Porterville Texas, Loving County Ghost Town. (original) (raw)

Temple Theater in downtown Porterville, early 1900s
Photo courtesy Larry Randall

History in a Pecan Shell

Originally named Juanita, after a woman no one remembers, the town was renamed by Doctor Phil Porter of Michigan who started a health colony there in 1905. Porter was convinced that the West Texas climate was healthy and wholesome.

Doctor Porter platted the townsite in1908, and modestly named it Porterville. A post office opened under the old name of Juanita in 1909 but officially changed the name to Porterville, Texas a year later.

The townspeople donated money and labor to build a community building / school / church. Completed in 1909, it was moved to Mentone (in 1931) where it still stands - the oldest building in the county. The school held classes until 1935 when a new school was built as well as the standing courthouse.

Much needed Irrigation was planned, but too many dams were built and the water level dropped. The acreage under irrigation dropped from slightly over 1,000 to 600. People started moving away around 1913.

As the water became scarce and unfit for drinking, oil was discovered and Mentone came into existence - just 2 miles to the northeast.

Porterville residents drifted to Mentone until no one was left.

Porterville, Texas Forum

• Subject: Porterville Temple Theater Photo
  This photo was taken in downtown Porterville in the early 1900s and shows the Temple Theater in the background. The ladies in the wagon most likely are Capitola (Newton) Goodrich and her younger sister Celinda Newton. The Newton Girls were born and raised in Eaton County, Michigan. Porterville's school teacher Miss Celinda Newton returned to her home town in Eaton County, Michigan. Mrs Goodrich and her husband, lived their lives in Loving County, Texas. They are buried in Charlotte, Eaton County Michigan. - Larry Randall, Springport, Michigan, December 08, 2005
• I have a post card addressed to "Miss Celinda Newton" Dixieland, Texas. postmarked 1908. Ms. Newton was a school teacher in Porterville, Tx . It appears that they must have used this mailing address before there was one closer.
  Ms. Newton is mentioned in the Porterville history, Loving County, TX online. She was a sister to Mrs. Floyd Goodrich, longtime residents of that area. They were from near here in MI. I am into a study of Porterville. - Larry Randall, Springport, Michigan, March 17, 2005

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