Jim Ned High School - Warrior Yearbook (Tuscola, TX)

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'- 1913 Tuscola. Bank, Polson Store. Santa Fe Depot Tuscola's First School Met 3 Months a Year In 1889 the first school in Tuscola was built thanks to funds from Mr. Graham, Fisher, B.C. Gaither, Knause, Booker, and Cash. It stood about two miles west of where Tuscola is today on the O. G . Brown place . The furniture in the one room school house was the teacher's desk and a long writ- ing table and a long bench for the children. School only took place three to four months out of the year and went to the tenth grade. It numbered from thirty to forty pupils. Since Tuscola was growing more in the Eastern part of the valley, Mr. I .L. Graham donated land for a church and school at what was old Tuscola. The first three teachers here were Ms. Allison, Ms. Luther Fuller and Miss Ollie Crofton. About 1912 the Sante Fe and Southern Railroads were built: and, of course, the people moved to the two railroad crossings, thus moving the town of Tuscola. The Santa Fe donated 23500 and gave two blocks of land for the site of the new school. The first teachers were Mr. W.A. Franklin, Miss Mamie Nabours, Lilly Edins, and Belle Jones. Bas- ketball was the thriving sport at school. Soon after the players and game became so good they had to move it from outside to inside . This called for a gymnasium to be built. Later a girls' volleyball team was established and matches were held . Miss Vada Kidd was quoted saying, The highlight of school days was the coming of the 'Demonstration Train' on the Santa Fe Railroad sent out from Col- lege Station in the years 1913-1914. It was a 'Fair on Wheels, ' there were at least two cars, the first with many things of interest and one of livestock. The school would dismiss and all go down to see the displays. The entire community would also be there to see . Another great interest was the 'County Meets. All the schools of the county would meet to com- pete in interscholastic meets. The big thrill was to see all the people. There was also another Tuscola school called Mt. View District. but it wore another name Pos- sum Trot. ' ' The first store that moved was the old Lapowski store owned by J .L. Polson. The post office was with the general store. There were no mail boxesg so Mr. Polson called out those who had received mail that day, if they were present they got their mail that day. Now livestock, grain and cotton could be shipped by railroad-there would be no more hau1ing' ' to Abilene. On July 4, 1911 , town lots were sold. There was a picnic, with lemonade in tubs and big tents to gather under. There was no water or wood. But Tuscola was just beginning, it was now on its way to a thriving town. Soon a brick Bank and a brick two-story hotel were erected . - ....,-..... ,4 4 ark 1-63 .42 This is the two-story school building located in old Tuscola, Miss Maggie Shackelford and Miss Lillian Berryhill. about 1908. The principal was Mr. Porvell. The teachers were

