This drawing of downtown Como is by Shirley Kight

Como was settled originally, by the Carroll family, in 1846 or 1847. They were soon joined by other families. The area was known as Carroll's Prairie.

A post office was established in 1870 and the town was called Bacchus. The post office ceased functioning in 1871 but was reestablished in 1873.

In 1876 the town's name was changed to Carroll's Prairie. In 1893 an L was dropped and the town was called Carrol's Prairie. Then in 1894 the name was changed to Como.

In 1890 - 1891 Como's population was 400. Businesses included a carpenter, blacksmith, three mill and gin companies, four physicians, four grocers, one drug company, one general store, a furniture store, a saloon, an express telegraph and railroad agent, and a dry goods and grocery store.

As of 1896 - 1897 the population had risen to 500. There was a Baptist and a Methodist church and two preachers. Businesses included a blacksmith, three mill and gin companies, five physicians, seven general stores, and one barber.

In 1914 - 1915 the population was 500. The now inc0rporated town on the M. K. T. Railway had a Baptist, Christian, and a Methodist church as well as a weekly newspaper called "The Como Headlight". There was also an electric light plant and three lignite mines. Cotton, fruit, "truck garden", cordwood, and lignite were shipped from the town. Businesses included one livery company, a well driller, two gins, seven physicians, four grocers, two pharmacists, four general stores, one furniture sales and undertaker business, one hardware, furniture sales, and undertaker company, one hardware and farm implement company, two banks, two restaurants, two general contractors, one tailor, one grocer and produce, one poultry breeder, three fruit growers, one photographer, one building and loan association, one gin, one mercantile company, one real estate company, one feed, produce, and cotton company, one veterinarian, one telephone company, one attorney, one dry goods and shoes business, one meat seller, two ice dealers, two lumber companies, one hotel, two jewelers, one dry goods and shoes company, and one moving picture business.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Park Springs School students circa 1907.
First Baptist Church.
First Methodist Church built in Como.
Second Methodist Church built in Como.
This peach shed was located next to the railroad tracks.
The old Como School. Masons met upstairs.
M. L. Garvin Hardware and Implements Store was located in Como from1890 to 1931.
Harness and Saddle Store.
Canning plant. This plant had a capacity of 2500 per day.
Lone Star lignite mine.
Merchants' and Planters' Bank
McGarity and Petty Drug Store.
M. L. Garvin Hardware and Implements Store. The store had the latest in cooking and heating stoves and harness to fit mule or buggy. The tall shelves were lined with everything the cotton or orchard grower needed. Housewives frequented the store looking for the latest in modern conveniences.
This charming photograph is of George Ditzler (1827-1919) and his granddaughter, Madeline.

 

Some of the text and images on this web site were used with the
gracious permission of the Hopkins County Historical Society.
Thank you!

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Last Modified: 11/04/2006 3:50 PM