At the extreme southwestern corner of Talbot County is the historic village of Box Springs. According to Ken Krakow: The community was named for a local spring that was boxed in and used as a watering stop for the railroad. Pipes were run from the “boxed-spring” to a water tower adjacent to the tracks. The name Boxed Spring was later changed to Box Springs, as it was easier to pronounce. A post office was established in 1853 though the area was likely settled earlier. The town was incorporated in 1913 and dissolved by 1931. Little of that era remains here today.
This old store, built in the early 1900s, sits in a thicket of privet and has always intrigued me; I may even have a family connection to Mr. Browning but need to research further. As the place succumbs to nature, I can only imagine it in its heyday, when the train stopped at the nearby tracks and people came through here enroute to and from Columbus.
I also visited that store a few years ago. My name is Steve and I am a browning descendant through Perry Browning whose descendants came from Georgia and moved to Texas in Sabine county. I have a letter that J. Wood Browning wrote to my Browning ancestor if anyone is interested in a copy of it. I am interested in finding out if anyone has located the family tree back, way back.
Hi, I saw this post in your recent newsletter and then mentioned to a friend with a YouTube channel he should try to film it. Turns out he already had – about this time last year. You mentioned thinking you might have a family connection so thought I’d share it here for yourself and your followers. It certainly was and is a cool old store! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUxbOuQpNF8
Have I told you lately what a gift you are? I think I have, actually, but the elderly are expected to repeat themselves. Besides the pleasure of seeing these often familiar and always fascinating places there is the empathetic thrill of seeing an artist who followed his heart and makes a living at it. I hope I’m right about that last part and thank you.
Such kind words, Lou. Thank you. It made my day!
I agree with Lou, you are a gift to us. Thank you for keeping historical sites alive a longer. Jim
Thanks, Jim. Enjoyed talking to you the other day.