The History of Bronte, Coke County, TX

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Submitted by Jo Collier - jomar@wcc.net
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The Bronte Enterprise, Bronte, Tx - Date unknown 

				THE HIST0RY OF BRONTE
                           By Betty Butler

	Bronte is a small town of about seven hundred population.
It is located about two miles North of the Colorado River between
the East and West Kickapoo creeks, on the Santa Fe Railroad.
	The first indication of a town was a store operated by Mr. 
Tom Williams about 1887.  This store was located south of where
Mr. E. T. Holman now lives.  The building was torn down only a
few years ago.  Application for a new post office was made about
1888.  "Bronco" was suggested as a name but it was rejected by the 
Post Office Department because there was a post office of that
name in Texas.  the town was given the name "Bronte" for a Miss
Charlotte Bronte who waws an English novelist.  The first post-
master was Mrs. George Harris.  She operated the post office in
her home.
	Dr. J. F. Clark was the first doctor in this section of the
country.  He operated a drug store at his home near Cedar Mountain
as early as 1887.
	The first school house in this part of the country was built
in 1888.  The school was called "Oso", and Miss Betty Idson was the	 
first teacher.  This building was located North of the home of R. L.
Keys.  In 1890 the school was moved near the present site and a
wooden building was erected.  Later in 1906, a stone building was
erected.  This building stood until 1922, when the present building
was erected.
	The house North of Mr. Armstrong's home belonged to Dr. W. F.
Key and was the finest home in Bronte at that time.  Dr. Key was
among the early settlers.
	The last Indian fight in this part of the country was in 1875
near Cow Creek which is between Bronte and Robert Lee.  There were
three white men against an unknown number of Indians.  One of the
men was killed and is buried about a mile West of Maverick.
	Bronte soon grew to be a small community.  New stores and 
other public buildings were erected.  A drug store built and the
post office was moved in with the drug store, and was operated by
Mr. Larkin Hayley who continued to be the postmaster for twenty-
four years.
	The railroad was built in 1906.  The railroad bought land and
had it surveyed into lots for a town.  Bronte was then moved to its
present site and today it is the only shipping point of any importance
in Coke County.
	Published in the Bronte Enterprise (date uknown).

	
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