Verona - Blue Ridge
The community of Verona was named for a daughter of A. R. Womble. At one time the area was called Mississippi and Womble. The Verona post office opened on September 17, 1876 with Malcolm N. Stroup as postmaster. It was discontinued on November 39, 1901.
ON THE WING
McKinney Weekly Democrat Gazette, February 18, 1901
Verona, Tex., Feb. 18.
Editors Democrat:
Jupiter Pluvius does nothing by halves and who can say that we need any more rain?
Wheat looks better, is growing nicely and oats will be sown just as soon as the industrious farmer can prepare the soil.
About ten days ago I called on Prof. Charles Samuels the hustling teacher of the Milligan school. The patrons are well pleased, the children in love with him and when these conditions prevail, good results will follow. Up to that time nearly 65 had been enrolled with an attendance of about 56.
After spending a night with my friend, G. C. Hill near Water Ridge last week, I took advantage of an opportunity to visit the school of Prof. T. L. Huggins. This is a small school quantitatively but great qualitatively. Luther is in the right place and giving, I am proud to say, good satisfaction. As the rains ha caused a suspension of all work, I "winged" into my home school -Verona. It didn't require but a few minutes to convince me that I was in the busiest school in Collin county. 81 enrolled with an average attendance of 65 and only one teacher! Verona always gets the best, hence Miss Cassie Clark is our worthy teacher and is rounding out the first half of her second term. As an educator, Miss Clark stands in the front rank, possessing the qualifications of a first-class teacher and endowed with all the graces that adorn womanhood.
Miss Effie St. Clair is giving lessons on the organ to a number of pupils near Fayburg.
Jas. Scott, of Bee, I. T., and Miss Ida Anderson of this place were married at the home of the bride's mother yesterday evening, by Rev. A. J. Standifer of Arnold.
After diagnosing my case Dr. Slick pronounced the malady that has affected me so long heart disease. While this is a sad disclosure, I find a ray of hope in his further statement that it is not necessarily fatal. Fortunately, my insurance policy antedates this eminent specialist's examination.
In making my rounds I had occasion to pass through Calamity City, and halted to have a talk with Hazel Eyes. During the course of our conversation I hinted several times that now would be a good time to write up a wedding as material was at hand, but for some reason best known to herself, she didn't "catch on."
ON THE WING
McKinney Weekly Democrat-Gazette, August 21, 1913
Closing a ten days singing school at Lavon last Thursday, 14th, we returned to McKinney that evening accompanied by our niece, Miss bonnie Leigh, of Sulphur Springs, who had joined us two days before. On Friday evening we arrived in Verona, where on the following day, we were present on the occasion of the third quarterly conference held in the new church on the Blue Ridge circuit by the presiding elder of the Spragins. A large attendance of the official board was present on this occasion than had met him before on this circuit. The reports of the stewards showing good collections, all enterprises and institutions of the church in a flourishing condition and the outlook decidedly favorable. The good women had prepare for the "inner man" and dinner was served on the ground, spread on improvised tables under the pavilion adjacent to the church. The feast proved to be a real feature of the occasion and no one present appropriated more chicken to his own private use than our "beloved." Sunday was set apart months ago for the dedication of the new church recently built and finished in lieu of the one destroyed by a cyclone just one year ago, and Verona Methodism was up with the lark to make ready for the occasion and the event that would give them a place of honor at the next annual conference. Our beloved presiding elder of the McKinney District, Rev. Spragins, had been selected by the trustees on the church to preach the sermon and Matt. 16:18, was the text chosen as the foundation for his discourse. The crowd was large, attentive and expectant, the minister, who had evidently tarried at Jerusalem, preached as one having authority. The message fresh from God's throne warmed each Christian heart, supplying every hungry soul with the bread of life. The house is modern in design, beautifully finished, and would be a credit to a town of some pretensions, but Verona, an unpretentious village strives only for the best, and the spire of this house dedicated to Almighty God, as it points toward heaven is a reminder to those who see it from a distance, of the many personal sacrifices, earnest prayers and loyal devotion of the faithful few who planned while others slept, worked while some criticized and accomplished what some said could not be done.
J. L. McCrummen, one of Lavon's best citizens, renews for the Democrat-Gazette.
J. W. McCormick, a prosperous farmer of Climax, subscribes for the best of all county weekly newspapers, the Democrat-Gazette.
