History of Orand Livery in Waco, Texas explained, explored, and excavated in a historic context.

The Orand Livery is one of the forgotten historic artifacts of Waco, Texas that has been erased away with time. This news article will explain the history behind this livery. For those who don’t know, a livery is a horse stable which is precisely what Orand Livery was.

Orand Livery was operated by a pair of brothers called the Orand Brothers. They both ran this livery until the livery went out of business. 

 

The property where Orand Livery was owned by McLennan County in 1842. Sometime during the mid-1800s is when McLennan County sold their property to a land owner. However the owner was unable to pay their taxes and the land was acquired by the McLennan County Sheriff. Now the property where Orand Livery located on was sold at a sheriff’s sale, hosted by the McLennan County Sheriff, in 1852 for ¢10 cents. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/image/194764471/?terms=%22orand%20bros%22&match=1)

Orand Livery was operated by a pair of brothers called the Orand Brothers. Orand Brothers established a livery called Orand Livery at the corner of Washington Avenue and North 3rd Street in 1873 according to a Sanborn map. The livery had a shed and auction site where horses were sold. (Ref: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4034wm.g4034wm_g088031885/?sp=3)

The Waco Daily Examiner ran a story on April 1, 1876 saying that a boulder dug up behind Major Orand’s livery stable was cracked open to reveal the remains of a petrified pigeon. About 1,500 people rushed to the scene that day to view the strange object, even a Baylor University geology professor, only to find that the whole thing was an April Fool’s hoax. (Ref: https://wacotrib.com/waco_today_magazine/waco-strange-but-true-april-1-is-a-fools-paradise/article_9f3a9b00-a8e3-5901-9887-d324b238ecbd.html)

Shockingly Orand Livery was burned to the ground due to an arson incident at the beginning of 1881. African Americans were said to have supposedly burned down the Orand Livery out of "spite". (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/68107625/)

Waco had two small fires last Saturday. A small blaze in a clothing store was extinguished after doing about $250 worth of damages. Joseph Nalle's store was burned, loss about $100. An attempt was made to burn an old building adjoining Orand's livery stable. It is thought that negroes are the parties doing the "firing" out of spite.


However Waco Morning News reported that Orand Livery had gone out of business and dissolved on the date of Wednesday, January 2, 1889. Their franchise tax ended along with their franchise. A deed of trust, which was worth $13.40, was filed to protect the creditors. However the Orand Brothers kept the Orand Livery open not as a business but just solely as a livery instead. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/image/194764471/?terms=%22orand%20bros%22&match=1)

For example, John Brown rented a livery team from Orand's livery stable on the 21st of May 1899. John Brown return to Waco until late in the afternoon of May 22, 1899. (Ref: https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4190848/sa-ap-ry-co-v-holden/)

In 1903, Galveston Daily News recorded that Orand Livery was located in a 60 x 169 foot two-story brick with a front north side plaza. The Orand Brothers were listed as good tenants by the Galveston Daily News. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-apr-10-1903-p-7/)

Orand Livery was once located where Waco City Hall currently is today. No traces of Orand Livery can be discovered or excavated as Waco City Hall was built over where the livery was once extant.


Orand Livery was located at 4004 North 3rd Street, Waco, Texas, US 76701. The modern address for 301 Washington Avenue, Waco, Texas, US 76701.