Christoval, Texas in 1902

The “San Angelo Press” was the local San Angelo Newspaper in the early 1900′s. Above is the cover page from the April 2, 1902 edition of the newspaper. The article includes a wonderful description of the little town of Christoval at the turn of the century. Reading the article, you can see that Christoval was considered a vacation spot to escape the summer heat of San Angelo. Below we transcribe the article.

Christoval Culls.

Christoval, March 29, 1902.

Christoval, “loveliest villnge of the plain,” the beauty spot of West Texas, and the dimple in the chin of Tom Green county, is still located about twenty miles south of San Angelo, and very  near the ancient site of the Garden of Eden.

If you happen to land at Christoval on a bright spring day and your digestion is all right this is about how the town and surrounding country will strike you.

The country around Christoval is, by nature, most attractive, and the South Concho river abounds in spots that in the spring time, especially, delight the eye and make glad the heart of all whose souls are stirred by contemplation of the Divine handiwork.

The town has been growing rapidly since last summer. Some twelve or fifteen comfortable new homes have been built and others are likely to be soon. Dr. Salmon has an elegant cottage home in process of construction now. A. A. Cobb is making extensive additions to his hotel in anticipation of the summer resorters, and G. M. Holland has just recently
completed a first rate, large two-story house, to be used as a hotel,and now has it in running order.

Christoval has within the last few years attained wide notoriety as a pleasant place to spend the summer, and last summer Mr. Cobb, who had the only hotel in the place, was unable to accommodate all who wanted to stop in Christoval. Now, with the additions to the Cobb House, and the new Holland House, the public will be sure of good accommodations and quite a number from a distance are expected to spend the heated term there.

S. O. Kichardbon and his charming young bride are now at home to their friends on their ranch eight miles south of town. S. O. looks happier and younger than he has in years, and Dr. Charles Murphy, by contrast looks rather serios and sober. However, rumor has it that there is still hopefor him. The matrimonial door swings wide and many there be that go in thereat, when they can muster sufficient nerve.

Rumor is also responsible for the report that one of Christoval’s winsome girls will wed a man from the Sonora neighborhood early this fall. The same busy dame has it that a handsome blonde and a prominent young cow man are likely to become residents of the state of matrimony soon. Nor is this all, as there are rumors of two other weddings which will implicate a son and daughter of one of our most prominent citizens.

It is learned with regret that Miss Mattie Cook will probably return to her home, Oxford, Miss., some time in April. She has many friends here who will sincerely deplore her departure.

Some of the county candidates have been out lately chasing the elusive voter through the brush. Our people are becoming interested in the election, and there will probably be a good vote polled at the primaries.

There is some talk of  holding a Teachers’ Institute here the latter part of April.

There aro very few idlers, if any, in this neck of the woods just now. Everybody is busy. And that is one reason why Christoval is so popular. Her people are all substantial, whole-souled, energetic andu industrious, the kind of people to make any country “blossom as the rose.”

Miss Myrtle Woodward passed through here Wednesday en route home to Coleman after a pleasant visit in Sonora. Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Murphy, Willie Hamilton and Mrs. Murphy’s mother arrived in Christoval Wednesday evening, and are stopping at the Holland House. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, formerly Mrs. Hamilton, were married in San Angelo Wednesday at eleven o’clock. They will probably spend some weeks here. In casting about for a name for Mr. Holland’s hotel, some one suggested the name, “Honeymoon House.” In view of present and prospective conditions that wouldn’t be bad.