What was the biggest crowd to visit Kerrville – before this year’s eclipse?

The Kerrville depot of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad.
probably around 1900. Click on any image to enlarge.

Morgan Chesky, news correspondent at NBC News (and Tivy graduate!), asked me a question the other day for which I didn’t have a good answer.

Prior to next week’s total solar eclipse, what previous event brought the largest number of people to Kerrville?

Although it’s not a direct answer to that question, I think I know the event which brought the most people as a percentage of Kerrville’s population – in other words, the event which brought the largest multiple of Kerrville residents here.

One event stands out, and possibly brought as many as five times the then-population of Kerrville to our city.

Kerrville Eye, Sep 29 1887

Kerrville had an estimated population of 400 people in 1887; when the railroad terminus was opened here, as many as 2,000 people showed up. Multiplying our current population of about 25,000 times five – Monday’s eclipse would have to see 125,000 visitors to our city to match the festivities in 1887.

The coming of the railroad in 1887 changed everything for Kerrville -- because it allowed commerce with the world beyond our hills.

Until that time all freight came to Kerrville by wagons. Every nail, piece of paper, shoe, piano, and most of the cloth and lumber was hauled over the hills by oxen, with most of the freight coming to us from San Antonio.

In 1887, no other community in the Texas Hill Country was served by a railroad. Fredericksburg didn't get her railroad until November 1, 1913, twenty-six years after Kerrville, and that line was never really profitable. Other nearby communities, like Junction or Rocksprings, never saw a train arrive. Kerrville's trains ran until the 1970s.

I have a copy of the October 6, 1887 "Kerrville Eye," a newspaper of the era. The publisher printed 2,000 copies of the edition -- a huge number, considering Kerrville probably had less than 400 residents.

In the issue several other newspapers' reports of the railway's arrival in Kerrville was reprinted. "Plucky little Kerrville," the San Angelo Standard reported, "has obtained her railroad, and if ever a town and county deserve the iron horse, Kerrville and Kerr County did. A bonus of $50,000 was raised in the middle of the drouth and $46,000 of that bonus has been raised in cash; a few more thousand had to be raised to buy the right of way over land belonging to fossils of the tertiary period, a few of which are settled in that county. We hope the boon for which Kerr County has worked so strenuously will prove an even greater blessing than they anticipate."

Map of SAAP routes

The Burnet Hero declared "The Aransas Pass Road has reached Kerrville. The 'Eye' therefore excusable for being jubilant and winking many triumphant winks, as it worked hard to bring that town and section to the front of the railroad men. We know how it is ourselves and don't blame the 'Eye' for feeling proud. The 'Hero' got out an extra to celebrate the completion of the Dallas, Granite and Gulf road to Burnet, as it was the first air line to the point from the north -- but alas it was an air line with a vengeance. It was built of air, by air, through air."

According to the Texas Transportation Museum website, “at 11:45 AM on October 6, 1887, the first train arrived in Kerrville. On board the six Pullmans were 502 passengers, 200 from San Antonio, 131 from Boerne, 141 from Comfort and 30 from Center Point. Altogether this was 200 more people than actually lived in Kerrville. It was a banner day for the town, with parades and speeches.”

There were more than speeches and parades that day: there was also business to be transacted.

According to the 'Eye,' "A large lot sale will take place here about the 22nd of October. The magnificent ground near the depot has been laid off in lots by Capt. Schreiner, and will be sold that day. This is going to be a town. Don't miss the sale. Come and bid on a few lots."

Then later, a few inches down, the 'Eye' continues: "Visitors to Kerrville, did you ever see a prettier site for a town? Kerrville has the prettiest depot grounds of any town on the Aransas Pass [railway]. Capt. Schreiner has cut this fine plot of ground up into lots... You will regret to the end of your days if you fail to attend the sale, and purchase a lot." 

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who remembers the freight trains rolling into Kerrville when he was a boy. This column originally appeared in the Kerr County Lead  April 4, 2024.

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