In 1888 the Santa Fe Railroad was
building a railroad from Ballinger
to San Angelo when it ran out of
funds at a location which
is now the town of Miles.
Johnathan Miles made a donation
of $5000 to the railroad. In honor of
this generous man, the settlement
was called Miles Station. In 1905
the name “Station” was dropped
and Miles was incorporated.
The first grocery store was located
in a box car and was run by Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Robinson who
came to Miles from England. The
main street is named in their
honor. Most of the early settlers
came from overseas and a large
number of those were of German
descent.
The land here was very attractive to
these early settlers. Knee-high
grass covered the area and land
was selling for 75¢ to $1.50 per
acre. Mesquite trees were very
scarce and were controlled by the
prairie dog.
Most of the rock buildings located
in Miles were built or started in
1904. One of these buildings is
the Opera
House, built by Uncle Joe Thiele,
who came from Germany. He
worked his way from New York to
Texas and acquired a flock of
sheep on the way. He rode the
train with his sheep as far as Fort
Worth, where the railroad ended.
He camped on Willow Creek
outside of Miles. He bought many
sections of land in the Willow
Creek area and he hired Mexican
sheep herders to tend his sheep
because there were no fences
.
As early as 1888, the citizens met
at China Mott on Uncle Joe
Thiele's ranch on Willow Creek.
The First Baptist Church was
organized
and built south of the railroad. That
part of town became known as
“Baptist Hill”. The first school was
also located in this area. Four
different school buildings have
housed students during the past
century.
Miles boomed during the early
years of 1900. At one time it had a
population of over 3000 and was
larger than San Angelo. Many
businesses opened and thrived.
There were three drug stores, two
banks, two barber shops, two
hardware stores, a funeral parlor,
several grocery and clothing
stores, two meat markets, a
wagon yard and livery stable, as
well as a depot and jail. There
were also several saloons. A city
ordinance was passed making it a
violation for any lady to walk down
the east side of the street because
of the number of saloons on that
side of the street.
The wagon yard and livery stable
were busy places since horses
and mules supplied the energy to
transport the people by wagon,
building a railroad from Ballinger
to San Angelo when it ran out of
funds at a location which
is now the town of Miles.
Johnathan Miles made a donation
of $5000 to the railroad. In honor of
this generous man, the settlement
was called Miles Station. In 1905
the name “Station” was dropped
and Miles was incorporated.
The first grocery store was located
in a box car and was run by Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Robinson who
came to Miles from England. The
main street is named in their
honor. Most of the early settlers
came from overseas and a large
number of those were of German
descent.
The land here was very attractive to
these early settlers. Knee-high
grass covered the area and land
was selling for 75¢ to $1.50 per
acre. Mesquite trees were very
scarce and were controlled by the
prairie dog.
Most of the rock buildings located
in Miles were built or started in
1904. One of these buildings is
the Opera
House, built by Uncle Joe Thiele,
who came from Germany. He
worked his way from New York to
Texas and acquired a flock of
sheep on the way. He rode the
train with his sheep as far as Fort
Worth, where the railroad ended.
He camped on Willow Creek
outside of Miles. He bought many
sections of land in the Willow
Creek area and he hired Mexican
sheep herders to tend his sheep
because there were no fences
.
As early as 1888, the citizens met
at China Mott on Uncle Joe
Thiele's ranch on Willow Creek.
The First Baptist Church was
organized
and built south of the railroad. That
part of town became known as
“Baptist Hill”. The first school was
also located in this area. Four
different school buildings have
housed students during the past
century.
Miles boomed during the early
years of 1900. At one time it had a
population of over 3000 and was
larger than San Angelo. Many
businesses opened and thrived.
There were three drug stores, two
banks, two barber shops, two
hardware stores, a funeral parlor,
several grocery and clothing
stores, two meat markets, a
wagon yard and livery stable, as
well as a depot and jail. There
were also several saloons. A city
ordinance was passed making it a
violation for any lady to walk down
the east side of the street because
of the number of saloons on that
side of the street.
The wagon yard and livery stable
were busy places since horses
and mules supplied the energy to
transport the people by wagon,
| HISTORY |
MILES, TEXAS “A Small Town With A Big Heart”
| DOWNTOWN MILES — LATE, LATE 1800'S |
| OPERA HOUSE — 1904 |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH — 1904 |
| DOWNTOWN MILES — 1905 |
hack and buggy. One could even hire teams and vehicles from Mr. Curry, Mr. Louder and Mr. Middleton.
The Opera House was built in 1904. Operas and plays as well as other events were held often. It was a gathering place for
members of the community. In 1930, the Opera House was sold to H. W. Bigler, and was converted to a hotel. Delicious
meals, prepared by Mrs. Bigler, were served to guests. The Biglers closed the hotel in 1950. The former Mary Bess McGuire,
now Mrs. A. T. “Slim” Granzin, realized the need for a meeting place. She helped organize the Miles Preservation Authority
which eventually purchased and restored the Opera House for the use of all the citizens of Miles. The Opera House also
houses the Senior Citizens Center. Frances Lacy and Joy Lacy were instrumental in placing a historical marker on the building
in 1968. In July of 1976, through the efforts of the Miles Preservation Authority, the Opera House was placed on the National
Register.
In 1925, the town section of Robinson Street was paved with brick. All these brick were laid by a single black man. Until the
year 1930, it was almost impossible to drive to San Angelo after a heavy rain because of the muddy roads. By May of 1930, a
concrete, eighteen feet wide, two-lane highway was finished. In June of 1961, the present four-lane highway was completed.
Today, Miles has a population of almost 900 friendly people.
The Opera House was built in 1904. Operas and plays as well as other events were held often. It was a gathering place for
members of the community. In 1930, the Opera House was sold to H. W. Bigler, and was converted to a hotel. Delicious
meals, prepared by Mrs. Bigler, were served to guests. The Biglers closed the hotel in 1950. The former Mary Bess McGuire,
now Mrs. A. T. “Slim” Granzin, realized the need for a meeting place. She helped organize the Miles Preservation Authority
which eventually purchased and restored the Opera House for the use of all the citizens of Miles. The Opera House also
houses the Senior Citizens Center. Frances Lacy and Joy Lacy were instrumental in placing a historical marker on the building
in 1968. In July of 1976, through the efforts of the Miles Preservation Authority, the Opera House was placed on the National
Register.
In 1925, the town section of Robinson Street was paved with brick. All these brick were laid by a single black man. Until the
year 1930, it was almost impossible to drive to San Angelo after a heavy rain because of the muddy roads. By May of 1930, a
concrete, eighteen feet wide, two-lane highway was finished. In June of 1961, the present four-lane highway was completed.
Today, Miles has a population of almost 900 friendly people.
| This Webpage Sponsored By The: Miles Preservation Authority “Serving As The Local Chamber Of Commerce” P. O. Box 275 — Miles, Texas 76861 Email: cottonfestival@milestexas.com |
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