More than one hundred years ago, the small community of Avo was established six miles southeast of Stamford, Texas in Jones County. Old-timers state that the present town of Avoca received its name from the community of Avo, which was located on Spring Creek and three miles southwest of the present day Avoca. According to legend, an unknown lady suggested that "ca" be added to Avo and the community of Avoca was born. Then, another legend states that a Presbyterian preacher by the name of Dr. Jerry Ward was the reason the town was given the name of Avoca, which means "Pretty Woman".

To get the complete story of Avoca, one must go back to the time the first settlers came into the area of Spring Creek. E. M. Culwell was born in Tennessee in 1840 and moved to Texas about the time of the Civil War. He became the father of eight sons and one daughter and moved to Jones County in the summer of 1883. He settled in the Spring Creek Valley and began ranching; his brand was the Diamond Double Cross T.

Within a five mile radius of Culwell’s ranch were several neighbors and quite a few children among them. Therefore, it was decided that a school was needed in the area. Culwell collected money from the neighbors and with $146.97, he traveled to Abilene in an oxen pulled wagon to buy the lumber and supplies to build the first schoolhouse. Friends and neighbors united to build the schoolhouse for the education of their children.

According to other records, the town of Avo actually began in 1895 near the schoolhouse and church building that the Methodist preacher, J. H. Wiseman, had constructed; the church building was open to congregations of all faiths. A post office was added and J. N. Pendley was the first postmaster and also ran a gin and grocery store. About 1897, the first doctor, Dr. Dial, established the first drug store and then later a Dr. J. H. Grace started his practice. A blacksmith shop was added by A. S. Johnson and a hotel was built by A. R. Carey. Avo existed for five years --then the railroad was extended into the area and missed Avo by several miles. Avo felt isolated and some of the businesses began to move. That’s when some of the folk moved close to the railroad and Avoca was born.

Avoca was quite a prosperous town in the early 1900s. In 1902, H. E. Culwell and his brothers entered the mercantile business under the name of Slover-Culwell Co. This business was discontinued in 1910 but J. N. and H. E. Culwell kept the drug store and later added dry goods and groceries. Later, a barber shop was built by them. Their businesses burned in 1930 and ceased operation. A Dr. Roebuck started the Avoca State Bank. Churches were added by the Presbyterians (Rev. J. A. Ward), Methodist (Rev. C. D. West) and Baptist (Rev. Bussey). Most of old-timers remember the Baptist pastor, Rev. Joel V. Grimes, who served some 22 years in the Avoca community.

Businesses came and went in the small town of Avoca. Some never rebuilt after fires. Some of the last businesses in the area were: Jake Salmon’s variety and drug store, Albert and Grace Salmon’s Red & White grocery store, Douthit-Gillespie Gin operated by Eck Gillespie, Knowles Cafe, J. E. Reynolds Gulf Service Station, a laundry operated by Alvin Sylvestor, a lumber yard owned by Acme Lumber and Southern Welding operated by L. R. Wise, a barber shop operated by a Mr. Horton.

In the year 2002, the only remaining buildings in the town of Avoca are the Baptist and Methodist Churches, the post office and the Lueders-Avoca school building ( which was constructed in 1936) and it has some added additions. The gin still stands too, but it is no longer in operation. There are still quite a few town folk in the town site and surrounding community. They fully support all community efforts including the Avoca Homecoming and the Lueders-Avoca Homecoming.