The 24th in a series of articles
for the 175th Anniversary of Bonham
Bonham, Texas -- At present in the central part of Bonham the east-west streets are numbered 1st – 15th and the north-south streets, except for Main and Center, are named after trees.
However, at one time east-west streets were not numbered. They had names such as Owl, Elk, Oak, State and even Odd Fellows. Who knows who named the
original streets?
But, by 1897, Owl Street had become 1st Street, Elk has become 2nd Street, Rosa had become 3rd Street, State Street had become 4th Street, Front Street had become 5th Street, North Street had become 6th Street, Mason Street had become 7th Street, Odd Fellows had become 8th Street, Rusk had become 9th Street and Planters had become 10th Street.
The north-south streets took the names of trees: Beech, Cedar, Poplar, Maple, Willow, Chestnut, Cherry.
Access this map at https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/txu-sanborn-bonham-1897-01.jpg
Several Bonham streets have been named to honor individuals. Of course the most well-known is Sam Rayburn Drive. 4th Street was renamed Sam Rayburn Drive in 1962.
At one time 4th Street was U.S. 82, and then, when U.S. 82 moved north, it became Highway 56.
Chinner Street, in west Bonham, was named after Jerry Chinner, the African-American owner of a Bonham brick kiln who was a prominent local merchant.
Charlie Christian Street in south Bonham is named for jazz pioneer Charlie Christian, who was born in Bonham and is buried at Gates Hill Cemetery.
Albert Broadfoot Street is named for District Judge Albert Broadfoot. The street was formerly named Broad Street, but was changed to honor the judge.
According to Ronnie Atnip, Cunningham Street was named for Fannin County Judge Henry A. Cunningham and Leslie Street was named for Fannin County Judge Sam Fenner Leslie. Lipscomb Street was named for Bonham pioneer and Civil War veteran Smith Lipscomb.
And what about that long street named Island Bayou?
The first reference we have found is in an 1887 ad for the sale of property in the Bonham News.
It seems that “the Island Bayou road” is the road TO Island Bayou, which is tributary of Red River in Bryan County, Oklahoma.
We have not yet found a map showing the exact route of the Island Bayou Road to the Red River.
