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History in
a Pecan Shell
Baptist circuit
rider, J. L. Pyle, was the site’s original owner. The Reverend Pyle
once published a Baptist newsletter from nearby Newlin.
In 1905 when the community had it’s first post office, the town was
first called Lodge, but after closing in 1909, the postal designation
was lost, although the town still used the name. In 1920 another application
was submitted, but by that time another town had registered the name.
Influential landowner M. N. Orr suggested the name Pulaski after his
former home in Tennessee, but due to a misspelling of the name, the
granted name was Plaska and the town lived with the misspelling.
The town welcomed its first business in 1907 – a blacksmith shop run
by Billie Norman. Soon after, three general stores opened along with
a cotton gin in 1908.
A school appeared in 1910 which also served as a church until a separate
structure was built in 1915. Although the population was a mere 20
people in 1925, it had increased to 200 by the end of that decade.
Plaska was hit hard by the Great Depression and an improved highway.
The population returned to 20 with only the basic businesses in operation.
The local school only extended to the 9th grade with high schoolers
being bussed to Memphis.
As the Great Depression wound down, the population started a weak
increase to 80 residents in 1939.
In 1954 Plaska lost it’s post office which left only a gin and a store.
The population was given as 21 in 1970 which increased to 28 for 1990
and 2000. |
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Hall
County 1907 postal map showing Lodge
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Hall
County 1940s map showing Plaska
From Texas state map #4335
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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