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History in
a Pecan Shell
Originally
the site of Palo Alto, one of the largest antebellum cotton plantations
in Texas, it was just one of the holdings of the Mills Brothers (Robert
and David G.). Mills bankrupted during Reconstruction,
the brothers lost the land to creditors and in 1908 the state bought
it and other plantations to build the Ramsey Prison Farm.
In 1911 a post office was granted but the origin of the name is a
mystery. In 1914 the population was given as 700 and the Ramsey Farm
reported 624 inmates.
The population declined to a mere 150 in 1958 and mail was rerouted
through the Rosharon post office
in the 1970s.
Otey today is actually surrounded by the sprawling 15,040-acres of
what is now called the Ramsey Unit of the TDC and visitors have to
pass through prison roadblocks to enter the town. It sits at the end
of the FM 655 cul-de-sac. |
| 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/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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