Weeping Mary, Texas


Weeping Mary is an unincorporated community in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. It is located on Texas State Highway 21 about 12 miles from the nearby town of Alto. Founded by freedmen shortly after the American Civil War, Weeping Mary is little more than a sparsely populated town in the 21st century but there are some families still living there and an active community church. It is significant as the community closest to the ancient Caddo Mounds State Historic Site.

History

Weeping Mary was founded by recently freed slaves, freedmen, shortly after the Civil War. The community later founded a Baptist church. The community founded a local school for their children in 1896, and had a record of 40 pupils. Demographic changes took place after a boll weevil infestation destroyed the cotton crops, and mechanization reduced the need for farm labor. Many people left in the Great Migration, seeking jobs on the West Coast, especially during and after World War II, when more defense industry jobs were available. The population was 40 in 2000.

Urban legends about the name

There are two known legends on how Weeping Mary got its name. The first says that the name refers to Mary Magdaline crying at Jesus' tomb. In another version, the town was named for a former slave who cried after losing her land, as the government had promised it would not be taken away.

Education

Students living in Weeping Mary are within the Alto Independent School District.