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history of keene
In 1892 a group of citizens living near Dallas chose a committee to purchase land for a school in Johnson County. This committee financed the purchase of 800 acres a few miles east of Cleburne for $8000. They brought all their belongings in covered wagons and began to clear the land and build houses, most living in tents during the first few winter months.
In January 1894 the first school building was completed, and the school, known as the Keene Industrial Academy, opened with 56 students. The principal was C.B. Hughes. The school building doubled as the first Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas, organized with 67 members.
Local citizens began raising $3000 to get a passenger train on the 10-mile stretch from Cleburne to Egan. On December 20, 1902, the first train pulled into town with Keene as it's only stop, operated by a steam engine. The train included a coal car, wooden baggage car, and a passenger coach. This served as the primary means of transportation until 1923.
By 1926, the old railway started to disappear and plans for a new highway began. Old Betsy, the name given to the famous steam engine by the locals, is now the name of Keene's main street, which follows parallel to the route of the original railroad track. This period of time represents the birth of Keene, Texas.
history
City of Keene was founded
In 1934, the first post office was opened and gave the town its name. Over the years, Keene has been home to many industries including over 20 broom factories, a printing press, a cabinet manufacturer, Villa Inn Motel, various gas stations and grocers, and more.
While many local residents recognize that progress is unavoidable, there are still those that like to remember Keene the way it used to be...a small, bedroom community where residents knew their neighbors and their neighbors became their family.
Check out the gallery below for pictures. If you have a picture you'd like to contribute, please email it to info@visitkeenetx.com.
BRIEF History of SWAU
Keene's early pioneers acted on their conviction that classroom learning, and work experience were both an essential part of classroom learning and opened the Keene Industrial Academy in 1893. From there the school evolved and experienced several name changes, including Southwestern Junor College in 1916, Southwestern Union College in 1977, Southwestern Adventist College in 1987, and finally to Southwestern Adventist University in 1996.
Today, SWAU is a thriving university located in the heart of town with over 1000 students who attend from around the world annually.
First Seventh-day Adventist Church
In January of 1894, sixty seven people met on a hill between Alvarado and Cleburne (Johnson County, TX) and signed their names as charter members of the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church.
From that moment, they became part of Keene's Forever Family.
Today, more than 120 years later, the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventist has more than 63,000 members, representing 100+nationaliites, across over 350 congregations and 22 schools. They are always looking for new members and want every person to have a meaningful connection with God.
NOW AND FOREVER.
First Schools in Keene
In 1893 the Texas Adventist Conference requested that a school be established in Texas. That same year Keene Adventist Elementary School began under the name "The Texas School" with first teacher Ella E. Evans.
In 1898, residents voted on a free public school to assist students who could not afford private education. Seventy-six voted for and four voted against the idea. This led to establishing Keene ISD that now operates with over 1000 students.
Today, Keene offers both public and private education to students from Pre-K to high school and a private university for undergraduate or graduate studies.
First airplane built in texas
In 1911 Slats Rogers became the first man to build and fly a plane in Texas. Surprisingly, he was not a pilot, just a man who loved speed and became an engineer. His first job was with the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe railroad.
As the story goes, construction on the plane began in Cleburne but ended in Keene, giving Keene the notoriety of becoming the town in which the first airplane in Texas was built. Since Rogers was not skilled in the art of aircraft, the right wing of his plane continually drooped, giving his plane the name "Old Soggy #1," and causing as many as 29 crashes. Eventually he perfected his performance of the craft and eventually retired the plane in a field in Johnson County.
A replica of the plane is on display at the Hopps Museum & Welcome Center.
About Us
Keene in Late 1950's
1924-1925
1924-1925
1924-1925
This is a view of Keene from the top of the Administration building around 1924-1925, taken just a year or so after the Old Betsy steam engine stopped its run through Keene. Notice the old white church, used until 1957, located between 2nd and 3rd Street on Fairview. The second story building to the east was the location of the Keene Food Store that many old timers may remember as Blair's Store. At the time of this picture, the old wooden Post Office and W O Belz Store had not been built nor the Mizpah gate.
1958-1959
1924-1925
1924-1925
Ella E. Hughes Elementary School - Mrs. Welker, 1st/2nd Grade - 1958-1959
Back Row - Mrs. Welker, Pat Harper, Laurie Birdwell, Esther Feather, Kenna Lee Austin, Bonnie Wilson, Bonnie Boelter, Jerita James, Pamela Crane Middle Row - Randy Hayes, Janie Bryce, Vicky Williamson, unknown, Steve Hoppman, Barbara Ann Blackburn, Kathy Evans, Harry Chambers, Beckie Nosworthy Front Row - Karl Crane, Donnie Scales, Frank Brazier, John Millsap. Mike Belz, William Layland, Henry Berkner, Linden Beardsley, Gary Majors
Site Content
Water Tower Taken Down in 1970 on SWAU Campus
The old community water tower, a community landmark since 1921 and the highest structure on campus came down on March 30, 1970. The tower was erected for the use of the college at a time when the community had no water supply. Although faculty homes were connected to the water line at one time it was used for the town only in case of emergency, when the town was in short supply. Keene residents had their own wells or was connected to a private water system.
According to old timers, there used to be a well and a pump house right beside the tower. In 1953 the school invested a large sum of money in their water system, putting in an eight-inch main across the campus, as well as four plugs.
In 1964 the City of Keene purchased the school water system and incorporated it with their own, with the agreement the city would take down the tank and tower. The tower was in continual use until January 1970, when the water mains were rerouted, and the tower taken down.