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History
in a Pecan Shell
Fostoria's history begins with the 20th Century when it was known
as Clinesburg after a sawmill operator. The mill was acquired
by the Foster Lumber Company of Kansas City, and the name was changed
to Fosteria in 1903. Lumber was still the major economic engine
in East Texas and between
1910 and 1920 the population was around 1,000 people - most of whom
were Foster Lumber employees. It peaked at 1,500 between 1915 and
the mid 20s. The company issued their own scrip which had to be spent
in town. Up until the day it closed in 1930, Fostoria's only business
that was not controlled by the company was the US Post
Office.
The company and town prospered throughout the 30s and 40s and at one
time it was one of the largest sources of Southern pine lumber in
the US. When the company shut down in 1957, former company housing
was sold to the former employees and the downtown businesses closed
with the company. The population was still 500 into the 1960s but
twenty years later only a cemetery and scattered buildings were left.
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By W.
T. Block
Should one travel about five miles west of Cleveland
on Texas 105, there is a marker pointing north to the sawmill town
of Fostoria. There is nothing there now, except a few concrete foundations
covered with pine needles and an old abandoned cemetery... Read
full article |
| 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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