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Bald Prairie TX
Many thanks to Katherine Hoffman who allowed her photos and work to be added to this site. Be sure and check out her Facebook page as she has many more photos of historic, old or abandoned schoolhouses, churches and much more.
A few months ago someone suggested I should photograph the Bald Prairie Church of Christ. I live in Bald Prairie so that was something I wanted to do. Then I decided to make it into a big post about Bald Prairie. I've spent weeks going through various archives, census records and more to put this together! If you have any more information or old pictures that you'd like to share please message or email me at Kat@KatherineHoffmanPhotography.com.
Most of the images will have additional information. I didn't take pictures of the Bald Prairie Cemetery, Wesley Chapel Cemetery, or Thompson Cemetery (not that I could anyway because it's overgrown) but if anyone would like me to or to photograph a specific gravestone please let me know!
If any of you would like to order prints you can! There are images of other local and non local locations in this gallery as well. https://katherinehoffmanphotography.shootproof.com/gallery/Archaetecture/home
FYI for the pictures of the houses, I was outside of the fence line (although it should be obvious as I used the fence or gate to 'frame' the subject in most images).
The small community of Bald Prairie was officially established in 1865. Early settlers in the area first settled along Duck Creek. After frequent attacks of diseases they moved to higher ground which became Bald Prairie. The settlers discovered this new ground was better for farming. Cotton and corn were the two main crops they grew. The land also proved favorable for keeping livestock.
The community had a post office, stores, churches, cotton gins, and gristmills by the end of the 1800�s. 100 people lived in Bald Prairie in 1885. Due to the arrival of the railroad through other towns Bald Prairie�s population declined. By 1940 the community only had one store and post office. In 2000 the population was 40. The Ross store closed in the 1960s. In the 1990�s the community had two churches, a cemetery, and the old abandoned store (more on that in the images).
Alonzo D Proctor became Bald Prairie�s first postmaster on September 29, 1875 (some online sources claim John C Jennings as the first postmaster but the Appointment of Postmasters directory shows that Jennings wasn�t a postmaster until 1882). The post office was discontinued on October 16, 1878 then reestablished with William L Bruce as postmaster on December 20, 1878. The community continued to have a post office until it was officially discontinued on July 20, 1951 with Gilbert Sterling Ross as the last postmaster (more on him in the images).
Just a few miles away from what was once The Bald Prairie store there are remnants of one of the cotton gins on private property.
Under each picture is description written by Katherine Hoffman
In 1946, a book was published that had everyone in Bald Prairie talking. Joshua
Beene and God was written by Jewel Henson Gibson a woman who was born and raised
in Bald Prairie. Many in small towns just like Bald Prairie condemned the book.
Joshua Beene and God was semi-based on Gibson�s early life and took a satirical
approach to storytelling. The resemblance of the fictional town and Bald Prairie
was lost on no one. When Gibson was a young girl Joshua Raines, from the pulpit,
warned the boys of the community that they should stay away from her because she
was leading them to �hell and damnation astraddle a horse.� Rains often
criticized the young girl, but what upset Rains the most was when the girl took
the boys to the Baptist Church. Gibson based the titular character of her book
on Rains. The character is the chief elder of a Church of Christ, justice of the
peace, president of the school board, self-appointed game warden and he also
waged a fifty-year battle with the Baptists. All in all, Gibson loved Joshua
Rains and referred to him as Uncle Josh.
On a personal note, while doing research I found out Joshua Rains was my fifth
cousin five times removed!
The Bald Prairie Church of Christ is the staple of the community. Originally organized in 1847 the fellowship along with members of the Baptist Church worshipped together until 1849. A log structure served as a church and school. The current building was built in the 1880s. Over the course of its history it has served as a school, funeral chapel and community meeting place. Elijah Rains donated five acres of land for the church and cemetery. To the left of the church is the community cemetery. Veterans of the Civil War are buried in the cemetery. In 1957 Gilbert Sterling Ross donated an additional acre to the plot.
There are only a few old farmhouses still standing in the area.
The old B.B Lincecum Home. I can only guess the age of the home but I believe it is at least 80+ years old. This house is likely closer to the Willow Creek community, but after the last several storms I was concerned about the state of the house.
Somewhere on the property is the Woods Cemetery. I�m still looking into the records, and someone please correct me if I�m wrong, but I believe that Willow Creek�s first postmaster is buried in the cemetery.
The Pittman House in it's current state. Growing up, before nature began to take it back, I was fascinated by this house. I thought it was the coolest thing ever.
This picture also comes from Robert Boyd on Ancestry. I'm not sure of the year. In the 1880's the Pittman family lived in this house.
As Bald Prairie grew it had multiple stores. This is one of the stores in 1910. If you know anyone in the picture or which store this actually is please let me know (I don�t think this is what would later become The Ross Store/Bald Prairie Store but I could be wrong)! Gilbert Sterling Ross owned and operated The Ross Store (or Bald Prairie Store) throughout the mid 1900s. Those who lived in the area have fond memories of going to The Ross Store. Ross was also the postmaster. After The Ross Store closed it remained empty for around 40 years. Louie Reagan bought it and reopened the store. The store unfortunately burned down in 2015. This picture was posted to Ancestry by Robert Boyd. Eventually I would like to digitally restore this image. I was super surprised I was able to find this image!
Right before sunset, the sun comes through the trees right alongside the church's community pavilion. It creates such a beautiful moment in time.
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