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Doole
Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Lanelle Crumley |
Doole, Texas
by
Lanelle Crumley |
August
5, 2007 was a day of celebration for the Baptist Church at Doole,
Texas. The church served a catered lunch to mark their 95th anniversary.
The early settlers of this small community wanted to name their town
in honor of a prominent family in the area (The Gansel Family), therefore
this farming and ranching community was originally known as Gansel,
Texas. Residents decided to establish a post office in approximately
1911 and ask the postmaster at Brady,
Texas for advice. The postal service in Washington D.C. said that
the name Gansel was unacceptable, so the settlers named their post
office and town after David Doole, Jr., the postmaster at Brady.
My Grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. S. C. Crumley, Sr. (“Lum” & Alta) bought
several acres of land approximately 7 miles S/E of Doole in 1909.
Mrs. Crumley gave birth to 13 healthy children. My Dad was one of
the thirteen. This large family grew cotton, corn, sugar cane and
various other crops. They also raised cattle, hogs and chickens.
My Mother was a young school teacher from Rochelle,
Texas. She taught at East Gansel School in 1932 and 1933. The
school was located approximately 4 ½ miles S/E of Doole. The CRUMLEY
brothers and sisters walked 1 ½ miles to school at East Gansel every
day except on days when their parents needed help in the fields. After
my Mother finished the school year in May of 1933, she married one
of the Crumley brothers (my Dad- age 21). They married in Millersview,
Texas (west of Doole).
East Gansel School closed in 1936. All of the students were transferred
to Doole along with the students from Stacy, Texas.
I was a student at Doole Elementary School in the 1940’s. Students
were transferred to Melvin,
Texas after completing the 6th grade at Doole. The year was 1949
and the community was far from being a “ghost town”.
I have fond memories of Ruby Page Allen, postmaster, at Doole Post
Office. She was in charge of the post office for many years. Her husband,
George Allen, was my favorite school bus driver. Another favorite
was Fred Betsill. He owned and operated Betsill Grocery Store from
1932 to 1988. The abandoned building at the top of this web page was
once operated by Oscar Betsill. Another name that will be long remembered
is Molly Meyers. She owned and operated a small store and café. The
café was a favorite with the local farmers and ranchers. Others living
in Doole: The Vineyard Family, Hap Betsill, Mr. Gray (the garage man),
The Wiggington Family and many others.
Farming and ranching was the occupation of choice for the majority
of Doole, East Gansel and Stacy, Texas residents. Life was good until
a drought hit during the late 1950’s. Can you imagine - no measurable
amount of rain for 7 years? Most of the farmers moved to other locations.
Many were forced to find new occupations in order to survive. This
is the primary reason Doole, Texas became a “ghost town”.
A treasured way of life was lost in the 1950’s and early 1960’s and
a large portion of McCulloch County is now used for hunting only.
- Lanelle Crumley, September 3, 2007 |
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Doole
Elementary School
5th and 6th grade class, 1946 - 1947
Photo courtesy LanelleCrumley |
A closed
store in Doole
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, January 2006 |
We
are reminded of Groucho Marx's response when a woman asked
him to hold her tight (while he was already holding her). "If I hold
you any tighter, I'll be behind you." If Doole were any closer to
the Concho County line, it would be in Concho County. It's
interesting to note that many ghost towns are just over (or just this
side of) a county line. The legislation demanding county seats be
centrally located killed the economy of these towns, just as surely
as if they were by-passed by the railroad.
Gansel was what Doole was originally called, but that was denied
by Washington when they requested a Post Office by that name. Brady's
Postmaster David Doole had been advising them, so they requested
one in his name and it was granted.
Doole's former high school stadium/baseball field had concrete bleachers
and was built on a hill. This gives it the appearance (if one has
a good imagination) of a Mayan ball court or a Roman amphitheater.
If you're on an unhurried trip, then a short drive to Paint
Rock would be in order. Doole still holds it's own ZIP code (tightly).
