About Us

Pelham- A Farming Community

From the beginning, Pelham's economic base has been supported by revenue derived from the "Rich Fertile Farmland" and Cattle. We are in the heard of the Blach Land Prairie at the Western Edge of Navarro County.

Pelham Info and Facts:

4 Historical Markers:

1975- For Pelham Community, the first for a black community.

1993- Wesley United Methodist Church, dedicated to the memory of Pioneer families of the church community.

2007- Pelham Community Cemetery, established in 1890. The land was donated by the John Caruthers and Tom Cook Families. A grave of interest is that "Bear" Dave Henry who lived in three centuries. He was Born in 1790 and died 1915.

2010- Ash Creek School, the first school/church was built in 1878 and located near the cemetery. The Ash Creek School was built in 1921 with matching Rosenwald Funds.

Brown Chapel AME Church:

Brown Chapel was organized in 1905. Tom Cook donated the land for the building site. The Church was named for Pompey Brown, the oldest member and the father-in-law of Tom Cook. The church was destroyed by fire in 1937 and rebuilte the following year.

Pelham Community History Museum:

This building was constructed in 1890 by the sons and grandsons of former slaves, who now owned the land. It was designated a school building. John Caruthers was the first teacher. The building was then located near the Pelham Cemetery. The building was moved by the men of the community with a "mule team" to the present site in 1920. It was utilized as a fraternal lodge hall and cafe until 1990. The building was renovated in 2002 and opened as the Pelham Community History Museum.

The Pelham School:

The first school was in the Methodist Church, a log cabin. The first schoolhouse was constructed in 1890(the museum). This building was used until 1921 when a grant from the Rosenwald Foundation allowed constructions for the building which served as a 12-grade accredited high school. Ash creek was recognized as its own Independent School District. The community population peaked in 1926 go 350 residents. Enrollment declined in the 1960's to grades 1-8. The school was consolidated in 1967 with Dawson ISD.

Union Baptist Church:

Union was organized in 1916. A brush arbor served the first meeting place. The church was destroyed by a storm in 1937 but was rebuilt in 1938. Union closed in 1012 after the passing of the last member in 2011.

Pelham Community Center:

The center is used for community meetings, repass for funerals, family reunions and to just get together. It is maintained by Pelham's community organization.

Wesley United Methodist Church:

The First Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1878 and was a log cabin that served as a church and school. It was located on the John Caruthers farm near the cemetery. In 1917, the church moved to its present site. It was destroyed by fire in 1931 but was rebuilt in 1933.

The Pelham Community Cemetery:

The Pelham Cemetery was established in 1890. The first burial at this site was Annie Westbrook. Later the cemetery was donated land by John Caruthers and Tom Cook for expansion. A cemetery association was organized to establish the site as we see it today.