Edna, Did You Know?
The City of Edna became the county seat well before it was incorporated in 1926.
Shortly after the railroad arrived, Jackson County residents voted 273-17 on Jan. 22, 1883, to move the county seat from Texana to Edna to benefit from the railroad. That decision spelled the end of prosperity for Texana as most of its residents moved to Edna, some even opting to move their homes with them.
The City of Edna was incorporated briefly 15 years later when Jackson County Judge John O. Rowlett signed into law papers creating the incorporated city of Edna on May 14, 1898, after citizens voted for it.
However, residents quickly changed their minds.
According to I.T. Taylor in his book, “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” enough residents objected to having to keep their horses and livestock penned up and not allowed to roam the streets that another election was held and the incorporation was dissolved on Sept. 28, 1899.
It would another 27 years before residents voted 212-69 to become a city with a “commission government” with a mayor and two commissioners.
The older photograph is the front of a postcard, taken sometime after 1907, judging by the date on the building. The more recent photo was taken in 2011 by Roy Ortolon. Both are of Main Street. All About Flowers, located today on the northwest corner of Main Street and Wells, would be the open lot on the far right of the older photo. It's interesting to see how the facades have changed over the years.
- “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” page 112, 119-120.
- Photos courtesy of Roy Ortolon and Bill Stallings.
Cars from across several decades will be parked along Main Street by the Jackson County Courthouse square, polished and ready to show off their restorations. Got questions? Their owners would love to talk shop about their labors of love.
The event will run from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sat., June 13 in downtown Edna.
Come join the fun!
In 1930, J.H. Muckleroy was named the city’s first Water and Sewer System Superintendent, and the city’s business streets were first paved.
Prior to that, the city had purchased a steam engine and grader in 1895 to grade its roads and streets. It had begun installing concreted walks as early as 1894.
- “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” pages 115, 122.
- Photos courtesy of The Texana Museum and Mr. Roy Ortolon.
Memorial Day? Done,
Great live music? You bet!
Mark your calendars for Sat., June 13 as the First Annual Flag City Celebration brings talented local artists Adysen Malek, Greg Morales, Emma New, and Chris Zuber to downtown Edna.
The free event runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. by the Jackson County Courthouse square.
Come enjoy a great June day with us!
Edna, Did You Know?
On April 4, 1933, Fred Meador was elected to the first of three consecutive terms as Mayor of Edna. He was re-elected in 1935 and 1937.
W.S. McCormick was also elected as a City Commissioner each of those three elections. Phil Asbeck won election to the other Commissioner position in 1933, and he was succeeded in office by R.A. Drake in 1935 and 1937.
- “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” page 123.
- Photo courtesy of the City of Edna.
Even the little ones can join in the fun in the First Annual Flag City Celebration!
Edna, Did You Know?
Edna became known as “Flag City, U.S.A.” during the Vietnam War.
According to information on display in the Texana Museum, in 1968 Mayor A.D. Tinker requested that the city council pass a resolution condemning anti-war demonstrations and decreeing “that the flag of the United States of America be displayed along our streets until an honorable peace has been secured in Vietnam.”
The resolution read: “Inasmuch as our sons were risking their lives in a conflict on foreign soil; and knowing the draft card burning, protest marches and anti-war demonstrations aided and comforted the enemy and prolonged the war; the City of Edna condemned all such unAmerican activities, and wished to show its support of the government of the United States, and decreed that the Flag of the United States be flown along City streets until an honorable peace had been secured in Vietnam.”
News of the city’s resolution was picked up by The Associated Press, spreading across the nation and even into the military’s Stars and Stripes newspaper. One serviceman stationed in Vietnam became a celebrity among his peers because Edna was his hometown.
As the city website says, “this patriotic, no-nonsense attitude still exists in Edna and is symbolized by the ongoing use of the Flag City motto and the daily display of American flags in downtown Edna.”
- “Appreciation Day in Flag City, USA: Jackson County’s Tribute to Vietnam Veterans,” published by The Edna Herald newspaper in 1970.
- “History of Edna” on the city website at https://www.cityofedna.com/page/history-of-edna
- Photos courtesy of Roy Ortolon and Mike Hessong
Edna, Did You Know?
The railroad didn’t just transport people and supplies. It also hauled cattle.
According to I.T. Taylor in his book, “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” the first stock shipping pens were located to the west of town, near the J.O. Brown residence, and were soon replaced with 10 acres donated by George S. Gayle. Gayle stipulated in the contract that the railroad must build and maintain a “substantial” fence around the track to keep the livestock from getting loose.
According to Taylor, Edna had the distinction for a number of years of being the largest cattle shipping point in Texas, and probably the largest in the world, in part due to the cattlemen knowing they wouldn’t have to watch over their herds during the night.
The photograph, provided by Frank Condron to Roy Ortolon, shows cattle around 1900 outside of the old livery stable by the railroad tracks.
- “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” page 117.
- Photo Courtesy of Roy Ortolon and Frank Condron.
Edna, Did You Know?
The Houston Natural Gas Company was the first company under contract to provide natural gas to the City of Edna. The city passed an ordinance in 1927 approving the contract.
The photo above shows a group of ladies at the service counter inside of the Houston Natural Gas Company building.
- “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” page 122.
- Photo Courtesy of Mr. Jim Chase and Mr. Roy Ortolon.
Edna, Did You Know?
While an empty, 0.3 acre lot inside the City of Edna might list on Realtor.com today at $30,000, in 1882 when the railroad came through, prices for lots were much different.
According to I.T. Taylor in his book, “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” the Killough corner lot sold for $125, the Allen corner lot for $75, the Utzman corner lot for $90, and A.A. Egg’s warehouse site for $234. Lot sizes were 50x140 feet.
Pictured is the Allen Bank Building, built in 1896 at the corner of Main Street and Wells Street. The Egg Grocery Store is to the right of the bank.
- “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” page 111.
- Photo courtesy of Mr. Roy Ortolon and Wells Fargo Bank.
Edna, Did You Know?
City government and services expanded in 1929.
E.D. White was elected Mayor in April 1929, with W.R. Farquhar and W.I. Marvin elected as Commissioners. Later that year, W.M. Fooshee was named Engineer to build the city’s first water and sewer system, and J.W. Wheeler was chosen as the first City Attorney.
- “The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition,” page 122.
- Photo courtesy of City of Edna.
