Wier Texas history in Williamson County

WEIR, TEXAS est. 1900

Population: 640 (2003)

Weir train depot, built in 1903. Weir, named for pioneer Calvin Weir, served as a stop on the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad between Granger and Georgetown. The depot also included a blacksmith shop and a cotton platform, used for loading cotton onto the rail cars.

Courtesy of Mervin and Tommy Walker

Weir, Texas

CITY OF WEIR HISTORY

Tennessee-native Thomas Calvin Weir (1826–1901) came to Williamson County in 1856. he bought land in this area and became a prosperous farmer. Alabaman James Francis Towns (1850–1937) came in 1870 and settled nearby on the San Gabriel river. He and his brother, Robert w. towns (1848–1938), operated a gin and blacksmith shop, as well as towns mill.

In the late 19th century, the communities of Weir and Townsville (or towns mill) grew around these early settlers. Churches included Baptist and Presbyterian congregations that met at the prairie springs school, as well as an African American church that met in a school near Mankins Crossing. Calvin Weir's daughter, Lucy, served as postmaster at the post office in Townsville, where she also ran a small store.

The communities developed similarly until 1893, when the Georgetown and Granger railroad came through Weir, bypassing Townsville. In 1903, after the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Rail-Road (MKT) bought the line, known as the Katy, most area residents moved into the town of Weir, officially established that same year. The Katy Lake Resort, created by MKT on the river at towns mill dam, attracted tourists to the area. The Townsville post office moved to Weir, and with several new businesses, the town began to thrive.

A flood in 1913 damaged the resort and several local businesses, and after a severe drought, World War I and the great depression, Weir's population faltered but began to prosper again in the mid-20th century. Following voter approval, Weir incorporated as a city in 1987.

"Historical Commission staff (LCH), 8/20/02
27" x 42" Official Texas Historical Marker with post
Williamson County (Job #10802) Location: FM 971, between South Main and CR 120"

Marker Text
Tenessee-native Thomas Calvin Weir (1826-1901) came to Williamson County in 1856. He bought land in this area and became a prosperous farmer. Alabaman James Francis Towns (1850-1937) came in 1870 and settled nearby on the San Gabriel River. He and his brother, Robert W. Towns (1848-1938), operated a gin and blacksmith shop, as well as Towns' Mill. In the late 19th century, the communities of Weir and Townsville (or Towns' Mill) grew around these early settlers. Churches included Baptist and Presbyterian congregations that met at the Prairie Springs School, as well as an African American church that met in a school near Mankins Crossing. Calvin Weir's daughter, Lucy, served as postmaster at the post office in Townsville, where she also ran a small store. The communities developed similarly until 1893, when the Georgetown and Granger Railrad came through Weir, bypassing Townsville. In 1903, after the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad (MKT) bought the line, known as the Katy, most area residents moved into the town of Weir, officially established that same year. The Katy Lake Resory, created by MKT on the river at Towns' Mill Dam, attracted tourists to the area. The Townsville post office moved to Weir, and with several new businesses, the town began to thrive. A flood in 1913 damaged the resort and several local businesses, and after a severe drought, World War I and the Great Depression, Weir's population faltered but began to prosber again in the mid-20th century. Following voter approval, Weir incorporated as a city in 1987. (2002)

The WCHM extends a special thanks to the Walker family for letting the Commisison display these photos from their photo collection. These photos are for viewing only - Photographic policies prohibit reproduction - please contact the WC museum for reproduction rights.

