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History in
a Pecan Shell
Pearl’s brief life
was totally associated with the 1890 election for a Collingsworth
County seat of government. The candidates were Aberdeen,
Wellington and Pearl.
The name for the would-be county seat comes from Pearl Kennedy, the
daughter of J. S. Kennedy, a Fort
Worth land promoter.
Early in 1890 it appeared as if Pearl was a shoe-in for county seat.
Kennedy stacked the deck by bringing in “prospective” settlers - who
may or may not have become permanent residents. A school was built
as well as a saloon (perhaps to celebrate a victory).
As election day approached, Wellington
was aided by a business faction from Childress.
Kennedy raised the pot by offering a town lot to every voter if Pearl
won, but Wellington trumped that
offer with a bigger prize - five town lots for each voter.
After Wellington won the election,
Pearl faded almost immediately while Aberdeen
managed to hang on into the 1960s when it finally became a full-fledged
ghost town. |
| 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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