Bulcher

The oil boom of 1927 shifted in large extent, the town of Bulcher, in the northwest part of Cooke County. Recognized as a town in 1874, when a post office was established and Matt A. Morris was made postmaster, Bulcher’s business district and public buildings were located on Camp Creek on the east side of town. But when the first well in the Bulcher oil field was brought in June 24, 1926, the town shifted tom the hill west of the original area, where the oil production is created.

The first store was operated by Ben Greenwood, and a cotton gin was built min 1875 and operated for many years by W. H. Cox, father of John C. Cox, who served as county judge of Cooke County. One of the earliest settlers in the community was J. A. Dennis, who celebrated his 95^th birthday at his home in the side of town March 4, this year.(1948)He is a native of Texas and came from the Kaufman-Hunt county area, his home having been on the county line.

When he arrived in the Bulcher area in 1872, his nearest neighbors were some four of five miles away. He purchased his farm from Jack Gardenhire, and built his first home of lumber hauled overland from Jefferson in the East Texas woods. He was married to Miss Nancy Jordan after settling in the Bulcher vicinity. John Scandland was another early resident of the area, and Mr. Dennis brother Hart Dennis came to the community in 1872.

Matt Morris first postmaster was succeeded upon his death by Mrs. Morris, and she was postmistress until the office was placed on rural route No. 1. Out of Maryville. Bulcher remained on this route until the Maryville route was discontinued due the establishment of Camp Howze and Bulcher is now on route No. 3 out of Muenster. Mrs. Morris died at the home of her daughter Mrs. R. A. McElrath in Gainesville at the age of 91.

D. S. Buliner built a store in east Bulcher: in 1906, and the Woodmen of the World Lodge built the second floor of the building which was used as a lodge room. The Odd Fellows lodge rented the room for use during its meetings. This store burned about 15 years ago, being operated at the time by T. C. Harvey. Bill Burns also had a store started about 30 years before, which he operated some 15 years before going out of business.

T. J. Dennis had a small store near his home, which he moved to the location of the present store, he constructed in 1927. Mr. Dennis sold to E. F. Pickett and other operators have been L. D. Hyden, B. M. Wilson, and the present owner Dexter Dowd who has had it the last three years. Mr. Dowd is from the Illinois’ Bend Community. The last cotton gin operated by Will Dowd was sold about the time World War II began and was dismantled and moved away.

The Methodist of the community had a church for many years, but when the bridge approaching the church was floated away in a flood and the road was damaged, the building was left without an approach. As a result the Methodists sold the building which was taken to Love County Oklahoma, the lumber being used for a residence.

The old school building erected in 1896, has been used for church purposes since the Center school was built some years ago and Church of Christ , Baptist and Methodist congregations have used it from time to time for church services, as well as Sunday school classes, singings, and other social gatherings. A Baptist church was built in the community some 30 years ago, and a new Shiloh Baptist church is now under construction a short distance east of town.

Three physicians lived at various times in the Bulcher community. They were Drs. Powers, Duren and Nunn, the latter being the last to live there. Bulcher is 11 miles east of St. Jo, 27 miles northwest of Gainesville, and one and one-half miles south of Red River in the northwest part of the county.

The population remained fairly stable at around 250 until oil was discovered nearby on June 24, 1926. After the resultant boom, Bulcher began to decline. The town reported a population of forty in 1933 and sixty in 1986. In the early 1990s no population figures were available for the community, but in 2000 it reported a population of six.

Information fro the August 30, 1948 Gainesville Daily Register and Texas Online