Grit, Texas, Mason County. (original) (raw)

"Sure I heard of Grits. I just never actual seen a grit before." - Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinny

Grit History in a Pecan Shell

Settled by cotton farmers around 1889. When the time came to open a post office the town wanted to be named after General Frederick Funston, Spanish American War Hero. Saddened to discover that Funston had already been so honored in Texas (see Funston, Texas), the town settled on the more earthy name of Grit - said to be the texture of the local soil.

The post office opened in 1901, the first store opened around 1903, and the town had its first school building in 1908.

The Baptist church met in the Grit school until it built its own building in 1924. Telephone service began around 1914 when the town had 30 people. It remained at 30 until the 1960s when 63 people lived in Grit. This number held into the mid 80s, but it has since declined back to the 1914 level of 30 citizens. The post office has since been discontinued, but Grit remains on state maps.

Mason County 1907 Postal map showing Grit
NW of Mason
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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