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History in
a Pecan Shell
When the Texarkana
and Fort Smith Railway arrived in 1898, things in SE Texas were jumping.
The forests were deemed limitless (although they started to thin out
a bit toward Waco)
and towns in the region were being born (Mauriceville)
or being renamed (Deweyville).
The naming of Lemonville might’ve been continuing the theme of citrus
– as in Orange and Orange
County, but whatever the reason for its name, it was platted in
1901 and immediately lumber magnate Alexander Gilmer started buying
lots for his Lemon Lumber Company.
A post office was granted to the community in 1902 and the sawmills
in the area were bought and traded by the same large companies that
dominated other towns in the region. The trees were cut, hauled to
the mills and cut into lumber and everyone thought (or wished) that
it would last forever – or at least through their lifetime. In less
than 20 years the party (had there ever been one) was over.
Lemonville peaked with about 300 residents – nearly all of them employed
by the mills. The Lemon post office was discontinued in 1928, and
today the town, once proudly on the maps, is nearly forgotten.
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| 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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