The information for this week’s Tidbit was taken from printed pages with only a title page and then a description of historical events or towns in Shelby County. There is no author listed and after reading through the information the latest date I found was 1977. So I can assume it was written about that time. After reading the short descriptions of various towns, communities or events, if anyone has more information please share  your information with the museum.

Timpson Area
In 1884, Houston businessman, Paul Bremond (1818-1885) and other investors began planning for a new railroad, Houston East & West Texas (H.E.&W.T.) to connect Houston and Shreveport. In 1885, surveys were made along the northern edge of Shelby County. The first survey went through an existing town, Buena Vista. The leading citizens were unhappy with the prices offered by the surveyors. A second survey was made. The new town site was laid out in the midst of the woods missing Buena Vista by three miles. The new town was called Timpson in honor of Paul C. Timpson, the railroad official who laid out the town site. Buena Vista lost many citizens who moved west to the new railroad town.

Businesses developed quickly in Timpson. An ax handle factory was built in 1906 which was one of the best in the South. In 1909, the Timpson Soda and Mineral Water Company was one of the largest concerns for making carbonated water in the state. Timpson had a barber college and two banks, the Cotton Belt Bank, the oldest in Shelby County, and the First National Bank. There was a canning factory for peaches and tomato shed that boxed and shipped tomatoes. A fine hotel was built near the train tracks known later and for many years as the Blankenship Hotel, a fine dining place.

Camp Huawni
Camp Huawni was a dream of Earl and Retha Adams. They began the camp in 1965 because of their love of kids. The tradition continues with the camp being operated today by their sons, Mike and Pat Adams. Their camp motto is “where a better youth arises…..and the fun never sets.”

Tenaha School
J.J.E. Gibson, architect and builder of the Shelby County courthouse, was a resident of Tenaha. He owned a brickyard and supplied his buildings with his own bricks. In 1905 he built the Tenaha School, an impressive three-story brick structure. When D.A. Leak became superintendent, the school’s name was changed to Tenaha Academy. The academy lasted from 1908-1916. A 1937 fire burned the original school, but shortly thereafter the present schoolhouse was erected.

Joaquin Area
Benjamin Franklin Morris came to Texas in 1838 and settled in the northeast part of Shelby County in a village called Sarat. He gave right-of-way through 500 acres of his land to the Houston, East & West Railroad in 1884. His one stipulation was that the passenger train would make stops in town. The railroad agreed.
Sometimes later, Morris’ grandson, Joaquin, was killed in a hunt accident. In honor of his grandson, Morris donated a one hundred acre town site, and the town of Joaquin was established in 1887.

Abner Whiddon built Crystal Lake in 1920. His son, Orren, and his family expanded the business by building a bathhouse, snack bar, a dance floor, miniature golf and a trolley which ran from the top of a tall platform. Swimmers held on to ropes and rode the trolley down a cable into the water below.

Jack Windham
When Jack Windham was fourteen months old, he acquired polio and was left crippled. Jack, unable to walk, traveled to school in a cart made by his father and pulled by a pair of goats. When he began college, he wanted to be a dentist, but found he could not stand all day, so he became a medical doctor instead. He served the Shelbyville area for many years, and was loved and admired by all who knew him.

Jonas Harrison
Another outstanding Shelbyville resident was Jonas Harrison, an attorney for whom Harrison County was named. He was known as the “Patrick Henry of Texas.” His most famous client may have been Sam Houston, whom he represented in Houston’s divorce from Eliza Allen.

The Champion
The oldest continuing business in Shelby County is the Light-Champion newspaper, which for most of its years was simply known as the Champion. Stated with just four pages in November 29, 1977, by Jim and Jack Truitt, the paper is published twice weekly today.

Runaway Buggy
Tom Williams was a train engineer who became engaged to Inez Mills of Center in 1911. The couple was riding in a buggy on Shelbyville Street when it overturned and Inez was killed. Tom never forgot his sweetheart. From five miles out of Center, he would let out lonesome blasts on the train whistle until he’d passed the cemetery where Inez was buried. He retired and took that special whistle to Jasper, Texas where he lived until his death.

Carriker Lake
Carriker Lake was built in the late twenties by John Henery, Eros and R.A. Carriker, three brothers. John Henery and Gladys bought the property and made a recreational swimming park. Many people enjoyed the facility until a fire in the forties destroyed the buildings and it was closed.

First Airplane Factory in Texas
In 1933, J.B. Sanders was influential in getting the first airplane factory in the state built in Center. The States Aircraft Corporation, with Mr. Sanders as president, was later closed. Center Airport opened in the same year on Logansport Highway.

John Mooseberg
John Mooseberg is credit with founding the huge broiler industry in Shelby County in 1948. He traveled to South Texas and to Arkansas to learn the latest in broiler house operation and his dream became reality when Willie Cordray of Shelbyville completed the first broiler house in the county.

Circle Inn
The Circle Inn was a café that served up food and soft drinks had a circle booth and a dance floor, everything Sandra Dee would love. It was owned by Gene and Marie Smith who tolerated teens and loved visiting with them.