Wilmeth Texas, aka Mazeland Texas, Runnels County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

From "Eighteen Ghost Towns of Runnels County" by Alton O'Neil Jr.:

"Mazeland, named for the maize that grew in the area, was founded on May 25, 1903, when a store and post office was opened on the Hutchison Ranch with Mrs Hutchison as postmistress. A school was erected in 1904, on land donated by M.T. Hensley, a mile and a half northeast of Mazeland.

In 1910 a two-story building was erected and more teachers employed. In 1915 the building was remodeled again. At one time there was a church, and a community auditorium at the school. The school consolidated with Winters in 1947. By 1906 settlement in the area had shifted to a mile east of the school house. This section was named after a popular Ballinger banker, Jo Wilmeth. Joel Smith and his wife started a store in Wilmeth. Housewives would bring the mail from Mazeland and leave it at the store. Mrs Smith saw the need for a post office in Wilmeth and became postmistress when one was opened in April 1, 1907. Richard Nash bought the Mazeland store in 1907 and became postmaster in of Mazeland.

The following year he moved the store and post office to Wilmeth. Both post offices closed in 1909. At one time Wilmeth had two blacksmith shops, a gin, a store and post office, a barber, and a telephone system with over 60 subscribers. A Methodist church was built at the Mazeland school in 1913. Members of the Church of Christ erected a building in 1916. The Baptist organized in 1906 at Mazeland, meeting in the schoolhouse. In 1909 the Methodists and Baptist built a tabernacle at the school. The Baptist built a church at Wilmeth in 1921. The Church of Christ closed in 1962, the Methodist in 1949, and the Baptist in 2004. The Wilmeth store was closed in the 1970's."

Scenes from Wilmeth, Texas
Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2007

1907 postal map showing Mazeland in NW Runnels County
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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