Aransas Pass in San Patricio County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Great Land Lottery of Aransas Pass
Photographed By James Hulse, August 31, 2021
1. Great Land Lottery of Aransas Pass Marker
In 1909, real estate developers E.O. Burton and A.H. Danforth embarked upon a land promotion scheme to take advantage of available land in Aransas Pass. They hired journalist W.H. Vernor to produce the "Aransas Pass Progress" which promoted Aransas Pass and the pending land sale across the country by U.S. Mail. Promoter A.D. Powers was hired to carefully handle the sale to avoid its being seen as a lottery by the postal department. Six thousand tickets each, representing a town lot, were sold for $100 each. Ticket holders were then to come to Aransas Pass to bid on lots; they were not to bid more than $100, and thus the tickets could be exchanged directly for lots.
Nearly all 6,000 lots were sold during the auction sales in December 1909. All went well until postal inspectors who had secured tickets purposefully overbid, which muddled the sale and led to several legal battles. As a result of the Great Land Lottery of 1909, Aransas Pass did see substantial growth. The money collected in overbids went into a trust that eventually served to fund public and school ibraries, including the one at this site.
Erected
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1909.
Location. 27° 54.556′ N, 97° 8.934′ W. Marker is in Aransas Pass, Texas, in San Patricio County. Marker is at the intersection of North Lamont Street and West Wheeler Avenue, on the left when traveling north on North Lamont Street. The marker is located in front of the Public Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 North Lamont Street, Aransas Pass TX 78336, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. VFW (within shouting distance of this marker); John Wiebel VFW Post 2932 (within shouting distance of this marker); First United Methodist Church (approx. half a mile away); Aransas Pass First Baptist Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Terminal Railroad (approx. 0.7 miles away); Cementerio San Antonio de Padua (approx. 2˝ miles away); Late Pleistocene Ingleside Fauna (approx. 4 miles away); Early Ingleside Schools (approx. 6.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aransas Pass.
Photographed By James Hulse, August 31, 2021
2. The Great Land Lottery of Aransas Pass Marker in front of the Public Library
Photographed By James Hulse, August 31, 2021
3. The view of the Great Land Lottery of Aransas Pass Marker and the Public Library from the street
Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 195 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
