Historian keeps history alive in Copperas Cove
Fri, 2016-01-29 05:00
News Staff
By CHUCK TAYLOR
Cove Leader-Press
James Powell, 70, has lived in Copperas Cove the past 53 years. Born in Eminence, Missouri, Powell moved here when he was 17 years old and went to work for a company now called Oncor.
Through his wife, Faye, Powell became extremely interested in the history of Copperas Cove and its surroundings.
The past president of the now defunct Ogletree Gap Folk Life Festival; Powell joined the Copperas Cove chamber of commerce and began developing a program of living history as he gathered clothing from the 1800s and presented a story about the area which he performed at elementary schools, civic groups and anyone else who wished to learn about our area.
His program has become an ongoing project of the Chamber of Commerce. Powell spoke of the massive cattle drive, (innovative at the time) where a gentleman named Goodnight decided to drive cattle West, rather than South. At that time, all cattle were driven south and folks laughed at the idea of moving the herds west. Goodnight had looked at all of the military forts spread out to the west of our area and decided that there would be an eager market for beef. His idea paid off and he returned to Copperas Cove a wealthy man.
From 1836 until 1845, Texas was independent nation. In 1845 Texas joined the United States. When it came time to develop the area, Marston Ogletree applied to the federal government for a post office. He requested that the area be known as Cove, but was turned down as the town now known as Evant had the name.
He amended the name of the post office to Copperas Cove and so the area finally had an official name and post office. Around the same time, the city also was a stage coach stop and a railroad destination with several hotels and an opera house.
Powell has hours and hours worth of information on the various events that brought Copperas Cove to where it is today.
Powell’s talks are free and they can be requested through the Chamber of Commerce.