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BLEDSOE,
TEXAS
Cochran County, Texas
Panhandle
FM 595, 769, and 125
2.2 Miles E of the New Mexico
State Line
73 Miles West of Lubbock
42 Miles West of Levelland
24 Miles West of Whiteface
Population: 125 (1990) |
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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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A Visit to
Bledsoe, TexasPhotographer's
Note: "These photos pretty well tell the story of Bledsoe. Kind of sad."
- 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 |
A
closed church in Bledsoe
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
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