BAYSIDE, TEXAS. Bayside, on Farm Road 136 twenty-five miles
north of Corpus Christi in southeastern Refugio County,
stretches more than 3½ miles along the southwestern shore of
Copano Bay. The town was founded near the site of the former
community of Black Point in 1908 by E. O. Burton and A. H.
Danforth, who sought to attract fruit and vegetable growers to
the area. Burton and Danforth had part of their property divided
into 505 five-acre tracts designed for truck farming. The
original townsite consisted of nineteen blocks and one hotel
block; land along the shore was set aside for use as public
parks. The proprietors also built a bathhouse and a wharf for
community use. A well was drilled at the edge of town to provide
free water to residents. Burton and Davenport were experienced
developers and advertised nationwide. A purchaser of a five-acre
tract was to receive a town lot. Although many people bought
property with the intention of becoming residents, most of the
land was purchased by speculators. The de