The railroad and the name, 1883 to 1887

According to the Handbook of Texas, no distinct community formed until 1883, when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway built its tracks through the area. A post office followed in 1887, putting Haslet on the map.

“He has let us go through”

The City of Haslet’s history tells the story this way. When a Santa Fe representative came to the Maloney ranch asking for a right-of-way, Maloney first refused. Later Mrs. Maloney remarked that it would be nice to be able to ride the train into Fort Worth. Maloney changed his mind and told the railroad crew they could come through. When a workman asked what he had said, the answer was: “He has let us go through.”

The railroad contractor, from Haslett, Michigan, is said to have replied, “We’ll name this stop Has let.” The city’s account dates this to 1886.

Two versions of the naming story. The Handbook of Texas says only that the community was named for the Michigan hometown of the railroad's contractor. The City of Haslet's history adds the "has let" story about Maloney's permission. The two accounts are not strictly contradictory (the city's version includes the Michigan hometown too), but only the city's version credits Maloney.

The contractor's name is spelled two ways. The City of Haslet's history names him "Joel C. Harmmond." Other retellings, including this site's original draft, use "Hammond." We have not yet found a primary record that settles the spelling.