Maud Texas is a wonderful community
located on the Texas, St. Louis Southwestern Railway line near U.S. Highway 67.
It is about ten miles South of New Boston, Texas, and is seventeen miles
southwest of Texarkana, Texas. It is located in what was once called the Red
River Territory during the Republic of Texas era.
The Maud area was one of the
earliest settled areas however, lawlessness discouraged growth. A man named
Arthur G Wavell attempted to settle the area in 1825 but he was not able to get
the area settled. After time the Railway
reached the area in, 1870 and then a settlement began to emerge.
A man named Samuel D. Knapp donated
the land for the town site and the town was named for his daughter Maud, who
died as a young girl. He had a vision of a town located on the railway, and
donated the first 100 acres for the present town site of Maud. Mr. Knapp
became the first postmaster for the town of Maud after the opening of a post
office January 1, 1881. The post office closed after a year later and reopened
in 1893.
In 1914 a catastrophic tornado
struck the city and partially destroyed the cotton gin, then destroyed the Maud
Telephone Exchange, a millinery shop was also totally destroyed. Other
businesses were heavily damaged; however the hardest hit was the residential
areas in the north and east parts of town. One life was lost, a Mrs. Pearl
White, who was a highly respected member of the community. Many were injured
and a relief train was sent in the afternoon, from Texarkana, with doctors and
nurses to help care for the many injured.
During World War II, Red River Army
Depot, and Lonestar Army Ammunition plant were built six miles north of the
community. The 2 military installations became the largest employers of Maud,
Texas, and remain so today.
Maud at one time boasted having a
Railroad Station, a telegraph office, a grist mill, a steam saw mill and a
cotton gin. The area exported cotton and lumber three times a week. At
one time Maud had its own Pharmacy, Television repair shop. Maud was even home
to an Ice cream factory called Maud Maid Ice cream; the building it was housed
in is now City Hall and The Maud Community Center.
Maud presently has a family run
grocery store, a bank, a convenience
store, a hardware-feed store, a flower shop, insurance business, just to
mention a few of the small businesses. And Maud will soon have a tire shop. There
is a very active volunteer fire department, a public library, and a city park.
Maud can also boast they have 5 churches within the city, and more
outside city limits
Maud is served educationally by Maud
ISD, which in itself has a rich history, and is a huge part of the community.
Maud has seen many changed since its
inception and has its problems like any community. However it still retains its
southern hospitality and charm. People still come together to help and
encourage each other in times of need, and still greet each other like family. Maud,
Texas!!! It’s a great place to live, with a very rich history.
Sources:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/bowie/history/post.txt
Maud Public Library’s historical records
and my own memories.
Debbie Binning
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