|
"Site of
the First Lamb County Courthouse" historical marker
SE corner Main St. (FM 168) and 8th St.
Photo
Courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February 2007 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Olton was the first
town in Lamb County
and as such became the first county seat when the county was
organized in 1908.
Initial settlement occured around 1900 on a piece of state land. The
C. C. Slaughter ranch occupied most of surrunding property. Three
miles from the present town, one A. B. Powell opened a store and post
office in 1903. The name is said to come from Mr. Powell's son or
a preacher. After several changes in location, the the post office
settled at the home of T. F. Brown on the old Slaughter ranch. The
1910 population was 75 which increased to 300 by 1930 and 782 in 1940.
Throughout the short history of Lamb
County, nearby Littlefield
was vying for the title of county seat. Elections were held in 1929,
1932, 1937 and 1946, when Littlefield
finally won. (See First Lamb County Courthouse
in Olton)
In spite of the setback which has historically sent other towns into
oblivion, Olton surprised everyone with growth. By 1960 the town had
nearly 2,000 people. In 1970 there were 78 businesses servicing the
needs of 1,782 and the
last figure available was the 2010 census figure of 2,215.
Olton, Texas
Landmarks
|
 |
Historical Marker:
600 Ave. M
First Baptist
Church of Olton
In 1903, the Rev.
J.W. Winn, a missionary with the Staked Plains Missionary Baptist
Association, led a meeting at a farmhouse northeast of what became
Olton. That day, the first Missionary Baptist Church in Lamb
County was organized. The members called the Rev. Richbourg as
their first pastor. After meeting in area homes for many years, members
joined area residents in 1908 in constructing a union church building
to be used by several denominations. In 1923, under the leadership
of the Rev. G.I. Britain, the Baptist congregation built its first
sanctuary. The membership doubled within a few years and continued
to grow and serve its community through education, worship and missionary
work.
(2004) |
The 1922 Lamb
County Courthouse in Olton.
Torn down in 1964.
1939 photo courtesy of TXDoT |
Historical Marker:
SE corner Main St. (FM 168) and 8th St.
Site of the
First Lamb County Courthouse
Created in 1876,
Lamb County was unorganized
until it could muster 21 qualified voters, 1908. Citizens donated
labor for first 9-room frame courthouse, which served until it burned
in 1922.
First county officials were: judge, H. R. Miller; commissioners, J.
A. Hooper (Precinct No. 1), Claude E. Halsell (No. 2), G. M. Arnett
(No. 3), Walter Sullivan (No. 4); sheriff, Herb Dickenson; clerk,
George Gallaway; treasurer, Fred Schreier; assessor, Luther Williams.
A new courthouse of brick and concrete was built here, 1922-23. After
a 1946 election, the county seat was removed to Littlefield.
(1972) |
"Site of
the First Lamb County Courthouse" historical marker, which sits
on the corner of the empty lot where the 1908 and the 1922 courthouses
once stood.
Photo Courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February 2007 |
Photographer's
Note:
"The city secretary at the Olton City Hall confirmed what I had
read in "Wanted : Historic County Jails of Texas" by Edward A. Blackburn,
Jr. The 1922 courthouse was remodeled in 1949 and served as a hospital.
It was torn down in 1964." - Terry
Jeanson , March 11, 2007 |
"Site of
the First Lamb County Courthouse" historical marker
SE corner Main St. (FM 168) and 8th St.
Photo
Courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February 2007 |
Welcome to Olton
Home of Racing Hall of Famer Carl Nafzger
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, 2009 |
| 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. |
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