 Railroad bypasses Mantua, most businesses move to Van Alstyne by Julie Morris At
the end of the war, with great hopes for the future, the citizens tried
to resume the business of their town. In 1869, Mantua precinct #3
of Collin County had a population of 1,620. The town itself
boasted at least four businesses and a city population of about 50. The school was again growing with a top enrollment in 1868 of 80 pupils and eight teachers. James L. Greer also taught at the Seminary for four years. In a Leader article of September 1940, Burem Henderson Moore, wife of Dr. D. S. Moore, recalled that on top of the Seminary's second story was an observatory which surely offered quite a view of the countryside. Some sources indicate that the Lodge built a separate and larger school house after the war when finances were more available. However the Lodge history does not indicate any other than the original building of 1858. The Christians built a new church in 1871. The building was divided by a "provincial rail" and the women and girls sat on the south side and men and boys on the north. Later there was a bit of controversy during what was called the "organ question." Not all of the members were pleased with the vote to receive the "unscriptural instrument of the devil." The deadlock was broken and the organ stayed. Then in the early 1870s, excitement grew over the coming of the railroad. The great iron track was making its way north toward Mantua. But instead of keeping the town on the map, it would erase it completely. There is a legend that says that Mantua was sold out for $1,000. Although the facts cannot be documented, it is said that the Houston and Texas Central Railway requested from the town of Mantua a $1,000 bonus for running their tracks through their town. Other cities along the way had met their offers with more money. But after studying a map and seeing that Mantua was on the direct route between Dallas and the Red River, which meant (they thought) the railroad would pass through their town anyway, the city fathers decided to withhold the payment. The H&TC had other plans and routed their line over the flat land to the east. About three miles northeast of Mantua the H&TC founded the new depot town of Van Alstyne in 1873. It did not take long for the citizens of Mantua to realize that their town was doomed. Within a few months, many of the businesses moved to the new Van Alstyne, including Dr. Leslie in March 1873. Likewise, the Masonic Lodge and churches followed bringing with them the population of the once thriving town of Mantua. One by one the buildings were moved or torn down. Only the Seminary and Christian church remained. Even with most of the physical aspects of the town gone, Mantua was not ready to die. There still remained a community spirit that kept Mantua going. Clyde Flesher, whose family came to Mantua in 1880, remembers much going on around the remaining school and church. A new one story school house was built on the site of the old Seminary and here Clyde, the youngest in his family, started a school. His brother, Virgil Flesher was teacher when he entered first grade. Other teachers were Martin Lloyd, Ruth and Gladys Campbell, Lucy Haun and Geraldine Billups. The school burned about 1917 and classes met at the church while the school was being rebuilt. Finally the two room school house rang the last bell in the mid 1930s. During the winter months when the roads were bogged down in mud, the teens of the Mantua community would have "Play Parties." Clyde and his wife, Ruby George Flesher recall what great fun they all had. Some of the games they enjoyed to brighten the dreary winter days was "Slap in, Slap out," "Spin the Bottle," "Fruit Basket" and "Pin Tail on the Donkey." They also recall community Christmas celebrations at the school. "The trustees of the Sunday School class would cut a big cedar tree from Doc Baker's pasture. It was on a frame that revolved." The favorite refreshment was popcorn. Other parties were ice cream socials at the church. Mr. Flesher still vividly describes the gasoline lanterns that lit up the grounds. "Those things had a tank on top filled with gasoline with a pope going down to the lantern. And they'd pop when lit. It's a wonder that they didn't explode!" The inevitable happened. On July 17, 1921 the whole Mantua community was invited to a final church service held in the fifty year old Mantua Christian Church building. The last sermon was preached by Rev. Leo Johnston, pastor of the First Christian Church of Van Alstyne. A basket dinner was served at noon. That afternoon, Judge C. P. Webb and Elder R. C. Horn gave talks. Elder Horn had been a pastor at Mantua and was instrumental in establishing several churches in the area. At the end of the day everyone left with a feeling of sadness because the last vestige of old Mantua would be no more. Matt Miller bought the Mantua Christian Church building and dismantled it. He built a barn from the materials on a farm south of Melissa. Two of his grandchildren, Luther Johnson and Mary Helen Bewley are still quite familiar with the building. Mr. Johnson remembered that the wood seemed somehow different, not realizing its origin. Mrs. Bewley made special not of the barn's roof. "The Church's metal roof tiles have a beautiful design to them and they are still in good shape." This old wooden barn is now covered with tin, but the tiles are just as appealing today as they were at the last picnic in 1921 or the very first service in 1871. Just recently, the Mantua Cemetery was discovered during a title search on the property. Located on the northeast corner of Collin County Roads #373 and visible signs of burials. Whether or not it was ever an active cemetery is not known. This is one secret that old Mantua will keep. There's a giant green sign on U.S.Highway 75 that announces the Mantua exit to speeding cars on their way to somewhere else. Sometime take that exit going east. Just past the trees, in the clearing, look north on the hill to the old town of Mantua, if you think there's nothing there try again. Maybe you can see boys in knee pants chasing pig-tailed girls around the school yard. Or maybe you can see Confederate soldiers practicing their drills on the dusty square. Or maybe you can hear organ music resounding from the church house. Mantua will always be there. Much of the information gathered for this article has come from the research files in the Van Alstyne Library regarding Mantua, the Christian and Methodist churches and family histories. Several people rooted in Mantua offered insights for which I am very grateful. They are Clyde and Ruby Flesher, Leta Johnson, Mary Helen Bewely, Betty Norwood. Rob Gattis, Lucy Haun, Gene and Ruby Lindsey, Jennie Bryant and Ruth-Lee Gason.  Early Van Alstyne Mantua replaced by new depot town named after Marie Van Alstyne  Mantua History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |