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History
in a Pecan Shell
Bradshaw
was born in 1909 with the approach and arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad.
The town of Audra, two miles west, was bypassed by the railroad
and Bradshaw inherited their population, small though it was.
The town was named to honor land-donor C. M. Bradshaw who gave the
railroad a right-of-way.
The town prospered (bolstered by the former residents of Audra) and
by 1910 there were already two grocery stores, a mercantile store,
a blacksmith, butcher, and druggist.
By 1914, the town had added a bank, and hotel. A Baptist and Christian
joined the existing Methodist church. The prosperous 20s were kind
to Bradshaw and by the onset of the Great Depression, it had a healthy
population of 450 people. Improved highway construction during the
30s shortened the 28 miles to Abilene
and the town suffered from its proximity.
Over the years, the school closed and the post office. By 1988 there
was only an estimated 25 people living in the vicinity. Bradshaw remains
on the state map and is featured in T. Lindsay Baker's book More
Ghost Towns of Texas. |
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The 1947 Bradshaw
Baptist Church cornerstone
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
| 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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