Emhouse, Texas, Navarro County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Emhouse began when the Trinity and Brazos River Valley Railroad was building a line connecting Waxahachie with Teague (around 1906). Originally the town was called Lyford but when a post office was applied for it was discovered that there was one in Willacy County.

The name was changed to honor the railroad superintendent Edward M. House, creatively fusing his middle initial and last name.

The smaller communities of Kelm and King Willow relocated for the convenience the railroad offered. The post office opened in 1908.

By 1914 Emhouse had a population of 500 with churches for four denominations, five groceries, three general stores and its own newspaper.

Emhouse prospered until the arrival of the Great Depression. By 1936 the population had declined to just 322. The decline continued until it reached 150 by the mid 1960s � where it has remained (more or less) ever since.

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