Toco, aka Shady Grove, Texas, Lamar County. (original) (raw)

History on a Pinhead

Known as Shady Grove for decades, the community was settled around 1900. It wasn't until the 1970s that the community started using the name Toco.

The town had a church, school and several businesses, although the businesses closed after WWII.

The Plane! The Plane!

For those who have passed through Toco, and couldn�t help but notice the rather unusual landmark�

The plane is a Martin 404 and there wouldn�t be too much more to say about it if photographer Stephen Michaels� hadn�t stayed up late to research the ship. An aircraft electrician in a previous life, Michaels researched the FAA number to find that the plane had been part of the Southern Airlines fleet. The research also led Stephen to the Southern Airlines site � which revealed the story of a chance meeting between the plane and its former pilot and a very interesting interview with the planes current owner.
http://www.southernairways.org/one\_martins\_fate.htm

Photographer's Note:
This is all I found of Toco, Texas. Sign says population of 89. Do all 89 live in that airplane? There were no other buildings around like a town or anything. Maybe there WERE 89 people until the plane crashed there??? -

Stephen Michaels, April 26, 2008

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