Cuba, Texas, Live Oak County ghost town. (original) (raw)

"A story about Live Oak County would not be complete without Cuba in it." - Mr. Mahoney of Three Rivers

History in a Pecan Shell

_The following facts and the above quote are taken from the History of Live Oak County._It is not known what the community of Cuba was called prior to 1898. That was the year the Spanish American War began (and ended). Towns all over America were renamed as a patriotic tide swept over the nation. Cuba, and Havana were, by far, the most favored names.

Being a ghost town, it's now safe to discuss Cuba's less-than-saintly reputation. One particular incident highlighted in the Live Oak County history mentions a daughter-in-law breaking her wooden bucket over the head of her father-in-law at the town well. Cuban-Texans were known to be a feisty lot.

Another black mark for the town came about when two soldiers who had volunteered for the "Cuban War" returned with a particular ailment called the Cuban "Itch." While it was originally contracted in official Cuba - it quickly gained a reputation in Live Oak County and its origin was transferred to the town.

The third thing Cuba, Texas is noted for was baseball. Alex McKinney and R.W. Burks are credited with forming the "Cuban Nine" - a notorious baseball team.

Cuba, Texas Forum

In Collis Sellman's book From Acorns... to Live Oaks -- A History of Live Oak County, Page 32 :

Cuba - Eight or 10 miles east of the Nueces River was a community of farmers and ranchers who picked their name in 1898 following the Spanish American War, sometimes called the Cuban War. Veterans returning to the area were said to have the Cuban itch. Cuba's claim to fame was that it had the first baseball team. - Mary R. Johnson, Museum Director of Live Oak County, September 13, 2003

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