This week's article for Tidbits of Shelby County History shared by Mattie Dellinger, date unknown, and has the following information.
Neuville is situated ten miles south of Center on the Santa Fe and is one of the most thriving and growing little towns in the county. New houses, stores, warehouses and saw mills have sprung up as if by magic. There are a lot of enterprising people in Neuville, among who are Messrs. T.C. Buckner, who conducts a large general merchandise store and other moneyed interests, as well as town lots, farming lands, etc. Mr. S.H. Matthews, also runs a first-class hotel, livery stable, and other interests. Mr. Matthews is a native of Shelby County and was born March 34, 1851.
Dr. G.W. Boynton, of Nacogdoches County, has recently moved to Neuville. The Garrison saw mill is a recent addition to the enterprises of the town. A large saw, planing, shingle and grist mill owned by F.C. Powell of Shelbyville and O.S. Wooley of Neuville is an industry of which all the surrounding country of Neuville is proud. The land all the way from Neuville to Patroon and surrounding country is as fine and productive as any in the state. Hard wood is abundant and a splendid opportunity is offered by hardwood factories.
Miss Pearl Leak conducts the school at Neuville, and by her gently manner has made herself beloved by all her pupils.
The Neuville (Gunnels) Cave is located on private property south of what once was the old Gunnels farm house. The cave itself is a unique attraction for East Texas. It is approximately 270 feet long, and has two parts. One part tunnels through a hill and opens into an immense sink-hole covering an area of at least two acres, and with an average depth of 40 feet. In the sink-hole several springs have their origin, and the small stream goes through the main tunnel and out the west opening.
In the cave is one long room, 20x40, and the ceiling is approximately 290 feet high. The roof of the whole cave is arched, and the hard sand and clay deposits offer a solid wall that appears to be safe from cave-ins.
The western end of the cave opens into a deep canyon that contains some of the tallest trees of all descriptions to be found in East Texas. Other springs in the ravine add to the volume of the water in the creek which would make a beautiful lake possible at the lower end of the area; perhaps a mile southwest of the cave.
According to Texas State Historical Association, Neuville is on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line and Farm Road 2140, nine miles south of Center in southern Shelby County. It was founded during the latter part of the 1800s and was named for the Stephen de Neuville family, who settled in the area in the 1840s. A post office was opened in 1901 with William J. Neuville as postmaster. The Neuville community had a hotel, several stores, a large lumber operation, and a population of 450 by 1914. By 1925 its population had declined to 300, and it was reported at this level through the mid-1940s. In 1938 the community had two schools, one for seventy-five White children and one for thirty-five Black children. After World War II Neuville began to decline, as much of the timber in the area had been cut over. By 1949 the population was estimated at 100, and by 1966 it had declined to twenty. The local school district had been consolidated with other districts by 1955, and the post office was closed in the 1960s. In 1984 a small lumber mill was still in operation; at that time the community had an estimated forty-three residents. This estimate remained the same through 2000.