| |
 |
History in a Pecan
Shell
The town dates from 1825 when Elisha Henry Roberts Wallis settled
just east of what would become known as Wallisville. After San
Jacinto, Mexican Dictator Santa Anna spent the night at the Wallis family
home on his way to Washington, D.C.
Wallis’ sons platted the town in 1854
and three years later the community was granted a post office. It served as the
Chambers County seat from 1858 through 1908.
In 1858 Wallisville tried
to lure the railroad to pass through the town, but it chose Liberty
instead. Wallisville did have a steamboat landing, however, which provided contact
with the outside world.
The Chambers County courthouse was burned by arsonists
in 1875. – the same year the community was struck by a hurricane. A substantial
replacement was finished in 1886 and nine years later the town built a jail and
erected a tower for the sole purpose of hanging criminals.
A newspaper
valled “the Age” was first published in 1897 and was the first for Chambers County.
In the opening days of the 20th century the town had all essential businesses
including a skating rink and an ice cream parlor.
The principal industries
of Wallisville were shipbuilding and lumbering until a 1915 hurricane seriously
curtailed both.
Neighboring Anahuac sought a county seat election in 1906
and it was approved the following year but contested by Wallisville. In August
of 1908 the county records were transferred to Anahuac.
In
1979 the Wallisville Heritage Park was organized and five years later the townsite
was added to the National Register of Historic Places. |
 |
Old
Wallisville historical marker
TE photo 2003 | |
|
