Winnie-Stowell

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Two towns, one story. That's the short version of Winnie-Stowell, and if you've got a few minutes on this stretch of road through northeastern Chambers County, the long version is worth your time.

Winnie and Stowell both came into the world in the mid-1890s, planted along the Gulf and Interstate Railway, and from the start they were neighbors in the truest sense. Close enough to share a name. Close enough to share just about everything, eventually.

People around here have long referred to them simply as Winnie-Stowell, and there's a reason for that. Winnie got its start through the Winnie Loan and Improvement Company, a corporation based over in Galveston that made it their business to promote settlement in the townsite. By 1910 there was already a school and a bank up and running, and Winnie had planted its flag as the retail center for all the surrounding area.

That's no small thing out on the coastal prairie. Now Stowell had its own cast of early settlers, among them the W. W.

Gregory and Spencer families, and a man named F. W. Schwettman.

In 1899, Schwettman helped build the Farmers Canal, which served the area's irrigation needs, and for a good stretch of years that canal was doing exactly what it was supposed to do. Doing it well, by all accounts. Then came 1915.

A storm rolled through and ruined the canal and most of the surrounding rice fields along with it. Just like that, something that had proved very successful was gone. But here's the thing about this part of Texas.

The 20th century brought improved irrigation systems, and with them came the successful commercial development of orange, fig, and rice production in the area. The land had more to give. The towns had more to give.

In 1931, the school systems of Winnie and Stowell were combined into one district, and if you want a moment that says something about the character of a place, that's one of them. Then in 1957, Winnie-Stowell Park was established, giving both towns yet another shared interest, another reason to show up for each other. Two communities, founded together, weathered together, grown together.

That's Winnie-Stowell.

What the marker says

Winnie and Stowell are two communities in northeastern Chambers County that were founded in the mid-1890s on the Gulf & Interstate Railway. The towns share a common economic history and cultural heritage and often are referred to simply as Winnie-Stowell. The town of Winnie was organized by the Winnie Loan and Improvement Co., a corporation based in Galveston that promoted settlement in the townsite. A school and bank were in operation by 1910, and Winnie became the retail center for the surrounding area. Early settlers in Stowell included the W. W. Gregory and Spencer families and F. W. Schwettman. In 1899 Schwettman helped build the Farmers Canal, which served the area's irrigation needs. The canal proved very successful until a 1915 storm ruined it and most of the surrounding rice fields. during the 20th century irrigation systems improved, which allowed for the successful commercial development of orange, fig, and rice production in the area. In 1931 the school systems of Winnie and Stowell were combined into one district. This system, along with the establishment of Winnie-Stowell Park in 1957, has provided the two towns with shared interests that have brought them together over the years.