Naming of Cut’n Shoot
by Robin Montgomery
Cut’n Shoot, in eastern Montgomery County, is more than just a town of world renown. It is a state of mind reflective of a readiness to fight for one’s beliefs while respecting a reasonable compromise. Let’s explore how this unique community received its name and later its world fame.
Our story begins in July, 1912. One would presume it was hot. The center of the community was a building called the “Community House,” a combination church and school. But certain religious denominations were excluded from using the facilities.
Then it happened. July 21, 1912 marked the day that an evangelist of one the excluded groups scheduled an appearance, bent on conducting a service. Opposing factions emerged and on that July morning, they met, each with weapons concealed within reach. One side was determined to enter the building to have a preaching. The other side was just as determined to prevent said preaching.
As the tension mounted, Jack King, an eight year-old of one of the families in favor of having the preaching, became frightened. Consequently seeking to “do” something, it is said that he blurted out, “I’m going to cut around the corner and shoot through the bushes.”
Fortunately, no cutting and shooting occurred on that day courtesy of a compromise solution. The visiting evangelist was allowed to engage a series of meetings over the next several weeks. But instead of the church, his platform was a shaded spot on the ground, while the congregation was composed of families seated in their nearby wagons.
Meanwhile, trials were set for the leaders of the respective feuding factions. At one of the gatherings, a witness named Archie Vick was asked where the confrontation had occurred. Since the place did not have a name, Vick responded that it was “where they had the cutting and shooting scrape.” Shortened to “Cut’n Shoot”, the name stuck.
Though the community had long since received its name, it wasn’t until 18 August, 1958 that it received a
post office. According to Amy Wade, the town’s secretary, the timing was arranged to coincide with the world heavyweight boxing championship fight between Roy Harris, of Cut’n Shoot, and then champion, Floyd Patterson. Though Roy suffered defeat in that battle, he became an attorney and perennial county
clerk. In these roles, this same Roy Harris engineered the incorporation of the town in 1969.
See Harley Gandy, Master’s Thesis on Montgomery County, University of Houston, 1952, and Robin Montgomery’s book, “Cut’n Shoot, Texas: The Roy Harris Story”, 1984.
Cut’n Shoot, in eastern Montgomery County, is more than just a town of world renown. It is a state of mind reflective of a readiness to fight for one’s beliefs while respecting a reasonable compromise. Let’s explore how this unique community received its name and later its world fame.
Our story begins in July, 1912. One would presume it was hot. The center of the community was a building called the “Community House,” a combination church and school. But certain religious denominations were excluded from using the facilities.
Then it happened. July 21, 1912 marked the day that an evangelist of one the excluded groups scheduled an appearance, bent on conducting a service. Opposing factions emerged and on that July morning, they met, each with weapons concealed within reach. One side was determined to enter the building to have a preaching. The other side was just as determined to prevent said preaching.
As the tension mounted, Jack King, an eight year-old of one of the families in favor of having the preaching, became frightened. Consequently seeking to “do” something, it is said that he blurted out, “I’m going to cut around the corner and shoot through the bushes.”
Fortunately, no cutting and shooting occurred on that day courtesy of a compromise solution. The visiting evangelist was allowed to engage a series of meetings over the next several weeks. But instead of the church, his platform was a shaded spot on the ground, while the congregation was composed of families seated in their nearby wagons.
Meanwhile, trials were set for the leaders of the respective feuding factions. At one of the gatherings, a witness named Archie Vick was asked where the confrontation had occurred. Since the place did not have a name, Vick responded that it was “where they had the cutting and shooting scrape.” Shortened to “Cut’n Shoot”, the name stuck.
Though the community had long since received its name, it wasn’t until 18 August, 1958 that it received a
post office. According to Amy Wade, the town’s secretary, the timing was arranged to coincide with the world heavyweight boxing championship fight between Roy Harris, of Cut’n Shoot, and then champion, Floyd Patterson. Though Roy suffered defeat in that battle, he became an attorney and perennial county
clerk. In these roles, this same Roy Harris engineered the incorporation of the town in 1969.
See Harley Gandy, Master’s Thesis on Montgomery County, University of Houston, 1952, and Robin Montgomery’s book, “Cut’n Shoot, Texas: The Roy Harris Story”, 1984.