STAFF REPORT
Body
BARDWELL – The Texas Historical Commission recently recognized the site of Old Bardwell as a significant part of Texas history by awarding it an Official Texas Historical Marker.
The designation honors the original site of the town of Bardwell as an important and educational part of local history.
A dedication ceremony to commemorate the event will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 13.
The ceremony and reception will be held at the Bardwell Church of Christ Annex, 504 Waxahachie Ave., Bardwell.
A brief history of the original community known as Old Bardwell and why the town moved to its present location will be presented.
“Small local communities were the backbone of the county at the turn of the century when agriculture played a major role in the economy,” a spokesman said.
Ellis County was a major cotton-producing county in the late 1890s and early 20th century.
“Due to travel constraints on undeveloped county roads, it was difficult and time-consuming for farmers to transport their cotton to the larger cities in the county for ginning,” the spokesman said.
“Consequently, numerous gins were built in rural areas of the county, many times at a crossroad to facilitate travel for the farmer.
“In many cases, small communities would develop around the gin providing other services for local residents.”
Such was the case of Old Bardwell, as it is now referred to on old deeds.
The community developed at the crossroads of what is now State Highway 34 and Roach Road, one-half mile west of present-day Bardwell.
During its heyday, Old Bardwell boasted not only a cotton gin, but a general store and post office, blacksmiths, a church, and several druggists and physicians.
The community even had its own newspaper.
“Join us at the dedication to find out what happened to the community of Old Bardwell and why it moved to its present location,” the spokesman said.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.
