Burton, Texas, Washington County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

The town was named after John M. Burton who was an early settler. The town of Union Hill (2 miles NE of present Burton) moved to the Houston and Texas Central Railroad tracks when it came through Washington County after the Civil War.

In 1885 there were only 150 people in town, but there were 400 just eleven years later in 1896. The highest population was in the late 1940s when there were nearly 1,000 people living in Burton.

Burton, Texas Landmarks & Attractions

Includes historic buildings.
The chamber of commerce has a detailed walking guide

Burton Railroad Depot Museum & Visitors Center
The Houston and Texas Central Railroad Station (c. 1898)
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, September 2010

The Knittel Homestead c. 1880
Probably the largest residence in Burton;
it's said to have been built to resemble a steamboat.
TE Photo, July 2007

H. Knittel Store
TE Photo, July 2007

View of H. Knittel Store and the Ed Schatz Store across the street
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, September 2010

	The Ed Schatz Store c. 1906 Formerly on the Historic Commission's Endangered Buildings list TE photo, 2001

Burton Grocery Store
TE Photo, July 2007
See Coca-Cola

• Mount Zion Baptist Church and Cemetery - Going East on FM 390 (La Bahia Road), after a few miles, you will see a sign directing you to the Mount Zion Baptist Church and Cemetery.
• Matson Park - Across the highway (290) from Burton is Matson Park. The park was bought so that the Black citizens of Burton could have their own area for community events. Although "Juneteenth" is celebrated officially as the 19th day of June each year, Burton's Black community didn't hear of the Emancipation Proclamation until August 4th so they hold their own celebration on the first weekend of August.
• The Otto Wehring Shoe Shop (c. 1933) - next to the Gin.
• The Otto Wehring Store - next to the Gin. The building has been locked since the death of the owner in 1976 and is part of the cotton gin complex.
• The Steiner & Dallmeyer Building (c. 1871) - a mercantile business operated here for over 50 years
  Brenham Hotels
  > Book Hotel Here

	The post office at Burton TE photo, 2002

Burton, Texas Post Office

"Can't wait to explore this newest addition (Going Postal) to your site! As a Postmaster, I am especially going to enjoy it. Wanted to clue you in on my own office. Even though the building is only about 3 years old, it's facade is built to resemble the mercantile store that sat on the site over 100 years ago. The town's residents gathered the money to pay an architect to modify the standard format the Postal service was planning for the location. Thus as Glen Flora's Post office is the "oldest" new Post Office, Burton has the "newest" old Post Office. Come see us!" - Kathryn Cockroft, Postmaster, Burton TX 77835, July 03, 2002

View of Burton Depot, showing Burton Post Office across the street.
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, September 2010

A Scenic Drive from Burton