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History in
a Pecan Shell
In the 1890s, the
community was first known by the surveyor’s impersonal and dull designation
of “Block Twenty.” Nevertheless, settlers arrived to populate
the land and things were on track.
In 1903 the land was resurveyed by W. R. Standefer (see forum
below) who had a two-mile disagreement with the former surveyor.
To make things right with the banks and the land people, the residents
were inconvenienced by a “slide” to their rightful plots.
The people were easy to move but buildings were not. Proud of their
accomplishment, the townsfolk weren’t going to let their labors be
forgotten. The relocated town would henceforth be known as Slide,
Texas.
Slide is second only to Lubbock
as the county’s oldest community. Lumber for the town’s homes and
school came all the way from Colorado
City a distance of 120 miles on today's highways.
The town had a post office from 1904 to 1915 and again from 1917 to
1929. In 1942 the population was unofficially noted at ten. There
were two businesses in 1961–62, when the population was forty. In
1970–71 the population was the same, but the community had lost its
businesses. From the late 1980s through 2000 Slide had forty-four
residents and no businesses. |
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Poem by David
Knape:
SLIDE, TEXAS
When asked to describe
how the town of Slide
got its funny name
folks quickly replied
The surveyor screwed up and
when we discovered the lie
we all just slid over
and became known as Slide.
~d.knape
*First settled in the 1890's, the area was resurveyed in 1903 by W.R.
Standefer and determined that most settlers were two miles off their
proper sites. Residents "slid" over to their right sections. Buildings
were moved west, and the event was commemorated in the name, Slide!
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Slide, Texas
Forum
Subject: Slide
Texas
I wanted to make a comment in response to Roxanne Standefer’s comment
on Slide. I am a surveyor in Lubbock,
near Slide. I have surveyed properties at or very near Slide. I have
followed W.R. Standefer, her Great Grandfather before. In fact I did
a survey last month that involved some of his Field Notes.
What I am curious about is another Surveyor named Standefer.(and I
have wondered about this a long time). In the early 70’s I worked
for the City of Dallas Water Department. There was a surveyor there
that was known as “Old Man Standefer”. I never heard him referred
to in any other way. We were in Dallas
but he had surveyed in West Texas and had stories about finding stones
and bottles or piles of broken glass for monuments. Even being known
as Old Man Standefer I think he would have been too young to have
been W.R. Standefer but I wondered if he may have been related, maybe
a son or nephew. I wonder if Roxanne knows if there were younger Standefers
that may have moved to Dallas and surveyed there? I know that is slim
but I have always wondered. - Jon Cieszinski, Ransom
Canyon, Texas, January 06, 2015
Subject: Slide, Texas
I enjoyed reading about why Slide TX is so named. You refer to a W.R.
Standefer Lubbock county surveyor who had a 2 Mile disagreement with
the previous survey and as a result the town moved their homes 2 miles
West. What a story. What makes it better? That surveyor was my Great
Grandfather. His son Leslie Earl was a cowboy who married my Grandmother
in Alberta. Their son Raymond was my father. I want to do more with
this story and will be investigating further but just wanted you to
know how I got started and when I have more will try to post for you.
Thank you very much. - Roxanne Standefer, Ottawa Canada, March 03,
2013
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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Lubbock
County 1920s map showing Slide
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
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