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History in a Pecan
Shell:
The town is named after Captain John York, who died defending
the town against Indians in the autumn of 1848. York had helped settle the town
two years before with business partner Charles Eckhardt. The men saw an immense
opportunity by founding a town here since it would create a shorter route from
the busy port of Indianola
to San Antonio.
Known as
the Old Indianola Trail, it was well-traveled by German immigrants on their way
inland. Many settled here as well as survivors from Indianola’s
storms which turned that prosperous city into Texas’ most famous ghost town.
Eckhardt
built the town’s first house in May of 1848 and two years later he established
the Charles Eckhardt and Sons store. In 1854 the town was named after the late
Captain York.
In 1871 the town was granted a post office and incorporated.
The Aransas Pass Railway was built a mile south of town in 1886 and the town relocated
to the rails. The old site continued on for several years as “Upper Yorktown.”
In 1898 Yorktown had an estimated population of 850 people and every essential
business as well as a few non-essential businesses. At its peak, Yorktown’s population
hit nearly 2,500 but had declined to 2,207 by 1990. It has since risen to 2,271,
although many downtown businesses have closed, including the feed
store – once the center of the area economy. The 1871 Eckhardt store
now contains the town’s history museum and is listed on the National Register.
A
Walk Around Yorktown |
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C.
Eckhardt Building -
Yorktown's history museum is on the National Register
TE
photo, July 2008 |
A
keystone building in downtown Yorktown
Photo courtesy Stephen
Michaels, July 2008 |
The
1909 Nau Brothers Building
TE photo, July 2008 |
Nau
Building Threshhold
TE photo, July 2008 |
The
former Yorktown Bakery
TE photo, July 2008 |
Former
Chevrolet Dealership with Deco Signage
Photo courtesy Stephen
Michaels, July 2008 |
Chevrolet
Signage Detail
TE photo, July 2008
More Texas
Eagles |
Yorktown's
Hospital (circa 1950) is currently for sale.
TE photo, July 2008 |
The
Main Entrance of the Yorktown Hospital
Photo courtesy Stephen
Michaels, July 2008 |
A
cold-war relic
TE photo, July 2008 | |
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