In the early 1870’s, this country
was sparsely settled, just a number of large farms. Most land was bought from the government for
a few dollars an acre. The greater
portion was owned by A.J. Roberts and he gave the land on which the town of Keller is located.
In 1879, you heard a great deal of
talk about a railroad. The only way they
had to travel was in wagons, a few surreys and buggies. Finally, it was known definitely that there would
be a railroad built somewhere in this part of the country, going north to a far
away place called Denton.
Everyone was pulling hard to bring
it through Athol. Other towns to the
west worked just as hard to get it through their communities. When work got under way and they were certain
the railroad was coming through, everyone felt that the depot just had to be
located at Athol. Finally, the
construction boss, Mr. Keller, told the men who were working so hard to get the
depot in Athol, that if they would name the town for him, he would see that
they got the depot, so that’s how Keller got her name.
Double Springs was a larger
community northeast of town and when it was definitely decided the railroad was
coming through Athol or Keller, there began an immediate exodus from Double
Springs. The Post Office was moved from
Double Springs to Keller in 1882. In
1882, the first train came through.
Excitement had been building for days and people came from all around
with picnic dinners.
In less then ten years, Keller
boasted a post office, lumberyard, hardware and implement store, hotel,
boarding house, milner shop, carpet weaving shop and others.
In 1933-34, during the depression,
the Gymnasium was built by WPA labor. It
was built of native stone, most of it furnished by local people. It was a “Community Project”, to be used as a
Community House in connection with the school.
The present elementary building was completed and occupied in September
1950. The air-conditioned high school
was added in 1962. The high school
air-conditioned unit was added in 1969.
By September 1973, a new middle school is to be completed to Bear Creek Rd. The Keller Independent School System now has
an enrollment of 1344.
Keller has 13 churches of all
denominations.
Keller must go back to the “Boom Town”
days of long ago before it goes forward to become a town in the heart of the
Metroplex just a few minutes west of the largest Regional Airport
in the WORLD.
