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Bremond's cotton heritage is still evident today
TE Photo Dec 2000 |
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Bremond is the
northern most town in Robertson County. If you're looking for Bremond,
look for the center of the imaginary triangle formed by Houston,
San Antonio and
Dallas/Ft.
Worth. It's almost right in the middle.
History
in a Pecan Shell
Named after
Paul Bremond, who was killed in the Texas Revolution, the land went
to his widow and then changed hands several times before William
Marsh Rice (yes, that one) had the town surveyed. Rice was one
of the investors who immediately granted a right-of-way to the railroad.
In this case it was the Texas Central Railway. The time was August
1869 and by June the next year, the first train pulled in.
The town was incorporated in 1870.
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The
right side of the tracks in Bremond
TE photo |
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A
former "corner store"
TE photo |
Wootan Wells
In 1878, Francis
Marion Wootan dug a well three miles west of Bremond and noticed that
the water turned his dishes yellow. He had it analyzed and when he
found it's high mineral content he started bottling it. Other wells
were dug and Wooten Wells fast became a resort.
A mule-drawn narrow-gage railway brought clients from Bremond and
during its heyday, Wootan Wells had four hotels, a resident population
of hundreds and numerous businesses catering to the thousands of summer
visitors. Francis Wootan became the postmaster for what used to be
his farm. Celebrated guests included Governor
Hogg and his wife and daughter Ima. (There never was a Ura).
But nothing
lasts forever and a quadruple-whammy
hit Wootan Wells. First Marlin
started drawing off customers, and then there was a succession of
drought, flood and fire.
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Bryan
Hotels
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Bremond
school house
TE Photo |
The town was
nearly gone after a 1916 fire (the same year as the huge Paris fire)
but the water was still bottled as late as 1926 when another fire
totally obliterated the little that was left.
Bremond's population waxed and waned, and the fluctuations of Wooten
Wells' population must certainly have had some effect on Bremonds.
In the 1870s, just before the guests started coming to "take the waters"
in Wootan Wells, hundreds of Poles immigrated to Bremond to grow cotton.
Today Bremond's 1,200 or so people equal that of the population during
the 20s and 30s. The lowest figures were for the 1890 census when
it dipped to 387.
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Your Hotel Here & Save
College
Station Hotels
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Hotels
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Bremond water tower
Photo by John Troesser, 2002 |
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