Bulcher, Texas, Cooke County ghost town. (original) (raw)

"The structure failed and came down" in 2004
Photo courtesy Gary Hall, 11-09-04

History in a Pecan Shell

Early settlers arrived in the early 1870s. One, named John Scanland, donated the land for the community cemetery. Two cemeteries appear on the Cooke County TxDoT map - Shiloh Cemetery about 2.5 miles East and Coker Cemetery about one mile SW of Bulcher.

Among the other pioneer settlers were German immigrant brothers Frederick and Charles Hyman. Frederick Hyman was the great-great-grandfather of contributing photographer Judie Hilton Porter.

Bulcher was granted a post office in 1874 with one Matthew Morris as postmaster. The population kept at a respectable 250 persons until an oil discovery in 1926 swelled the population. When things got back to normal, people noticed that some of the former residents had left with the oil crowd. The town was down to only 40 by 1933 and 6 today.

Photo courtesy Gary Hall, 11-09-04

	Abandoned church building in 2003 Photo courtesy James Kallstrom, 3-9-03

	Photo courtesy Robin Jett, 6-02

	Church interior Photo courtesy Robin Jett, 6-02

	Photo courtesy Judie Hilton Porter, 2002

Bulcher, Texas Forum

• Subject: Bulcher Church building, and school
  Greetings: I guess I am always late to the party. I was born in Bulcher, Tx in November 1934, and began school there in September 1941. The pictures of the old fallen down building attributed to being the school isn�t the school building. These pictures are of a non-denominational church building. We used it as an auditorium for school plays and social events. I have lived in Houston since the late 1970�s but when in North Texas, always try to go by and visit Bulcher.
  The school building, consisting of perhaps 5 to 8 classrooms and library was long ago destroyed. It was located perhaps 75 to 100 yards east of the church building. There are probably still concrete foundations remaining there, but probably hidden by tall grass. A little further east of that building and a little south was a very large storm cellar to protect us in the event of a tornado.
  ...There were no classes there from about 1948-1949 onward. all the students were transferred to Saint Jo Public Schools. - Regards, Robert J. Samples, May 04, 2015
• Regarding the old Bulcher Center High School
  I lived at Bulcher back in the early sixties. No one went to school there. It was as dilapidated then, as it was in 2002 when the first photos on your web site were taken. It was no longer in use after WWII, Bulcher having become a ghost town. I imagine the old school was built around 1880. Cordially, Michael Busby December 27, 2005
• Here is a photo of the school building in Bulcher. We connected with a local gentleman who had grown up and went to the school back in the early sixties. He stated that he had carved his name in the steeple of the building, along with several others.
  Approximately seven months ago, the structure failed and came down. The pic says it all. Disappointing, but, it was great to be able to find it. - Gary Hall and Tom Nix, November 08, 2004
• Subject: Bulcher, Texas Pioneer Settlers
  I noticed that your contributor was a family member of pioneer settler Frederick Hyman. I am the Great-Great-Grand Daughter of Frederick Hyman. His son Henry was my Great Grand Dad.
  We are having a family reunion in April, 2011 and would love for her to come. My Mother and Grand Mother, her Sisters and Brothers are all gone and the younger ones of us really don't know much about the past and I for one am intrested in learning all I can. I am hoping not only Judie but maybe some of the other family may contact me. Thank you. - Karyn Hamilton, hamilton.karyn@yahoo.com, March 13, 2011

Our thanks to Judie Hilton Porter, Robin Jett, James Kallstrom, Gary Hall and Tom Nix for sharing the picturesque ruin of the former high school.
*Criteria for ghost towns can never be fully agreed upon. Bulcher's inclusion as a North Central Texas "Ghost" is due to its relative high population and it's former thriving economy.
June 2002

1940s map showing Bulcher in northwestern Cooke County
S of the Red River
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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