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.

Nice photo of customers enjoying Underwood's Bar-B-Q stand in Brownwood Texas in the early 1950s

Workers unload live turkeys from farmer's trailer at poultry processing plant in Brownwood Texas in 1939

In 1884 someone from Taylor Bros photography climbed to the top of the courthouse to capture this wonderful birds eye view of downtown Brownwood Texas featuring the Saloon, Drug store, Ramey Smith Company and more

Very rare image of Brownwood Texas street with a light dusting of snow taken in January 1883 by Taylor Bros photographers

The kids at the Bangs Texas public school were going a bit wild in this photo from 1909

Hotel Brownwood in 1930s with zig-zag fire escape and penthouse balcony on the top floor

In 1913 a young woman held a small horse by the reins in Brownwood Texas

On June 18, 1900 G. W. McKinney's saloon was blown to pieces during a windstorm on the Colorado River. The salon had been built under rather peculiar circumstances. When the Frisco commenced building the bridge across the the Colorado.... On January 5, 1901 the Banner-Leader in Ballinger Texas reported the story as "Saloon was Under an Evil Spell" . . . read why in the article

Brownwood High School Quarterback in 1916

In this rare image from 1916 Brownwood Texas High School Quarterback Ed Gilmore poses for this very nice photo

Huge group photo of the Howard Payne football team with coaches in 1946

Building Camp Bowie in Brownwood Texas in 1940

Sometime in 1890 a well-dressed gentleman posed for this portrait in Brownwood Texas. According to notes on the back of the photo he had blue eyes

In 1921 the Daniel Baker College football team in Brownwood Texas posed for this photo. Their names are numbered and listed below the photo

Sometime in the 1930s an unknown photographer captured this huge crystal clear photo of the Brown County Courthouse in Brownwood Texas

On a cold day in 1920 five men and the bartender posed for this great old photo of a Barroom in Brownwood Texas. Note the spittoons carefully placed on the floor in front of the ornate bar

On July 23, 1924 an unknown photographer captured this huge live-action photo of a cowboy riding a bucking bronco at the Brownwood Rodeo

Finding a place to park in front of the Central Cafe on Center Avenue in Brownwood Texas was difficult in the 1920s

In 1909 in Brownwood Texas men walked and rode bicycles down the middle of the dirt street that was Center Ave past horse-drawn carriages lined up against the wooden sidewalk..

Vintage cars lined the street while pedestrians waited for the light to change so they could cross Main Street in Brownwood Texas in 1941

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.

Howard Payne College Class of 1912

Howard Payne College Graduating Class of 1912 in Brownwood with only 14 students graduating

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.

In 1939 Six Workers were busy packing Swifts Turkey in Brownwood Texas when the event was captured in this photograph

Workers line up for shift change.

Brownwood Bulletin Board 1939

"We Trade for Livestock"

In July 1920 Curley Seale from Baird Texas won first money in the steer riding contest at the Brownwood Rodeo. Curley and her sister, Billy, were already managing their deceased father's ranch two years earlier in 1918 when Curley was eighteen. By 1925 they were operating it as a "no men allowed" ranch . . . read more about this amazing cowgirl.

With two smoke stacks pouring smoke and powering the cooling towers the Brownwood Ice and Fuel Company provided ice and coal to Brown County in the early 1900s