We are under obligations to Postmaster N. A. Burton for the courtesies extended ourself and niece while being shown through the post office last Friday morning. A Federal building is a credit to any town and the people ought to demand more of them. They are constructed not alone for the convenience and dispatch of our mails, but Uncle Sam believes in the adage, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." A janitor and janitress are always on duty, every floor, every vault and every closet must be kept scrupulously clean, so that perfect sanitation enables toe employees to discharge their duties without endangering their lives. Our "Uncle" is very exacting, but he's the very best of employers.
D. W. Leigh
A. R. WOMBLE WAS VERONA'S FIRST POSTMASTER
McKinney Examiner, June 5, 1952
Verona, Collin County, started in the fall of 1882, when A. R. Womble built a store near his gin and grist mill just south of the present Methodist Church. The next year he became postmaster when the post office was established in his store. A school had been started there in 1880, called the Mississippi School on account of the number of settlers in the vicinity from Mississippi. This was changed to Womble later, though it had gone by that name from the first. The post office authorities re-named the locality Verona, but Womble still retained its name for the school.
The old Womble grist mill was about a mile south of the present store in Verona. Womble later built a sawmill there, and used four of the biggest oxen in Collin County to snake logs to the mill. These steers were also used to haul tremendous loads of cottonseed to Farmersville, trip lasting all day, and sometimes two. There is no school in the vicinity now, the children all going by bus to Princeton and Blue Ridge.
Verona lies five miles northeast of Princeton, and some three due south of Altoga. It can be reached over Farm Road 1377 from Princeton; leaving that road at Climax and continuing on north over a good dirt road; or by way of Altoga and to the east. This is a nice drive, lasting about two hours, but the road around from Climax to Altoga might be slippery in wet weather.
Mr. C. A. Brockman run the only store now in Verona, situated north of the original blacksmith shop and store on the crest of the hill. Mr. Brockman, who was born a mile and a half north of Verona, has operated the present store - a new building - for two years. It is a general store, filling station and a farm road feed store. Mr. and Mrs. Brockman, the former Miss Nettie Chumbly, have two children, a boy and a girl. The daughter, Miss Barbara, is employed in the Collin County National Bank in McKinney.
Verona reached its height in the 1890s, when it had a population of about 70 people. The one store, the Methodist Church and the Baptist Church are the only public buildings there now. The Baptist Church is situated a half mile south of the store, and has for its pastor the Reverend E. C. Coleman. At present the Methodist Church has no pastor, but functions under the guidance of Miss Nettie Stroup, who lives a short distance to the southeast.
Miss Nettie Stroup is one of the great missionaries of Texas. She has traveled all over the worked, but her missionary work has been confined to the United States in which she has worked steadily for 35 years. This missionary work in the Methodist Church has taken her to Saint Louis, Kansas City, New Orleans, Okla. City, Nashville, Knoxville, South Carolina and other places. Miss Nettie is retired now, and lives with her sister, Mrs. E. P. Gifford of Verona. She has retired from her missionary work, but enters actively into all the social and church activities of her community.
Some of those living in and in the immediate vicinity of Verona are Nick Alder, W. L. Rowan, H. C. Alder, Edwin Stroup, Ed's father, A. C. Stroup, Will King and J. T. Grifhan. Mr. Grifhan is one of the few old timers left at Verona. Most of the fine old men are gone. There was for instance, Uncle Jot Woodall who lived just south of the old town. Uncle Jot was noted as one of the staunchest Democrats in all Collin County. And Uncle Louis Scott who, when a neighbor wanted to borrow a hundred dollars, told him he was too busy hoeing cotton, and for the neighbor to go to the house and look behind a sack of sugar and get what he needed.
Like all our rural settlements, Verona has gone down hill. Good roads and the automobile have about finished them. Some have clung on, the one or two stores filling a need for the community that the bigger towns cannot furnish. This writer believes this is for the best; the people of the county now work together more as a unit than they did fifty years ago when each community was self sustaining.
On August 8, 1912, a terrific northwest wind swept the eastern half of Collin County, leveling houses, public buildings and uprooting trees at Blue Ridge, Sedalia, Pilot Grove, Donna, Westminster and Verona. This was a straight hard wind, reaching a height of 150 miles an hour. Several were injured but the only loss of life was that suffered at Westminster when a lightning bolt struck a home and killed the entire family.
The Reverend Joseph Jamison had, only a few years before, organized Methodist Churches at Verona, Blue Ridge and Pleasant Grove. At those places good church buildings had been erected - big, for those days, and modern. The storm wrecked them all. The one on top of the hill at Verona was completely destroyed, the only building in the little town severely damaged. Another building was erected here, larger and more substantial, on the original site, and the Verona Methodist Church still carries on.
