Ray Point, Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

The community was developed prior to the 1920s and was named for landowner James F. Ray. The town prospered along with the cotton boom and suffered when prices dropped. Both a Methodist and Lutheran church were built in the mid-1920s and the town opened its first school.

In 1940 an electrical co-op was formed to bring electricity to the region, but after WWII, the towns decline was obvious. The school merged with those in Three Rivers and the Methodist Church closed its doors. The Lutheran Church started holding it�s services in Three Rivers and Ray Point disappeared from most maps.

Uranium was discovered in the late 1960s and mining the mineral provided some jobs, although the town never developed. The old Ray Point school became the town�s community center. The 1990 population of 75 had increased to 200 for the 2000 Census.

Photographer's Note:
Ray Point Texas is located on FM 1358 in mid-eastern Live Oak County about 5 miles ENE of Three Rivers, Texas. This community has always been active and evidenced by the building of a new Community Center. Mostly a ranching community with scattered residences. -

Will Beauchamp, April 26, 2009

The Bridges

Photographer's Note:
The Ray Point community is set to lose part of it's history as two local bridges are in the works to be replaced. I happened upon this bridge already taken out just off HWY 72 and I was told it was for sale. Luckily the 2nd bridge nearest Ray Point is still intact. I was able to capture a few pic's before it's time comes to an end.

A nearby resident told me the bridges did have wood boards to drive across. When they began to rot the local County commission replaced the boards with piping. It was said they gave him a hard time about the bridges when the freezing wet temperatures came and ice kept anyone from driving across them. The problem was solved when the pipe had beads welded across the pipe to make the ice break up when driven across. -

Will Beauchamp, April 25, 2009

Ray Point Community Center Memorial
Photo courtesy Will Beauchamp, 2009

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