asherton075
One hundred years ago, the south Texas town of Asherton was full of hope and promise. With the discovery of deep artesian wells and a temperate climate that allowed for year-round crops, the 'Winter Garden' region of in deep southwest Texas was booming. Asher Richardson saw an opportunity, and by the turn of the century he owned nearly a quarter million acres of land, and the town of Asherton was established in 1902. It developed quickly within a few short years, with the heralded arrival of the Asherton and Gulf Railway in 1910, which was the same year that he built his impressive Bel-Asher Mansion. The town prospered for some time, becoming the Bermuda onion capital of the world. But the underground aquifers were soon tapped out, the Great Depression took a heavy toll, and Asherton fell into a slow decline. Today, Asherton is a poor, blue-collar community where hard-scrabble workers travel to nearby farms; the downtown is completely deserted without any businesses remaining. On the edge of town sits the remnants of the Asherton High School, the hundred-year-old two-story building as its centerpiece, shut down over a decade ago in a funding scandal. For more information: www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/208-Asherton-Texas...
asherton075
One hundred years ago, the south Texas town of Asherton was full of hope and promise. With the discovery of deep artesian wells and a temperate climate that allowed for year-round crops, the 'Winter Garden' region of in deep southwest Texas was booming. Asher Richardson saw an opportunity, and by the turn of the century he owned nearly a quarter million acres of land, and the town of Asherton was established in 1902. It developed quickly within a few short years, with the heralded arrival of the Asherton and Gulf Railway in 1910, which was the same year that he built his impressive Bel-Asher Mansion. The town prospered for some time, becoming the Bermuda onion capital of the world. But the underground aquifers were soon tapped out, the Great Depression took a heavy toll, and Asherton fell into a slow decline. Today, Asherton is a poor, blue-collar community where hard-scrabble workers travel to nearby farms; the downtown is completely deserted without any businesses remaining. On the edge of town sits the remnants of the Asherton High School, the hundred-year-old two-story building as its centerpiece, shut down over a decade ago in a funding scandal. For more information: www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/208-Asherton-Texas...