Beeville in Bee County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Railroad in Bee County
Photographed By James Hulse, August 29, 2021
1. The Railroad in Bee County Marker
Inscription.
The Railroad in Bee County. . On June 14, 1886, the first San Antonio and Aransas Pass (SA&AP) train arrived in Beeville to a cheering crowd. The arrival marked the combined efforts of SA&AP president Uriah Lott; Beeville merchant, banker and cattleman Captain A.C. Jones; and rancher Frank Skidmore to route the railroad through Bee County. When Lott's proposed line from San Antonio to the Gulf at Corpus Christi was opposed by the nearby town of Goliad, Jones granted land and substantial funds, while Skidmore donated land and the Skidmore townsite. Many others followed their example. , Transformed from a village to a boom town, and surrounded by new farming towns, Beeville became a shipping point for cattle and cotton. In 1889, after the Southern Pacific completed a second line through here to Victoria and the Port of Galveston, Bee County became a rail center with connections far and wide for passenger and freight service. Passenger service peaked in 1918, and by 1930 the Beeville-Skidmore line averaged 18 trains daily. During World War II passenger service increased, but improved highway travel led to its end in 1952. The Southern Pacific depot was razed in 1958, and the last train left Bee County in 1994, but the booster spirit of the railroad era lives on.
On June 14, 1886, the first San Antonio and Aransas Pass (SA&AP) train arrived in Beeville to a cheering crowd. The arrival marked the combined efforts of SA&AP president Uriah Lott; Beeville merchant, banker and cattleman Captain A.C. Jones; and rancher Frank Skidmore to route the railroad through Bee County. When Lott's proposed line from San Antonio to the Gulf at Corpus Christi was opposed by the nearby town of Goliad, Jones granted land and substantial funds, while Skidmore donated land and the Skidmore townsite. Many others followed their example.
Transformed from a village to a boom town, and surrounded by new farming towns, Beeville became a shipping point for cattle and cotton. In 1889, after the Southern Pacific completed a second line through here to Victoria and the Port of Galveston, Bee County became a rail center with connections far and wide for passenger and freight service. Passenger service peaked in 1918, and by 1930 the Beeville-Skidmore line averaged 18 trains daily. During World War II passenger service increased, but improved highway travel led to its end in 1952. The Southern Pacific depot was razed in 1958, and the last train left Bee County in 1994, but the booster spirit of the railroad era lives on.
Erected 1997 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker
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Number 7128.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is June 14, 1886.
Location. 28° 24.131′ N, 97° 45.032′ W. Marker is in Beeville, Texas, in Bee County. Marker is at the intersection of West Bowie Street and North Madison Avenue, on the right when traveling west on West Bowie Street. The marker is located at the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 314 West Bowie Street, Beeville TX 78102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. The view of the Railroad in Bee County Marker from the street
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 255 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.