1895

May 1 - Town laid out by John Henry Kirby and R. P. Allen. It was surveyed by Capt. E. I. Kellie, Confederate veteran and founder of Jasper News-Boy, oldest weekly paper still in print in Texas. R. C. Allen of Galveston conducted the auction of lots.

June 10 - First Post Office opened.

Kirbyville designated a voting precinct before the year was out.

1896

First sawmill built by Silas B. Conn and R. C. Withers.

Methodist church organized.

1897

First School District formed.
Trustees W. B. Thomas, Jackson Wright, and J. B. Gandy
appointed by County Judge.

1898

Calvary Baptist Church organized using land deeded from J. H. Kirby.
The first building was used as a union church facility by Methodists and Baptists,
on an alternating Sunday schedule. It was also used as a school.

"Mr. B." Bryant Woods arrived in Kirbyville as a teacher.

1899

Five hotels established in Kirbyville: the Edwards, Newman, Gilbert, Hatchel and the Mays.

Election for school Trustees held under the supervision of Dave Lee, presiding Judge, New District (#14).
Mr. R.C. Lanier, J. C. Watson and Jack Woods were elected.

1902

First school built. Land dedicated by J. H. Kirby.

1903 

J. H. Kirby bought the Conn-Withers Lumber Co. and started construction of the "T" Mill.

1905

Longest store (later a hotel) built by R. C.
Lanier on the northeast side of the railway at Main St. intersection.
He also built a beautiful Victorian home east of that location,
which is currently being restored by owners Don and Lavonia Gilbert.
Lanier St. is now named Martin Luther King St.

The Woods Brothers, Jack and Bryant ("Mr. B."),
built a two-story drug store with doctor and dentist offices on the second floor.
Mr. B. later served as a member of the School Board for 20 years.
Click here for history of Woods Building.

Church of Christ organized.

Kirbyville State Bank chartered by Ruffin C. Conn, at the corner of N. Elizabeth and E. Main St.

First Methodist Church built on site of present buildings, on northeast corner of W. Lavielle and S. Lelia Streets.
A bell and plaque now stand on that corner, commemorating this first church.

1907

People's State Bank chartered on the south side (#217?) of E. Main St.

First local phones installed.

1910

Part-time electrical service begun: 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Jail built at corner of S. Elizabeth and Lavielle streets. It now houses the Calaboose Museum.

1911

Ivory Joe Hunter born in Kirbyville.
He was a nationally recognized pianist and composer of pop music.
His most well known tune was "Since I Met You Baby."

1912

Dr. W.F. McCreight came to Kirbyville and practiced until his death in July 1961.

1916

Baptist Church built on present location on northwest corner of W. Main St. at Barrow.
Now named First Baptist Church.

1917

T Mill burned.

New brick school built at Lelia and W. Main St.,
bounded on the south by Lavielle and on the west by Barrow,
the current location of Kirbyville United Methodist Church's softball field and parking lot.

1919

City's first incorporation.

Ice plant established by George Wynne, Sr., on the south end of Kaysee St.

1920

Kirbyville Light and Power (KL&P), first light plant, built next to ice plant on Kaysee St.

1921

City charter dropped.

First full 24 hours of electrical service.

1923-25

Gas system built--before Huntsville's!

1925

Magnolia Pipeline Pumping Station built at the west end of Trout St.

Palace Theater built by R. J. Cooper in the 300 block of E. Main St.

Major brick mercantile store built by Charles and Jim Mixson on the south side of the 200 block of E. Main St.
You can still see their name on the building.

1926

E. O. Seicke State Forest established.
This forest was the first State Forest in Texas and is located on FM 1013, 4.5 miles east of Kirbyville.

Major fire in 200 block of E. Main St. destroyed the Gilbert Hotel and Drug Store.
The fact that no water was available beyond what a bucket brigade could muster inspired second City incorporation.

1927

City's second incorporation. Kirbyville started operating February 27th, with $500-borrowed at that!

Bond issue passed and water system built.

1928

First fire truck. Kirbyville Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) organized.
First fire chief was Charlie Ehret, who also ran KL&P.

T. A. Wilson, author of Early S.E. Texas Families, appointed Tax Assessor Collector (T.A.C.).
He served until 1944.

1936-37

Not much growth during depression.

Highway 96 was paved.

City park built during highway construction. The park was named in the 1960's in honor of
Bevis Skinner, long-time City Marshall.

Additional school buildings and gym constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

1940’s

Sewer system construction commenced.

1941-45

WWII. Many served, many wounded, many died.

1945

Jasper-Newton Electric Co-Op (JNECO) started construction on Hwy.
1013, east of present location, which is Hwy. 96 at Lester Hawthorne.

1946

Street paving begun.

1948-50

School District consolidated, paving way for present system.

1949

Magnolia Pipeline Pumping Station decommissioned.

1953

Additional water well drilled.

1952

Max Mixson Memorial Clinic built by Dr. J. T. Moore on E. Lavielle St.
This facility currently houses the Christus Family Practice Center.

1955

First full traffic light installed at the intersection of Main St. and Hwy. 96.

1956

First classes held in new high school, built on Richardson property south of Lester Hawthorne St.

1967

Old brick school building closed; demolished in 1969.
New grammar school opened 1967-68 at southeast corner of Highways 82 & 96.

1974

KL&P bought by City. C.B. "Buck" Herndon named manager.

1980s

Paving projects undertaken.

1992

Magnolia Park built, with the first Magnolia Festival taking place in April of 1993.
Previously, the Magnolia Festival had been held on the site of the demolished brick school building.

1993

Sewer plant renovated-$1,000,000!

1994

Sewer lines replaced east of railroad tracks.

1995

Veteran's Memorial built, featuring more than 1,100 names.

1997

One new water distribution system built at railroad site. New chlorination system built.

1998

'Christmas on the Main' relocated to Magnolia Park, after operating several years on Main St.,
east of Hwy. 96. This festival, held in November each year, is now called 'Christmas in the Park.'

2000

200,000-gallon ground water storage tank replaced on S. Elizabeth.

2001-02

New water well project begun in west Kirbyville.

Paving project started.

While there have been many changes in the City of Kirbyville over the last century,
it still has a friendly, welcoming small-town atmosphere.

The Kirbyville Area Heritage Society maintains the Calaboose Museum at
201 East Lavielle St.
The museum contains many photographs and more information about the history of Kirbyville.

The Calaboose Museum is open Thursday and Friday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon,
some Saturdays, and by appointment.
Please contact the Kirbyville Area Heritage Society at 423-3028 or 423-1020,
or by mail at P.O. Box 512, Kirbyville, TX 75956.

SOURCES

KirbyvilleBanner, “Once Lost But Now Found City Council”, December 16, 1920, Vol. 17, No. 31

Kirbyville Banner, “Statement from John H. Kirby – Origin of Kirbyville”, May 31, 1929, Vol. XXVIII, No. 23

History of Kirbyville – 1895-1970, by Zelma Conn Jinnette, 1997

Kirbyville Banner, “Local Historian Details History of Kirbyville”, April 13, 1995, Margie MilnerBoyd

Kirbyville Banner, “Memories of Sawmill Town Days in City of Kirbyville”, Evelyn Evans

History of the First Baptist Church, by Zelma Conn Jinnette, 1953