True Stories of Amazing People and Places in Texas

Life in Brown County Tx 1909 to early 1940's

Brown County, Texas in 1800's to 1950 as pictured in archived government photographs, vintage postcards, old school yearbooks and newspapers from Brownwood, Bangs, Early, Blanket, Lake Brownwood and Thunderbird Bay. Click on photos to view larger.

Firemen posed with their horse drawn fire fighting wagons in 1909 near Forepaugh and Sells Bros Show billboard

Model T's and a man on horseback were on the muddy street in front of the Central Texas Hospital and the Brownwood Hatchery in 1929 in this large crystal clear image.

The courthouse square in Brownwood Texas as it appeared in the 1880s with the bakery on the right and the saloon on the left.

Student's and staff pose for huge school photo in front of the Bangs Public School in 1909

The men and horses who helped bring the railroad to Bangs Texas pose in front of the Santa Fe Depot in 1886

In 1939 Brownwood Texas a man struggles to remove live turkey from the family car.

Model T at Gas Station Brownwood Tx 1939

This Model T has seen better days but the reliable little car still beats walking.

Payne College Class of 1912

When it wasn't called Howard Payne it was Payne College like the pennant says.

Howard Payne Football Team 1909

Earliest known photo of the Howard Payne football team. Only a few of the players had helmets in this photo.

Howard Payne Football Team in 1923 Brownwood Texas

Players: Hodges, R. Harris, Flack, Caldwell, Stanford, Richey, Farmer, More, A. L. Kirkpatrick, Taylor, McAllister, Cook, Moore, Beasley . . . read more

Howard Payne Football Team 1924 Brownwood Texas

Davis, Stanford, R. Allbright, McAtee, Keaton, Moore, Henderson, Grady, T. B. Amis, Bissett, Mcallister, Scott, Hodges, Jobes, Nunnaly, Caldwell, Beach, Dheaney, Burns, Blinn and Cook.

T.B. Amis, J. Allen, Stanford, Wright, Boyd, Jobes, J.B. Shirey, Cook, Caldwell, M. Hodges, W. Hodges . . . read more see full size

In 1930, 47 members of the Brownwood Police and Fire Departments posed in this huge photo so clear you can identify the faces . . . tap the photo to see full size

Horse drawn wagons are being loaded in front of the W. T. Scott & Co store in this birds-eye view of Brownwood Texas in 1909

Brownwood Feed Store 1939

Featuring Baker Boy Four and Carey's Salt

Featuring McLean's Studio, Tolin's Cafe and 1940's Cars

Horses, buggies and delivery wagons on the dirt street in front of the Mid-Texas Land Company and Sam Brin's One Price Store on East Barket Street in 1910 . . . see it full size

Building Army Barracks Brownwood Tx in 1940

Workers clamor to construct barracks ahead of looming storm.

Workers pack Swifts Turkey

Workers line up for shift change.

Brownwood Bulletin Board 1939

"We Trade for Livestock"

Brownwood Ice and Fuel Company c1900

Providing Ice, Coal and Cold Storage