Old Tomball, Texas

Located on the east side of the City of Tomball, the historic architecture of "Old Tomball" has been preserved as part of a commercial district. Today, the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century buildings in Old Tomball contain small shops and eateries such as the Whistle Stop Tea Room and Granny's Korner Antiques. The City of Tomball was named after Thomas "Tom" Henry Ball, a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of Huntsville, and local attorney. In the early 1900s, Ball worked to ensure that the railroad would be extended through the burgeoning town, which resulted in a boost to the area's agriculture and economy. His efforts helped to establish the economic base upon which future businesses could be built, and the city expanded especially quickly after oil was discovered southwest of Tomball in 1933. This led many people to refer to Tomball as "Oiltown USA."

Prior to 1850, the city now known as Tomball was a quiet agricultural community located outside of Houston. When the burgeoning town was first incorporated in 1906, it was not yet large enough to be considered a city. It was originally named "Peck" after a railroad engineer with the Trinity & Brazos Valley (T & BV) Railroad. The following year, however, a local attorney and politician named Tom Ball was instrumental in getting the railroad extended through the area. The extension of the railroad through the town meant that people could more easily access Houston for business opportunities, and they also had more direct access to the Gulf Coast for travel. Thereafter, officials decided to rename the town in Tom Ball's honor. It became known as "Tom Ball," which was later shortened to "Tomball."

According to Jean Alexander, a local historian and former director of the Tomball Museum, Tom Ball's efforts largely made possible the growth of the town into a city. Tom Ball was originally born and raised in Huntsville, Texas. He was elected to the U.S. Congress from the First District of Texas in 1896, and he continued to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives until 1903. A decade later, he ran for Governor of Texas, but he was unsuccessful. Ball's stance in support of Prohibition was not widely popular, and it may have cost him his bid for election. During the campaign, his opponent photographed and circulated pictures of local saloons in Tomball in an attempt to win public favor and to sway voters against him. Although Ball lost the gubernatorial race, his career achievements included four terms in the U.S. Congress and three terms as the mayor of Huntsville, along with maintaining a private law practice.

Ball also became known as the "Father of the Port of Houston" due to his economic development efforts in the Buffalo Bayou area. However, it was his contributions to the town of Tomball that perhaps proved to be the most lasting. His name became permanently associated with the growing city, which experienced rapid expansion after oil was discovered nearby in 1933. Today, the area known as "Old Tomball" on the east side of the city still retains some of its original architecture from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Amidst these preserved buildings with their distinctive turn-of-the-century flavor, Old Tomball hosts special events throughout the year, including the Honky Tonk Chili Challenge, the Freight Train Food Truck Festival, and the July Fourth Festival and Street Party. Old Tomball is also known for "Main Street Crossing," a live music venue and community center, and for the Tomball Museum Center and the Railroad Depot Museum.

History of City, Tomball, TX Gov. Accessed May 8th, 2023. https://tomballtx.gov/113/History-of-City.

Things to do in Tomball Texas, Main Street Crossing. Accessed May 8th, 2023. https://mainstreetcrossing.com/things-to-do-in-tomball-texas/.

Tomball, TX, Texas State Historical Association Online. Accessed May 8th, 2023. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/tomball-tx.

Tomball, TX History, Town Square Publications. Accessed May 8th, 2023. https://townsquarepublications.com/tomball-tx-history/.