Troup in Smith County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Omen (Canton) Community

Photographed By Randal B. Gilbert, January 2, 2016

1. Omen (Canton) Community Marker

Inscription. Promoters Alexander Douglas, Thomas Weatherby, and Mitus White platted the townsite of Canton in 1850 near the junction of two main roads, one leading to the county seat at Tyler. Although the post office was renamed Clopton in 1852 and the name was changed to Troup in 1854, the village continued to be known as Canton for many years. The first store opened in 1852 and soon the community had a tanyard, blacksmith shop, cabinet and wagon shop, hotel, school, several doctors, churches, and a Masonic Lodge. The 1860 census showed 34 households in the town.

When the International & Great Northern Railroad bypassed Canton in the 1870s, many businesses moved away. In 1880 the town and post office adopted the name Omen. For 30 years, Omen was the location of the Summer Hill Select School, a coeducational boarding school directed by A. W. Orr (1849-1924) of Georgia. This highly-regarded institution drew students from all parts of Texas as well as from out of state.

The closing of the post office in 1906 and the school hastened Omen's decline. Oil discoveries during the 1930s revived the community briefly, but with the depression the population dwindled further and Omen became a rural village.

Erected 1978 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 7747.)

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This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 32° 13.019′ N, 95° 6.394′ W. Marker is in Troup, Texas, in Smith County. Marker is on Farm to Market Road 345, 0.1 miles west of County Road 230, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Troup TX 75789, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. John Franklin Overton (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Baptist Church of Whitehouse (approx. 6.3 miles away); James Calhoun Hill (approx. 8.9 miles away); London Baptist Church (approx. 9.7 miles away); New London School Explosion (approx. 9.8 miles away); The Joiner No. 3 Daisy Bradford (approx. 11.1 miles away); The First Well in the East Texas Oil Field (approx. 11.1 miles away); Headache Springs, C.S.A. (approx. 11½ miles away).

Photographed By Randal B. Gilbert, January 2, 2016

2. Omen (Canton) Community Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 3, 2016, by Randal B. Gilbert of Tyler, Texas. This page has been viewed 325 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 3, 2016, by Randal B. Gilbert of Tyler, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.