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"The structure
failed and came down" in 2004
Photo courtesy Gary Hall, 11-09-04 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Early settlers arrived in the early 1870s. One, named John Scanland,
donated the land for the community cemetery. Two cemeteries appear
on the Cooke County TxDoT map - Shiloh Cemetery about 2.5 miles East
and Coker Cemetery about one mile SW of Bulcher.
Among the other pioneer settlers were German immigrant brothers Frederick
and Charles Hyman. Frederick Hyman was the great-great-grandfather
of contributing photographer Judie Hilton Porter.
Bulcher was granted a post office in 1874 with one Matthew Morris
as postmaster. The population kept at a respectable 250 persons until
an oil discovery in 1926 swelled the population. When things got back
to normal, people noticed that some of the former residents had left
with the oil crowd. The town was down to only 40 by 1933 and 6 today. |
| Photo
courtesy Gary Hall, 11-09-04 |
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Abandoned
church building in 2003
Photo courtesy James Kallstrom, 3-9-03 |
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Photo courtesy Robin Jett, 6-02 |
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Church
interior
Photo courtesy Robin Jett, 6-02 |
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Photo courtesy Judie Hilton Porter, 2002 |
Bulcher,
Texas Forum
Subject:
Bulcher Church building, and school
Greetings: I guess I am always late to the party. I was born in
Bulcher, Tx in November 1934, and began school there in September
1941. The pictures of the old fallen down building attributed
to being the school isn’t the school building. These pictures are
of a non-denominational church building. We used it as an auditorium
for school plays and social events. I have lived in Houston since
the late 1970’s but when in North Texas, always try to go by and
visit Bulcher.
The school building, consisting of perhaps 5 to 8 classrooms
and library was long ago destroyed. It was located perhaps 75 to
100 yards east of the church building. There are probably still
concrete foundations remaining there, but probably hidden by tall
grass. A little further east of that building and a little south
was a very large storm cellar to protect us in the event of a tornado.
...There were no classes there from about 1948-1949 onward. all
the students were transferred to Saint
Jo Public Schools. - Regards, Robert J. Samples, May 04, 2015
Regarding
the old Bulcher Center High School
I lived at Bulcher back in the early sixties. No one went to school
there. It was as dilapidated then, as it was in 2002 when the first
photos on your web site were taken. It was no longer in use after
WWII, Bulcher
having become a ghost town. I imagine the old school was built around
1880. Cordially, Michael Busby December 27, 2005
Here is a photo
of the school building in Bulcher. We connected with a local gentleman
who had grown up and went to the school back in the early sixties.
He stated that he had carved his name in the steeple of the building,
along with several others.
Approximately seven months ago, the structure failed and came down.
The pic says it all. Disappointing, but, it was great to be able
to find it. - Gary Hall and Tom Nix, November 08, 2004
Subject:
Bulcher, Texas Pioneer Settlers
I noticed that your contributor was a family member of pioneer settler
Frederick Hyman. I am the Great-Great-Grand Daughter of Frederick
Hyman. His son Henry was my Great Grand Dad.
We are having a family reunion in April, 2011 and would love for
her to come. My Mother and Grand Mother, her Sisters and Brothers
are all gone and the younger ones of us really don't know much about
the past and I for one am intrested in learning all I can. I am
hoping not only Judie but maybe some of the other family may contact
me. Thank you. - Karyn Hamilton, hamilton.karyn@yahoo.com, March
13, 2011
Our thanks to Judie Hilton Porter, Robin Jett, James
Kallstrom, Gary Hall and Tom Nix for sharing the picturesque ruin
of the former high school.
*Criteria for ghost towns can never be fully agreed upon. Bulcher's
inclusion as a North Central Texas "Ghost" is due to its relative
high population and it's former thriving economy.
June 2002
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1940s
map showing Bulcher in northwestern Cooke
County
S of the Red River
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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