|
A closed church
in Pumphrey
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Originally called
New Hope, the town sprang into existence in the 1890s. By 1900
the community had a school and the following year a post office was
granted. The name New Hope may have been rejected because of previous
use, so the name was changed to Pumphrey. No one can now remember
if it was to honor W. M. Pumphrey or Lewis Pumphrey, but it must've
mattered at the time.
At it's economic zenith, Pumphrey had a drugstore, barber, two general
stores, and two blacksmiths. The population figures for most of Pumphrey's
life are missing, but what is known is that after WWII the decline
was underway. In 1950 Pumphrey's last store closed and twenty years
later there were just nine diehard residents (who have since moved).
|
Historical Marker:
FM 1677 via SH 153, about 10 mles NW of Winters
Pumphrey
Founded about 1899.
Named for Wm. M. Pumphrey (1849-1937), early settler. A deacon of
the Baptist church, he would put his organ in a wagon on weekends
and take it, his wife and 11 children to attend services in Wingate.
In 1900, as the settlement grew, a one-room frame school was built
and named New Hope, to embody the aspirations of the citizens. The
community came to have a post office (1901-1912), several stores and
2 churches. It withstood tragedy in 1906 when 4 men were killed by
lightning -- leaving more than 20 children orphans.
1969 |
Pumphrey Historical
Marker
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
"This is
the schoolhouse at Pumphrey TX.. There wasn't much else left in Pumphrey."
- Stephen
Taylor, January 2006 |
| 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. |
|
|
HOME
