Freestone County, Texas Towns Old Ghost Towns - Never had a post office: [Special thanks to Linda Mullen, Paula Snider, Shelba Key Black, and especially Mrs. Avis Eisen for the information I have compiled.] [NOTE - Do not confuse with earlier Trinity Baptist church near Wortham.] Trinity Chapel Trinity Chapel community was located in the eastern part of the county about a mile from the Trinity River. Trinity Chapel was south of Cook Lake and Tyus Bluff. The farms around Trinity Chapel were drained by Edwards Creek. Trinity Chapel Baptist Church was located near the bridge that crossed Edwards Creek on the river side of a fork of Tyler Ferry Road (CR 340) and Sunset Road. The fork in the road still exists in modern times. Edwards Creek continues inland after the bridge splitting into Willow Fork Slough and Brinkley Slough. In 1913, Trinity Chapel Baptist Church started after the Rock Springs community had a major dispute. Most of the church members (a dozen or more) moved from the Rocky Springs Baptist Church. Other church members from the surrounding area later joined. Trinity Chapel Baptist Church saw a bunch of pastors preach there over the years. The church held baptisms at the well hole at the end of the bridge where it crossed Edwards Creek. Mrs. Avis Eisen said she went to church at Trinity Chapel and Antioch since they had both one service per month. So their family attended both. Trinity Chapel was considered a community center that had fine hog and cattle ranges around it in 1926. *1* Jessie Ward Lewis was the church clerk until the late 1930s. Mabel Day was later nominated as church clerk. Jessie Ward Lewis and Pete traveled to San Antonio with Baptist Association in 1934/35. Buddy and Ethel Scott was elected elders. Mrs. Lewis played organ. Mr. Lewis lead singing. Shelby Black Key writes of Trinity Chapel Baptist Church, "Jessie Lewis, Mrs. Lee Crouch, and Blanche Claridge were named as clerks in the minutes. We know Jessie Lewis was organist and Emma Lewis (Key) was song leader for many years. Fred (Bud) Day, Mrs. T.C. Rushing were named as Sunday School Superintendents. New converts were usually baptized in nearby Edwards Creek or in the Trinity River. Brush arbors were constructed for worship in summer revivals. Will Creel and Velma Hughes Casey believe J.B. Casey was the first pastor. Velma says he was pastor in 1924 when the Hughes family moved to the community." In modern times, Trinity Chapel is just south of the Coffield unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The area is popular with deer hunters that frequent the Jeanie Walker place owned by the Hill family. Church: Trinity Chapel Baptist Church Former Pastors: J.B. Casey, "Brother" Wilson (known for his fist pounding sermons), Mr. Anderson, Jack Bell, W. E. Yow (1930), Henry Tisdale (1932), Freddy Folk (1940), Emmett C. White (1936), Richard Anderson (1942, son of Jess Anderson.), R. L. Ryburn (1950?, was the last pastor in who left for seminary in Louisiana.) School: The Trinity Chapel School was also known as the Riondo School (named Riondo after the Mexican land grant). Anna Mae (Knight) French taught there from 1935 to 1938. Consolidation moved the school to Fairfield in the fall of 1938. Nearby Churches: Spring Bank Baptist Church (in Spring Bank community) Nearby Schools: Rock Springs School Blount School - 12 pupils in 1927 Titus Farm School (was in the Blount School District) Spring Bank School (was in the Blount School District) Known Past Residents: Campbell, Mr. Garrett, Elizabeth Ann Claridge Garrett, Thomas Henry Hughes, Mr. Ivy, Mr. Lee, Mr. Lewis, Jessie Ward Missildine, Mr. Myers, Mr. Self, Mr. Walker, Jennie Winkler, Mr. =================================================== SOURCES: *1* = Found by Linda Mullen. Fairfield Recorder, Sept. 24, 1926 issue: "COMMUNITY CENTERS IN FREESTONE COUNTY In the Eastern part of the County is two communities surrounded by excellent farming land and with fine hog and cattle ranges - Young and Trinity Chapel. These communities have schools and churches, but development has been hampered in the past by their inaccessibility to market. With good roads this section should develop."