Gorham is a very unique community where peace and tranquility lies within this city!

A Little History
Gorham once flourished as a farming community.  Residents recall their being 3 or 4 grain elevators located along the railroad in the area around where United AG Service is now located. There was also a stockyard to transport cattle to market.

The discovery of oil in the area, early in the 1920's and the war years all had an effect on Gorham's growth and direction. The Oswald #1, located 9 miles north of Gorham, was the first oil well in Russell County. In 1944, Gorham had 3 grain elevators, 4 filling stations, a pool hall, a barber shop, a drug store, a medical doctor, a hotel, and coffee shop, a post office, a lumber yard, 2 oil field production companies, both Catholic and Community Churches, a Catholic and a public grade school, and a rural high school. Anderson Drug Store was a local hang out for teenagers and it was also a soda fountain. The drug store was located in part of the area now occupied by the Gorham State Bank.  

 

After the High School was closed the Elementary School was moved to the High School building for classes beginning in the fall of 1990. Eventually the Elementary School was also closed by the district and the building was closed in the spring of 1997.