click on thumbnail images for an enlarged view

image TWB103 Weir School built around 1912 image TWB106 Storm Damaged Weir School	image TWB015 Weir Downtown Snow Day 1925 image TWB014 Town of Weir in early 1900’s Looking South	image TWB006 Weir Baptist Church Built in 1908, torn down in 1975 when present church was built	Image TWB009 Weir Methodist Church Organized in 1903, Photo taken before steeple was taken off. Photo taken from 2nd floor of the Paul Knauth home.
image TWB013 Town of Weir in early 1900’s - Looking North from the railroad tracks	image TWB030 Weir Cotton Yard in the Snow	image TWB068 Joe Brady’s Family Car “The Whippit”	image TWB018B Girls in Buggy
image TWB028 Weir Store Roy Dowda and Floy Allcorn 1930	image TWB037 Mac Jones Mobil Station Housed in the old bank building - From painting by Carol Light for Anna Jane Jones Sansom	image TWB024B J. H. [Jim] Walker Threshing Machine at Work near Weir, Texas	image TWB024A J. H. Walker [Jim] Walker Threshing Machine during Coffee Break
image TWB025A J. H. [Jim] Walker’s Steam Powered Engine for Threshing Machine	image TWB023 Threshing Machine Owned and Operated by J. H. Walker He threshed for people of the Weir Community. Photo taken ca 1920. Note ladies on the 1913 Model T Ford.	image TWB025B Water Tank and Windmill on the Calvin Weir Place, where the Log Cabin stood. Near Weir, Texas	image TWB026 Jerry Stuchlik with a full sack of cotton, a full wagon, and one on the scales. Photographer likely rode up in the horse and buggy.” Stuchlik Family farm was southeast of Weir.
image TWB075 Alfred Ischy Digging His Potatoes Oyce and Frances Ischy usually helped their grandfather harvest the potatoes after he had plowed them up.	image TWB018A Anna, b.1886 and Mary Burnap, b.1890, Bill, b.1859 and Sam, b.1903 Burnap. Farming near Weir, Texas	image TWB002 H.L. Merrell “Taking a ride on Katy Lake” Before the 1921 Flood	image TWB005 Camp Meeting 1890 New Location for Buffalo Springs Baptist Church. near Weir, Texas

Weir Community Cemetery - Historical Marker
Weir Community Cemetery John Breneke (1847-1927) came from Fayette County to purchase 365 acres of farmland here in 1875. Deed records show he set aside two acres for a graveyard, perhaps upon the death of his sister-in-law, Susie B. Kemper (1868-1889), who died in childbirth; her grave is the earliest dated burial in the cemetery. Breneke, a Confederate veteran, is one of many soldiers buried here. The estate of Leola Hugg (1898-1975) added one acre to this site in 1978. This burial ground records the heritage of the area formerly known as Towns' Mill, Townsville, Prairie Springs and Buffalo Springs. Historic Texas Cemetery-2002 To be incised on the back: COOP AND LAURA SUE SMITH FAMILY

for more info click on Weir, Texas

The Dedication of the New Weir Post Office

Welcome - Post Master - Jim McWhorter
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Mayor Mervin Walker
Introduction of Dignitaries

Speaker: Judge John Doerfler
Read letter from Congressman Carter Dan Gattis, State Representative Dist. 20

Speaker: Tom McDaniel Commissioner Precinct 3

Cutting of Ribbon - Jim McWhorter God Bless America - Everyone

Refreshments - Ladies of the Weir Community Club

HISTORY OF THE POST OFFICE

Lucy A. Weir ran a small store in Townsville where the Post Office was housed. Lucy was the Post Master. In 1903 when the railroad came through, she moved her store and the Post Office to a new location.
In a letter from the Post Office Department, reference was made to Weir as "Late Townsville". The commission of the Post Master was passed to Horace W Weir and upon his suggestion, the town was named Weir in honor of his father, Thomas Calvin Weir, who came to this location in 1856.

POSTMASTERS
Lucy A. Weir           Townsville
Horace W. Weir         1903 Weir
Annie Burnap           1919-1956
Nora Hausenfluck       1956-1972
Hattie Marshall Burran 1972-1999
Martha R. Mulville     2002
Janet M. Bland         2002
James D. McWhorter     2003

ASSISTANTS & CLERKS
Mary D. Burnap         1919
Sam Burnap             1919
Emma Pyle              1926
Constance Lee          1937
Norma G. Lee           1952
Mary D. Raum           1952
Paula Almazan
Fran Richmond
Rosalie Remillard      Current PMR

RURAL CARRIERS
Willie D. Pyle         1936
Scott Pyle             1927
Macon Jones            1923 & 1927
Roy Dowda              1923 & 1932
Gladys Mobley          1926
Hartford Mobley        1927
Cody Walker            1938
Emil Ischy             1941
Mary D. Lee            1943

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Tommy Walker
the late Tom McDaniel County Commissioner Precinct 3	Mervin Walker Weir Mayor	County Judge John Doerfler

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