Telico Might Have Been Site of Texas Centennial

Dallas Morning News Jan. 6, 1936 page 17
Special to The News. Italy, Ellis Co Tex Jan. 5.

Had it not been for the Civil War, the Texas Centennial might have been celebrated at Telico in Ellis County. Located west of tthe Trinity River and northeast of Ennis, this community is almost unknown in history, but eighty years ago plans were being made for it to be the metropolis of North Texas.

There was first the $200,000 Manufacturing Company organized and fiinanced by a group of wealthy pioneers who had plans for a large city to be built near the landing on the west bank of the Trinity River. The pier was for Captain R. D. Aprice's steamer, "Welchman", one of the largest light steamers ever to navigate the stream between Galveston and Dallas .

Backers included T. M. McCray, Solomon Vanhook, Isaac Sessions, G. C. Richardson, James Hamilton, John Westbrook, William Peel, Abner Johnson, F. M. Hanks and Joseph A. Clayton. Utilizing large engines, the company manufactured wool, cotton, lumber and furniture for 4-5 years before the impending Civil War spelled its doom. Today there is no sign of what was probably the first and certainly the largest manufacturing plant in North Texas.

The town of Telico disappeared and was later replaced by an inland community surrounded by many acres of rich soil, owned and cultivated by a number of farmers.

Captain Aprice's business went down - he sunk his steamer and retired to a farm near Italy where a granddaughter now lives.

[Barbara Knox had the idea that she could rewrite editorials to make them sound better, and would do this even when transcribing historical documents. These two articles are likely to be one in the same as one or both could have been rewritten by her. It would be wise to locate the original newspaper clipping(s) to verify the facts for yourself. -- Rob Yoder]

Telico

Might Have Been Site of Texas Centennial

Dallas Morning News Jan. 6, 1936 page 17
Special to the News. Italy, Ellis Co Tex Jan. 5.

The Texas Centennial might have been celebrated at Telico in Ellis County had it not been for the Civil War. Located west of the Trinity River and northeast of Ennis, this community is almost unknown in today's history, but eighty years ago plans were being made for it to be the metropolis of North Texas.

A $200,000 Telico Manufacturing Company was organized and financed by a group of wealthy pioneers who had plans for a large city to be built near the landing on the west bank of the Trinity River. The pier was for Captain R. D. Aprice's steamer, Welchman, one of the largest light steamers ever to navigate the stream between Galveston and Dallas .

The original town of Telico disappeared, later to be replaced by an inland farming community containing many acres of rich soil.

Captain Aprice's business went down - he sunk his steamer, the Welchman and retired to a farm near Italy where a granddaughter, now lives.

Telico

Might Have Been Site of Texas Centennial ??

Telico

Might Have Been Site of Texas Centennial