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School
Photo courtesy Robbie White, July 2016 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The
area had been settled in the 1850s, although the town didn't develop
until coal was discovered nearby. Coke (for the byproduct used to
make steel) was the name submitted to the postal authorities and in
1885 the post office opened under that name. Coke had 200 residents
by 1892 along with 12 businesses.
Four years later there were only 25 residents. The post office closed
in 1906. Coke weathered the Great Depression with 25 residents. In
1942 the Coke oilfield, came in just north of town. Even this had
no effect on the population and it was still reported as 25 through
the 1960s.
It was reported that all that remained at Coke was the school and
few residences in 1960. The population started rising in 1968 (to
51) and to a high of 130 in 1970. From 1972 to 2000, the population
was estimated to be 105. In 1988 one business was reported - evidently
the now-vacant store pictured below. By 2010, the population estimate
is 40. |
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Lloyd CSD 7 Catty
cornered from Coke Country Store
Photo courtesy Robbie White, July 2016 |
Coke Schoolhouse
Restored
Coke Schoolhouse
Then & Now |
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School interior
in 2016
Photo
courtesy Robbie White, July 2016
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Subject: Coke
TX School
I wanted to submit an update to the Coke School information. In 2021,
my husband and I purchased the old building and began restoring it.
My father remembered moving from the "old" school 1/2 mile down the
road to the "new" building in 1941. He attended sixth grade in the
school building that we purchased.
The school was the last rural school to consolidate with the larger
nearby Quitman ISD in the late 1960s. The "Cokettes" - a drill team
at the school - inspired Sissy Spacek to desire to be on stage.
Here are a few recent photos:
- D'Ann Drennan, May 7, 2022 |
The schoolhouse
interior in 2022
Photo courtesy D'Ann Drennan, March 2022 |
The schoolhouse
interior in 2022
Photo courtesy D'Ann Drennan, March 2022 |
The schoolhouse
interior in 2022
Photo
courtesy D'Ann Drennan, February 2022 |
The Coke Country
Store
The store is closes.
It's story lives on. |
Coke
Country Store today
Photo courtesy Danny O'Quinn, July 2015 |
Coke, Texas
Forum
Update to
story about the Coke Country Store
My grandparents Johnnie and Lyndia Martin bought it from the Holts
around 1990. They did pretty well for a few years. Big part of the
business was lost truckers and oilfield hands. Would have guys playing
video game and pool in the back and more guys sitting on upturned
buckets while waiting for orders or tables. When the oilrigs went
to skeleton crews they went from having 60+ for the lunch hour to
maybe 7 or 8 people a day. My Ma did everything she could to cut
costs but it was just to much. After a teenager drove thru the front
of it on a foggy night insurance refused to repair it because the
architecture would require specialists for a building built at the
end of the 1800s. She sold it to Johnny Wilson for the land (30
acres I think) and he left it for years. As of today's date (1/31/19)
the foundation has been bulldozed and plans are in progress rebuild
a new volunteer fire department as the old VFD at the school/community
center is in poor shape. Thanks - Talisha Bowen, January 31, 2019
Subject:
Coke Store in Coke Texas
My grandparents had a 50 acre ranch less than a mile from the store
on Hwy 515. I spent all my summers in the 80s on the farm and would
ride my bicycle to the store. I always picked up the Sunday paper
at the store and I knew the Holts back then. I loved going to the
old store. And the town of Coke always felt like a family community
where everyone checked on their neighbor and helped out.
I drove by today to see the old farm and was saddened by the ghost
town feel of Coke. I attached a recent picture of the store. I guess
I knew it wouldn't last forever, but I am reminded of what used
to be. - Danny O'Quinn, July 05, 2015
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Coke Country
Store when it was still in business
Photo
courtesy Dale Cummings
More Texas Stores
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Subject:
Coke Store Photo
This is a pretty good pic (see above) and I wanted to share it with
everybody. This is the memory of the Coke Store that me and my family
have of it! - Dale Cummings, July 20, 2014
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Subject:
The Coke Store
My Family moved to the big town of Coke when I was around 7 years
of age. My Momma and Daddy and us three boys grew up with the Coke
Store owned most of that time by Art and Frankie Holt. We lived
about a mile down from the store on FM 69. The Coke Store was located
at the end of FM 69 and Hwy 515. It was a part of life for a bunch
of us during the 1970's and 1980's. Art and Frankie Holt were the
owners for most of that period! Art always seem to have a Cigar
in his mouth that was not lit. The store had everything that we
would need at that time. Candy, Soft Drinks, Bar-B-Q, Can Goods,
Minnows, Gas Pumps... A place just to go and spend some time on
the bench out front and always ran into someone to talk to for a
little while. We would ride our bikes to the Coke Store sometimes
just to spend time at the store! All of us went there! I sure miss
the Coke Store!!! Thanks So Much - Dale Cummings, March 10, 2013
Nostalgia
Goes Better with Coke
I am going to send this information about Coke to my 92 year-old
grandmother. She grew up in Como, Texas
and attended the former Forest Academy school that was in the area.
She helped establish the historical marker for the Forest Academy
Cemetery. There is still a church there as well. Every first Sunday
in May a memorial service is held there by those who are members
and have families buried in the cemetery.
When I was little, I would travel to/from Como
to Nacogdoches and we would stop
at the Coke store. It sits at a 4-way stop. It was like it was the
only thing there for miles. I loved that little store. Sometimes
we would stop for candy and soda. Well, I didn't really have much
to add to your information about Coke, but it sure brought back
some fond memories for me. - Leigh Culver, February 02, 2007
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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
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