a Pecan Shell
In 1901, after the astounding success of Beaumont’s
men immediately started searching for similar geologic structures. Here they found
the Big Hill (or Gulf Hill) dome. Although some oil deposits were found, it paled
in comparison to the Beaumont/ Port
Arthur discovery. However, huge deposits of sulphur were found which led to
this town’s prosperity (1919-1932).
A post office was granted in 1918
and the site became a stop on the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad. Production
began in earnest in 1919. Its isolation and lack of housing made Gulf a company
town. Houses were furnished for workers and company executives by the Texas Gulf
Sulphur Company. At the time, this was the second-largest sulphur mining operation.
A school was built in 1921 and the company provided the community’s own diary.
In a shrewd move, the company rented commercial buildings (they had built) to
merchants. This provided the people with their needs, while avoiding the headaches
of day-to-day operations.
At the time of the stock market crash, the population
of Gulf was around 1,500. The sulphur field didn’t last forever and by 1932 production
had stopped. Nevertheless, the community retained its 1,500 residents as well
as twelve businesses through the darkest days of the Great Depression. By 1943
Gulf had been reduced to a mere 300 people served by a single business.
Population figures weren’t reported after 1949 and the school merged with the
Matagorda ISD in 1949. The homes and buildings
were cannibalized or moved and by 1952 none were standing on site. It was dropped
from maps and no longer appears even on Matagorda County maps.
1920 Matagorda County Map >
Another ghost town - Old Gulf
It would be interesting to see images, if
there are any, of the ghost town near Matagorda,
TX. Old Gulf was the site for mining before it was move to New
Gulf [near Boling TX]. Since you have New
Gulf, I thought you might like to include Old Gulf, since their histories
tie together. I've put TexasEscapes on my desk top.
As always, it's fun & interesting! Thanks for all you do. - Kathryn Cockroft
Matagorda County map showing Gulf, Texas
(Below "G" in "MATAGORDA")
Courtesy Texas General Land
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
and vintage/historic photos of their town/subject, please contact