A glimpse of the past in Oak Forest

Just a short distance West of Gonzales, TX on Alternate Highway 90 lies the former town of Oak Forest.   What was once a thriving community from the 1930’s to the mid 1950’s of two general stores, a gas station, a blacksmith shop, two doctors, a community power plant, a cotton gin, a water municipality and a tourist court, is now just a glimpse of memories on County Road 143.

While visiting the old homestead we met Mr. A. G. Ainsworth, Jr., the Mayor of Oak Forest; population 2, including a herd of his wife’s show goats and numerous cattle.  A.G. as he likes to be called, gave us a short tour of the area plus a long visit into the past around the old homestead of Pete and Frances (Farmacka) Barta.

A short walk up the river bank of the Guadalupe river affords one a riverside view of the old power plant and the old dam long since collapsed due to the unrelenting forces of the mighty Guadalupe.

The power plant and water systems were built in the early 1930’s by Mose Wade, an early settler of the area.  To quote A.G., “Mose was definitely a man ahead of his time in vision and skill to have built such a major endeavor in the heartland of Texas.” 

As we strolled around the old power plant, now fenced in to prevent un-suspecting visitors from falling through the ruins, we were able to imagine the once thriving life of this community’s inhabitants.  The old generator, now gone, the foundations and walls worn with time, one can sense the power of the Guadalupe harnessed to bring electricity to the community.

Amazingly, the sluice gates and old turbines are still in place giving one the thought that just maybe, if only it could be restored and preserved.  But alas, as A.G. pointed out, “It definitely would not be an economical endeavor. There’s just too much to rebuild.  Time has passed us by.”

A.G. came to the area at the age of 12 in 1942 and remembers that the old General Store which included a butcher shop and post office, near the old power plant, was built by T.E. Brown.  It now houses his office as the unofficial mayor of Oak Forest; adorned with that typical Texas charm that makes one welcome at first glance.  While not readily available to the public, A.G. invited us inside, out of the typical hot Texas sun to cool down while he reminisced.

One historical antidote that A.G. imparted to us was that during the flood of 1938 the water rose to a point of about 39" below the rear door on the back wall of the General Store.  "Just imagine, it is approximately 40' from that point to the current level of the river.  If you still can't picture it, that would put the water level to about the mid point of the power plant windows."

Not much else is known at this time of the other establishments in the area except the smithy; our real reason for the trip.  

Pete Barta (b. 6/29/1876, d. 12/1/1957) established his blacksmith shop a short distance to the south of the old power plant along CR 143 on the old Barta homestead.  Click Here

According to A.G., this area of the Guadalupe river was a favorite vacation spot where people would come to enjoy the recreation on the river.  As time wore on,  the community faded into history to be replaced in prominence by Gonzales, TX to the East.

Fortunately, Living History Museums are a wonderful way to look back into the past and see how our ancestors lived. Click Here to go to our Living History section.

Editors Note: As more information becomes available about the area and the people, this article will be expanded.  If you have any information about the area and the people, please send it to Webmaster.