Texla: The Rise and Fall of an Orange County Ghost Town
Deep in the southeastern reaches of Texas lies the silent remains of Texla, a ghost town in northern Orange County. Once a bustling hub of industrial activity, Texla serves as a poignant reminder of the boom-and-bust nature of the early 20th-century timber industry. Located northwest of Orange and just west of Mauriceville, this settlement rose and fell based on the availability of the surrounding forests.
The Origins of a Timber Hub
The settlement was not always known as Texla. When the local post office first opened in 1905, the site was called Bruce, named in honor of the postmaster, Charles G. Bruce. The town's growth was driven by its strategic proximity to the Orange and Northwestern Railway, which allowed for the efficient transport of heavy materials.
The industrial foundation began with the Harrell-Votaw Lumber Company, the first sawmill to operate in the area. However, the landscape shifted quickly; by 1906, the Houston-based R. W. Wier Lumber Company took over operations. It was during this transition that the site and its post office were renamed Texla, a name derived from its close proximity to the state of Louisiana.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Growth, Disaster, and Decline
As the lumber industry flourished, Texla grew into a significant community, reaching an estimated peak population of 600 residents. The town's economic stability was tied directly to the ownership and operation of its mill. In 1917, the Miller-Link Lumber Company purchased the site from Wier.
The town faced a major setback in 1918 when a devastating fire destroyed the mill. Despite the loss, the community's resilience was evident when the facility was rebuilt in 1919 as a double-circular mill—a type of sawmill utilizing two circular saws to increase production efficiency—maintaining the same size as the previous structure.
Ownership shifted once more within a year to the Peavy-Moore Lumber Company of Deweyville. They managed the site until the inevitable occurred: the nearby timber became exhausted. Without the raw materials to sustain the mill, the town's primary reason for existence vanished. In 1929, the mill was dismantled, and the site was abandoned.
Key Facts
- Original Name: Bruce (established 1905).
- Location: Northern Orange County, Texas, northwest of Orange.
- Peak Population: Approximately 600 residents.
- Primary Industry: Timber and sawmill operations.
- Final Abandonment: 1929, following the exhaustion of local timber.
- Legacy: A sawmill named Texla Lumber Company operated in nearby Mauriceville from 1945 to 1977.
Texla Timeline and Ownership
| Year/Period | Company/Owner | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | Harrell-Votaw Lumber Company | First sawmill operations begin. |
| 1906 | R. W. Wier Lumber Company | Site renamed to Texla. |
| 1917 | Miller-Link Lumber Company | Acquisition of the site. |
| 1919 | Peavy-Moore Lumber Company | Rebuilt mill after 1918 fire. |
| 1929 | N/A | Mill dismantled; town abandoned. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the town originally called Bruce?
The town was originally named Bruce after Charles G. Bruce, who served as the postmaster when the post office opened in 1905.
How did the town get the name Texla?
The name Texla was adopted after the R. W. Wier Lumber Company took over operations in 1906, chosen because of the town's proximity to the border of Louisiana.
What caused the eventual abandonment of Texla?
The town was abandoned in 1929 after the nearby timber supplies were exhausted, leading to the dismantling of the sawmill.
Did the Texla name survive after the town became a ghost town?
Yes. According to the Texas Forestry Museum, a sawmill called the Texla Lumber Company operated in nearby Mauriceville from 1945 until 1977.
What happened to the mill after the fire of 1918?
The mill was rebuilt in 1919 as a double-circular mill of the same size as the original structure.