Taft in San Patricio County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Taft Agricultural Industrial Complex
Photographed By Steve Gustafson, June 13, 2010
1. Taft Agricultural Industrial Complex Marker
Inscription.
Taft Agricultural Industrial Complex. . The Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company laid out the town of Taft on the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad line in 1900. The intention of the company directors was to present Taft and surrounding farms as a model community to attract northern investors. By 1904 a post office and a company commissary had opened near the rail line, and soon other businesses and homes were built nearby. To promote the area's economic possibilities and the ease with which potential farmers and ranchers could market their products, the company planned a large agricultural industrial complex in the center of town. By 1909 they had built a slaughter and packing house, a cold storage facility and ice plant, and a cottonseed oil mill. By 1921, the complex also included two cotton gins, a feed mill, cotton compress, creamery and ice cream factory, and machine shop., As the company plan came to fruition, settlement and land values increased and the company realized a profit as it began selling off all of its holdings. Once solely a company town, Taft soon became diversified as the company presence gradually disappeared. Some of the industrial complex facilities remained in operation under private ownership until the 1950's.
The Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company laid out the town of Taft on the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad line in 1900. The intention of the company directors was to present Taft and surrounding farms as a model community to attract northern investors. By 1904 a post office and a company commissary had opened near the rail line, and soon other businesses and homes were built nearby. To promote the area's economic possibilities and the ease with which potential farmers and ranchers could market their products, the company planned a large agricultural industrial complex in the center of town. By 1909 they had built a slaughter and packing house, a cold storage facility and ice plant, and a cottonseed oil mill. By 1921, the complex also included two cotton gins, a feed mill, cotton compress, creamery and ice cream factory, and machine shop.
As the company plan came to fruition, settlement and land values increased and the company realized a profit as it began selling off all of its holdings. Once solely a company town, Taft soon became diversified as the company presence gradually disappeared. Some of the industrial complex facilities remained in operation under private ownership until the 1950's.
Erected 1991 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5189.)
Location. 27° 58.772′ N, 97° 23.972′ W. Marker is in Taft, Texas, in San Patricio County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 181 and Packing House Avenue, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 181. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Taft TX 78390, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Location of Taft Agricultural Industrial Complex Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. This page has been viewed 979 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. 3. submitted on June 22, 2016, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.