VALDASTA, ANNA, and BLUE RIDGE, Collin County, TX

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Submitted by Mary Tuley - marya@texoma.net 
15 February 2001
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VALDASTA, TEXAS

Valdasta, Texas is located about 12 miles northeast of McKinney on the
Melissa and Blue Ridge Pike Road. It nestles seven miles northeast of
Melissa and about four miles southwest of Blue Ridge. It is a modest 
little rural village that had a population of around 150, at one time. 
It is one of the old established farming centers of the east half of 
Collin County. Valdasta was founded in 1886 and was called Vanersville. 
However, there was another post office of the same name in Texas and 
so it was given the French name of Valdasta. The renaming took place 
over 89 years ago. Valdasta had three churches, Baptist, Nazerene and 
the Church of Christ., also, a large shed or arbor that can be used by 
all the churches for their summer meetings.

In a business way, Valdasta had a couple of grocery stores, filling 
station, a blacksmith shop and a post office. The first postmaster 
was Tandy W. Smith, the second was William G. Airhart, the third, L. H. 
Fagala, the fourth, the late, Dr. A.H. Bridgefarmer and the fifth was 
Lewis Combest. The Combest gin was opened and operated by H. W. Combest 
for about 40 years. However, it was lated dismantled and torn down. The 
population of Valdasta in 1975 was 40.

ANNA, TEXAS

Anna, Texas was established in the year of 1875, the town site being
surveyed by the H & TC Railroad. It was named for the wife of one of 
the railroad officials. It was in 1872 that the railrod was built and 
A. Shirley served as the first agent. One of the first business firms 
was a general merchandise store owned and operated by Greer and 
Barnett. The next business house opened by Mr. Hardy and his partner.

One among the first settlers in the community was in 1854 when Larkin
Hendrix accompanied by a covered wagon caravan settled about 3 miles
northeast of the present town site. Anna has a population of some six
hundred. Also a city water system supplied by a new well of 1470 feet 
deep, as well as natural gas and electric lights. Anna is now in 
Process of black topping three miles of streets within her city 
limits. M. L. Vermillion is now serving the town as mayor and Wayne 
Sherley is city secretary.

Leading industrial establishments are, one bank, two gins, one 
$75,000.00 grain elevator and plans are now underway for another large 
elevator Anna is located on U. S. Highway 75 and is served by two bus 
lines, Texas Electric Interurban and the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Some of the pioneer settlers, now deceased are Albert Sherley, George 
Nipps, J. H., W. G. and Milton Strother, Jim Slaughter, Dr. W. B. Lair 
and Jesse Coffey. Anna is also the old homestaed of Billy McKinney, 
brother of Collin McKinney.

BLUE RIDGE, TEXAS

Blue Ridge, Texas was organized in 1860 and named for the first ridge
running north of town which was famed for the beautiful blue flowers 
which covered it. In the early days of this community it was known as 
"Pull 'n Tug", having been given the name of Blue Ridge when the first 
post office was established with William "Daddy" Worden as postmaster.
Among the early settlers of this town was the J. W. Hart family. J. P.
Price, who resided at Blue Ridge is another pioneer and whose 
birthplace lies only three miles from his present home. W. M. Baker, 
another old time resident, came to Blue Ridge in 1894 and served among 
the first county commissioners. His name is inscribed in the corner 
stone of the present Collin County Court House in McKinney, Texas.

The first school was taught by Jim Gober in 1886 in a log house which 
was equipped with peg-legged benches. One of the first business houses 
opened in Blue Ridge was a grocery store and liquor store owned and 
operated by Bob Smith. Also, the Moyer brothers, Jim Moyer and the 
late W. A. Moyer were pioneers and early settlers of this community. 
The old town which was rebuilt in 1895 was promoted by W. A. Moyers 
and J. C. Conner who bought the land for the town site from Zack 
Abernathy. It had a continuous growth for many years until fire 
destroyed a good portion of the wooden structures which were replaced 
by brick, stone and other materials. Blue Ridge is now a progressive 
and thriving little city of 700 population under the mayorship of 
R. G. Lamm. She boasts 19 business firms and State Highway 78 runs 
north and south through town. She has a deep well system at an 
approximate cost of $30,000.00 and an adequate fire fighting 
equipment.  The sources of income of Blue Ridge and surrounding 
communities are farming, dairying and stock raising. The principal 
crops are cotton and corn.