Malone, Texas, Hill County. (original) (raw)

Malone, Texas - Old part of downtown Malone, Texas, with old two story building

History in a Pecan Shell

The town of Malone had its beginning in 1884 or 85 when settler Alonzo Dru Walling, planned a townsite and modestly named it after himself. With the anticipated arrival of the International-Great Northern Railroad, the town moved two miles to the east in 1902. The following year the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway created an east-west route to intersect with the I-GN tracks at Walling.

William Malone, president of the I-GN wasn't happy with a competing railroad but Alonzo Walling sold him on the potential of a two-railroad crossroad town. Renaming the new town Malone just sweetened the proposal. Investors platted the town and lots were auctioned off in December of 1903. Officials of both railroads received a percentage of revenues and the T&BV built a depot.

Malone started with an instant population of 125 from the day of the auction. A post office opened the same year and A. D. Walling, clever man that he was, sued the I-GN to build a second depot and schedule regular stops at Malone. The former town of Walling declined in proportion to Malone's growth but if Alonzo Walling felt sad about his namesake town, he made up for it by owning most commercial properties in Malone.

The town throve. By 1913 there were as many as eight grocery stores operating in Malone and in the 1920s the population had grown to 550. Even during the Great Depression, Malone's decline was slight when compared to other regional towns. In 1936 Malone still maintained a population of 481.

After WWII there were still 429 people but in the 50s time caught up with Malone and the population fell to 352 residents served by a mere 12 businesses. It hit a low of 255 people and then increased to 305 by the mid 1970s - and has remained at that level.

Malone, Texas - Abandoned old home in the middle of a cornfield

Malone, Texas - Abandoned building in downtown Malone, Texas

Malone, Texas - Part of downtown Malone, Texas

Downtown Malone, Texas

Same view of downtown Malone in 2006
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006

Post Office in Malone Texas

Malone Texas city hall and Volunteer Fire Dept

Malone city hall and Volunteer Fire Department
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006

Malone, Texas closes store

Entering Malone, Texas

Entering Malone from the east
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006

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