Details for New York, Texas & Mexican Railroad and The Community of Hungerford

Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5481003588

Data

Marker Number 3588
Atlas Number 5481003588
Marker Title New York, Texas & Mexican Railroad and The Community of Hungerford
Index Entry New York, Texas & Mexican Railroad and The Community of Hungerford
Address SH 60
City Hungerford
County Wharton
UTM Zone 14
UTM Easting 783205
UTM Northing 3255550
Subject Codes cities and towns; railroads
Marker Year 1986
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark No
Marker Location On SH. 60, in traffic triangle surrounded by Colorado, railroad and Mckinney St., Hungerford
Private Property No
Marker Condition In Situ
Marker Size Medallion and Plate
Marker Text Attracted by the State of Texas' offer of free land to railroad developers, a charter for the New York, Texas & Mexican Railroad was secured in 1880. Its major investor, John W. Mackay, made his fortune in the Nevada silver mines. His brother-in-law, count Joseph Telfener of Lombardy, Italy, arranged for the construction. Work began in 1880 on the 91-mile stretch of railroad track between Rosenberg and Victoria. The pasta diet of many of the Italian laborers lent itself to the railroad's nickname, the "Macaroni Line." Telfener and Mackay established six stations along the line--Inez, Louise, Edna, Hungerford, Telfener, and Mackay and named them for themselves and family members. The community of Hungerford was named for their father-in-law Daniel E. Hungerford, who served as vice-president of the New York, Texas & Mexican Railroad. Not the successful business venture they had envisioned, the company was sold to Southern Pacific Railway in 1885. With an economy based on farming and ranching, the community of Hungerford has continued to flourish over the years. Its origin is a reflection of the varied history of the railroad in Texas. (Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986.)

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