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LOUISE,
TEXAS Wharton County,
Central Texas S
Hwy 59
32 miles S of Wharton
80 miles S of Houston
40 miles N of Victoria
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Louise
water tower
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Named
after a daughter of Colonel Hungerford, Railroad V.P., Louise dates
to 1881, the date the railroad came through. Hungerford had been a
barber in New York City and passed through Texas en route to Mexico
during the Mexican War. His beautiful daughters married well. Louise
married a Mining Engineer who struck it rich in Nevada, and Edna married
a European Count named Telferner. Together they formed a railroad
company: The New York, Texas and Mexican Railroad. Construction
began from both Rosenburg and Victoria. This explains the town names
for Edna, Louise, Hungerford, Telferner and Mackay (Louise's Husband's
name). |
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The
Louise State Bank Building
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03 |
The Louise
State Bank Building
Built in 1903,
this handsome cornerstone-of-the-town, was closed in 1934 and reopened
in 1956. In 1974, when the new bank outgrew the building, it was given
to the city to be used for Chamber Offices. It has also served Louise
as the First Telephone Exchange, and had the Post Office in the rear
for a time. A County Library Branch was there as well, and apartments
were once on the second floor. Renters included the town watchman,
a Justice of the Peace and Texas Ranger Tom Heard.
The Bank was robbed in 1965, and while the money wasn't recovered,
the thief was captured. The beautiful vault door, visible today, came
from a bank in Houston. Of note: The Vault had "a missing brick" which
let air into the room in case employees were locked in during a robbery.
Dances were held on the second floor of the C.A. Wards store. Between
dances, couples would sit on caskets provided for seating.
Louise won the Wharton County Girl's Basketball Championship in 1925.
Team members were (among others) Louise Appling, Edna
Cook, and Ruby Friday.
Light and (5 o'clock) Shadow
In 1904 Louise had a combination Barber Shop/Photographer's Studio.
Charles Petter Prop.
Outdoor Newspaper
In 1961 Louise had a unique "Outdoor Newspaper." Actually a billboard
updated daily, the "newspaper" was read by patrons of the Short Stop
Drive In, whose owner was the Editor.
Nearby Destinations
Lake Texana, 8 miles south on US 59.
9 miles north on US 59 is El Campo and another 14 miles takes
you to Wharton.
Louis Chamber of Commerce: One Block West of Business 59 in
the Old Louise State Bank Building
Book Your Hotel Here &
Save
Wharton
Hotels
Victoria
Hotels
More
Hotels
©
John Troesser
Anyone wishing to share history or photos of Louise, Texas - please
contact
us.
TE wishes to thank Eula Lee Crowell of the Louise Chamber of Commerce
for providing us with the material used in this condensed History
of Louise. |
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