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  Texas : Towns A-Z / Central Texas S : Calvert

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)

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Hearne Hotels

Calvert, Texas masonic building



The old Masonic building in Calvert

Photo by John Troesser, 8-03
Former Robertson County courthouse in Calvert, Texas
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.
Churches in Calvert
Population estimates over the years:
1900: 3,322
1910: 2,500
1925: 2,100
1950: 2,100
1965: 1,950
Downtown theatre in Calvert, Texas
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
Calvert, Texas depot



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
Calvert, Texas downtown
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.
Calvert, Texas bank building
Calvert Bank Building

Photo by John Troesser, 8-03
Texas architectural details





Architectural Detail

Photo by John Troesser, 8-03
brick sidewalk





An "imported" brick sidewalk.

Photo by John Troesser, 8-03
Vintage traffic button in Calvert, Texas
Vintage Traffic Button

Photo by John Troesser, 8-03

Calvert Texas Tourist Information

Calvert Chamber of Commerce
300 Main St (Hwy 6) / P.O. Box 132
979.364.2559

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Hearne Hotels

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© John Troesser
More Photos by Barclay Gibson

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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    This page last modified: June 12, 2007