Keller

Duane's take

Here's what the official marker has to say, and I'll tell it to you straight with a little extra flavor. So pull up a chair around this campfire, because the town of Keller, Texas, has a beginning that almost went a whole different direction. After the Texas and Pacific Railroad came through this area, a druggist by the name of H.W.

Wood saw opportunity where most folks just saw open land. On July 19, 1881, Wood set aside forty acres and laid out a townsite. Now, he had a name all picked out for his new little village.

He called it Athol. Athol. You sit with that for a moment.

Within a year, though, the name became Keller; honoring John C. Keller, the railroad construction crew foreman. And just like that, Athol faded into what might have been, and Keller stepped into the story.

Once a town has a name, it has a gravity to it, and the farms surrounding that land needed somewhere to do business. So businesses grew up to meet exactly those needs. By 1886, there was enough going on that the Post Office was established.

Two hotels. Three doctors. A newspaper.

A school. And if you think the spiritual life was going to be left out, think again. The Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations came together and erected a Union Church building, also in 1886.

Three denominations, one building. That right there is either a miracle or a very practical arrangement. Probably both out here in Texas.

Keller kept on growing, kept on humming along for decades, and in 1958 the town was incorporated. From forty acres of a druggist's ambition to an incorporated town, Keller took its time, but it stuck around.

What the marker says

After Texas & Pacific Railroad came through this area, H.W. Wood, a druggist, set aside 40 acres on July 19, 1881, for this townsite. He named the new village "Athol". Within a year, the name became "Keller", honoring John C. Keller, railroad construction crew foreman. Many businesses grew up to meet the needs of the surrounding farms. In 1886 the Post Office was established. There were two hotels, three doctors, a newspaper, and a school. The Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations erected a Union Church building in 1886. Keller was incorporated 1958. (1980)