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San
Saba River Bridge, early 1910s
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
History in
a Pecan Shell
First established
in the late 1850s and early 1860s, Voca remained the real Texas frontier
for some time after most Indian hostility had ceased.
The name is an abreviated version of Avoca, Arkansas which meant enough
to John and W.C. Deans that they applied for a post office under that
name in 1878.
Voca had 120 citizens in the mid-1880s.
The town had a gin, a gristmill and two stores. The San Saba river
was crossed by a bridge constructed about 1910. The population was
100 from the 1890s through 1960s. It declined by half and has remained
estimated at that level ever since.
Mr. Co Wisdom of Brady,
Texas (who contributed to the Fredonia,
Texas page) had this to say about Voca:
"There are several things I can tell you about the area and pictures
I can show you. There is the foundation and remains of the old Martin/Brown
schoolhouse on our place, which most Voca students attended (including
my 94-year-old aunt who lives across from me). The teacher lived with
our family in the house and [performed] odd jobs for her board. But
that is in the Voca area. Most of my family which were Browns lived
in Fredonia along with some Millers and Hendersons." |
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The
closed Mt. Tabor Church and Cemetery 4 miles SE of Voca
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson,
January 2006 |
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The
closed Mt. Tabor Church interior
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, January 2006 |
Voca,
Texas Forum
Subject:
Voca,TX
I was born in Brady,TX in May of 1944 and all of the best memories
was in Voca staying with my grandparents Cal and Nancy Willis, me
and my grandmother setting on the front gate after my grandfather
passed away waiting for Jack and Monetta Edmiston to drive by and
pick us up so we could go to church on Sundays and Wednesday nights.
I hold those memories closest to my heart and always will. My aunt
and uncle was Elgin and Bevo McLerran. Sincerely - Wilfred C Speck
JR, December 06, 2005 |
1907 Postal
Map showing Voca in SE McCulloch
County
From Texas state map #2090
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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