Coke, TX, Wood County ghost town history, schoolhouse, country store, photos & more. (original) (raw)

School
Photo courtesy Robbie White, July 2016

History in a Pecan Shell

The area had been settled in the 1850s, although the town didn't develop until coal was discovered nearby. Coke (for the byproduct used to make steel) was the name submitted to the postal authorities and in 1885 the post office opened under that name. Coke had 200 residents by 1892 along with 12 businesses.

Four years later there were only 25 residents. The post office closed in 1906. Coke weathered the Great Depression with 25 residents. In 1942 the Coke oilfield, came in just north of town. Even this had no effect on the population and it was still reported as 25 through the 1960s.

It was reported that all that remained at Coke was the school and few residences in 1960. The population started rising in 1968 (to 51) and to a high of 130 in 1970. From 1972 to 2000, the population was estimated to be 105. In 1988 one business was reported - evidently the now-vacant store pictured below. By 2010, the population estimate is 40.

Lloyd CSD 7 Catty cornered from Coke Country Store
Photo courtesy Robbie White, July 2016

Coke Schoolhouse Restored

Coke Schoolhouse Then & Now

School interior in 2016
Photo courtesy Robbie White, July 2016

Subject: Coke TX School

I wanted to submit an update to the Coke School information. In 2021, my husband and I purchased the old building and began restoring it. My father remembered moving from the "old" school 1/2 mile down the road to the "new" building in 1941. He attended sixth grade in the school building that we purchased.

The school was the last rural school to consolidate with the larger nearby Quitman ISD in the late 1960s. The "Cokettes" - a drill team at the school - inspired Sissy Spacek to desire to be on stage.

Here are a few recent photos:
- D'Ann Drennan, May 7, 2022

The schoolhouse interior in 2022
Photo courtesy D'Ann Drennan, March 2022

The schoolhouse interior in 2022
Photo courtesy D'Ann Drennan, March 2022

The schoolhouse interior in 2022
Photo courtesy D'Ann Drennan, February 2022

The Coke Country Store

The store is closes. It's story lives on.

Coke Country Store today
Photo courtesy Danny O'Quinn, July 2015

Coke, Texas Forum

• Update to story about the Coke Country Store
  My grandparents Johnnie and Lyndia Martin bought it from the Holts around 1990. They did pretty well for a few years. Big part of the business was lost truckers and oilfield hands. Would have guys playing video game and pool in the back and more guys sitting on upturned buckets while waiting for orders or tables. When the oilrigs went to skeleton crews they went from having 60+ for the lunch hour to maybe 7 or 8 people a day. My Ma did everything she could to cut costs but it was just to much. After a teenager drove thru the front of it on a foggy night insurance refused to repair it because the architecture would require specialists for a building built at the end of the 1800s. She sold it to Johnny Wilson for the land (30 acres I think) and he left it for years. As of today's date (1/31/19) the foundation has been bulldozed and plans are in progress rebuild a new volunteer fire department as the old VFD at the school/community center is in poor shape. Thanks - Talisha Bowen, January 31, 2019
• Subject: Coke Store in Coke Texas
  My grandparents had a 50 acre ranch less than a mile from the store on Hwy 515. I spent all my summers in the 80s on the farm and would ride my bicycle to the store. I always picked up the Sunday paper at the store and I knew the Holts back then. I loved going to the old store. And the town of Coke always felt like a family community where everyone checked on their neighbor and helped out.
  I drove by today to see the old farm and was saddened by the ghost town feel of Coke. I attached a recent picture of the store. I guess I knew it wouldn't last forever, but I am reminded of what used to be. - Danny O'Quinn, July 05, 2015

Coke Country Store when it was still in business
Photo courtesy Dale Cummings
More Texas Stores

• Subject: Coke Store Photo
  This is a pretty good pic (see above) and I wanted to share it with everybody. This is the memory of the Coke Store that me and my family have of it! - Dale Cummings, July 20, 2014

• Subject: The Coke Store
  My Family moved to the big town of Coke when I was around 7 years of age. My Momma and Daddy and us three boys grew up with the Coke Store owned most of that time by Art and Frankie Holt. We lived about a mile down from the store on FM 69. The Coke Store was located at the end of FM 69 and Hwy 515. It was a part of life for a bunch of us during the 1970's and 1980's. Art and Frankie Holt were the owners for most of that period! Art always seem to have a Cigar in his mouth that was not lit. The store had everything that we would need at that time. Candy, Soft Drinks, Bar-B-Q, Can Goods, Minnows, Gas Pumps... A place just to go and spend some time on the bench out front and always ran into someone to talk to for a little while. We would ride our bikes to the Coke Store sometimes just to spend time at the store! All of us went there! I sure miss the Coke Store!!! Thanks So Much - Dale Cummings, March 10, 2013

• Nostalgia Goes Better with Coke
  I am going to send this information about Coke to my 92 year-old grandmother. She grew up in Como, Texas and attended the former Forest Academy school that was in the area. She helped establish the historical marker for the Forest Academy Cemetery. There is still a church there as well. Every first Sunday in May a memorial service is held there by those who are members and have families buried in the cemetery.
  When I was little, I would travel to/from Como to Nacogdoches and we would stop at the Coke store. It sits at a 4-way stop. It was like it was the only thing there for miles. I loved that little store. Sometimes we would stop for candy and soda. Well, I didn't really have much to add to your information about Coke, but it sure brought back some fond memories for me. - Leigh Culver, February 02, 2007

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.