Seadrift

Seadrift is on State Highway 185 and San Antonio Bay seventeen miles southwest of Port Lavaca in western Calhoun County. It was probably named for debris from the Guadalupe River collected on the shores of the bay. In the jetsam was wreckage from Indianola, which was destroyed by a hurricane in 1866. Seadrift became noted as a fishing and shipping point. The post office opened in 1891 and has remained in continuous operation. In 1892 J. Dierlam served as postmaster, and the town had a physician. In 1896 Seadrift had triweekly mail service, a Baptist church, a music teacher, and a population of 120. Residents relied on stage service to Port Lavaca. On May 15, 1911, Seadrift began a period of rapid development. A. D. Powers offered five acres outside the city limit for each lot purchased within the city limit. Incorporation soon followed, and the first city council meeting was held in December 1912; W. G. Stewart served as first mayor. A canning factory and an ice factory were established in 1913. On January 6, 1913, J. F. Etheredge was appointed the first city marshal. William F. Koch of Victoria served as the first city attorney. By 1914 Seadrift had three churches, two banks, a telephone connection, four hotels, a photographer, and 1,250 inhabitants. The weekly newspaper was called the Seadrift Success