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History
in a Pecan Shell
This town along the Choctaw Route of the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway
actually began before the arrival of the railroad. The Lone Star school, established
in 1892 for the children of ranchers is said to be the first in the Panhandle
region.
The Fisher Brothers, Delzell and P. H., platted the town in 1905
and the one-room schoolhouse was moved there.
The town was named in honor
of a former county commissioner (H. B. Conway).
A post office was granted
in 1903 and moved into a store run by Edward S. Carr in 1907.
After a
consolidation with the Panhandle ISD, Conway's old brick school building was used
as a community center.
The population was a mere 25 in 1925, but by 1939
it had risen to 125.
The Handbook of Texas reports Conway had
a population of 175 in 1969 but only 50 people in 1970. No explanation is given
for the drastic change. Perhaps someone from the area can inform our readers.
The post office was closed in 1976.
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Photographer's
Note:
I first spotted
pictures of the Conway Bugg
Ranch on Google Earth and put it on my Must See List. It is a real rival to
the Cadillac Ranch
Back in about 1998 we were returning from visiting Kansas. There was a
snow storm. We made it fine until we got to I-40 out of Amarillo.
Strangest thing. As the storm blew through, it totally covered the westbound lanes
while eastbound was all clear. Guess the interstate acted kind of like a snowfence,
all the snow fell on WB. We were in a traffic line that was miles long and our
gas gage was on E. I never was so glad to see an exit which was to Conway. At
the time there was one station that had gas. We got just enough to make it to
Amarillo. Every time I go by
Conway I look at that station, now closed. It is right next to the Bugg Ranch.
- Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
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Amarillo
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Book Your Hotel Here & SaveConway,
Texas ForumSubject:
Conway, Texas
I do remember living in Conway when I was a small girl. I would ride the school
bus to Panhandle to go to school. I believe it was 1963 when I moved away from
Conway to live in Plainview, Texas.
My dad worked at Conway Wheat Growers,
and my mom worked as a waitress in some of the small cafes there on Route 66.
I do remember one family with the last name of Callaghan who used to live there.
They owned quite a large bit of land (sections of land). I also remember a couple
named Delton and Earlene Smith who lived there in Conway. I believe Delton worked
for the county.
Lots of good childhood memories from Conway. The post
office used to be there and was run by a man named Ralph (I can't remember his
last name). He used to raise greyhound dogs and would take them to race somewhere
in New Mexico I believe.
Thanks for letting me share. If you have any
info on anyone who lived in Conway back then, it'd be absolutely wonderful to
hear about them and their experiences. - Linda (no last name given), October
27, 2006
Subject:
Conway and Estacado
Town dried up after Interstate 40 routed a half mile
north. My distant cousins' family operated the motel, er, tourist court, there
as well as a cafe. Cousin Johnny made spare change at the filling station running
a wrecker service on Route 66. He chargesd rich folks plenty, but a family in
need he didn't charge at all.
I missed Estacado.
It's still there on the Crosby/Lubbock county line, and was once a county seat
for many counties back when. Gin still operating with maybe 5 or 6 homes still
occupied. Once a quaker settlement named Marietta.
Thanks for an interesting
[magazine]. Keep up the good work. - Benny Poulson, Ralls, Texas, September
12, 2006 | |
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