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History in
a Pecan Shell
In January 1890
the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway sent fifteen surveyors to survey
a potential spur. The FW & D was in competetion with the Santa Fe
Railroad and the mission (to create a shipping point for area ranches
from Roswell, New Mexico to Big
Spring) was a secret one.
Five miles from the center of the county a townsite was platted and
named for the Scottish city of Ayr. Early the next spring, land buyers
came to the region and settlement was begun. A store was built and
a post office opened. Success looked assured - except for the rival
town of Grenada. This town, which later changed its name to La Plata,
was under the direct control of the XIT
Ranch.
The all-too-familiar battle for county seat status began. It looked
so serious that Texas Rangers were stationed at Ayr as a precaution.
In October of 1890, La Plata won the election. The count was 97-7.
There were allegations of fraud, but the vote stood. The spur project
was abandoned and the post office was discontinued.
Ayr's brief life-span was a mere five years. |
| 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. |
Deaf
Smith County 1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
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