John R. Ralls Building

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm going to give it the full treatment it deserves. The town of Ralls, out in Crosby County, grew up around one man's decision to go all-in on a place the railroad had just handed him. That man was John R.

Ralls, founder of the town that carries his name to this day. When the railroad bypassed Emma and crossed his land instead, Ralls didn't just sit on that good fortune. He donated his ranch land, parceling it out for early homesites, for the city square, for the public school, and for all the organized churches.

He handed over the ground and let a town take root. Between 1915 and 1919, he went further still, building more than two blocks of business houses. More than two full blocks.

That's not a man dabbling in real estate, that's a man building a town from the frame up. The largest of those buildings still stands, and that's the one the marker is talking about. The First National Bank made its home there, doing business until the doors closed in 1930.

And after that, the building didn't sit empty long. The Southwestern Public Service office moved in and stayed until 1964. Decades of commerce, decades of keeping the lights on, inside a building put up by the man who gave the town its name, its lots, its school, and its church land.

John R. Ralls bet on that stretch of West Texas, and West Texas rewarded the bet with a town.

What the marker says

The largest of more than two blocks of business houses built between 1915 and 1919 by John R. Ralls, founder of this town. Used by the First National Bank which closed in 1930; the housed the Southwestern Public Service office until 1964. Ralls donated his ranch land for lots for early homesites, the city square, the public school and all organized churches after the railroad by-passed Emma and crossed his land. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967.