Slaton

Slaton, Texas, has a very rich and interesting history. The journey began in 1911 with the clickety-clack of the railroad track of the Santa Fe Railroad. Slaton was named after local rancher and banker O.L. Slaton on May 11, 1911. It was nicknamed &quote;Tent City&quote; in the beginning, because the first citizens lived in tents while construction began on small framed houses and buildings. June 15, 1911, was the official opening day of the city as people came by train, wagon, and on foot. Soon, the Harvey House restaurant was established, giving not only delicious cuisine but also meals served by attentive and attractive women who became known as the Harvey girls. Slaton became the center of the largest division in the Santa Fe system, servicing four daily northbound and southbound trains between Amarillo and Sweetwater. Today, you still hear the lonesome sound of the Santa Fe rolling through town, and the Harvey House is still open to the public. Slaton is a small West Texas community of approximately 6,129 citizens and is located 15 miles southeast of Lubbock.

Author Cathy Whitten is a West Texas native, and she and her dad, Jim Boles, own KSSL radio in Slaton. She has her own show weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cathy is a singer, songwriter, and musician. She performs regularly at various events and is proud to be given the opportunity to publish this wonderful pictorial history of Slaton.