Smithville Texas, Railroad Town to Movie Town, What Makes Smithville Unique. (original) (raw)

Unlike most "railroad" towns, Smithville's main street (First) doesn't run parallel to the tracks.

In addition, the railroad hasn't completely left. Repair facilities still work on cars, although not to the degree of days past. If you start at the Railroad Historical Park and walk North you'll pass the commercial district, The Smithville Times, City Hall, the Library, the Post Office, residences and eventually you�ll come to a rest area overlooking the Colorado River.

Historical Marker (in front of City Hall , 316 Main St.)

SMITHVILLE

In 1691 missionaries on the expedition of Don Domingo Teran de Los Rios sighted a lagoon which the Indians called Nenocadda. The lagoon, known today as Shipp's Lake, is on the southern edge of present Smithville. Frederick W. Grasmeyer operated a ferry here on the Colorado River in 1836. Steamboats plied the river from 1845 to about 1865. The village of "Old Smithville" was laid out on 640 acres of land granted to Thomas J. Gazley and Lewis Lomas. The town was located along the Colorado River in the northeast section of present Smithville. There were mercantile stores, dry good shops, and a Masonic lodge. In 1876 the first post office was established with John Pride Jones as postmaster. The Taylor, Bastrop & Houston Railroad, later a part of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas system, arrived in 1887, and the town relocated along the tracks. The legend is that a coin was tossed to decide if the name would be changed to Burlesonville for Murray Burleson, who gave land for the railroad depot. The coin toss resulted in "Smithville" being retained as the name, apparently in honor of pioneer settler William Smith. The town was incorporated in 1895 and T. C. Collins served as the first mayor.
(1979)
Incise in base:
Marker Sponsor: Smithville Chamber of Commerce 1977-78

Railroad Theme in Smithville

Riverbend Park out on Highway 71 has a real caboose on display in addition to the two others in Railroad Park.

Photo Courtesy Smithville Historical Society
From Arcadia Publishing's Images of America Series: Smithville, Texas

Photo Courtesy of the Smithville Historical Society
From Arcadia Publishing's Images of America Series: Smithville, Texas

Movie Theme in Smithville

At present, Smithville displays artifacts (mostly bogus storefronts) from the movie Hope Floats. We think it�s worth mentioning that Smithville was called Smithville in the movie, the only time we can remember that happening. Even Hollywood couldn�t improve their name.

The restaurant Pockets (Hwy 90 and First St.) displays many more of the signs used in the picture.

	Smithville's Dexter - From Underdog to Best of (Picture) Show by Ted R. Krueger "Adena Lewis called asking us to bring our dogs to a casting call for the movie "The Tree of Life" that was soon to be filmed in Smithville. The director, Terrence Malick, wanted the "hero dog" (to be called "Shep" in the movie) to be an untrained dog..."

	A ghost sign of a product that never was - but is. Smithville, Texas TE Photo, 2003

	Bright and Early A ghost sign in Smithville TE Photo

Former Masonic Lodge
Smithville's Tallest Building
TE photo, May 2010

Smithville street scene Courtesy Cissy CeCe Wong

	The snake over the door Courtesy of The Smithville Times.

Smithville Library

We recently called the library on a Monday and said; "Oh, you�re open!" The response was: "Why? Is it a holiday? Are we missing out on something?" This is representative of the openness (and the ever-present fear of missing out on something) of Smithvillians.

A few more words about the Library: They have a new copier with a "photo" key, which copies a photo better than you�ve ever seen. They also give you a choice of a regular borrower�s card, or one of their bar-coded, state-of-the-art, postage stamp-sized cards that fit on one�s key chain and (wait, there�s more) they�re waterproof! Unlike many current trendy libraries, these folks aren�t hell-bent on making shelf space. We�ve found many books other libraries have discarded. If you haven�t read it, it�s news to you. Our only complaint about the library is that it is underused. The staff is competent and friendly. It�s rare to find this mixture of "cutting-edge" technology and practical tradition. They have even been heard saying "thank you" when books are returned.And while we�re mentioning subtlety (the kitten's names-not Geraldo), a visit last year found three of the hour hands knocked loose from the four-faced clock at the end of First Street. Less than a week later we returned and all had been reattached and were in perfect synchronization. These are the same people who put Christmas lights on their old Fire-truck, and fence the fire station's property with old fire hydrants as posts. What's not to like about Smithville?

Book Hotels Here > Smithville Hotels

When the Swallows Come Back to Smithville
TE Photo, May 6, 2010

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