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with space also for additional class rooms if needed. In 1957 , when Harold Dobbs was superintendent, Lawn and South Taylor schools consolidated and became Jim Ned . The name Jim Ned was chosen by the first graduating class: The Class of '58. Some of the graduates of that class were: Nancy Cary , now Mrs. Farris Handley, John Aimsworth, Dearld Hud- son, and Sid Saverence. Teresia Hudson 1 l Bradshaw Created by Railroad Many towns owe their existance to the expansion of the railroad. The community of Bradshaw is no exception. During the early 1900's, plans were being formulated by Percy Jones of Abilene to connect that city with the agricultural center of Ballinger. During the late 1800's in the extreme southern part of Taylor County, a small community named Audra had developed around a stage-coach relay station and supply center. In 1909, realizing that the new Abilene Southern Railroad would pass them by, the community relocated some two miles east. The new townsite was situated in the center of Ranchland owned by C.M. and D.H. Bradshaw: therefore, when a name was selected for the post office , it was called Bradshaw. Several businesses relocated in the new town but only one continues until today. In Audra, there had been a general mercantile owned by F.G. Sheppard, F.J. Robinson and C.M. Hunt. After relocation in Bradshaw, Hunt bought out his partners but retained the original name-Audra Mercantile . In 1910, the John Bailey family put in a telephone exchange. The town began to grow until eventually there was a hotel, a blacksmith, four grocery stores, two cafes, an ice house , a drug store, a barber shop, three gins, two garages, a variety store, a meat market, a picture show, a weekly paper, a bank, and three churches . The Methodist Church building made the move with Audra and the first preacher for the new com- munity of Bradshaw was a Methodist Circuit rider remembered only as Brother Sisk. In 1912, after the construction of a new school house, the Baptist congregation bought the old Iliff school building and moved it into town. The Church of Christ organized much later and built a new meeting place. As mentioned, in September, 1912 , a new three- room brick schoolhouse was built. The first princi- pal was Arthur J. Jones with Miss Kate Booker fMrs. Ray Casseauxb and Miss Nell Irving qMrs. Ocie Huntj as teachers. As other West Texas towns, Bradshaw suffered through good times and bad. The year 1917-18 is especially remembered because of the severe drought and flu epidemic . By 1925 the population had grown to 300 and by 1929 there were 450 . Just twenty years late , 1950 , the population had dropped to less than 100 people. Why? Many events culminated during those twenty years which spelled decline for many rural centers. World War I and II took away many young people who had no desire to return to the farms. Also dur- ing those years farming operations underwent a drastic change which eliminated the need for many workers. As the people moved away in search by new jobs the school population declined until 1947 when the Bradshaw School District was abolished and consoli- dated with the Tuscola-Ovalo School District. By 1969 , Bradshaw lost its own post-office and was no longer even a dot on state highway map. Now, in 1975, there is a move to take away the railroad which brought about the birth of so many small communities. David Ledbetter T K. 1 'i ,' xi A' I L' Audra Mercantile at Bradshaw

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Tuscola was becoming a town of culture, it even had a uniformed marching cornet band of twenty- five men and boys, directed by Joe Ward. Black- smith shops were owned by G .W . Bellerton and Jim Reddell. As soon as cars became a means of trans- portation, Mr. Reddell put in the first gas station . Soon a gin was built. The first cotton was planted in 1887 , and became a main crop. There was a durg SIOIC, a fountain, and doctors. The first was Dr. Hendrick: then later there was Townsen, Head. and Little. There were no electric lights here so A .L. Stand- ard made it possible for some houses to have light. West Texas Utilities soon came into the picture bringing light for all. J . W. Vickory started an ice route for the ice boxes: this proved unprofitable and declined. One now bought his own ice and took it home ffastj himself. Dan Shillings put in a switchboard. If you wanted a phone , you bought the wire and posts, and then paid Sl. 50 per month. Each line was a party line having four to six to eight on each line . There was soon a general store, grocery store, feed and seed store , And very importantly there was the picture show, here every Saturday and Wednesday. People would go to see the picture and eat buttered popcorn. Soon there was a Chevrolet dealer and a Ford dealer. A garage was needed: this was supplied by Mr. L.O. Groves. S.L. Nealy put in a newspaper and called it Tuscola Viedet. This then was sold to M.G. Jenkins who called it the Tuscola Reporter. Mr. M.G. Jenkins and F.F. Hodge put in a very limited undertaking business. Boles Fry became partner with Hodge after Mr. Jenkins' death. In 1949, Fry became the sole owner and is now oper- ating the funeral home for Tuscola. Instead of wood and coal used for cooking and heating, we now have gas and butane. A modern utility plant ran by W.L. McMillan provides the electricity needs of all. We have the convenience of being able to dial long distance from our home, instead of going down to the telephone office. people are still here . The country doctor is now replaced with specialized doctors and hospitals in nearby cities. No longer do the women have sew- ing circls or qui1ting bees , but the lodges and clubs take their place. A lot has changed: the mailman now brings the mail to the door, no longer is there a Tuscola Reporter, depot , picture show . drug store, stock pen, or blacksmith shops. Now a trip to Abilene only takes twenty minutes, com- pared to years ago when they traveled in horse and buggy, which was an all day excursion. Tuscola is an industrious small town with a fine school, churches, nice homes, beautiful farms and ranches with prosperous crops and livestock . CThe Buffalo Trail, 1922g Following Historic Trails, Tuscola Home Demonstration Clubj Tuscola School in 1912, first school in Tuscola All the old ways are gone-but the same friendly ' f '- in 'Xia n'Q'J'. .. Old Tuscola in 1900 Store building from Tuscola