Bradshaw Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Bradshaw was born in 1909 with the approach and arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad. The town of Audra, two miles west, was bypassed by the railroad and Bradshaw inherited their population, small though it was.

The town was named to honor land-donor C. M. Bradshaw who gave the railroad a right-of-way. The town prospered (bolstered by the former residents of Audra) and by 1910 there were already two grocery stores, a mercantile store, a blacksmith, butcher, and druggist.

By 1914, the town had added a bank, and hotel. A Baptist and Christian joined the existing Methodist church. The prosperous 20s were kind to Bradshaw and by the onset of the Great Depression, it had a healthy population of 450 people. Improved highway construction during the 30s shortened the 28 miles to Abilene and the town suffered from its proximity.

Over the years, the school closed and the post office. By 1988 there was only an estimated 25 people living in the vicinity. Bradshaw remains on the state map and is featured in T. Lindsay Baker's book More Ghost Towns of Texas.

The 1947 Bradshaw Baptist Church cornerstone
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2007

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