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CALVERT,
TEXAS
Robertson County,
Central Texas S
Highway 6
FM 1644 and 979
9 miles NW of Hearne
28 miles NW of Bryan
33 miles NW of College
Station
55 miles SE of Waco
Population:
1,426 (2000)
Area
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Hearne
Hotels
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The old Masonic
building in Calvert
Photo by John Troesser, 8-03 |
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The
former Robertson County Courthouse in Calvert
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, Spetember 2004 |
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 around 1850.
The Texas Central Railway laid tracks to Calvert in 1868 with the
trains arriving the next year. People from the communities of Sterling
and Owensville moved to Calvert. Calvert, in time replaced Owensville
as county seat.
A post office was granted in 1868 and the first train arrived the
following year. Calvert prospered as a cotton producing county seat,
and the town reportedly had the largest cotton gin in the world in
the 1870s.
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 years:
1900: 3,322
1910: 2,500
1925: 2,100
1950: 2,100
1965: 1,950 |
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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."
Photo by John Troesser, 8-03 |
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The weigh station where they weighed cotton for the cotton gin across
the street - Gibson's Gin, one of the largest in the world
Photo by John Troesser, 8-03 |
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Main
Street buildings
Photo by John Troesser, 8-03 |
Calvert
Today
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.
Calvert’s buildings, if not totally restored have at least been kept
up and present an attractive row of 19th century buildings. The length
of main street is evidence of the town’s prosperous history. |
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Calvert
Bank Building
Photo by John Troesser, 8-03 |
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Architectural
Detail
Photo by John Troesser, 8-03 |
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An "imported"
brick sidewalk.
Photo by John Troesser, 8-03 |
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Vintage
Traffic Button
Photo by John Troesser, 8-03 |
Calvert
Texas Forum
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 in Texas Monthly or get some fame somehow. Thanks! Anna
Langford, June 14, 2006
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
Anyone wishing to share history or vintage photos of Calvert, Texas,
please contact
us.
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