among the most dangerous sources of radiation because
Ray School Community after a one-teacher school erect-
they can penetrate skin and kill or damage the cells
ed in 1885, was located 14 miles north of Weatherford
inside. These rays can be hideous if released in a nuclear
and actually had — and this was and is coveted stature
explosion, but lifesaving when turned on cancerous cells. — a road sign signifying its existence. The name changed
Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet and
to Toto in 1912 when the school doubled its staff and
carries the numerical value of three. Maybe that’s why
became a two-teacher outfit. Located in what today is
they named a 19th-century Parker County community
the Zion Hill and Central Road area, Toto served farm-
,Gamma — there were only three people. Mighty easy
ers in several patches of community — Ervin, Roberts,
work for census takers, Gamma.
Bugscuffle and Central among them. (Do bugs get into
Located a few miles northeast of Millsap, Gamma’s
scuffles?)
post office opened Nov. 1, 1858 with one Eli Hutchins
Toto Post Office existed 1894-1904, and a cotton gin
serving as postmaster. James W. Price took over as top
ginned the local fluff between 1903 and 1917. The last
mailman on Sept. 29, 1860 and held the post until the
store closed in 1930, the school closed in ’43, and Toto
office closed Jan. 8, 1861. People drifted in and out of the blew away.
area but Gamma slowly disappeared, though it remained
on censuses for several years. We know Gamma is no
ROSE BUD — According to the Parker County
more because the Texas Almanac says it “no longer
Historical Commission, “A 1911 Weatherford Democrat
exists,” though it is up for adoption.
article reported from Rose Bud that things were doing
well, that crops were being planted and the youngsters
LOTTA — Lotta is another area community that
were having a good time.” They offered no clue concern-
popped up somewhere in Parker County, appearing on
ing the community’s location. It is unlikely the town
the Lone Star stage between the mid-1870s and mid-
was named after a brand of sled. Not much use for sleds
1880s. Not a lotta people in Lotta, either, I’d wager.
around these parts.
Robert T. Smoot served as the vanished town’s postmas-
ter.
Sources: •Handbook of Texas Online
TOTO —
(“I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog
too!” — Wicked Witch of the West) Toto, first called the
•parkerchc.org findagrave.com ; “Performance of a Deadly Vintage,” A River Bend
Vineyard Mystery, by Joni Folger, e-book Texas Almanac.
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