| |
Camp
Air, TX General Store
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, January 2010 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
The settlement dates from the early 1860s when there were actually two separate
colonies here. One was a school community named Peter’s Prairie after Major
Peters of the Texas Rangers. Peters sold hay to the cavalry at Fort
Mason, the first commercial enterprise here. The original school was replaced
by a rock building and that was later moved; but the community retained the name
Peter’s Prairie. The second community, one half mile south, was named Bethel
and finally Camp Air came to be applied to the businesses that opened alongside
the Brady-Mason
highway.
According to legend, storekeeper John Kyle whimsically chose
the name since there was little else there. Over time, the three settlements became
known as Air although there was never an established post office. In operation.
The consolidated groups became Camp Air in the 1960s.
Air had peaked
in the 1940s with about 75 residents present, but from the 70s through the 80s,
it had dwindled to just over 30.
The rock schoolhouse has been converted
into a community center and the store has been closed since the 1980s. The 1990
census reported a mere 15 residents – as did the 2000 count.
Photographers'
Notes:
"Not on any of my maps. It is at the junction of US 377/US87
@ FM1222, 11 miles north of Mason."
- Barclay
Gibson
"Subject: Camp Air TX
The
Prairie School is located about 1/4 mile south of the general store pictured here.
The school is very well kept and looks to be used regulary probably for clubs
or a community center. Modern facilities have been built in the back." -
Will
Beauchamp |
 |
The 4-way water fountain in
the school
Photo courtesy Will
Beauchamp, March 2011 |
There
IS a place called Camp Air
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, January 2010 |
Mason
County Texas 1907 Postal map showing Katemcy
(Above
"A" in "MASON")
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
Camp
Air, Texas Area Hotels
Fredericksburg
Hotels
Texas Escapes,
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