Soash, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Soash, Texas
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 Soash, Texas
Location in Texas
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| State | Texas |
| County | Howard |
| Established | 1909 |
| Extinct | c. 1919 |
| Founded by | William P. Soash |
| Named for | William P. Soash |
Soash was once a small town in Howard County, Texas, United States. Today, it is known as a ghost town. A ghost town is a place where most or all people have left, leaving behind empty buildings and a quiet history. Soash was founded over 100 years ago, but it didn't last very long.
Contents
The Story of Soash
Soash began in 1909. It was started by a man named William P. Soash. He bought a very large piece of land, about 110,000 acres, from Christopher Columbus Slaughter. William Soash decided to build a new town on this land.
Early Days of the Town
The town of Soash was built near a station for the Fort Worth and Denver Railway. This was important because trains helped people and goods travel. By 1910, Soash had three main buildings. There was a bank made of bricks. There was also a two-story hotel, which was named after Soash's daughter. The town also had its own post office.
The Post Office and Its Leaders
The post office was a very important part of the new town. It helped people send and receive letters and packages. Rufus E. Slaughter became the first postmaster of Soash on December 12, 1909. A postmaster is the person in charge of a post office.
Why Soash Didn't Last
Soash faced many problems that made it hard for the town to grow. The land around Soash was not good for farming. This was because it was located near a caprock. A caprock is a hard layer of rock that makes it difficult for plants to grow deep roots.
The town also suffered from very bad weather. There was a severe drought from 1909 to 1912. A drought is a long period with very little rain. This made farming even harder.
The Town's Decline
Even with these problems, Soash had about fifty people living there by 1915. However, the post office closed on June 30, 1916. It opened again briefly in April 1917, but then closed for good on October 31, 1917.
Another drought hit the area in 1918 and 1919. This was too much for the people living in Soash. Most of the remaining residents decided to move away. Many of them went to a town called Lamesa, Texas, which was nearby. By around 1919, Soash had become a ghost town.
