Lorena 006

History of Lorena, Texas

By JennyGlaser

  • Daniel Aerl birth

  • Henry Clay Williams buys land from Cardova-horses/calvary

  • Texas Breaks from Mexico...becomes Republic

  • Period: to

    History of Lorena

  • Charles Alexander Westbrook born

  • Cordova buys land from Gov. George T. Wood cattle trails established from South Texas to Kansas

  • Southwestren McLennan County first settled

  • Daniel Aerl busy 357 acres from Cardova-cattle

  • Williams moved his family to Lorena

  • Westbrook's arrive in area- cotton, horses/calvary

  • Lorena born- first of 13 children (died 1952)

  • Civil War began

  • End of Civil War

  • Waco Bridge Co. founded...Flint bought supplies from Roebling

  • Cow Bayou School (Cedar Bridge) opened

  • Waco Suspension Bridge opened

  • Waco Incorporated, Railroad arrives in Waco

  • Two German men adn an Irish mason built the Westbrook home during 1871-1875

  • Westbrook Plantation home finishes approximately

  • Williams Farm House Built

  • Lorena Westbrook married

  • First Cotton Gin (1880's)

  • Aerl Station renamed for Lorena Westbrook

  • C.M. Doge sells leftover land as store/house plots

  • Cedar Bridge School burned

  • First School in Lorena established

  • Aerl gives land to MKT (C.M. Dodge: RR official)

  • Cemetery established

  • First Baptist Church

  • Railroad Completed through Lorena and Bruceville

  • First Stores- Front Street- boardwalks

  • White Frame school built to replace Cedar Bridge- Aerl gave land (housed 70 students)

  • Lorena Baptist Church was established

  • Aerl gave land for the first school in this section

  • Victorian homes starting to be built in Waco

  • Methodist Church (architectural plans by Husdon, from England Statue of LIberty dedicated

  • Charles Alexander Westbrook died

  • Daniel Aerl death

  • Masonic Lodge #594; also Women's Club established

  • Lorena's Woman's Club organized

  • Two Story red brick school house dedicated

  • Red Brick Grammar School House built

  • Fist National Bank

  • Jones/Fiser First Mrecantile (on NOrth side of street)...Graves' Evans/Westbrook Mercantile (North side of street), Ashenhurt Market/Cafe, Maxey Groery/Theater

  • African American children's school in AME Church- replaced by school near MKT RR - 100+ students- named for Jules Bledsoe

  • William Farm House burned down

  • Lorena State Bank

  • Water tower fro townspeople at artesian well site

  • Lorena Cemetery Association Established

  • Henry Clay Williams died

  • KKK active, Sheriff Buchanan confronts the KKK parade

  • Methodist educational unit was added

  • High School built - is the oldest section of the old middle school

  • High School (now the vacant old Middle School) sidewalk installed

  • First High School built

  • North side of Downtown Lorena burned

  • Westbrook home copper roof sold to the wartime government

  • Lorena Westbrook Robertson died

  • Elementary wing & gym added to HS (now vacant middle school) and red brink building torn down

  • Elementary & Gym aded- Red Brick School demolished

  • African American students welcomed as an integrated district

  • Methodist Church Historical Marker added

  • New Baptist Church was dedicated

  • Present Lorena High School dedicated