The Community of Huckabay

Huckabay's later decades turned on roads and schools. The Handbook of Texas says State Highway 108 was built through town in 1927, and in 1930 five schools were consolidated into the Huckabay district. It dates the academy to 1900 through 1910, where the plaque gives 1902 to 1914, and says the West Texas State Bank opened in 1890 but soon closed. The Handbook counts 174 residents in 1900 and reports 150 in 1970, 1990 and 2000. The plaque says the post office closed in 1965.

What the plaque says

The Community of Huckabay In 1875 a small group of pioneers from Arkansas and Tennessee acquired land here on the headwaters of the Bosque, starting the "Flat Woods" settlement. Confederate veteran John Copeland (1841-86) taught the first local school sessions (1876,1877) in his home, and gave land (1879) for a cemetery and (1883) for school. A Church of Christ congregation was formed in 1876. G. W. Glenn opened the first store in 1878. Baptist and Methodist churches were founded in 1881. John Huckabay, a farmer-storekeeper who brought the settlers' mail from Stephenville, led in securing a post office (1888), which was named for him. He was postmaster in 1888-91 and 1893-95. By 1890, town had general stores, groceries, drugstores, 2 blacksmiths, barber shops, an undertaker; and later (briefly) a bank. John Huckabay and W. C. Rigsby opened a cotton gin, 1891. C. H. Hale, an outstanding teacher, founded (1902) the Huckabay Academy, a high school that later offered college courses. It is said the Academy won every debate, oratory event, and athletic contest it ever entered. It closed in 1914. The village dwindled in changing economic and travel conditions. The school, churches, cemetery, and tabernacle became focus for the community. The post office closed in 1965. (1975)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Dublin Bottling Works — 18 mi
  The Erath County plant that bottled Dr Pepper with cane sugar from 1891 until a 2012 settlement ended its Dr Pepper license, and that still makes its own sodas the same way.

More markers nearby

• Lingleville — 7.9 mi
• Morgan Mill Tabernacle — 8.2 mi
• Cornelia Graves — 9.2 mi
• Historic Brick Streets of Stephenville — 9.5 mi