| |
Inside the old gym
TE Photo, September 2009 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
First known as Coyote, Texas when settlement began in the early 1870s,
the community was a mix of people looking for new beginnings. In the early 1890s
this included a group of Norwegians who transmigrated from Bosque County.
A
school district was established in the Spring of 1892 with classes beginning in
1895. District judge W. A. Gilliland became the town’s namesake when the opening
of a post office in 1907 demanded an official name. The first post office was
in the home of O.M. Olsen.
Several neighboring schools merged with the
Gilliland school and the present abandoned school appears to date from the 1930s.
After WWII high school students
attended class in Munday, while elementary classes
continued in Gilliland.
In the mid 1920s the community’s population was
estimated to be a mere 50 residents, but shortly after WWII
it was reported as 120. The population estimate remained at 103 from the early
1970s through the 1990 census, declining to 25 for the 2000 count.
Today
the community consists of the ruins of the 1930 school, grain silos and a few
former businesses being reclaimed by nature – although the community center is
in good repair and still in use.
A
Visit to Gilliland: |
 |
Visitors please check in with school office
TE
Photo, September 2009 |
One
method of discouraging cattle from attending classes
More Texas
Schoolhouses
TE Photo, September 2009 |
More of dowtown Gilliland.
TE
Photo, September 2009
More Texas
Stores | |
|
