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History in
a Pecan Shell
Established by
the Lee-Irvine Lumber Company in 1901, Bonami was a typical sawmill
town built along the tracks of what was then the Gulf, Beaumont and
Kansas City railroad.
First called Leeton for businessman, D. J. Lee, the town was renamed
by the first postmaster in 1902. Postmaster R. J. Cooper, named it
after a town in Louisiana.
The post office closed in 1914, but the name remained. The Bonami
sawmill operationed until 1929. In 1948 the population was only 200.
While there is no town center today, an abandoned sawmill and the
Freewill Baptist Church are reminders of the once vital town. Sand
and gravel operations, and some logging fuel the current local economy.
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1940s Jasper
County map showing Bonami
(SE of Jasper, SW of Newton)
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
| 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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