History: Bowie Co., Tx: Vineagar Hill History *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Jean Old - j.old@att.net *********************************************************************** VINEGAR HILL Area in New Boston, Bowie Co., Texas north of the city. Following information submitted by Willie Mae Morris. The facts as told to me: Naming of VINEGAR HILL Some say that Vinegar Hill got its name from a theraputic compound made by mixing vinegar with a special red clay found on the hill. This compound took the form of a poltice and, in frontier days, was used in treating everything from rashed, or skin infections, to sprains and broken bones. The hill was named as the source for the clay and vinegar compound. A more popular accepted account of the naming of Vinegar Hill involved an early settler living on the hill. In the early 1920's there were only a few residents of the hill. Although the location is now thought of as a downtown neighborhood, it was then considered to be "in the country" by New Boston dwellers. The families of the hill neighborhood were those of J. P. "Tip"Cowley, Jim Durst, Jim Graham, Jake Griffin and Monk Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell lived along what is now Center Street and was a most successful truck farmer. He was especially adept at growing cucumbers and selling the pickles to local stores. The Mitchell pickles were so delicious that some New Boston natives remember eating them as a childrood treat. To make his excellent pickles, Mr. Mitchell imported special ingredients to New Boston by train. Once when transporting a shipment of vinegar from the train depot to his home via horse drawn wagon, a barrel of vinegar fell from the wagon and broke. This occurred on the hill as Mr. Mitchell had almost arrived at his home. There is now a Vineger Hill Flower Garden, at 605 North Ellis Street in New Boston, Texas. Come by and see.