DUSTER

DUSTER TEXAS

   In the 1880s, the residents of the area met at the general store owned by “Uncle Pet” Heathington to decide on a name for the community to submit to the post office.  After some discussion, one individual picked up a sheet of paper that was covered with dust.  After shaking it off, he wrote the name Duster on the paper and that became the selected name.  At least that is one version of how it got its name.  Another says that Bill Mattox submitted the name Dusty to the post office following a terrible dust storm that was raging in the area at the time of the gathering.  As there was already a Dusty, Texas, the name was accepted as Duster.

   Now located about 7 miles west of De Leon on FM 587, the community was relocated twice after its founding.  Initially, the village was located at Polecat Pond not far from its present location.  The pond provided a source of water for the horses and teams when residents “came to town.”

   In 1910, when the MKT Railroad built its branch from De Leon to Cross Plains, the community moved to the tracks about two miles north of the present location.   The community grew to about 750 people in the general area and the school to as many as 200 students. 

   When the railroad abandoned the line in 1943 and the rails were taken up, the community returned to its first location.  The original Duster Store, which was constructed of rock was built by Grady Coan, but was destroyed by fire.  The later brick store which replaced it was built in the ‘20s and purchased in 1941 by Boss Johnson.  He sold it to his brother, Ernest in 1947.  Ernest operated it until his death in 1958.  His wife Lorena, continued the business until December 1962 when it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Gober of San Saba.

    F.M. 587 was constructed from De Leon to Duster about 1946 and extended to Sipe Springs and Rising Start several years later.

    One of Duster’s native sons that went on to achieve note was Gaston Foote, who served as pastor of the First Methodist Church in Fort Worth in the early 60’s.  At the time, it was the largest Methodist Church in the Central Texas Conference.

DUSTER BUSINESS 1897

Photo provided to De Leon’s Monitor by Cled Heathington

LETTER MAILED FROM DUSTER 1911

This letter was mailed to Arch Humphrey in De Leon from the Duster Post Officer on the morning of Oct 27, 1911

Duster Post Masters--Appointment Date

Isaac J. Tinney              04-28-1891

Wm. H. Maddux             01-29-1897

John T. Crow                 11-06-1897

Wm. H. Maddux             11-28-1892

Richard C. Maddux        07-26-1897

William F. Heathington   01-15-1904

Walter L. Blair                12-15-1905

Lonnie F. Scott               02-03-1911

Mrs. Ora Tomlin              04-27-1914

Alice J. Wells                  02-07-1921

Coleta R. Dunns              02-28-1922

Post Office Discontinued Sept. 9, 1927