Near Haskell in Haskell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Josselet Switch

Photographed By Duane Hall, March 27, 2015

1. Josselet Switch Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Belgian native Victor Joseph Josselet (1846-1946) joined his brothers, Felix and Paul, in immigrating to the United States in 1873. After working as coal miners in Chicago, they purchased a small farm in Sherman (Grayson Co.). While in Sherman, Victor met and married Catherine Hugon (1860-1928), a native of Rosario Oriental, Uruguay. They lived for 18 years in Gainesville (Cooke Co.) before moving to Haskell County. The couple had nine children.
In 1900, Victor purchased a large tract of land between Weinert and Haskel and began ranching and farming, building a large home with several barns, outbuildings and water tanks. The family also bought a home in Haskell to attend Haskell schools and the Methodist Church. In 1906, the Wichita Valley Railroad extended their line from Wichita Falls to Haskell, completing a connection to Abilene in 1908. That year, the railroad paid Josselet $350 for a railroad siding on “a strip of land 100 feet wide, being 50 feet on each side of the line of railroad.” Josselet Switch linked area farms and ranches to national markets and became known as an important cattle shipping point to Fort Worth

Photographed By Duane Hall, March 27, 2015

2. Josselet Switch Marker

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and Kansas City stockyards. An empty boxcar was maintained at the switch for loading cattle. Josselet Switch also received a depot, grocery store, and oil and gasoline refueling station for equipment. Each of the Josselet children inherited a 200 acre tract, and the families contributed to area growth that supported the Belew, Gilliam, Powell, Meyers and Pleasant Valley schools and the Josselet Home Demonstration Club. Cattle auction barns in Haskell, Seymour and Munday helped lead to the decline of the community. Today, most of the Josselets’ original land is still owned and operated by descendants.

Erected 2013 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17532.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 33° 14.325′ N, 99° 42.153′ W. Marker is near Haskell, Texas, in Haskell County. Marker is on U.S. 277, 0.3 miles north of County Road 222, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located on the right (east) side of the northbound lanes of US 277. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Haskell TX 79521, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Liberty Tree (approx. 5.9 miles away); Haskell County

Photographed By Duane Hall, March 27, 2015

3. Josselet Switch Marker

View to east from US 277

(approx. 5.9 miles away); Haskell County Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.9 miles away); Capt. R.B. Marcy Trail (approx. 13 miles away); First Christian Church (approx. 14 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Josselet, TX. From the Texas State Historical Association’s “Handbook of Texas Online”. (Submitted on March 30, 2015.)

2. Wichita Valley Railroad. From the Texas State Historical Association’s “Handbook of Texas Online”. (Submitted on March 30, 2015.)

View to the North on Northbound Lanes of US 277 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, March 27, 2015

4. View to the North on Northbound Lanes of US 277

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,004 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 30, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.