It's 76836. |
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Once
the High School Stadium. Come early or you'll be sitting on Cactus
TE photo |
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The Ruins
at Doole
Several overgrown
houses offer some good photo opportunities. Porch swings, cactus and
clothesline poles. The High School Stadium with its native stone walls
and cement bleachers are just west of "downtown." Rubble from somewhere
has been pushed over into the southern part of the stadium.
Recent rains have deposited a sea of mud that looks like a solidified
lava flow at Pompei. A 1957 Plymouth with its trunk open has been
left in what might have been the parking lot. The weathered houses
and the unique stadium/amphitheater make Doole a memorable ghost town.
©
John Troesser
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Porch
with cactus in Doole
TE photo |
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Doole Texas
Forum
Subject:
Doole, Texas
My grandmother lived in the center of Doole in the 50's - 70's.
Prior she lived off a county road between Doole and Stacy. I remember
the store located not at the 4 way stop but further north past the
school and next to the Post Office. Molly Moore owned and operated
the store. At that time there were 3 grocery stores, post office,
Doole Baptist Church, gin, and the unused school. There were skating
parties in the high school gym. My grandmother and uncle are buried
in the cemetery in Stacy, Texas north of Doole about 6 miles. -
Lessie Sunvison Koester, November 22, 2005
Doole, Texas
I have hunted for several years about 5 miles from Doole and really
haven't paid much attention as I stopped at the blinking 4-way light
on my way to eat catfish in Brady.
Since I read your article I am paying more attention to detail and
have stopped to see the sights referenced.
I agree with another visitor, this land is some of the harshest
in Texas. Every plant, bush, vine, tree or living thing can and
will hurt you if you don't pay attention. That being said, the rugged
beauty of the country is mesmerizing and I keep coming back for
more. There is a small grocery store at the crossroads called "Mavericks"
and as far as I know it represents the only commercial activity
between Valera and Brady.
Unfortunately, the store keeps somewhat sporadic hours and one never
knows if it will be open.
The deer, turkey, quail and dove hunting is some of the best I have
ever experienced anywhere. If you can avoid being bitten, stung,
scratched or stuck by the bugs, critters and scrub you can enjoy
yourself. Oh yeah, there are days in Doole country where the wind
blows through at incredible velocity creating dust storms and resituating
anything not tied down. Could be that's how the 57 plymouth came
to be where it is!
I was fascinated by the story about the black panther. While I haven't
seen a black panther myself in the area, I did see what I believed
was a mountain lion or wildcat last year where I hunt. The coloring
(solid blond) and size suggested the animal was not a bob cat and
it was way to large to be a feral cat. I elected to believe it was
something other than a wild cat because there are just too many
undisturbed rabbits and other small game animals in the area. -
David Williams, November 2, 2005
My family has
owned 3 sections of land a mile from [Doole] forever. When I was
a kid I saw a black panther on our properly. Then about 10 years
ago I saw another one. The land there is very harsh. It seems the
only things that grow there are cactus and mesquite trees. In the
spring watch out for rattlesnakes!!! They are everywhere!!! There
is something mystical about that land though, for as rough as it
is, there is beauty in the roughness. It is the best hunting of
all of my family's property. And for as long as I can remember one
man has leased it for grazing from us.
It saddens me to think that with land, some people only see $ signs
and not the inherent beauty of the unforgiving landscape." - Bill
Davison, January 15, 2005
Doole Update
I went to Doole on Saturday, July 28. Just wanted to let you know
that the general store is boarded up. I visited the bleachers and
was welcomed with shots from a rifle. No, I don't think they were
shooting at me, but they sure didn't stop! Everytime I walked away
from my car, the shots were more frequent and when I stepped back
inside, I could hear the rifle being reloaded. Wild! Needless to
say, I left there rather quickly! - Lisa, July 29, 2001
Anyone wishing to share history or photos of Doole, Texas, please
contact
us.
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