Cross

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Cross, McMullen County. Now, this little community goes by Cross today, but it has answered to a few other names over the years. Nopal.

San Miguel. Franklin. Three names before the one that stuck, which tells you something about a place that keeps reinventing itself while never quite going anywhere.

And going anywhere is not really the point out here in McMullen County, because this is one of the area's first permanent settlements. Permanent. That word does a lot of work in country like this.

There are places that try and fail, and then there are places that simply stay. Cross stayed. The name itself comes from Samuel C.

Cross, who opened a grocery store out here and, in 1924, became the community's first postmaster. One man, one store, one post office. That is how a settlement sends word to the world that it intends to remain.

The post office ran its course and closed in 1934, but the community kept on. Then, in 1953, a gas well was completed nearby, and not just any gas well. At the time it was completed, it was the largest in the state.

The largest in Texas. You let that settle for a moment. Out here in McMullen County, in a community that once went by Nopal and San Miguel and Franklin before it ever heard the name Cross, they punched a hole in the ground and found something bigger than anything else in the whole state.

Ranching has always mattered to the economy here too, the marker makes sure to tell us that, because in this part of Texas the land provides in more than one direction if you know how to ask it. Three old names, one good one, a postmaster with a grocery store, and the biggest gas well in Texas. Cross, McMullen County.

Still here.

What the marker says

This community (earlier known as Nopal, San Miguel, Franklin) is one of area's first permanent settlements. Named for Samuel C. Cross, who opened grocery store, became first postmaster, 1924. Post office closed, 1934. Gas well completed nearby, 1953, was largest in state at that time. Ranching also is important to economy. (1967)