|
|
| Sour Lake is
known as the home of Texaco. Formed in 1903, the Texas Company was
one of the three major oil companies that can trace their birth to
the oil fields around SE Texas. |
|
|
A Texaco gas station globe sits atop a derrick downtown
TE Photo, 9-04 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The oldest surviving
town in Hardin County, Sour Lake was settled around 1835. First known
as Sour Lake Springs after the medicinal waters, the healing
properties were long known to the Indians long before the arrival
of white settlers. By 1850 Sour Lake had become a full-fledged health
resort. After a visit in the early 1860s, the town got a testimonial
from none other than Sam
Houston himself. Like many medicinal springs, the water was bottled
and sold.
The population in 1885 was 150 which declined to only 50 by 1896.
When oil was discovered in 1902, Sour Lake became one of the earliest
Texas boom-towns with a population that was estimated as high as 10,000.
It was reported that fifty-two saloons were in operation during the
first year of the boom. By 1903 half of the wells were coming up dry
due to over drilling.
In 1914 two railroads serviced the 2,800 residents of Sour Lake. As
late as 1948, Sour Lake was still producing 3,500 barrels of crude
oil daily.
Sour Lake's population was 3,032 in 1925 which declined to around
1,500 in 1942. It peaked in 1976 with 2,500 residents.
In recent years Sour Lake has been celebrating its history by restoring
downtown buildings, displaying artifacts from boom days and having
a professional muralist paint murals
with historic themes.
Sour Lake Landmarks/Attractions/Photos:
|
 |
One of Sour
Laker's historic murals by S. Stowell
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
|
|
Above
mural as it appeared in 2004
TE Photo |
"Birth Place
of TEXACO 1903-2003"
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
|
|
The Former Sour Lake Jail
TE Photo, 9-04 |
The cage jail
is now enclosed in the Jail House. It opens at 8AM.
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2011 |
|
|
Downtown
Sour Lake
TE Photo,
9-04 |
Related Article
From
Bugs Bunny to Sam Houston By Clay Coppedge
If you're the type of motorist who doesn't mind stopping every few
miles to read a brief tidbit of history by the side of the road
you can put together a pretty fair sketchbook of Texas history just
from the historical markers scattered all over the state.
For instance, you can follow Sam Houston from where he first splashed
across the Red River into Texas to a number of places where he lived,
fought, slept or speechified. Want to know where he went in the
1860s to bathe his lingering wounds from the Battle of San Jacinto?
There's a marker for that, at Sour Lake in Hardin County...
|
| 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. |
|
|
HOME
Texas
Gulf Coast
East
Texas
Central
Texas North
Central
Texas South
Texas
Panhandle
South
Texas
Texas
Hill Country
West
Texas
Texas
Ghost Towns
Texas
Counties
