Ireland, Texas, Coryell County. (original) (raw)

Former Ireland Depot
Photo courtesy Megan Harris

History in a Pecan Shell

Named in honor of Governor John Ireland, the town had been known as Hamco prior to the arrival of the Stephenville North and South Texas Railroad.

The utilitarian but somewhat undignified name of Hamco came from the towns location on the shared Hamilton-Coyell county line.

The community reached its zenith with a population of about 400 in the mid-1920s. (See 1920s Map below)

Ireland declined when the railroad dissolved and by the late 1940s there were only 40 Irelanders.

Close-up view of the former Ireland Depot
Photo courtesy Megan Harris
More Texas Depots

My grandparents owned the store

Thank you for the compliment on my grandparents, Onie and Etta Patteson. They owned the store until the early 50s then moved to Oglesby. They lived in the back of the store. That's where my mother grew up. My other granddaddy, Edward Huckabee, owned the "filling station." His boys that didn't want to work the farm, about 5 miles out of town, were the mechanics. My folks were married in the Methodist church in December 1944 while Daddy was on Christmas leave from the war. Just tidbits about town. - D. Robbins May 5, 2020

L - Onie P. Patteson
R - Etta May Patteson, 1916

Ireland, Texas Forum

Subject: Ireland Texas
I live on my family's ranch, about 4 miles from Ireland. Ranch has been in the family since 1938. My mother grew up here and graduated from Jonesboro in 1955. She remembers hearing the train in Ireland when she was 4 or 5 years old, early 40s.

During the late 40s, after WWII, mother remembers the store (Ireland Cabinets now) was owned by the Patteson's. She said they were a cute older couple. She also remembers going to the 2nd story of the Hotel where they had an area set up for groups of women to quilt. Mother can't remember when the store stopped operating, she thinks many years after the hotel closed.

I remember going through Ireland in the late 60s, no 2 story Hotel then, just the old bank vault. I do remember the school structure standing, but it had long been abandoned. In the 60s, the Baptist Church and the Methodist Church both had weekly services. Both structures are now private residences. Just thought you might be interested in the old store owners. - Scott, April 11, 2020

Subject: Ireland, Texas
I wanted to thank you for your AMAZING and INFORMATIVE website. I have been exploring ghost towns in Coryell County with the help of your site. I took some pictures of what was probably the railroad station of Ireland, Texas while on my explorations yesterday... Thank you again. - Megan Harris, September 16, 2007

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