Glen Flora in Wharton County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Glen Flora
With construction of the Cane Belt Railroad from Sealy to Wharton, the townsite of Glen Flora was established in 1898 on the east bank of the Colorado River across from Waterhouse Holdings, a prime location to access rail lines. The name Glen Flora was suggested by English merchant William Hood, owner of Glen Flora's largest mercantile store, built in 1900. A post office was established in 1900. In 1902, the Glen Flora town company formed with Waterhouse as president; it reorganized in 1906 with G.C. Gifford as president. In 1903, the Cane Belt Railroad sold to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad who leased to the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe in 1905. Rail service ended in 1991 and the rails were removed.
With its close proximity to transportation and farmland, Glen Flora became a fast-growing community with a hotel, bank, lumber yard, movie theater, telephone company, two cotton gins and more. Beginning with the 1913 flood and then the potato and cane blight, residents began to move to urban areas. In the 1980s, a large commercial fruit orchard was established that restored the area's historic ties to agriculture.
Erected 2016 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18418.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 29° 20.812′ N, 96° 11.613′ W. Marker is in Glen Flora, Texas, in Wharton County. Marker is on Bridge Street, 0.1 miles south of Donavant Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located in front of the Glen Flora Post Office. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 126 Bridge Street, Glen Flora TX 77443, 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. Camp Zion Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 3.1 miles away); William Jones Elliot Heard and Egypt Plantation (approx. 4.6 miles away); Egypt (approx. 4.6 miles away); Joseph A. Hamilton House (approx. 5.9 miles away); Site of Plaza Hotel and Plaza Theater (approx. 6.1 miles away); The Dan Rather House (approx. 6.1 miles away); Wharton County Confederate Memorial (approx. 6.1 miles away); Judge George E. Quinan (approx. 6.1 miles away).
Also see . . . Glen Flora, TX.
After the construction of the Cane Belt Railroad, the townsite of Glen Flora was established in 1898 on the east bank of the Colorado River, directly across from the Waterhouse plant. Two of the main railroad investors were William Thomas Eldridge and William Dunovant. A street on each side of the railroad track in Glen Flora is named for one of these two men. In 1902 Eldridge shot and killed Dunovant while traveling on one of their trains. Source: The Handbook of Texas(Submitted on February 11, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 12, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.