This extraction may show the earliest buildings constructed in De Leon.  The building immediately to the right of the smaller tree is believed to be E.N. Waldrop’s general store, the very first building constructed in De Leon.  A steeple topped W.P. Ferguson’s Star Hotel located to the north of Waldrop’s.  The hotel was built in November 1881 and burned about 1900.  It was replaced by the Pittman Hotel.  The edge of what is believed to be the 1881 depot is to the right of trees in front of the hotel.  In the center of the photo with three arched windows  above its canopy is the first masonry building constructed in De Leon.  It  housed Boothe’s Mercantile.  Until late 2005 Dr. Pino’s Clinic occupied the building.  Notice the dog on the sidewalk on the left side of the photo. 

In the upper left of this blow-up is the only known photo of De Leon’s four room school house that shows basically the entire structure.  The school was built in 1883 on what is today Bivar Street about a block west of the “S” curve.   Immediately north (to the right) of the windmill on the northwest corner of Gonzales and Texas Ave. was Frank Brown’s Mercantile (presently De Leon Auto).  Notice how few houses are north of the railroad.

Extracted from the top photo, the buildings are (L-R) F.L. Terrill Cash Dry Goods and Groceries (about where Joe Lock’s office is today), L.L. Thomas & Co. Drugs and Medicines (Weaver Drug location); an unreadable sign that indicates the business sold furniture, followed by Wilson & Whaley and A.H. Neal & Co. which jointly occupied what became the Hampton Building.   Notice the utility pole in front of Wilson & Whaley.  It is probably a telephone pole as De Leon did not have electricity until 1906.  Bob Gilmore began De Leon’s telephone service in 1895.

One of the earliest street scenes  of De Leon ever located, this photo was found by Trent Thomas while he operated his auto sales out of the building that used to stand immediately north of city hall.  This street scene was in the late 1890s.

Early De Leon

This poem, based on the second verse, was probably written in 1896 and is assumed to have been published in the Free Press.  The clippings were in the Streety family papers.  More than anything it list many of the young men of De Leon in the mid 1890s.


LEAP YEAR CHANCES


In order to help our dear girls,

  In their leap year efforts to mate,

We publish this list of Bachelors

  That each may find her fate.


For there will be no more Leap years

  ‘Til nineteen hundred and four,

And all who miss this golden chance,

  May be left for evermore.


Now first there’s Jesse Harrell,

  As a man he is fine,

And would make her a living

   Selling white pine.


Then there is Mobley,

  So stately and slim;

If your are anxious to marry

  Just tackle him.


And here’s Zollie Nelson

  So scrupulously neat,

He’ll make a good husband

  So kneel at his feet.


If you want a medical man

    Gene Deely fills the bill,

He can cure you when sick

   With his wonderful pills.


Jasper Wilson’s a jolly good fellow

  And living a bachelor’s life;

He’ll make an excellent husband

  and deserves and excellent wife.


There there’s Claud McAfee,

   He too wants to marry,

As also does Will Gorman,

    So girls don’t tarry.


Lewis Boyd so chubby,

  And Gene Day quite tall,

Either one for a “hubby”

  Would be nice this fall.


But say dear girls

   You must not forget

That William Whaley

   Would make a nice pet.


And G. Washington Steiner

   Is a beautiful name

For some lovely girl,

   Who aspires to fame.


Ben Howe and Lee Franklin

   Are each clever boys

And they want a fine damsel

   To share sorrows and joys.


John Whaley is all business

   When out on the street.

But when in society

   He talks awful sweet.


(To be continued next week.  Boys who are omitted this week will please not be discouraged; we will advertise you next week.)

It is hard to continue

  These rhymes without pay,

But since the boys like it

  We have come here to stay.


And will advertise some more

   For these bachelors so morose

And get them a wife

   If it cost our nose.


There is Charley Farmer

   Who seems very shy,

But we will go to our last farthing

   He’ll wilt if you try.


And Gray is just waiting

   In suspense and joy

To hear a sweet voice say;

   “Come here my boy.”


There is Beno Farmer,

  Whose smiles are so bright;

Just tell him it’s Leap year

   And He’ll be all right


Howard D’Spain would be

   A good fellow to catch,

For he is growing tired

   Of being listed a “bach”.


While Leon Moreland

   Would not allow strife

To mar the bright future

   For himself and his wife.


And John Gorman! We almost

   Forgot the old boy;

He would make a home pleasant

   With unalloyed joy.


But, say, don’t forget that

   Bob Black is still single

And can love as hard

   As a child loves Kris Kringle.


Jim Day as a tinner

  Looks rather unique

And Jess Dyer with his house

  Would make home complete.


Towers McAfee and Moore

   Will never rue back

If you get them in harness

   And out on the track.


There’s Dave Switzer so keen,

   That he’s almost out of sight

And he’d jump at a chance

   With all of his might.


And Charlie Anderson’s the same

  He’s dying to wed

And He’d give her protection

  And see her well fed.


There’s Cyrus Tunnell,

   We can’t pass him by--

If you will only ask him

   He’ll fall down and die.


And Turner with a kodac

  Stands ready to “take”

The first fair damsel

   Who’ll risk it for his sake


And Albritton and Witt

  And Thomas and Clark,

And Dorsett and Hampton

   And John Roark


Have declared their intentions

   Never to say “No”

But to drop their heads shyly

  And say “It’s a go.”


Now a word to you boys

  Whom we have just advertised

if the girls want your heart

  Don’t be “surprised.”


But tell her the happiest

   Day of your life

Will be when she can say “hubby”

   And you can say “wife”.