Lubbock County, Texas from 1850 to 1950 from family albums archived government photographs, vintage postcards, old school yearbooks and newspapers in Idalou, Lubbock, New Deal, Ransom Canyon, Shallowater, Slaton, Wolfforth and Buffalo Springs
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In 1941 a pretty young woman posed with her huge lace collar for this beautiful portrait in Lubbock Texas

In 1920 Hardin Joyce posed with his rifle and uniform in Lubbock Texas for this postcard.

The Merrill Hotel in Lubbock Texas was a busy place in thte 1910s

Tending Chickens in Lubbock in 1920s

A woman tends to her chickens on a farm near Lubbock Texas in the 1920s

In the 1940s the Quality Oil Company established a new gas station at 2424 Clovis Road in Lubbock Texas and commemorated it with this photo

Iconic photo of the Daniell Gin Company in Lubbock Texas in 1930s

Wealthy family in Lubbock Texas poses for family portrait in early 1890s.

Touching photo of a mother and son all dressed up in their Sunday best with their rose garden at their home in Wolfforth Texas in the 1930s

Very nice photo of the Slaton Pharmacy in Slaton Texas in 1950

In July of 1932 a boy proudly shows of his puppy in Lubbock Texas in this cute photo from Koen's Studio

Nice photo of downtown Lubbock Texas in the 1960s featuring Levine's, The Luggage Shop, Lords, Kress Variety, Hotel Lubbock and much more

In 1955 C.E. Nash was farming 240 acres raising peas and cotton near New Deal Texas when he was asked to endorse B.F. Goodrich Power Grip tractor tires

South Plains Junior Livestock Show in 1938

In 1938 the South Plains fair in Lubbock Texas featured a livestock show and Will Rogers performing near the stock barns for 10 cents a ticket

Cattle Stock Yards in Lubbock in 1910

Very nice old photo from the cattle stock yard in Lubbock Texas with cowboys sitting on the fence in 1910

The Roy Cooper Motel was a nice place to stay in Lubbock Texas in the 1950s

In 1962 Bill Dooley of Lubbock Texas testimonial in a national ad for Havoline Motor Oil used in his irrigation motor

Sometime in the 1940s two kids posed in from of a Frenship District School bus in Wolfforth Texas

In 1941 a 3-year old girl celebrated her birthday by posing with her birthday cake in Lubbock Texas

In the 1940s at 8:20 in the morning a huge crowd gathered in front of Ben's Cafe in Lubbock Texas

Hi-D-Ho Drive in 1952

The Hi-D-Ho was a popular hangout for Lubbock Texas teens in the 1950s. It was one of Buddy Holly's favorite places and some of his best songs were reportedly written on Hi-D-Ho napkins. 

C.M. Doyle in His Car in Shallowater in 1926

In 1926 C.M. Doyle posed with his car in Shallowater Texas for this huge highly-detailed image

Doyle Family Photo 1907

In 1907 the Doyle Family posed for this wonderful old photo in Lubbock County. Pictured are: Clinton Montgomery (C.M.) Doyle, Sally Mattie (Williams) Doyle, Viney (his previous marriage) left, Willie May Doyle right.

Mail Hack from Lubbock to Plainview in 1909. The following year it was delivered by automobile. Before the automobile, mail was delivered by horse or mule-led conveyances known as hacks. The “mail hack” might have been an enclosed carriage, a buggy or a vehicle specifically made for the purpose of carrying letters and packages

Remember when gas was 13 cents a gallon and you watched the attendant pump it into a clear cylinder to prove you were getting what you paid for? That's how it worked at Harvey's Gas Station  in New Deal Texas in the 1930s

In November 1931 three pioneer brothers were reunited for the first time in 37 years at the home of J. G. Marr in Shallowater Texas. The brothers pictured were John Allen Marr (left) 86 Crowell, Texas, W.A. "Bill" Marr (center) 76 Apache, Okla., A.G. "Bud" Marr (right) 73 Llano Co., Texas

In 1940 the Williams family posed for this photo of the Williams Rock house near Shallowater Texas as it nears completion. Rock  houses were rare on the Texas panhandle due to very few rocks were available and often had to be transported from below the Caprock.

In 1943 WL and Tressie Faye Williams and Willie May and Roe Marr posed beside their car somewhere in Lubbock County Texas  in this slightly faded photograph but still with easily recognizable faces

In the 1940s the Williams family raised hogs on their farm for family consumption and for the market. Their well-known rock house can be seen in the background

In 1943 Willie May Marr and Tressie Faye Williams were photographed on the front porch of the Williams Stone House near Shallowater Texas. Photo courtesy Cloyce Williams

Sometime between 1885 and 1886 Anthony Lambert Houston and his son Samuel S. Houston were on a trail ride somewhere in or near Lubbock Texas when they posed with three other cowboys for this photo  A. L.  Houston is seated with dark hat. His son is reclining with his boots off. . . . tap to see full size

Photo courtesy Margaret Deans Letzkus.

This store in Lubbock in the early 1900s seems to specialize in coffees and teas. In fact there doesn't seem to be anything that doesn't relate to coffee or tea. Starbucks doesn't have anything on these guys . . . see for yourself

On the ground, left to right: J. D. Wynn, Henry Lawson, Franklin Butler, Max Walthall, Francis Bearden, Jimmy Williamson.
Sitting, Troy Davidson, Robert McKinnon, Jack Lovin, Clifton Hill, Howard Alford, Paul Sparkman, Joe Tyson, James Barker, Fred Redwine... read more

Horse drawn carriages, pedestrians and even a couple of early cars can be seen in this large clear image of the east side of the square in Lubbock captured about 1910.

Patrons and workers turned out for this great old photo of Lubbock's first hotel taken in 1889 when the Nicolett still had a second story balcony. Originally located east of the present Lubbock Country Club. It was moved to downtown Lubbock on February 1891

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.

Nice photo of Texas Street in Slaton Texas shows Model T's lining the dirt street in front of local stores in early 1900s . . . see it full size

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

West Texas History & Memories

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 (eBay Ads)

Books about Lubbock County People and Places