| |
Indian
Gap, 1920s
Photo
courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
| History
in a Pecan Shell
Indian Gap's name came about when it was
noticed that the Comanches came through this gap in the mountains when
they would raid the settlers. We have to admire the stoicism and powers of observation
of the settlers, who you would think would be fleeing in terror, rather than noting
the route of their enemies.
1857 is the date the Handbook of Texas
gives for the first settlement of the area. A Mr. Hawley Gerrells was credited
with opening the first post office in his home, which soon became a store. Church
services were held there as well, and it was said to be a social center of the
community, whatever that meant in the mid -1800s.
A man by the name of
H.A. Shipman farmed the area for several years before buying out Gerrells' store
and post office in 1889. Although the community never reached a population rivaling
the colossus of Goldthwaite
or Hamilton, nonetheless, it
had a hotel, and a weekly newspaper as well as the usual businesses essential
for 19th century life.
The school closed in 1959 (see forum
below) and the post office shut its doors in 1972. The estimated head count in
2000 was 27 people. |
 |
| The
1913 Indian Gap School |
| Photo courtesy Jason
Penney, whose grandfather and other relatives once attended the Indian
Gap school |
Another
view of Indian Gap today
Faded lettering reads:
Carl Reinert - dealer
in General Merchandise
Photo courtesy Jason
Penney |
Indian
Gap, Texas ForumTexas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us.
Subject:
Indian Gap
Indian gap Texas is where most my family is from. There is
a date as to when the Indian gap school was closed. In the article it said 1950.
The school closed in 1959. I know because when I was 5 years old visiting my grandmother
who lived in the house that is just across a field from the school, I played with
some kids who attended that school. My family is buried in the cemetery there.
I have wonderful memories of my visits as a little girl. Tommie's store and filling
station was opened and the post office was also still there until almost 1970,
I think. In the early 60s they had the old fashion switchboard operator where
all your calls went through the switchboard, and my grandmother had an old phone
that hung on the wall of her dining room that you had to turn a handle on the
side to get the operator. I love visiting there even now, because I have such
wonderful childhood memories. - Susan Deluca, July 16, 2011
Indian
Gap Area Hotels:
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Stephenville
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