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La Bahia Winding
Road
TE photo, 2002
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History in
a Pecan Shell
The settlement
was founded in 1850 on land that had belonged to Stephen
F. Austin. The town's name appeared as Long Point up until
the twentieth century.
Botanist Gideon Lincecum lived on the high ground overlooking the
Yegua Creek valley on a plantation that he lightheartedly called Mount
Olympus. A post office was granted under the name Montville,
but after 1851 it became Long Point. Lincecum and his son Lysander
served as Long Point's physicians - using his knowledge of plants
to provide herbal cures. Long Point suffered economic hardships after
the Civil War as well as a decreased population.
Long Point prospered throughout the 1880s when the population was
estimated at 500. Nearby Gay
Hill supplanted Long Point as the dominant town in NW Washington
County with the arrival of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad.
By 1890 the population fell to 146 and industry came to a near standstill.
The post office closed in 1907 and from 1890 to 1960 the population
was dutifully reported as 146. From 1970 to 2000 it has been given
as eighty. |
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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