Pep, Texas, Hockley County. (original) (raw)
History in a Pecan Shell
Once part of the Yellow House Ranch division of the huge XIT Ranch, it passed through the Littlefield estate before being sold in 1924.
Much of the land was bought by German-Americans hoping to start a German Catholic Colony. The first church in the county was constructed in 1930 and the name of the pastor (the Reverand Francis Ledwig) was Pep�s first name. But when the post office was applied for in 1936, the name Ledwig was rejected. Pep � being a Depression-era superlative � was chosen instead.
The population estimate in 1950 was 60 residents � which has slowly declined to 50 for the 1990 census.
Photographer's Note:
Pep is a long ways from anywhere. It is in the northwest corner of Hockley County on FM 303, 3/4 miles south of the Hockley/Lamb County Line. -
PEP, TEXAS
The place so bare
might say windswept
just blink an eye
and away it went
On this small town
the sun has set
there's little left
of little Pep.
-
The 1932 Pep Elementary School
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, August 2009
Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact us.