Townsite of Marie
Norton, Runnels County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Settlement of this area of Runnels County began at the end of the 19th century. Attracted by the good climate and farmland, Charlie Black (1868-1946) arrived in the area in 1899. Another early settler was Walter Gentry, and when a post office was established in 1906 the community was named in honor of Gentry's wife, Marie. The settlement remained very small, with a few houses, a store, gin, blacksmith shop, and school, which also served for worship services on Sundays. The community gradually disappeared as people moved to larger towns. (1988)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
At the turn of the 20th century, settlers drawn by good farmland and climate began putting down roots in this corner of Runnels County. When a post office opened in 1906, the little community took the name Marie in honor of early settler Walter Gentry's wife. It never grew beyond a store, gin, blacksmith shop, and a schoolhouse that doubled as a Sunday church, and it faded as families drifted toward larger towns.
Why it matters
Marie is a quiet example of the countless small farming crossroads that rose and vanished across the West Texas plains, marking the ambitions of a settlement era that consolidation eventually swept away.
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Related people
- · Charlie Black
- · Walter Gentry
- · Marie Gentry
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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