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Main street
in Kirbyville
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson December, 2012 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
It was first named
Kirby, for timber magnate John Henry Kirby, but in 1895 when
the town applied for a post office, the name was found to be in use
for another community. The town was platted in 1895 when Kirby’s railroad
arrived. In just twelve months the town had a population of 300 residents.
Kirby sold his railroad holdings to the Santa Fe railroad in 1900
and the following year founded the Kirby Lumber Company. Kirbyville’s
population swelled to 2,900 residents by 1914.
By the 1920s it was becoming evident that the timber wasn’t inexhaustible
and State Forest No. 1 was established just three miles east of Kirbyville.
The town evolved into a cotton
market for central Jasper
and Newton counties.
In 1928 Kirbyville had a population of 2,000 and had diversified from
lumber to cattle raising and dairying. The town reported a population
of 1,088 residents for 1944 and it took until 1982 to return to the
1928 figure of 2,000, The 2000 population was 2,085. |
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1925 Mixson
Bros Building on Main
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson December 2012 |
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Subject: Kirbyville,
Tx Mural
After surfing the
web on a Sunday afternoon, I came across your website. I actually
was looking to find some info on the types of water
towers built according to the date of construction and the population
supplied. I live in Kirbyville, Tx and have always wondered why the
town has the type of water tower it has and when built. Then I noticed
the picture taken of mural "The Hookworm Bench".
I am proud to say my brother Jason Morgan, along with the help of
my son Micah Morgan, is the artist who created this work. Its conception
and design was according to the local mythology of the "Hookworm Bench",
taken from a stockpile of old photos created by a local photographer,
Mr. D.T. Kent, who has long since passed. The stockpile of photos
taken by this man is almost endless ... surpassed only by the number
of tales remembered by the town's dwindling population of members
in this country's "Greatest Generation". - Johnny Morgan, August 10,
2014 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history
and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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