| |
Dodge
historical marker
TE photo, 5-04 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
The town had its first settlers around 1825. Martin
Parmer, who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and was the namesake
for Palmer County was an original landowner. In 1872 Martin’s son William granted
right-of-way to the Houston and Great Northern Railroad.
In that year
the railroad built a depot, naming it Dodge Station.
Phelps-Dodge
was the company that physically built the railroad. The company also provided
names for the twin towns of Phelps and Dodge. When the post office was established
in 1881 Dodge Station became Dodge.
By the mid-1890s the population
was 150; by 1914 it was 500.
Dodge experienced two devastating fires. One
in 1924 and one the following year. The town never replaced the destroyed buildings.
Dodge served as a junction for the Trinity Valley Southern and IGN railroads,
for 35 years – beginning in 1901. The town was still holding out as late as 1936
when the Great Depression took its toll on the lumber industry and sawmills closed
all across East Texas.
Dodge
has retained a population of 150 from 1943 until the present. |
 |
Dodge
historical marker text
TE photo, 5-04 | |
|
