STAR, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
Written by Billie Gail Soules Day in 1948
In the central part of Texas, and in what is now known as Mills County there is a small town called Star. Star acquired its name from the mountains, which form a five pointed star. Mr. Street first explored these mountains and first named Star, Star Mountain. This name remained until 1903 when it was changed to Star.
In 1885, according to Mrs. John Clifton there were three grocery and dry goods stores, a pool hall and a blacksmith shop. The first doctor in Star was Dr. Fowler, who was traveling through this section when sickness struck the home of one of the residents. Dr. Fowler was followed by Drs. Wilson, Dyer, and Brooking. Dr. and Mrs. Brooking practiced together. In the later years, Dr. Brooking moved to Goldthwaite; however Mrs. Brooking remained and practiced until her death in 1936.
Mr. John Leed acquired a charter and established a post office in the drug store. Calvin Skinner was the first postmaster. In 1910, when Mr. Robert Garrett was postmaster, the post office was robbed.
In 1885, there were no public roads, only small narrow cattle trails. But in 1890, there was public road opened to Goldthwaite. This road was improved and kept up by men from the age of 21 to 45, who worked three days a season, for no pay. In the early "twenties" it was made a state highway and was known as the Lodger Q. Mills NO.7. In 1937, the road was straightened from Waco to Brownwood, by the way of Star and is known as a Federal Highway, No. 84.
In 1895, Star increased by one Saloon, three grocery stores, a post office and a drug store.
Some of the first teachers of Star were Miss Love, Miss Putnam and Miss Sally Bradley. The first school building was located on, what is now known as the Gin Branch. The lumber for this building came from Gatesville.
After a few years the people built a two room school house located on the present school ground which remained until 1913. In 1913, Ed Hamilton, President of the School Board, and with the help of all the citizens erected a four room, two story stone building. At this time, Mr. Benton was the teacher. In 1933, they built a gym and three more classrooms. In 1939, McGirk, Center City and Hurst Ranch school district consolidated with Star and built the present building which was completed in 1940 by the W.P.A. In 1944, Superintendent J.T. Stone started the school lunch room program.
In the early days of Star's history freight wagons brought supplies from Gatesville and Goldthwaite. In 1908, these wagons were driven by Ben Soules, John Hamilton, Luther Teague and Clyde Sargent.
Two of the first industries in Star were the Cotton Gin operated by Alec Street and a corn mill operated by Neal Soules. The mill was discontinued, however the Cotton Gin operated until 1950.
Bert Patterson organized and acquired a charter for the bank in 1910. The first bank building was a small plank building. The first directors were Bert Patterson, cashier; Miss Hattie Barr, bookkeeper; Frank Soules, President and Ed Hamilton, Vice President. In 1920 the stockholders built a new rock building and moved to a new location. At this time Ed Hamilton bought Bert Patterson's interest and took over the position of cashier. In 1928, when all the bank officials had gone to get their mail a masked man came into the bank. The only person in the bank was the bookkeeper, Hattie Barr, who was forced and locked in the vault. Many of the citizens pursued the robber, but the chase was in vain. The robber got away with about three thousand dollars and several valuable notes.
In 1932, when the depression came, the stockholders sold the Star Bank to the Trent State Bank in Goldthwaite. This move aided the depositors because they did not lose any of their money. Frank Soules was instrumental in helping the depositors retain their deposits at Trent State Bank.
According to Mrs. T.E. Hamilton, who has been a resident of Star since 1900, a cyclone struck here on May 5, 1904. There were two persons killed - a Mr. George Mason and a small baby, Ray Harper. Ten or more were injured. Five homes were completely destroyed and a number were partially wrecked.
On April 22, 1924, there was a hail storm which unroofed buildings and broke windows in all the residences, business houses and school buildings. Men from neighboring towns came to help with the work. Shingles were brought from Goldthwaite, Lometa, Lampasas and Hamilton. The damage to the school was so great that the teachers donated the last two weeks of their salary for the re-roofing of the school building.
The first electric light plant in Star was owned by Dick Jeske, Ollie Hamilton, T.E. Hamilton, T.L. Adams and Jim Goodnight. This plant was only able to furnish a very small amount of electric lights. It operated for four years, then Jim Soules bought the plant and traded for a larger one. At this time lights were put in the school building. L.S. Karnes bought this plant from Jim Soules and improved it and operated until the R.E.A. was established. The wiring in some of the homes was changed but others were in perfect condition for the high voltage of the R.E.A.
In 1907, a fire started from a lamp which hung from the ceiling of the Parm Childress Barber Shop. The fire spread to Slaughter's General Store, completely destroying both buildings. Other stores that burned were a drug store, a grocery store, a dry goods store and Henry Morris' Dry Goods Store.
The people of this community first went to church in a small school house. The first church was built by the citizens and is now the present Baptist Church. The first Church of Christ was built only a few years later, then they remodeled their church in the last few years.
The old Methodist Church burned and in 1944, the people worshipped in the school house. In 1946, the new Methodist Church was completed. Allan Sparks was the main contractor.
In 1939, Star had increased to three grocery stores, a general merchandise store, variety store, two garages, a beauty shop, barber shop, radio shop and a cafe. This was probably the largest numbers of business houses in the history of Star. The general crop of Star was cotton. Along with cotton, the farmers have produced com and all types of small grain such as wheat, oats, barley and maize. The chief livestock of this section is cattle, sheep, swine, and goats.
Star lies mid-way of the Lampasas River and the Bennett Creek. The automobile caused the decline in businesses, but the growth of residences has increased greatly. The present population of Star is one hundred and seventy one, according to the Texas Almanac.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mrs. John Clifton, Star, Texas
Mrs. T .E. Hamilton, Star, Texas
Mrs. John Hamilton, Star, Texas
Mrs. Robert Garrett, Star, Texas