Gem, Texas, Hemphill County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Rancher Thomas F. Moody named the town for his wife Gem Hibbard Moody. The town was surveyed and platted in 1909 and was granted a post office that same year. The town held great promise but was in competition from a number of other communities. Gem reported a population of seventy-five in the mid 1920s � a number that they continued to use through 1960. The post office closed in 1954 and over time the residents left until there was no one left. There are a number of scattered buildings radiating a mile out from Gem.

Photographer's Note:
Gem is about 16 miles SE of Canadian on SH33 at FM 2654... a little SW of the highway intersections where these photos are taken. Google confirms structures at the location of the real Gem. Looks like I missed it by 1 mile. -

Barclay Gibson, January 25, 2009

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