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Pleasant Grove
Community Center.
Photo courtesyDustin
Martin,
October 2016 |
Photographer's
Note:
"While driving around Wood
County I happened upon a community that I think may be a ghost
town. Pleasant Grove is in Wood County 2 miles east of Coke
and 9 miles west of Winnsboro."
History in
a Pecan Shell
Settled around
1870, it was formally founded in 1872 with the building of a blacksmith's
forge. Two years later, a church was built that also served as a school.
The community got its first store in 1887.
Pleasant Grove was granted a post office in 1892 which stayed open
through 1907. The population broke the 100 resident mark in 1896 when
it had three churches and a two-story school. A new school was constructed
in the mid1920s.
The business district suffered a fire in the early 1930s midway through
that decade, the population was 82. After WWII,
there was no official population count and by 1960 only scattered
housing and a church were left. By 1988 the church was gone. Nevertheless,
thirty people were counted for the 2000 census. |
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Abandoned garage
behind the gas station.
Photo courtesy Dustin
Martin,
October 2016 |
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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