Huckabay, Texas
Encyclopedia
Huckabay is an unincorporated community
located on State Highway 108
, ten miles north of Stephenville
in Erath County
, Texas
, United States
. It had a population of approximately 150 in 1990.
The Huckabay Independent School District
serves area students.
and Tennessee
. The head of the Bosque was the area were they settled which was known as "Flatwoods," but was changed to Huckabay, when John Huckabay established a post office. One hundred and sixty acres was claimed by each of the families, which was where they built their homes. After the settlers had wells dug and their homes built, churches, schools and other public buildings began to go up.
were the first two buildings to go up. The smoke house was where the citizens put fresh meat to begin curing. The storm cellar was a place of storage for fresh fruits and vegetables and protection for families.
In the late 1870s, the community began to expand. With the purchase of a gin
by Bill Rigsby in 1879, cotton was what supported the town until the peanut production took over for a short period of time. When peanut production decreased, the dairy industry took over. The milk production in this area still remains important to the community.
The first store was opened by G.W. Glenn in 1878. The main economic base for Huckabay has changed many times. Over time, the community grew to the point, it had general merchants, drug stores, grocery stores, blacksmith
shops, and a well-equipped gin
. These businesses were located along the main street of Huckabay. The town did establish the West Texas State Bank at one time but it did not survive.
Over time, the community has disintegrated to only a school, two churches and a few antique houses. In 1975 a historical marker
was placed on FM 219 to preserve the memory of the small community.
Three acres, only costing one hundred dollars, was purchased in 1910 in order to build a tabernacle
. The tabernacle was used for various community and religious activities. Although it is over ninety years old, it still stands today. The antique structure is used for annual Huckabay
Homecoming Reunions and many other school and community affairs.
Today, Huckabay still has two community churches that hold services regularly. The Huckabay Baptist Church is located a few hundred yards down from the tabernacle, and The Huckabay Church of Christ is located up the hill from the tabernacle a few hundred yards.
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
located on State Highway 108
State Highway 108 (Texas)
State Highway 108 or SH 108 is a state highway that runs from Strawn to Stephenville. The route was proposed in 1926 as a renumbering of SH 10A.-Route description:...
, ten miles north of Stephenville
Stephenville, Texas
Stephenville is a city in and the county seat of Erath County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,921 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1856, it is home to Tarleton State University. Stephenville is among several communities that calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the...
in Erath County
Erath County, Texas
Erath County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 33,001. It is named for George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto. The seat of the county is Stephenville....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It had a population of approximately 150 in 1990.
The Huckabay Independent School District
Huckabay Independent School District
The Huckabay Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Huckabay, Texas . The district has one school that serves students in grades kindergarten through twelve....
serves area students.
History
The small town of Huckabay was founded in the late eighteen hundreds. Gerldine Griswold wrote of how the community was started by John A. Huckabay, Ben Fincher, John and W.C. Copeland, John Gentry, Abe Metsgar, John W. Jones and others who were moving west from ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. The head of the Bosque was the area were they settled which was known as "Flatwoods," but was changed to Huckabay, when John Huckabay established a post office. One hundred and sixty acres was claimed by each of the families, which was where they built their homes. After the settlers had wells dug and their homes built, churches, schools and other public buildings began to go up.
The Historic Businesses of Huckabay
The families that started settling the land that we know as Huckabay, worked hard to build buildings and dig wells. A smoke house and a storm cellarStorm cellar
A storm shelter or storm cellar is a type of underground bunker designed to protect the occupants from violent severe weather, particularly tornadoes...
were the first two buildings to go up. The smoke house was where the citizens put fresh meat to begin curing. The storm cellar was a place of storage for fresh fruits and vegetables and protection for families.
In the late 1870s, the community began to expand. With the purchase of a gin
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
by Bill Rigsby in 1879, cotton was what supported the town until the peanut production took over for a short period of time. When peanut production decreased, the dairy industry took over. The milk production in this area still remains important to the community.
The first store was opened by G.W. Glenn in 1878. The main economic base for Huckabay has changed many times. Over time, the community grew to the point, it had general merchants, drug stores, grocery stores, blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
shops, and a well-equipped gin
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
. These businesses were located along the main street of Huckabay. The town did establish the West Texas State Bank at one time but it did not survive.
Over time, the community has disintegrated to only a school, two churches and a few antique houses. In 1975 a historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
was placed on FM 219 to preserve the memory of the small community.
The Past Religions of Huckabay, Texas
Huckabay, being a small community, did not have many churches. The Church of Christ was an early church that was built in 1876. The community also had two other churches, the Baptist Church and the Methodist Church, both which were organized in 1881. John Haven organized the Methodist while Joe Lockhart the Baptist.Three acres, only costing one hundred dollars, was purchased in 1910 in order to build a tabernacle
Tabernacle (disambiguation)
The Tabernacle most commonly refers to the Jewish Tabernacle , which was a movable tent and worship facility used by the Israelites for the worship of Yahweh as recorded in the Book of Exodus...
. The tabernacle was used for various community and religious activities. Although it is over ninety years old, it still stands today. The antique structure is used for annual Huckabay
Huckabay Independent School District
The Huckabay Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Huckabay, Texas . The district has one school that serves students in grades kindergarten through twelve....
Homecoming Reunions and many other school and community affairs.
Today, Huckabay still has two community churches that hold services regularly. The Huckabay Baptist Church is located a few hundred yards down from the tabernacle, and The Huckabay Church of Christ is located up the hill from the tabernacle a few hundred yards.
Notable Natives or Residents
Author, J.P. Claunch attended High School in Huckabay Independent School DistrictHuckabay Independent School District
The Huckabay Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Huckabay, Texas . The district has one school that serves students in grades kindergarten through twelve....
.
External links
- Huckabay, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- History