In the late 1890s, Charles Apelt, a German immigrant who came to Comfort in 1887 and worked as a farmer, opened a unique commercial enterprise at this site after encountering the armadillo and developing a commercial use for the mammal’s hard shell. Using the nine-banded variety, he opened the Armadillo Basket Factory, and the novelty armadillo basket quickly became a success; within its first six years of operation, the factory shipped 40,000 orders throughout the U.S. and the world. In 1904, Apelt displayed his product at the St. Louis World’s Fair, and by the 1920s, the operation employed dozens of local hunters. At its height, the establishment produced about 100 baskets each week, sold for $2.50 each or $15 if decorated with silk, bows and beads. Apelt also used armadillo shells for floor and table lamps, desk sets and smoking stands, while some live armadillos were sold to zoos, pet owners and research facilities; to meet demand for armadillos in medical research, he built an elaborate network of concrete burrows and tunnels in front of his home. Charles Apelt ran the farm until his death in 1944, and his wife, Martha, continued the business until her death in 1947. The farm reopened in 1951 before closing again in 1971. During its years of operation, it was a significant source of employment in the area and became remembered for producing distinctive and famed souvenirs.

Photo: Cosmos Mariner

Photo: Cosmos Mariner

Photo: Cosmos Mariner

Photo: James Hulse

Photo: James Hulse

Photo: Cosmos Mariner

Photo: Cosmos Mariner

Comfort, Texas · USA