cry room, double seats, and was
very modern. However, just after it was built, wide screens and
television came in, which hurt all the old theatres.
The weigh station where they weighed cotton is across the street
from the cotton gin . The old scale was still there the last time
I looked at it, which was some years ago. The cotton gin was the
Gibson's Gin and one of the largest in the world, as well as one
of several in town.
The Conitz Dry Goods Store opened on that corner in 1901. It was
burned and rebuilt 3 different times over the years. The latest
store was modern for the '50s. - Former resident, December 11,
2004
Calvert's
Out-of-the-Way Cafe
Howdy, Just wanted to say how much I am enjoying y'all's website!!
You are doing a great job. I'm not from Calvert but I went there
on my most recent day/antique shopping/road trip and had a really
nice time. There is a little cafe/grocery store/meat market that
is on the back side of town on a road that I don't even think is
paved. We were in an antique store and heard the old man behind
the counter calling in his lunch order and just had to find out
where this place was!! It was the cutest little place, filled with
locals sitting on duct-taped booths next to soda machines. Basically,
it was all run by what seemed like one African-American family from
the ordering & cooking to bringing us our food to refilling the
sweet tea jug sitting on the counter. After enjoying our $5 meals
of fried chicken, baked beans, collard greans, macaroni & cheese,
cornbread, and banana pudding, we left with a full belly and truly
knowing the meaning of southern comfort. Just thought I had to let
y'all know about how special this place was! It truly deserves to
be featured [more] and get some fame somehow. Thanks! Anna Langford,
June 14, 2006
Calvert
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