Buckholts, TX history, landmarks, photos, zip code, population, people, nearby towns, hotels. (original) (raw)

Buckholts, Texas main street

Main Street in Buckholts
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03

History in a Pecan Shell

John A. Buckholts donated land for the townsite when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway arrived in 1881. It was named in his honor and a post office was granted the following year.

German, Austrian, and Czech farmers grew the dominant crop of cotton in the 1880s and 1890s. The school was built in 1896. Buckholtz had telephone service by 1914.

Population estimates:
1884: 61
1900: 182
1920s to the 1940s: 800
1980: 362
1990: 335
2000: 387
2010: 515

Today the wide main street still has many buildings dating to the 1930s as well as two cotton gins � one of which is still in use.

Buckholts, Texas - City Limit Population sign

Buckholts City Limit. POP. 515
Photo courtesy John Germann, March 2016

People

Renaissance Man of Buckholts by Clay Coppedge

Civilization as we know it did not develop on John Greiner's place northwest of here but it might seem that way when you're touring his place via the Little River Miniature Railroad.

Greiner lives in a castle on the backroads - almost the backwoods - of Milam County. He built the castle himself, stone by stone, over the course of 20 years and 120 tons of limestone rock.

The Little River Miniature Railroad rolls above its turgid namesake, across Beetle Gulch and past the workshop with the words "Little River Aeroplane" written across the front.

Greiner is the man at the throttle. He built and installed the tracks on which the steam engine travels. The steam engine? It took three years of working two hours a night but, yes, he built that too. "I never missed a night," he says. "Of course, I worked on it some during the day too."

The first 1/8 replica steam engine has been such a success ... more

Buckholtz TX - SPJST dance hall, meeting hall

Buckholts has one of the rare SPJST octagonal buildings,
used as dance and meeting hall.
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03
More Texas Dance Halls

Buckholtz TX - Main Street

Buckholts streetscape
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03

Buckholtz TX - Main street old store buildings

Old store buildings on main street
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03

Buckholtz TX - Old store building

Store building on main street
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03

Buckholts, Texas - Cafe downtown

Buckholts Post Office Cafe downtown
Photo courtesy John Germann, March 2016

Photographer's Note:
"[In March 2016] the main street still has many older buildings that are abandoned but still standing. We had fun cruising up and down the street, taking all kinds of pics." - John Germann

Buckholts, Texas Post Office

Buckholts, Texas - Antique Store

Buckholts, Texas - Thrift shop

Buckholts, Texas - Building

Buckholts, Texas - street scene

Buckholts street scene
Photo courtesy Bill Trevillion, March 2016

Coca Cola ghost sign
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03
More Coca-Cola

Buckholts, Texas - Dry Goods ghost sign

Buckholtz TX - Volunteer Fire Dept. Fire Engine

Buckholts Fire Dept. Fire Engine
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03

Buckholtz TX - Old gas stations

Buckholtz TX - Raymond's Garage

Raymond's Garage
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03

Buckholtz TX - "Building Set for Demolition'

Building "Set for Demolition"
Photo by John Troesser, 6-03

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