Cain City, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cain City, Texas
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 Cain City, Texas
Location in Texas
Cain City, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Gillespie |
| Elevation | 1,752 ft (534 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 830 |
| FIPS code | 48-11776 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1378083 |
Cain City is a ghost town in Texas. It was founded in 1915. You can find it about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County. The town was created to be a stop on a new train line called the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway. It was named after Charlie Cain, who helped raise money for the railway. Sadly, the town faced tough times and started to decline within ten years of being founded.
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Who Was Charlie Cain?
Charlie Cain, whose full name was Charles Matthew Cain, was born on December 12, 1881. He grew up in Calvert, Texas, which is in Robertson County. His parents were Dr. Whitfield Henderson Cain and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Briscoe Cain. Charlie had several brothers and sisters.
Charlie's Early Life and Work
Charlie went to public school in Calvert. But he left school early to look for work in Houston. In 1902, he started working at the Peden Iron and Steel Company. This company was started by Edward Andrew Peden that same year.
Charlie began his career in the stock room. Later, he became a traveling salesman for Peden. In 1910, he became the manager of Peden's branch in San Antonio.
Helping Build the Railway
Charlie Cain played a big part in getting the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway built. In 1912, he helped raise $50,000 for the project. This was a lot of money back then! He passed away in Hondo, Texas, on September 12, 1970.
The Story of Cain City
The idea for a new railway came about on January 3, 1913. The San Antonio, Fredericksburg and Northern Railway was planned to connect Fredericksburg with another railway near Waring. Building this railway was a big challenge.
Building the Railway Line
One of the biggest parts of the project was building a long train tunnel. This tunnel was 920 feet (280 m) long and cost $134,000 to build. This high cost caused the railway company to run into financial trouble in 1914.
The railway was later sold in 1917 to Martin Carle. He then gave the property to a new company, the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway. This train line operated for many years. It finally stopped running on July 27, 1942, when the rail line was sold. Some sources say it stopped in 1944.
Founding the Town
In 1913, a banker from San Antonio named J.C. Stinson bought 324 acres (1.31 km2) of land in Gillespie County. He bought this land because he knew the new railway was coming. A surveyor named A.J. Green helped plan out the new town. They decided to name it Cain City, after Charlie Cain.
The train depot in Cain City made the area an important place for shipping goods. Within a year, the town had a water system. It also got a road connection to nearby Luckenbach.
Life in Cain City
As the town grew, new businesses opened. Tom Schmidt started the Farmers' Produce Company warehouse. Alfred Jung opened a lumberyard. People hoped the town would become very successful.
Cain City also got a telephone exchange and two general stores. A schoolhouse was built, and Katie Striegler was the teacher. Hugo Pahl became the first postmaster in 1915. He also worked as the railroad agent. Robert Price took over as postmaster later that year. George Price was the last postmaster, appointed in 1919.
In July 1916, the Cain City State Bank opened. J.C. Stinson was its president. However, the bank only lasted a few years before it closed. Stinson moved back to San Antonio in 1922.
The Decline of Cain City
In 1919, Gus Bausch opened a cotton gin. But by this time, the town's good times were already fading. The Mountain Home Hotel, which was opened by Mrs. Fletcher Hamilton, was bought by J.C. Stinson. He later sold it to Mrs. Will Bird. When the town's economy got worse, Mrs. Bird tore down the hotel.
In 1927, Edgar Tatsch and Theodore Keller opened a dance hall. But by then, Cain City was already becoming a ghost town. Today, it remains a ghost town, with little left of its past.
Notable Person from Cain City
- Harold Billings (1931–2017) was born in Cain City. He was an editor, author, and retired librarian. He helped develop ways for libraries across the country to share resources.
