A Century of The History of Troup, Texas 1850s-1950s

From Tyler Paper - Tyler Morning Telegraph

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New Book Chronicles 100 Years In Troup's History


By KELLY GOOCH Staff Writer

TROUP - Willie Wilkinson remembers a time when Troup was a booming agricultural town here people came to catch trains. Although those days are over, Wilkinson can relive them by reading a newly released book about the history of Troup called "A Century of The History of Troup, Texas 1850s-1950s."

"I think it's one of the nicest things that's happened to Troup in the last 100 years," he said of the book. "Anyone who had anything to do with the history of Troup will enjoy owning one."
The 299-page hardback book is a result of efforts made by the Troup Genealogical/Historical Society, Inc. and Friends of the Library.

Mildred Steele, a committee member who worked on the book, said genealogical/historical society officers came up with the idea for the book 11 years ago. However, the idea was put off until an official committee was formed about two-and-a-half or three years ago, she said.
Committee members who worked on the book are Deborah Burkett, Mary Anne Coney, Bobby Neel, Navoleine Roddy and Ms. Steele. Bonnie Hinkle did the editing and typing.
Each person on the committee was assigned a chapter, but everyone ended up working on all of the chapters, Ms. Steele said.

"None of us had ever been involved in writing a book. It was a much bigger job than we ever imagined," she said.

The book's 11 chapters are filled with photographs and information on various subjects, including early settlers, the arrival of the railroad, business, civic and local government, social and fraternal organizations, education and churches and cemeteries.

In the last chapter, Gerald Sadler is one of the many contributors who share their own stories about Troup. "I distinctly remember riding my horse Dolly right through the middle of town when I went to the movies on Saturdays," Sadler writes. "It cost 10 cents to get in, and I could tie my horse at the O'Neal Blacksmith Shop on Chicken Alley (North Georgia) while I was there."

Ms. Steele said she learned a lot about Troup while working on the book. At the turn of the 20th century, she said, Troup was the second-largest town in Smith County and had 11 saloons.
There also were once five cotton gins in Troup, and the town was known as the Bell Pepper Capital of the World, Ms. Steele said.

She said Troup grew in the 1930s when the oil boom hit, but growth and agriculture eventually died down. During its heyday, Ms. Steele said, people could get everything they needed in Troup without having to go to Tyler or Jacksonville.

Neel said he learned Troup was originally spelled "Troupe" because that was the railroad station's name. According to the book, the name of the post office was spelled "Troup," and the "e" was dropped after the Legislature required railroad stations to have the same name as the towns' post offices.

People still have an opportunity to get a copy of the book to further their knowledge of the city.
Melanie Brumit, library director at the Cameron-J. Jarvis Troup Municipal Library, said about 700 books have been sold so far.

Ms. Steele estimated nearly 400 people pre-ordered the book, which was published by Best of East Texas Publishers in Lufkin.

"They're very impressed with it. They love the pictures and reading the stories," Ms. Brumit said.

Neel echoed her comments, saying "It's a good book, (and) everybody's just thrilled to death with it."

He said he even mailed a copy of the book to his uncle in Atlanta.

The book costs $35 and is available during normal business hours at the library, Steele's Feed and Seed and Aunt Lillie's Antiques & Gifts.

For more information about ordering the book, visit www.trouphistory.org.