True Stories of Amazing People and Places in Texas

Lubbock County, Texas from 1850 to 1950 from archived government photographs, vintage postcards, old school yearbooks and newspapers.

Shallowater Mercantile and Bank in 1913 and Today

N.R. Porter, an early Lubbock County settler, moved the wooden structure over eleven miles of rutted roads from Lubbock to Shallowater in 1913 . . .

This family with seven children were on their way from Arkansas to Lubbock in 1938 looking for a better life. The father was a blacksmith in Paris, Arkansas. Eldest son was a tenant farmer. They stopped to fix a flat in Oklahoma when . . .Read more. View full size

In June 1938 famous photographer Dorothea Lange captured this photo of an unnamed man living on "Scratch Hill" outside Atoka, Oklahoma. "I'm going west because this country's through, there isn't anything here for anyone. I'm going west to Lubbock . . .

In 1937 over 200 happy boys from the Lubbock Kiwanis Knot-Hole Gang Posed for this huge photo. Take a closer look and you may see your Dad, Granddad or Great Granddad smiling back at you.

First Train to roll into Lubbock in 1909

When the first train rolled into Lubbock schools closed and everyone who could be there to welcome the train turned out for this rare photo.

Lubbock in 1890 before town site is laid out

Early pioneers of Lubbock County pose for picture in 1890 of what would become Lubbock Texas.

Great old photo of the South Side of the Courthouse Square in Lubbock the way our ancestors would have seen it in 1906. The Lubbock Mercantile building is in the final stages of construction. The J. E. Murfee Lands company would later become J. Murfee and Sons and move into the Lubbock Mercantile building . . .  . . . see full size

Shallowater Celebrates Arrival of Railroad in 1913

Band turns out to celebrate the arrival of the first train in Shallowater, Texas in 1913.

Boys Loading Wagon at the Slaton Livery Barn in 1900

The expression on the faces of these young boys as they load a freight wagon illustrates just how hard the work was in Slaton Texas in 1900.

Slaton Post Office with Postmistress and Patrons 1910

Two men and their dog pose with Slaton Postmistress in front of the Slaton Post Office in 1910

Artis Taylor and William Thomas Taylor at work in their blacksmith shop in Slaton Texas in 1920s. Central power source distributed power to machines by leather belts . .  . 

Wilselma Theatre in Slaton Texas in 1920

Young boys wait for the theater to open in Slaton in 1920.

Lubbock Street Scene from the 1930's

H W Stotts Trucking Company, Lubbock Texas 1940s

Located on Ave H near downtown Lubbock. It was owned and operated by Hiram Wesley (Bo) Stotts, a Lubbock area business man who owned . . . read more

Studebaker Dealership in Lubbock Texas in 1952

Lubbock Police pose with their new Studebaker Commander V-8s purchased from Kerr Motor Company.

Dust Storm of 1939 in Lubbock Texas

View from Lubbock County Courthouse in the 1940s

George M Hunt School Yearbook Class of 1936 in Lubbock

Children, parents and teachers pose in this composite of the George M Hunt School . The class roll for 1936 is also included.

Gin in New Deal Texas with Farmall F30 tractors 1930's

W.O. Fortenberry Gin with tractors and drivers lined up beside owners and Conoco tanker truck in background.

Daniel's Gin in Wolfforth Texas in the 1930s

Woman walks along highway past Daniels Gin and Model T pulling cotton trailer in Wolfforth in 1930's. Smoke fills the air in background from burning cotton burrs and trash.

Workers pose beside their trucks at a cotton gin in Slaton Texas in the 1930s. Fuzzy cotton seed is piled two-stories high in the background. The gin was owned by Hiram Wesley (Bo) Stotts . . . read more

Artis Taylor's Snow Cone and Fruit Julep Wagon in 1930s

During the 1930s Artis Taylor's Snow Cone and Fruit Julep wagon was a welcome sight at Lubbock County events. This photo is believed to have been taken near his home in Slaton. Photo courtesy Debbie Stotts Dickson, his granddaughter.

Circus Parade in Lubbock Texas in 1912-1919

Early residents of Lubbock line the street with their Model Ts to watch elephants and and other exotic animals pulling carriages in the circus parade.

Lubbock's First Mosquito Sprayer at Work in 1947

City worker stands on running board of the City of Lubbock truck to tend the fogging machine filling the air with insecticide as they drive down dirt road past playground in 1947.

Railroad Station in Slaton Texas in 1914

Five men in front of the Slaton Railroad Station in 1914

Woman at Corner of Broadway and K in Lubbock in 1950's

Looking East Down Broadway in Lubbock in the 1940s

Patriotic citizens of Slaton deposit large pile of scrap metal on main street in 1944. Slaton stores in background include O.Z. Ball and Co., Texas Utilities, Barber Shop, Drug Store, Texas Grocery, Jewelry store and the Dry Goods Store.

Slaton Texas Fire Department in 1940

Eleven Fireman pose with fire trucks in front of the Slaton Fire Station in 1940

Books about Lubbock, Shallowater, Idalou, New Deal, Slaton, and Wolfforth

Texas History in the 19th Century (Amazon)

I LOVE LBK (Facebook)

If you grew up in Lubbock, Texas  (Facebook)

You know you're from Shallowater if  (Facebook)

Whats Happening in Slaton Texas (Facebook)

Lubbock County Treasures

Books about Lubbock County People and Places

Texas Unclaimed Estates

Texas Unclaimed Property Auctions