Jester, Texas, Navarro County ghost town. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

The St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad created Jester as a stop when they built through the area in the 1880s.

Originally named Switch by the railroad, when a post office was opened in 1899 it was renamed to honor George Taylor Jester, a local boy who rose to become Lt. Governor of the State.

A school had opened by 1906. The post office went through some turmoil. Closed in 1909, it reopened in 1923 before closing for good sometime after 1930.

By the time the Great Depression arrived, Jester was down to just 10 people. A store and church remained, but they too closed after WWII. The school merged with nearby Purdon.

The town was dropped from maps and whatever homes there are in the area are now scattered.

Navarro County 1907 postal map showing Jester (below "V" in "NAVARRO")
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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