ARCHIE TOWN

   Out on the western edge of De Leon along the Sipe Springs Highway is one of the earlier additions to De Leon that for nearly a century has been known as Archie Town.  Over time, as business and transportation has changed, the “community” has become less defined but if there was ever a suburb of De Leon, it was Archie Town, Texas.

     Archie Town took its name from its long-time resident, Archie Carruth Humphrey who  started to build his home on the southwest corner of the Sipe Springs Highway and Cato in 1909.  He married Edna Ladelle Singleton (Mar. 4,1887-June 25, 1961) on December 25, 1912 and the couple remained in that house for the rest of their lives.

     Over the years Arch Humphrey built fifteen rent houses near his home, each served by running water supplied by a gasoline pump from a well in his yard.  Businesses began to cluster around the intersection and the area really became a town within a town. 

     H.B. Holdridge and Sons opened a grocery on the southeast corner of the intersection while the Four Square Gospel Church was on the opposite side of the street.  There were two barber shops.  Dan Bingham had one and Leland Nabors the other.  Cotton Nabors got his start in the latter shop.  A laundry and a cafe along with L.G. Miller’s Garage, Sol Wilkerson’s blacksmith shop, Check Norton’s feed mill, and Lloyd Coan’s Auction and Livestock Barn all operated in Archie Town.

      Straddling Cato street heading north was a arch that stood from many years proclaiming that this area was indeed ArchieTown. 

    Other families that lived in the Archie Town area were the Browns, Boswells, Ruffs, Stricklands, Shorts, Davidsons, Holdridges, Hardins, Millers and Londons.

     By profession, Archie was a horse trader and several of De Leon’s future leading citizens lived with Archie as boys and worked with for him.  Earnest and Clint Watts came to live with the Humphreys at ages 14 and 15 and returned to live with them following World War I until they married.  Red Wing Frost, T.A. “Tater” Lee and Johnny Gray also lived and worked for Archie.   Ambrose Morgan stayed with the Humphreys until he finished high school.  His two references for admission to college were Arch Humphrey and R.R. Harvey.         

    His daughter, Wennonah described her parents thusly: “...this good man was never too busy or tired to help his friends and neighbors, or to take a death message to someone miles away in the country.  Mrs. Humphery always had a table loaded ready to feed any hungry boy, man or family that Mr. Archie would bring home. “

Archie Carruth Humphrey

(Nov. 5, 1885-August 27, 1951

When De Leon celebrated its Centennial, Archie Humphrey’s hat was one of the items included in a time capsule commemorating De Leon’s proud history.

Archie and Edna Humphrey’s home at 1000 Sipe Springs Road.

The Humphrey children, Jack and Wennonah ca. 1920.

Holdridge and Sons Grocery when it was located in Archie Town.  Photo from Delta Ree Hafford collection.

Letter mailed to A. C. Humphrey Esq. from Duster Post Office on Oct 27, 1911

Above:  Snowy day in Archie Town.  Looking northeast toward Cato Street.  Cafe on opposite corner.

Below:  Oil boom ad ca: 1919

    Archie Carruth Humphrey was born on Nov. 5, 1886 in Glen Rose.  He died in the Gorman Hospital on Aug 27, 1951.   The Primitive Baptist Church was filled to more than capacity for his funeral.   M.L. Welch, pastor of the church officiated and was assisted by four other pastors. 

    The Free Press said of him, “Few men had more friends, or were more widely acquainted than Archie Humphrey.  He was a man of the finest standards.  The great gathering at his funeral gave proof of his wide circle of friends.  He was a friend of all people, high or low, rich or poor.  It is known by those who have been closely associated with Mr. Humphrey that he aided and assisted hundreds of people when misfortune came their way.”

    Humphrey photos and information furnished to  De Leon’s Monitor by Wennonah Humphrey Harrison for an article published Aug 22, 1994.