More Old Naples Photos

An early photo of the Naples ice house. I do not know if Mr H. B. Stevens built the ice house or not, but he owned it in the 1920's. At that time it was also the power plant for the electricity provided to Naples. The building still stands, but is in a dilapidated condition.

Do you remember the ice cards placed in the front window or on the front porch to show the ice man how much ice you wanted him to bring in and put in the ice box. For you youngsters, an ice box was the predecessor of the refrigerator.

The year was 1925 and the Naples School district was needing a bond issue passed to provide funding for a new high school building and this band of youngsters helped the cause according to a photo and cutlines printed in the Tuesday, March 17, 1925 issue of The Dallas Morning News. Hershel Welch found the old and yellowed newspaper clipping in some of the things saved by his late sister, Jamie Welch Smith Ashford. Information under the picture noted: "The Naples School Band plays for all entertainments given by the school and did its part in helping to put across the bond issue to build a new high school, the issue being voted for 242 to 42. Primarily the object of the organization is to teach rhythm and the appreciation of music. The instruments used are tambourines, cymbals, horsehoes, bells, triangles and drum with piano. Band members on the front row, left to right, are Carroll Black Jr., Corry W. Heard, Norris Roberts, Joseph Fulcher, Leonard Truitt, John Milton Heard, Morris Hervey, Marcus Lindsay, Gladys Truitt, and Naomi Hampton. In the second row are James Richard Moore, Carey Williams, Helen Heath, John Hugh Ellis, Knox Strickland, Larken Simmons, Zed Zay Smith, Charlene Leeves and Hazel Henderson."

This is the best photo I have found yet of the old hotel that was across the railroad tracks from the old depot. This photo was taken in April 1957 just before it was torn down. The hotel was built about 1891 by J G "Greer" Floyd, the father of Charlie and Hickory Floyd and the grandfather of Nat W "Shug" Floyd. In the days of the drummer and livery stable, it was headquarters for the traveling salesmen and it was known for its good food. The hotel was one of two in operation at the time.

A photo of the old Sullivan-Sanford hardwood sawmill. This building was located just about where both ramps are to Highway 77 from Highway 67. As a child I played on the four concrete piers that were used for the water tower. They were within fifty yards of my Mom's house and were the only thing, other than the mill pond and some sawdust, remaining after the mid 1920's. The piers were done away with when Highway 77 was extended to the west.

Another photo of the old Sullivan-Sanford hardwood sawmill. It was the second largest hardwood sawmill in the world and shipped lumber to as far away as Europe. The following is extracted from Traylor Russell's book, History of Titus County, vol I and II, first published in 1965 and 1966, respectively: "Around 1900, Sebe Ledbetter, a real estate dealer living in Naples, began buying land in the area between the creeks (Sulphur River and White Oak Creek), and in the space of some two or three years he put together a block of some 20,000 acres. This land was turned to the Sullivan-Sanford Lumber Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and this concern began the building of a large mill in Naples in the latter part of 1905, and had it in operation in 1906. This mill was located east of Naples and north of Highway 67. It built a railroad from Naples in a northwesterly direction into Titus County to the Green Logan Survey, and then it turned in a northwesterly direction and ended near the S.A. & M.G. Railway Company Survey that is now owned by Roy Gentry. It had a branch that went north crossing Sulphur River near Rock Crossing, and another crossing the river near Jones' Crossing. It had one wood burning engine, which would leave Naples in the morning and would push cars to various places along the line where these cars would be loaded with logs during the day, and then the logs carried back into Naples in the afternoon. Some 500 men were employed at the mill and in the woods. Large numbers of oxen and other animals were used in the woods in getting the logs to the railroad. The sawmill was never too successful financially, and one of those who worked here said that for some three or four months preceding Christmas in 1908, they were not paid and on Christmas Eve, each received $1.00. This employee says that late in the winter the management brought a large sack of $5.00 and $10.00 gold pieces to the mill and paid all of them their back wages. By 1912, all of the good timber had been cut and the company's financial position had worsened. The mill went into bankruptcy and was dismantled. The railroad was abandoned and the rails removed, but the old ties stayed in the ground until they rotted. A large portion of the roadbed is still used for roads today. Shortly after the mill quit operating, a man by the name of Cobb opened a brick plant on the river about a mile upstream from Rock Crossing. This man was named Cobb, and Charlie Page, who still lives in the area, was one of the employees. Charlie Page says that at the place where this kiln was was constructed, there is a layer of white dirt that was used in making the brick. He says that one kiln of brick was made and cured, and this plant went into bankruptcy, and was never operated again. Some of the ruins of this plant are still in the area."

A photo of the old mineral springs on Heard Road near the old Sullivan-Sanford hardwood mill.

A photo from about 1935. Is it a trades day, or were the people voting? Do you remember poll taxes?

A photo from about 1915. I have no idea of the location of these buildings! Is this Naples?

About 1905 looking westerly down main street. Note the water well.

From the car on the right, this photo may have been taken around the mid 1920's. But on further examination, it was probably taken the same day as the photo below.