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A Very Brief
History
A group of settlers
got together and sunk a well in the area about 1903. Today
only a few houses dot the landscape where Gasoline once was. Even
the cemetery (Rest Haven) is two miles north. The unusual name
dates from 1907, the date when they got the first post office. How
they decided on this unusual name is lost to history, but the Handbook
of Texas suggests that the town's cotton gin ran on gasoline
and gasoline was still regarded "as a novelty" in the Panhandle.
A Full Day
in Gasoline
No population reports
were given, however, school expansions indicate that Gasoline was
once thriving. Residents could have their horses shod at the blacksmith
while they got a haircut or visited with friends at the café. They
could then pick up some liver pills at the drugstore and if they had
time, they could watch gasoline being poured into the engine at the
'gin'. Even with the town being named gasoline, they were sensible
enough to use kerosene for their lighting. They got electricity just
in time for the Great Depression (1929) and the Handbook tells
us that the town only had one telephone for years.
Perhaps "Fireproof, Texas" should have been considered.
The town's gin burned in 1938 and shortly thereafter, the population
dwindled to 20 persons. After WWII,
the few remaining schoolchildren started attending classes in Quitaque
and the post office closed in 1948. |
Gasoline, Texas
School Photos
"My grandfather
was school principal and grandmother a teacher at the Gasoline Texas
school for a few years. These are pictures of some of their students.
I do not have names, but you never know, maybe someone will recognize
a family member." - Nick C., June 12, 2014 |
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Gasoline
School Photo Courtesy Nick C. |
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Gasoline
School Team
Courtesy
Nick C. |
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Class
of 1932
Photo
courtesy Nick C. |
GASOLINE, TEXAS
by d.knape
When times were hard
and tempers mean,
a few folks lived
in Gasoline
but the gin burned down
and times got lean,
and they run out of gas
in Gasoline
Now there ain't no town
it cain't be seen,
there's nothin' left
of Gasoline
and panhandle people
betwixt, between
have seen the last
of Gasoline!
© d.knape
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Gasoline, Texas
Forum
Subject:
Gasoline, Texas
My Dad, Samuel Willis White Jr., was born in Gasoline, Texas on
Nov. 26, 1920. If anyone out there has stories or photos of Gasoline
Texas, please send them in. - Regards, Gary L. White, Euless, Texas,
September 09, 2006
Subject:
Grandmother
I was just sitting at the kitchen table a few minuets ago when I
thought of the name Gasoline, Texas, only reason was I suppose is
the fact my Grandmother Molly Coker lived there or that was her
address back in 1910 ( along with her youngest boy, Roy Coker, my
uncle.) I remember Dad talking about Gasoline, TX. Don't remember
much except that he did and do know by census Record's my Grandmother
and uncle Roy lived there for a time back in that time in history.
Was beginning to think google wasn't going to bring up anything
for me about Gasoline, Texas, but glad they finally did.
Was good reading about the little place back then, though I am an
old gent 73 years old, it brought a tear to my eyes, Thanks. - William
J. Coker, Booneville, Arkansas, May 03, 2006
Perhaps you
can help me...we are having a reunion of our Brummett family in
October...all of the children in my father-in-law's family were
born in Gasoline...except for one...I would like to get a picture
of Gasoline back in the late 1930's and 1940's to frame and put
in our family reunion auction...Can you help me in any way with
pictures of Gasoline?... Thank you - Jan Brummett, September 06,
2004
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Briscoe
County 1920s Map showing Gasoline
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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