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| | Mayberry
goes wild!
Flooding in Wharton circa 1935. Photo courtesy TXDoT |
| Only
one county from Houston and one
county from the coast, Wharton is in a somewhat enviable position. As Houston
extends into Ft. Bend County, Wharton has time to study the changes from a safe
distance. Its
inland location has and continues to provide fertile land for a variety of crops
and grazing land for cattle. We at TE are sold on Wharton's attitude on preservation
and its extraordinary potential. They still have all of the important elements
(courthouse, depot, jail, theater)
a town needs, along with the Colorado River complete with park, restaurant,
and bridge. |
| | Not
all Whartonians became award-winning playwrights or network anchormen like Horton
Foote and Dan Rather.
Some were content being human cow-catchers.
Courtesy of Wharton County Museum | |
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Wharton
Attractions & LandmarksWharton
County Courthouse
The Wharton County Historical Museum: Located
at 3615 Richmond Road. 409-532-2600. Hours: 9:30 - 4:30 Tues. through Fri., and
Sat. 1-4. Knowledgeable staff and interesting exhibits covering all facets of
Wharton County history.
The 1930 Highway 59 bridge has recently been repainted a handsome
green. It was chosen as the photo to accompany the introductory text in the
LCRA 2000 Calendar. Just downstream is Riverfront Park and the large
building in between is the soon-to-be-opened (January 2000) Los Cucos Restaurant.
The Plaza Theater (on the square) has recently been restored to its former
glory and now hosts live musical performances as well as theatrical productions.
Wharton has 5 antique shops as well as 3 in nearby Glen Flora and 1 in
Egypt. The
Colorado River Band: Dr. Lowell Miller, formally of Houston, was instrumental
in organizing this 100-member group which performs at City functions and events.
A sub-group called The Brass Ensemble does weddings and funerals.
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Nearby
Destinations:
Glen
Flora: Halfway to Egypt on FM 102 West, you'll
find a cluster of antique shops and a restaurant. The rest of the town consists
of comfortable yards and homes under huge pecan trees so regularly spaced that
it must have been a pecan grove at one time.
Egypt:
Although it's not large, this picturesque village is reminiscent of the Pennsylvania
Amish Country. A small cemetery, an empty silo and lots of barns, as well as the
general store/barbecue outlet make this a place worth the 12 mile drive from Wharton.
Columbus
/ Alleyton: Continue on FM
102 North another 28 miles to I-10 El
Campo: Wharton County's "Second City" was named
after the site where vaqueros would camp while cutting grass for their cattle.
Many brick buildings surround the park where herds rested on their way to Northern
Markets. Just off Highway 59, 14 miles South of Wharton.
Danevang:
A Danish farming community now mostly a large cemetery. Large obelisk next to
the church details the history of the town, including storms, and the date the
first tractor was bought - all carved in stone. On Highway 71; 19 miles south
of El Campo |
| | Early
Wharton County steamboat
Courtesy Wharton County Chamber of Commerce
| | |
Wharton
Texas History Wharton
"was part of the Caney Run mail route established by the Republic of Texas
in 1838. The community was named after two leaders in the struggle for Texas independence,
brothers John and William Wharton. The plantation community was first settled
in 1846 by some of Stephen F. Austin's original colonists, and a post office was
established in 1847. The first lieutenant governor of Texas, Albert Horton, was
an early settler...." - See Handbook of Texas Online
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/WW/hfw1.html
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Wharton
Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture
225 North Richmond Road
979-532-1862. E-mail: torieblakely@sbcglobal.net
Website - www.whartontexas.com
Located in the beautiful brick Dr. T. M. Neal Building (circa
1912), the enthusiastic and efficient staff can provide you with brochures for
dining, antiquing, and shopping as well as an excellent History pamphlet on the
town, the county, and the Wharton Brothers.
Wharton
Hotels >
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save |
| | First
East Bernard School Bus circa 1928
Courtesy Wharton County Chamber of
Commerce | | |
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