WHEN ALEXANDER WAS A REAL TOWN
by Mary Joe Clendenin
Back in the days when the presence of a railroad made the town, Alexander as probably the
biggest trading center in Erath County. It boasted two or three banks, as many
general mercantile stores, stables, hardware, and more saloons than any other kind of
accommodations, and three or four doctors--
of animals or humans. Goods and materials destined for Stephenville, were shipped by
the iron
horse to Alexander, and then by wagon train to Stephenville and other points. The
roads were often axle deep in mud on the freight wagons, and it took six or eight or more
mules to deliver the goods.
Responsibility for maintaining the necessary roads was shared by the county and by the
residents who lived on land adjoining. Recently, I was reading some old Justice of
the Peace record books, dating to before the turn of the century. One hundred and
eleven years ago a person was brought to court, and tried for "not working public
road." In this instance he was "acquieted by the state." Court
costs were listed:
Filing complaint
.10
Docketing cost
.20
Warrant
1.00
Subpoena
1.75
Bond
1.00
Swearing 5 witnesses 1.25
Swearing and impaneling jury
3.50
(Working the roads, after cars were the mode of travel, in the 1920's and 30's meant,
making a drag to be pulled by a mule or horse team after rains, to smooth the surface
somewhat, and cleaning the ditches so the water could drain.) Evidently, a great
effort was made to keep Alexander clean and law abiding. Several cases were brought
for misconduct. One, of many for the same cause in the 1880's, said, "Cussing
and swearing in a public place, to wit: on the streets of Alexander." He was
fined $1.00 and court cost of $1.45. In 1886 one instance was for "unlawfull
carrying a pistol on or about his person." He requested a jury trial but was
fined $25 and cost. That was about the biggest fine I saw. It was also
assessed for selling whiskey to a minor. Several were fined $1.00 for "rasing
their horses on the streets of Alexander." One man was fined and paid court cost for
being drunk in the drug store. Another for "Stealing 2 plugs of tobacco at the
store of Hammitt and Keith." That one had to pay a $5 fine and court cost of
$1.70. If the man just had to vent his temper, he had better pick the place and
time. One arrest was for "Cursing and swearing and using violently abusive
language in the hearing of a lady." Many cases were for affrays, or
assaults. I really couldn't detect from the wording the difference between the two.
In 1888, a man was brought before the judge for "Indeacently exposing his
person." He requested a jury trial and was found not guilty. Boys will be
boys in late August, and two were fined for robbing a melon patch. Court costs on
that one ran above $15. A real raid by the sheriff and constable took place when 12
men were arrested for "Playing at a game with cards in a public place."
Each one was fined $10. That sweep of bad men was made in November of 1890.
But the crime was not wiped out. Again on the 31 of December others were arrested
for playing in a public place. Then there were those that were arrested for
"Playing at a game with cards on Sunday." I can just hear the gossips
asking, "What is this world coming to?" When dad, Joe Fitzgerald, started
in the nursery business in 1900, he peddled berries, fruit, and fruit trees in Alexander.
As the railroads came to Stephenville and Dublin, Alexander began to fade away. The
whole town burned one time, and was rebuilt, but the second time fire came, no one had the
heart to hold on. Nothing of the town on the main street below the railroad existed
when I went to school there in 1941. The
school was still going strong, but that was the year of Pearl Harbor. Most of my
classmates went to the armed services or to war related occupations. Nothing was
ever the same after that. Farming became more mechanized and people moved to town.
The need for country schools faded. I taught there
the last year school was held in the old court-house looking building, along with Alberta
Ross (other name since then.) We had about 16 or17 pupils in 7 grades. Uel
Boucher and Homer Pendleton signed our pay checks. There is still a sign on Highway
6 between Dublin and Hico that says "Alexander," but don't honk your horn, only
ghosts will hear. The rip roaring population witnessed by the record books is gone.
Not a great many of us who got our education there are kicking very high, but we
remember the school with affection.
|
