“A railroad town reborn,” a voice whispers, “that’s Wallis, Texas for you.” Wallis sits quietly at the junction of two great railroads: the Southern Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe. This little town, just ten miles southeast of Sealy in Austin County, has a history richer than you might think. Wallis wasn’t always Wallis. It started as Bovine Bend, a small settlement established in the late 1830s. The post office even bore that name starting in 1873. But change came rumbling down the tracks in 1880. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway laid its Galveston-Brenham spur nearby. The little settlement became Wallis Station, honoring J. E. Wallis, a director of the railway. The post office followed suit, changing its name in 1886. Finally, in 1911, it dropped “Station,” becoming simply Wallis. The railroad brought more than just a name change. In 1887, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway arrived, heading east from Kenedy towards Houston. Around 1890, Czech immigrants, drawn by the opportunities of the railroad town, began settling in Wallis. The town grew. In 1904, Wallis boasted around 631 residents. By 1918, the local school had 100 pupils. In 1925, the population swelled to 800. And by 1943, Wallis had 900 residents and 39 thriving businesses. Even with its ups and downs, Wallis persevered. A decline in the late 1940s didn’t stop its growth. By 1966, the population had rebounded to an estimated 1,075. Wallis has always been more than just a railroad stop. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of a small town.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to