Smiley, Texas

Remembering times past

The Smiley Tabloid
unfortunately now defunct
this particular issue from August 1963
(click here to see some interesting ads from this issue)

A photo taken in the early days of the Smiley Drug Store.
The man standing at far left behind the counter is
 Winchester "Chess" Sample.
The man sitting to the left of the group at the table is
Dr. Henry Hatch Beverly. 
If you can identify any of the other folks in this picture
please send me an email and let me know.
(Photo courtesy of Rob Schmidt.)

Interior of a leather goods store owned by the Elias and Dolly Thompson.
Photo taken July 1922
(Photo courtesy of Susan Mason)

A school class in Smiley, Texas, about 1910-1915.
Tommy T. Thompson, son of Elias and Dolly Thompson,
third from the right in the middle row.
Tommy's brother is the second boy from the left
standing in the rightmost window.
(Photo courtesy of Susan Mason)

From a U.S. Postal cover, unknown date.
Notice some of what Smiley offers:
"Good school and Church advantages."
"A Highly Moral Atmosphere."
"Cheap Lands"
"Abundant Water" (Notice they didn't mention it
tasted of sulphur; they also don't make a claim
of sweet smelling air.)
 

1963 advertisements from the August 15, 1963. Smiley Tabloid

 
Long gone are the days of
these prices.

 
The Texaco station was a favorite
after-hours hangout for the teen crowd.

Still in business.
Phone number has changed.

What happened to that
highly moral atmosphere?

 

If you have early photos of life in Smiley and would like to share,
 please send me an email (see home page for address)!