Chappell Hill Texas; Historic Chappell Hill, Washington County. (original) (raw)
Chappell Hill Water Tower
TE photo
Suggested slogans
"Why is our zip code on our water tower?" or
"For a town that gets so many things right,
why do people like to spell our name wrong?"
History in a Pecan Shell
The wife of local trader Jacob Haller is credited with founding Chappel Hill on 100 acres she bought and donated as a townsite. Her name was Mary Hargrove Haller and she named the town after her grandfather, Robert Wooding Chappell.
The town became a commercial center for the local cotton plantations and in 1847 they had a post office granted to them. A Masonic Lodge was chartered in 1851 and the town incorporated in 1856.
The town was connected to the Washington County Railroad just before the outbreak of the Civil War. During the war, Chappell Hill organized The 21st Texas Lancers and had both a Confederate hospital and Quartermaster's Depot in the town.
As it was in most of the South after the war, Chappell Hill's economy was a disaster. On top of economic collapse, there was also an outbreak of Yellow Fever in 1867 that caused more of the population to leave.
Polish immigrants appeared in the early 1870s and rescued the town from permanent ruin. More Poles made the trip after 1884 and by 1889 they had founded their own church - St. Stanislaus. The population reached the highest point up to that point - over 800 people.
The years between 1880 and our involvement in World War One (1917) showed a decline in population, but it had risen again by 1930 to1,000 people.
The population has declined from 600 people in the 1980s to just over 300 in 1990.
Brenham Hotels
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Chappell Hill Landmarks / Attractions
The school crest
TE photo, 2007
L - The former school from 1929
R - The Hubert Masonic Lodge
L - An old store in town.
R - Chappell Hill water tower
TE photos
Chappell Hill Events
If your trip to view wildflowers is in March or April, make a special effort to attend theirannual Bluebonnet Festival presented by the Chappell Hill Historical Society. There is, as they say, something for everyone and everyone is in their place. Firemen cook the barbecue, librarians sell books, and "folklife artisans" will be proving that "Folklife imitates Folkart" or is it the other way around?
For Information call: 1-800-225-3695 or 979-836-6033.
The Historical Society also hosts the famed Scarecrow Festival every October.
Other events include the 4th of July Parade, and Christmas in Chappell Hill in December. For information call the Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce at 979-277-1122. http://www.chappellhilltx.com/
With more than 25 homes and buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Chappell Hill offers many ante-bellum structures, antique stores and craft shops.
Visit the Chappell Hill Museum, the Library, the old Rock Store (with folk-art wall hangings), and Chappell Hill Bank which has operated in its original location since 1907.
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Washington County 1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
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