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HAPPY,
TEXASOfficial Slogan:
"The Town Without a Frown."
Unofficial Slogan: "We didn't like the movie either."
Swisher County, Texas
Panhandle
Hwy 87 and FM 1075
On the Randall County Line
11
miles NW of Tulia
19 miles S of Canyon
35 miles S of Amarillo
Population: 647 (2000) |
 |
Happy
History in a Pecan ShellThe
name comes from Happy Draw - a watercourse discovered and named by thirsty
cowboys. Hugh Currie is credited with establishing the town's post office near
Happy Draw in 1891. It was also the site of a stage horse-changing station.
Hopes
of a depot were dashed in 1906 when Happy was bypassed (a mere two miles) by the
Santa Fe. A town was established alongside the tracks and Plains Lumber and Grain
was the first company to open for business.The towns first store was opened by
J. F. White and Happy soon had their own paper - appropriately named "Happy
News." In 1907 the town was reunited with the post office when it relocated
on the new site. The following year the First State Bank of Happy opened its doors.
Happy was incorporated in 1925. Like most of Texas,
Happy built it's infrastructure in the 20s. Improvements included the formation
of a VFD and new school construction. The Depression years passed without incident,
and by 1940 there were 576 residents. The population was about the same (588)
in 1990 and it has since increased to 647.
Happy
Landmarks & Photo GalleryHappy
Old Photos
Happy Today |
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Happy
Chevrolet Store and gas pump
Photo
Courtesy Swisher County Museum
More Texas
Gas Stations |
| "Mose
Wesley's Auto Repair Shop was the first brick building in Happy, Texas, built
in 1913. The night before the opening, a dance was held in the new building to
celebrate the occasion. Mr. Wesley died in 1918, but the business continued with
Mr. Emmett LaRoe as shop foreman and Miss Myrtle LaRoe working as bookkeeper.
Alden Montgomery moved his automobile sales business into the building and it
was called Montgomery Motor Company. For thirty years he sold cars and tractors.
After his death, his son Flake took over the business and operated it until his
death, at which time the inventory was sold at auction. The Taylor-Evans Farm
Store occupied the building through 1967, and ten years later it was rented to
Wildore Taylor III for displaying and restoring antique cars." - Andrew Wilson |
"The
L. C. Klein Land Co. office located on the south side of Main Street. It was later
used as the post office and as William F. Miller's office."
Photo
Courtesy Swisher County Museum |
Happy
Fire Truck (foreground) and
new City Hall under construction (background).
Photo Courtesy Swisher County Museum |
Happy,
Texas Area Hotels
Canyon
Hotels
Amarillo
Hotels
Editor's
note:
Happy's
inclusion in TE was suggested by Andrew Wilson, a 21 year-old actor from San Antonio,
Texas who forwarded the three old photos above and provided text. Mr. Wilson wrote:
Dear Texas Escapes,
[Your site] is truly a vault of knowledge that
I use quite fequently, however, I beg you, please add HAPPY, TEXAS to your treasure
trove of history! - Andrew Wilson, December 30, 2004 |
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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, and vintage/historic
photos, please contact
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