Summerfield, Castro County, Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Established in the late 1890s, the town was alongside the tracks of the Pecos and Northern Texas Railroad. This obvious advantage over other towns prompted citizens to call their town Boom. Boom lasted until 1907 when postal authorities threw a wet blanket on Boom, telling them someone else was already using the name. The could have a post office � but under a different name.

A search went out for someone suitable to honor. They chose John S. Summerfield, a surveyor who had marked the boundaries of the XIT Ranch � on which the town was formed.

While still known as Boom, Summerfield�s first school was held in a dugout home. This changed in 1902 when a proper school was constructed.

Because of the tri-county geography, teacher Lena Green taught in one county, was paid from another and boarded in the third.

The International Land Company of Chicago bought the part of town reserved for businesses in 1902. Baptists and Methodists shared a church building. In 1921 a brick school was constructed � complete with auditorium.

Growth was slow. As late as 1940 the community had only seventy five people. School consolidations closed the school � always a blow to a small town. In the mid 1980s it consisted of the former school (now a community center), the post office, two stores and a grain elevator as well as the Baptist church.

The population was given as 60 for the 1990 census and that number used again in 2000.

1920s Castro County map showing Summerfield
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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