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History in
a Pecan Shell
Named after Samuel
T. Bledsoe, an official of the Panhandle and Santa Fe Railroad. The
railroad was responsible for the founding of the town when it laid
tracks west of Lubbock
in 1925, reaching Bledsoe on December 1st of that year. Although extension
of the railroad
into New Mexico never materialized, Bledsoe became a shipping point
for area cattle ranches.
The first school was opened in 1925 and the Cochran County News started
publication shortly thereafter. The population high-water mark was
reached in 1929, when 400 people called Bledsoe home.
Although late to arrive on the scene, Bledsoe had everything a thriving
community could need including an ice plant, movie theater, two hotels
and four gas stations.
The population fell drastically during the Great Depression - reaching
only 150 people by 1936. The population has remained steady at around
125 persons since the 1970s. |
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Photographer's
Note:
"These photos pretty well tell the story of Bledsoe. Kind of
sad." - Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
A closed church
in Bledsoe
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
Bledsoe School
Bledsoe is in the
extreme southeastern part of Cochran
County. The school was open from 1927-1996. The Robin Hood school
finance laws killed it, as it was considered a wealthy district. A
group of alumni bought the building, and are keeping it maintained.
It is used for reunions and community events. - Stephen
Taylor, Austin TX, October 08, 2008 |
Bledsoe School
architectural detail
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
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Bledsoe, Texas
Forum
Subject: Bledsoe,
Texas
Of course, you will note my last name from my e-mail, and realize
that there is a connection. More than fifteen years ago I completed
the Bledsoe family tree, which by most accounts, traces all Bledsoes
back to George Bledsoe, who migrated from Birmingham, England, to
SW Virginia, in 1655.
From my work I knew of the small town in Texas by the name of Bledsoe.
My tree, Levi Bledsoe, is the second generation that also saw Anthony
and Isaac move over to Tn. There are many things in Tn. named after
the Bledsoes, including Bledsoe County, Bledsoe State Forest, and
Bledsoe's Salt Lick, just to name a few. The Texas Bledsoes came out
of the Tn. clan, when I do not know. I have spoken with Drew Bledsoe's(NFL
QB) father, and I know that his grandfather is a retired admiral and
lives in Texas. They came out of the Texas Bledsoes.
Now, the surprise that I got on Sat. was when I started reading a
book about the famous Chuck Wagon Gang, and noted in the first chapter
that they spent a lot of time in Bledsoe, Texas. In fact, most of
the children went to school there. I was in Arizona two years ago
visiting in the Sierra Vista area, near the border with Mexico, and
decided to visit a bird sanctuary while there, named The Ramsey Canyon
Preserve. As I read a flyer that I had picked up regarding the history
of the preserve, I noted that the property had been donated by a Dr.
Nelson C. Bledsoe, a prominent Tucson surgeon, in 1974. Considering
that there are only some 25,000 Bledsoes, the name shows up in lots
of places.
Even so, I was totally surprised to see the town of Bledsoe show up
in the history of the Carter family, who made up the Chuck Wagon Gang
that still exist some 70+ years later. I am guessing that with nine
children in that family, that there are descendants still living in
Bledsoe, Texas, probably more Carters than Bledsoes. - Otis N. Bledsoe,
June 26, 2005 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
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