McKinney Weekly Democrat Gazette, February 18, 1901
Verona, Tex., Feb. 18.
Editors Democrat:
Jupiter Pluvius does nothing by halves and who can say that we need any more rain?
Wheat looks better, is growing nicely and oats will be sown just as soon as the industrious farmer can prepare the soil.
About ten days ago I called on Prof. Charles Samuels the hustling teacher of the Milligan school. The patrons are well pleased, the children in love with him and when these conditions prevail, good results will follow. Up to that time nearly 65 had been enrolled with an attendance of about 56.
After spending a night with my friend, G. C. Hill near Water Ridge last week, I took advantage of an opportunity to visit the school of Prof. T. L. Huggins. This is a small school quantitatively but great qualitatively. Luther is in the right place and giving, I am proud to say, good satisfaction. As the rains ha caused a suspension of all work, I "winged" into my home school -Verona. It didn't require but a few minutes to convince me that I was in the busiest school in Collin county. 81 enrolled with an average attendance of 65 and only one teacher! Verona always gets the best, hence Miss Cassie Clark is our worthy teacher and is rounding out the first half of her second term. As an educator, Miss Clark stands in the front rank, possessing the qualifications of a first-class teacher and endowed with all the graces that adorn womanhood.
Miss Effie St. Clair is giving lessons on the organ to a number of pupils near Fayburg.
Jas. Scott, of Bee, I. T., and Miss Ida Anderson of this place were married at the home of the bride's mother yesterday evening, by Rev. A. J. Standifer of Arnold.
After diagnosing my case Dr. Slick pronounced the malady that has affected me so long heart disease. While this is a sad disclosure, I find a ray of hope in his further statement that it is not necessarily fatal. Fortunately, my insurance policy antedates this eminent specialist's examination.
In making my rounds I had occasion to pass through Calamity City, and halted to have a talk with Hazel Eyes. During the course of our conversation I hinted several times that now would be a good time to write up a wedding as material was at hand, but for some reason best known to herself, she didn't "catch on."
ON THE WING
McKinney Weekly Democrat-Gazette, August 21, 1913
Closing a ten days singing school at Lavon last Thursday, 14th, we returned to McKinney that evening accompanied by our niece, Miss bonnie Leigh, of Sulphur Springs, who had joined us two days before. On Friday evening we arrived in Verona, where on the following day, we were present on the occasion of the third quarterly conference held in the new church on the Blue Ridge circuit by the presiding elder of the Spragins. A large attendance of the official board was present on this occasion than had met him before on this circuit. The reports of the stewards showing good collections, all enterprises and institutions of the church in a flourishing condition and the outlook decidedly favorable. The good women had prepare for the "inner man" and dinner was served on the ground, spread on improvised tables under the pavilion adjacent to the church. The feast proved to be a real feature of the occasion and no one present appropriated more chicken to his own private use than our "beloved." Sunday was set apart months ago for the dedication of the new church recently built and finished in lieu of the one destroyed by a cyclone just one year ago, and Verona Methodism was up with the lark to make ready for the occasion and the event that would give them a place of honor at the next annual conference. Our beloved presiding elder of the McKinney District, Rev. Spragins, had been selected by the trustees on the church to preach the sermon and Matt. 16:18, was the text chosen as the foundation for his discourse. The crowd was large, attentive and expectant, the minister, who had evidently tarried at Jerusalem, preached as one having authority. The message fresh from God's throne warmed each Christian heart, supplying every hungry soul with the bread of life. The house is modern in design, beautifully finished, and would be a credit to a town of some pretensions, but Verona, an unpretentious village strives only for the best, and the spire of this house dedicated to Almighty God, as it points toward heaven is a reminder to those who see it from a distance, of the many personal sacrifices, earnest prayers and loyal devotion of the faithful few who planned while others slept, worked while some criticized and accomplished what some said could not be done.
J. L. McCrummen, one of Lavon's best citizens, renews for the Democrat-Gazette.
J. W. McCormick, a prosperous farmer of Climax, subscribes for the best of all county weekly newspapers, the Democrat-Gazette.
We are under obligations to Postmaster N. A. Burton for the courtesies extended ourself and niece while being shown through the post office last Friday morning. A Federal building is a credit to any town and the people ought to demand more of them. They are constructed not alone for the convenience and dispatch of our mails, but Uncle Sam believes in the adage, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." A janitor and janitress are always on duty, every floor, every vault and every closet must be kept scrupulously clean, so that perfect sanitation enables toe employees to discharge their duties without endangering their lives. Our "Uncle" is very exacting, but he's the very best of employers.
