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

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The old Buffalo Gap Station Buffalo Gap. Texas The seventh Texas Legislature on February 1 , 1858 declared that there would be a Taylor County . The gap between the mountains was fairly open. The prairie dogs kept much of the brush cut down, and the herds of buffalo driven through during the wet weather helped to tread out a wide path at times more than a mile wide. In 1874 the last Indian fight was fought south of Tuscola. With the Indians vanishing, the few white men left felt free to hunt buffalo bones and skins. This was their wel- fare. By 1875, there was a sprink1e of people in the Buffalo Gap area. A man by the name of Ab Hunter put in a small stock of groceries in his house, which was a dugout. Hog Jackson was the first one to put a general store in a tent: but around 187 9 , Wylie and Darrs opened the first general store in a building in the county at Buffalo Gap. The same year, M. C. fMat7 Lambeth built the first board house. The lumber was hauled from Fort Worth. The freight was S3 . 90 per hundred. This was leased to the County for the County Court House. It was 16 by 30 feet. The county decided to sell lots it owned in Buffalo Gap for S75 a lot. Storms of settlers began to pour into Buf- falo Gap. It soon had a population of 1200. The cowboys kept the town lively . In 1881 word came that a railroad was coming through Taylor County. Everything was done to get the railroad routed through Buffalo Gap: but after much work, sweat, angry thoughts and almost fights, a northern route was decided on. Bufwalo Gap lost the battle . Some people in Buffalo Gap yelled thief to their neighbors north about 15 miles. The railroad joined Fort Worth on the east with E1 Paso on the western border of Texas. The new town on the railroad was named Abilene, after the cattle town, Abilene, in Kansas. The court house was moved to Abilene , which was declared the County Seat of Taylor County in 1882. Abilene started growing and hasn't stopped. Buffalo Gap lost most of its population but is still noted for its beauty and pioneer friendship. In the 1890's Buffalo Gap looked like the Athens of Educa- tion west of Fort Worth. It was a typical college town. The business district faced the courthouse square. About two blocks northwest stood the two- story County Jail. It was built of red stone and the stones are put together with cannon balls. A short distance south of the square was the Cum- berland Presbyterian College. It, too, was built of red sandstone like the jail, quarried west of the creek on the Dr. Haynes place . The building was used for school during the week days and for a place of worship on Sundays. A large man wearing a tall block shoe , known as Prof. Ellis, was the instructor of the school. Miss Banie Lyons and Miss Sallie Yoirng were two of the other teachers. In the early day , it was very often you could see the long herds of cattle being driven through this country to the northern and eastem markets. Wag- ons loaded with bones and hides were often seen traveling the road, going to market. Bones and hides first sold for S8 a ton but later sold for S22 a -ton. Every member of the family joined in picking up bones. Everyone was glad when Sunday came so they could go to church and worship and visit with their neighbors. The day was kept very Holy. Very little cooking was done on Sunday. All cakes and pies were baked on Saturday. The good people of Buffalo Gap loved their beautiful God- given place for the first County Seat of Taylor County. Mrs. Henry Ellenger History of Buffalo Gap During the Early Days A BULLETIN OF LOCAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY Mrs. Ima Cotten Jennings Buffalo Gap Girls Team: Elna Short, Ruby Brookreson, Lucille Hodges, Elsie Sharp, teacher Roxie Wright, Rood and Bessie Maxwell, Eva Waldrop 'T 3' -sl Mr. Box. Supt. , and Buffalo Gap School

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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

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F P' .ts it Q ,, 1 Blacksmith at Lawn I can remember my father, Henry J. Miller, standing over the hot fire of the forge getting the sweeps red hot and beating them out with a hammer by hand on the anvil, then sticking them in the tempering tub of water to cool them. Sweat from the heat would be running down his face . The water was carried by hand in buckets to fill the tempering tub. This was one of my chores, carrying the water in a bucket. Ozella Miller Fish South Taylor Senior Class Officers of 1952 Gerald Dodson, Floy Young, George Hugh Herrington. Bobby Ray Beard. A com'mon sight in 1892 was a walking plow with wheels. This one is owned by Bartis Knight. 1 ?, Q Buffalo Gap Basketball Team in 1922. Oral Toney, Powell Hodges, Bailey Maxwell, Alvin Smith, Buck Maxwell. Young love , 1915