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Texas
Ghost Town
TRICKHAM, TEXASColeman County,
Texas Panhandle
The Oldest Town in Coleman County
12 miles SE of Santa Anna
on Ranch Road 1176
Population 12 (est)
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Trickham Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jim & Lou Kinsey, 9-04 |
If
you believe the story about how Trickham got it's name, then
this town was a pioneer in "truth in advertising."
Store owner Bill Franks (never trust a man with two first names) used
to sell whiskey to cowboys that was actually water from Mukewater
Creek. This was before the concept of repeat customers evolved.
Mr. Franks was also the one who applied for the Post Office (established
1879) and so his request was for Trickham (Trick 'em). Humor along
the lines of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe Attorneys at Law.
Tyro, Texas (also Coleman Co.) probably heard the story and when their
post office shut down in 1881 and they needed a name for it to reopen
in 1884 they submitted Novice because of the store owner's
inexperience.
The Historical Marker states that the town was a "trading post for
ranching activities of Cattle Baron John Chisum." |
Trickham Marker
Photo courtesy Jim & Lou Kinsey, 9-04 |
Marker close-up
Photo courtesy Bruce White, April 2007 |
| Photo courtesy
Bruce White, April 2007 |
Crypt of early
victims of a Comanche ambush
Photo courtesy Bruce White, April 2007 |
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Through the
years, Trickham has had good times and bad, and the population has
risen and fallen accordingly. The 1970s were particularly bad, for
that was the decade Trickham lost their gas station, general store
and post office. The reported population was 12 in 1970 and that's
where it remains today.
There might be some health benefits from that water from Mukewater
Creek after all. Then the joke would be on Mr. Franks.
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Fromer Trickham
School, now a community center
Photo courtesy Jim & Lou Kinsey, 9-04 |
Trickham Union
Church
Photo courtesy Jim & Lou Kinsey, 9-04 |
"Don't
know that we have ever seen a Church quite like the Trickham Union
Church.
Baptist Church on First & Third Sundays
Methodist Church on Second & Fourth Sundays
Union Church Sunday School Every Sunday"
- Jim & Lou Kinsey, September 25, 2004
Nearby Destinations
Santa Anna and Coleman
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
Coleman
Hotels
More Hotels
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Photographer's
Note:
Subject: Trickham, TX
These are photos of the former town of Trickham, Coleman Co, Texas.
My GG grandfather lived and worked around here in the late 1800's.
Photos include the historical signs (painted on rocks) and graves
of early victims of a Comanche ambush. - Bruce D. White, April
12, 2007
Trickham Texas Forum
Anyone
with stories, photos or incidents of Trickham's history is invited
to share them with our readers. Please contact
us.
© John Troesser
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| Trickham
featured in More Ghost Towns of Texas |
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