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Anna
Martin & Sons General Merchandise
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
History
in a Pecan ShellAs
Fredericksburg
became saturated with settlers in the 1850s, many left the safety of the populated
areas and moved into Mason County. Two of these German settlers were Christopher
Voges and Louis Martin who moved their families here in the late 1850s.
The community took its name from either the mother or daughter of Louis Martin
since both were named Hedwig. The town is generally considered to be one of,
if not the oldest community in Mason County.
The community received a post
office in June of 1858 with Louis as postmaster. A store opened around that same
time run by Charles Martin (nephew of Louis) and his wife. In addition to the
store, the couple had a freighting business with Austin
and San Antonio.
In 1870
a Methodist Episcopal church was established one of three that once served the
community and environs. A school opened in the late 1800s.
The community
had the dubious distinction of being one of the earliest communities to fall victim
to improved roads which facilitated travel eclipsing the importance of way station
communities.
The Hedwigs Hill post office closed in 1907 and the population
was first reported as 10 in the 1930s. In the 1960s the community roared to life,
reporting 63 residents.
The house of Louis Martin has been relocated to
Lubbock as part
of the Ranching Heritage Center at Texas Tech University.
By the mid 1970s
the population reached its high-water mark of 85 but returned back to 10 for
the 1990 census. |
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Mason
County 1907 Postal map showing Hedwig Hill
(Below
"S" in "MASON")
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
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