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History in
a Pecan Shell
Settlement of the region began in the 1890s, and a small community
developed around the rural school of Liberty, established in 1899
near Wildhorse Creek. Early settlers included the families of R.
E. Hargrove, J. L. VanZandt, P. W. Crump, and J. D. Falkner. A post
office was opened there in 1902 and was named Herbert for Colorado
City postmaster Herbert Hazard.
In 1909 the
office was renamed Spade after the Spade Ranch. The post office
served the community until it was moved to Colorado City in 1912.
By 1910 Spade had the post office, a general store, a gin, a blacksmith
shop, a school, a Baptist church, and a Woodmen of the World Lodge;
at that time the community was a stop on the Colorado City-Sterling
City stage line.
The old Liberty school was renamed Spade in 1910. In 1930, 101 students
attended the school and the district encompassed 124 square miles.
The Spade school was consolidated with that of Westbrook in 1938.
The community was locally known during the early 1900s for its Fourth
of July picnics and political rallies, one of which was attended
by James V Allred. A Methodist church was built about 1930, and
by 1947 the town reported one store, two churches, and ten residents.
One church and a cemetery remained in 1972.
Spade was still shown on county maps in the 1980s.
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