D. W. Leigh
A. R. WOMBLE WAS VERONA'S FIRST POSTMASTER
McKinney Examiner, June 5, 1952
Verona, Collin County, started in the fall of 1882, when A. R. Womble built a store near his gin and grist mill just south of the present Methodist Church. The next year he became postmaster when the post office was established in his store. A school had been started there in 1880, called the Mississippi School on account of the number of settlers in the vicinity from Mississippi. This was changed to Womble later, though it had gone by that name from the first. The post office authorities re-named the locality Verona, but Womble still retained its name for the school.
The old Womble grist mill was about a mile south of the present store in Verona. Womble later built a sawmill there, and used four of the biggest oxen in Collin County to snake logs to the mill. These steers were also used to haul tremendous loads of cottonseed to Farmersville, trip lasting all day, and sometimes two. There is no school in the vicinity now, the children all going by bus to Princeton and Blue Ridge.
Verona lies five miles northeast of Princeton, and some three due south of Altoga. It can be reached over Farm Road 1377 from Princeton; leaving that road at Climax and continuing on north over a good dirt road; or by way of Altoga and to the east. This is a nice drive, lasting about two hours, but the road around from Climax to Altoga might be slippery in wet weather.
Mr. C. A. Brockman run the only store now in Verona, situated north of the original blacksmith shop and store on the crest of the hill. Mr. Brockman, who was born a mile and a half north of Verona, has operated the present store - a new building - for two years. It is a general store, filling station and a farm road feed store. Mr. and Mrs. Brockman, the former Miss Nettie Chumbly, have two children, a boy and a girl. The daughter, Miss Barbara, is employed in the Collin County National Bank in McKinney.
Verona reached its height in the 1890s, when it had a population of about 70 people. The one store, the Methodist Church and the Baptist Church are the only public buildings there now. The Baptist Church is situated a half mile south of the store, and has for its pastor the Reverend E. C. Coleman. At present the Methodist Church has no pastor, but functions under the guidance of Miss Nettie Stroup, who lives a short distance to the southeast.
Miss Nettie Stroup is one of the great missionaries of Texas. She has traveled all over the worked, but her missionary work has been confined to the United States in which she has worked steadily for 35 years. This missionary work in the Methodist Church has taken her to Saint Louis, Kansas City, New Orleans, Okla. City, Nashville, Knoxville, South Carolina and other places. Miss Nettie is retired now, and lives with her sister, Mrs. E. P. Gifford of Verona. She has retired from her missionary work, but enters actively into all the social and church activities of her community.
Some of those living in and in the immediate vicinity of Verona are Nick Alder, W. L. Rowan, H. C. Alder, Edwin Stroup, Ed's father, A. C. Stroup, Will King and J. T. Grifhan. Mr. Grifhan is one of the few old timers left at Verona. Most of the fine old men are gone. There was for instance, Uncle Jot Woodall who lived just south of the old town. Uncle Jot was noted as one of the staunchest Democrats in all Collin County. And Uncle Louis Scott who, when a neighbor wanted to borrow a hundred dollars, told him he was too busy hoeing cotton, and for the neighbor to go to the house and look behind a sack of sugar and get what he needed.
Like all our rural settlements, Verona has gone down hill. Good roads and the automobile have about finished them. Some have clung on, the one or two stores filling a need for the community that the bigger towns cannot furnish. This writer believes this is for the best; the people of the county now work together more as a unit than they did fifty years ago when each community was self sustaining.
On August 8, 1912, a terrific northwest wind swept the eastern half of Collin County, leveling houses, public buildings and uprooting trees at Blue Ridge, Sedalia, Pilot Grove, Donna, Westminster and Verona. This was a straight hard wind, reaching a height of 150 miles an hour. Several were injured but the only loss of life was that suffered at Westminster when a lightning bolt struck a home and killed the entire family.
The Reverend Joseph Jamison had, only a few years before, organized Methodist Churches at Verona, Blue Ridge and Pleasant Grove. At those places good church buildings had been erected - big, for those days, and modern. The storm wrecked them all. The one on top of the hill at Verona was completely destroyed, the only building in the little town severely damaged. Another building was erected here, larger and more substantial, on the original site, and the Verona Methodist Church still carries on.
