About Us
Incorporation
The City of Berryville was incorporated December 16, 1972. First City Council meeting was held January 18, 1973.
Berryville Mayors
1972 - 1979 - James E Berry
1979 - 1981 - Josephine Lake
1981 - 1982 - James Garner
1982 - 1987 - Glenda Kindle
1987 - 1991 - Erwin Berry
1991 - 1999 - John McElvany
1999 - 2005 - James Colvin
2005 - 2016 - Roy Brown
2016 - 2021 - Ron Hewlett
2021 - Present - Sue Morgan
Council
The Council consists of Mayor, Mayor Pro-tem, 4 council members. All are elected for 2 year terms, alternating years. The Council meets each month. The Council wrote ordinances to run/operate the City, which are still in use today.
History
Berryville is located at the east end of Henderson County, Texas, along the west side of Lake Palestine, just north of the Blackburn Dam.
James Berry was a grocer and butcher from Dallas who came to this area and purchased land from Jack Bolts in 1958. Erwin Berry is the son of James Berry. The grocery store opened Thanksgiving week of 1971. The roads were sand and gravel. There were 10 independent party lines with Frankston Independent Phone Company. Henderson County Sheriff offered no service.
Erwin Berry and neighbors worked to get the City incorporated. Bill Kugle was the attorney that helped to incorporate the City.
Once the City was incorporated, several neighbors canvassed the City to push for a wet election to sell liquor and get funds for the City.
James Berry, owner of the grocery store, was elected the first Mayor and served 2 terms. The first City council members were: Erwin Berry, Mayor Pro-tem, and Ms. Lake (2nd Mayor), Cotton Barnhart (Cotton’s Corner), Evie Wiggins and Mattie Albright.
The name Berryville derived from Mr. Berry being the first Mayor. Population was approximately 400 people.
There were 3 subdivisions: Thousand Pines, Holiday Hills and 3 Points. Each had its own water system and well. Holiday Hills is the oldest subdivision on Lake Palestine. Thousand Pines water system was owned by Erwin Berry. 3 Points was owned by McGuffey water. Holiday Hills was owned by Rockmore and Harris, a company in Palestine.
The Fire Department was behind the grocery store. Erwin Berry donated the land for the building and City Hall in February 1974. The loan was made with First State Bank for $10,000.00 to construct a building.
Berryville citizens voted "wet" in 1973 and had 5 liquor stores: Thousand Pines, Cotton’s, Lakes, and Mr. T. Bootleggers would buy a ½ pint of whiskey for $1.50 and sell them for $5.
Gordon Pomplin was a one man water department, as was Lewis Chalk. The water system was purchased in July 1978. 3 Points well, owned by Bob McGuffey, Thousand Pines well, owned by Erwin Berry, Holiday Hills well, owned by Paul Hampton of Palestine. Berryville drilled wells in 1979, in 1999 behind the ball field, and in 2008 in Holiday Hills near the old well.
All of the welding at the Lenore Berry Ballpark was done by Gordon Pomplin. The gift of the land and park from Lenore Berry cannot be sold. It is for the benefit of residents of Berryville.
Erwin Berry was very active by serving several terms as Mayor Pro-tem, Mayor, volunteer Fire Department and painting the pipe at the park.
The first Fire Truck was purchased from Kemah, TX for $500.00. The truck had an 8000 gallon water tank. The tank was set back on the frame with the pump up front behind the cab. When driving up the hill past the old Bacon Farm, the front wheels would rise off the ground and it was hard to steer.
Erwin Berry retired from the Berryville Council in the early 90’s.
Berryville had a jail in the fire department building that had a toilet, window and sink. The Police department was 1 car and 1 man. The first Fire Chief was Al Clay for 2 months, then Norman Ledbetter was appointed Fire Chief. Ledbetter, from Holiday Hills, also served as policeman. A deputy was hired from Wood County, but used excessive force and was fired. The Police Department was deactivated in October 1988.
Cuney went wet about 1986, and Berryville began losing some liquor stores.
Erwin Berry had the marina and campground behind the store on Cobb Creek.
Erwin Berry and a partner created the Cemetery and the building built was a funeral home. His partner left town with the funds and left Erwin with the note at First State Bank in Frankston. Mr. Austin donated the building to the City of Berryville which serves as our current City Hall.
Berryville is home to three churches. Hilltop Baptist Church began in a “bait house” near the current location in Holiday Hills subdivision. St Charles Borromeo Catholic Mission started in a small room attached to a daycare center on CR 4117 in Berryville on March 8, 1997. After a few months the Church purchased land at 1101 Hwy 155 N of Frankston, which is their current location. The Berryville Community Church is on the corner of CR 4117 and Edgewater north of Berryville City Hall.