|
|
Main Street
in Buckholts
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
John A. Buckholts donated land for the townsite when the Gulf, Colorado
and Santa Fe Railway arrived in 1881. It was named in his honor and
a post office was granted the following year.
German, Austrian, and Czech farmers grew the dominant crop of cotton
in the 1880s and 1890s. The school was built in 1896. Buckholtz had
telephone service by 1914.
Population estimates:
1884: 61
1900: 182
1920s to the 1940s: 800
1980: 362
1990: 335
2000: 387
2010: 515
Today the wide main street still has many buildings dating to the
1930s as well as two cotton gins – one of which is still in use. |
Buckholts City
Limit. POP. 515
Photo courtesy John
Germann, March 2016 |
People
Renaissance
Man of Buckholts by Clay Coppedge
Civilization as we know it did not develop on John Greiner's place
northwest of here but it might seem that way when you're touring his
place via the Little River Miniature Railroad.
Greiner lives in a castle on the backroads - almost the backwoods
- of Milam County. He built the castle himself, stone by stone, over
the course of 20 years and 120 tons of limestone rock.
The Little River Miniature Railroad rolls above its turgid namesake,
across Beetle Gulch and past the workshop with the words "Little River
Aeroplane" written across the front.
Greiner is the man at the throttle. He built and installed the tracks
on which the steam engine travels. The steam engine? It took three
years of working two hours a night but, yes, he built that too. "I
never missed a night," he says. "Of course, I worked on it some during
the day too."
The first 1/8 replica steam engine has been such a success ... more |
Buckholts Landmarks
Photo Gallery
|
Buckholts has
one of the rare SPJST octagonal buildings,
used as dance and meeting hall.
Photo
by John Troesser, 6-03
More Texas Dance
Halls |
Buckholts streetscape
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03 |
Old store buildings
on main street
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03 |
Store building
on main street
Photo
by John Troesser, 6-03 |
Buckholts Post
Office Cafe downtown
Photo courtesy John
Germann, March 2016 |
Photographer's
Note:
"[In March 2016] the main street still has many older buildings
that are abandoned but still standing. We had fun cruising up and
down the street, taking all kinds of pics." - John
Germann |
Buckholts street
scene
Photo courtesy Bill Trevillion,
March 2016 |
Coca Cola ghost
sign
Photo
by John Troesser, 6-03
More Coca-Cola |
Buckholts Fire
Dept. Fire Engine
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03 |
Raymond's Garage
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03 |
Building "Set
for Demolition"
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
|
|
HOME
Texas
Gulf Coast
East
Texas
Central
Texas North
Central
Texas South
Texas
Panhandle
South
Texas
Texas
Hill Country
West
Texas
Texas
Ghost Towns
Texas
Counties
