Near Perryton in Ochiltree County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Notla Community

Photographed by Allen Lowrey, June 9, 2024

1. Notla Community Marker

Inscription. At the turn of the 20th century, the State of Texas promoted sale of public school lands to encourage settlement of rural areas. By 1901, a community developed in southeastern Ochiltree County between Ochiltree, then the county seat, and Glazier, the nearest railroad point. R. E. Wamble (1876-1957) and his wife, Emma Jane (Taylor) (1861-1949), were among the first to purchase land and settle here. The community was originally called Half-Way for its location on the Ochiltree-Glazier road. Earlier cattle ranch and wagon freighter trails comprised the local transportation network. William F. Taylor (1860-1947) and his wife, Helen (Short) (1869-1956), came in 1906, and the following year donated one acre to Ochiltree County for the community's Ridge School. Other early settlers included the Gerhart, Good, Norris and Westerfield families. The D-C-D highway, developed in the 1910s from Dallas to Canadian to Denver, incorporated the half-way section of the Ochiltree-Glazier road. This section of road later became FM281.

Frank L. Hamilton (1866-1960) and his wife, Mary Lucy (1872-1966), moved onto section 209 in 1919. The Hamiltons opened a general store with two gas pumps, as the automobile was quickly replacing the horse and buggy. On Dec. 21, 1920, they applied for a post office named Alton, but as that name was already in use, Notla (Alton spelled backwards) became the new name for the community. Mary was postmaster for 22 years. Notla school, built in 1924 on the south side of the D-C-D highway, replaced Ridge School as the center of the community. Over the years, many social and group events, including nondenominational Sunday school and church services, were held in the school. The post office closed in 1944 and the school, which merged with Perryton in

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1939, burned in 1966. Today, residents and descendants recall the spirit of many generations.

Erected 2020 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 22855.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is December 21, 1920.

Location. 36° 6.004′ N, 100° 36.629′ W. Marker is near Perryton, Texas, in Ochiltree County. It is on Farm to Market Road 281 2.6 miles west of U.S. 83, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Perryton TX 79070, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Texas Panhandle.

It is also on the American Great Plains

and specifically on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies:

Photographed by Allen Lowrey, June 9, 2024

2. Notla Community Marker

The Buried City (approx. 9½ miles away); Site of the Trading Post (approx. 10.7 miles away); Ochiltree Cemetery (approx. 16.7 miles away); Ochiltree Townsite (approx. 16.8 miles away).

Photographed by Allen Lowrey, June 9, 2024

3. Notla Community Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2024, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. This page has been viewed 616 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 9, 2024, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.