Tolar, Texas, Hood County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Tolar was born with the arrival of the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway in 1890. It was named after Alfred Tolar, a friend of W. L. McGaughey, who somehow had naming rights.

A post office was granted in 1890. Tolar thrived as a ranching and farming center and it soon had nearly 200 citizens with all the shops, schools and churches necessary for continued growth.

By 1914, the population was 460.

Tolar today has highway 377 running through the main street. Several of the buildings were constructed of petrified wood, which was once plentiful in the area.

The population was siphoned off for the wartime industries in nearby Fort Worth and it wasn't until the 1970 when the figures surpassed 300.

Photographer's Note

Windmill Farm in Tolar, Texas
The place is as uncomplicated as it could be. No fee, 35 windmills on 26 acres, drive through walk around, open pretty much all day. They're not really selling anything. It's more like an open invitation to view a private collection of windmills. -

Sam Fenstermacher, June 06, 2004

Go Tolar Go
Photo courtesy James Fagin, July 2002

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