Lost in time, Aldine began as a place called Greens. It later became Prairie Switch in 1873. Trains switched engines here on the prairie.
Prairie Switch then became Aldine sometime before 1887. But how did Aldine get its name? Some say when trains stopped, the conductor yelled, “All dine”. This signaled passengers could eat. But that story seems a little too perfect.
Another story says a local farm family inspired the name Aldine. Yet nobody knows who this family was. Aldine is a rare name. It was briefly a girl’s first name during the Victorian age.
During this time, The Aldine Press art magazine was popular. The magazine’s fame might have made Aldine stylish. One of the Vanderbilts even owned a racehorse named Aldine.
Perhaps Aldine, Texas is named after Aldine, Kansas. Many early settlers were from Kansas. Maybe a copy of The Aldine inspired someone to name the Kansas town. What does Aldine even mean?
Noah Webster said Aldine refers to Aldus Manutius of Venice. He printed fine editions of Greek, Latin, and Italian classics. Each book had an anchor and dolphin. Aldine is derived from Aldus.
Aldine got its first post office in 1897. It served 25 or 30 local families, mostly Swedish farmers. They sold their produce in Houston. These Swedes planted satsumas, pears, and fig orchards.
Aldine, a place of transformation. A place where prairie switched to promise. A place where the echoes of trains and dreams still resonate. That’s the story of Aldine.