Category Archives: North Texas History

A Distinctly Unique Courthouse Dedication

County courthouse dedications were times of great celebration throughout the state of Texas. Everyone in the county turned out for the occasion that usually included lengthy speeches by prominent speakers, lots of food and reminisces, and local entertainment. They lasted … Continue reading

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Water Elevators

  Fires were the cause of so much damage and destruction of towns and cities throughout history.  The other night I watched a PBS special on Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament in London.  What we know today as … Continue reading

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Hunt County

I recently made an interesting discovery that supported a couple of ideas I have held for sometime now. First, Hunt County is a fairly good-sized area. But most importantly, it is full of history. There are more than a few … Continue reading

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Floating Down the Sabine

From early colonial times, land along navigable waterways was considered extremely valuable. This riparian farmland was usually fertile, well watered and with the adjacent river goods could be taken to market much cheaper than overland. With the opening of the … Continue reading

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Horse Racing

A century ago, Greenville residents were gearing up for the North Texas Fair that would open in a few days at the Fairgrounds. Today the site is the home of the YMCA and the old Shirey’s plant at the corner … Continue reading

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A Buttermilk Sky

The word buttermilk reminds me of two very different things. The first, of course, is the dairy product. I often use buttermilk when I bake but the thought of drinking it as a beverage is repulsive, although I have known … Continue reading

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What Happened to Andrew Thomas Sampley?

In late October 1861 a company of men from Stevenson, Jackson County, Alabama enlisted in the 42nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, C. S. A. They made their way to Camp Cheatham, just north of Nashville, Tennessee. There on October 31, 1861 … Continue reading

Posted in Genealogy, Historical tidbits, North Texas History | 4 Comments

Confederate Veterans Reunion

One hundred years old Greenville was inundated with thousands of older gentlemen, the vast majority of whom were Confederate veterans of the Civil War. For the second year in a row, the city hosted the Texas Confederate Veteran Reunion. Most … Continue reading

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Confusion along the Red River

In October 1963, Ambassador Fletcher Warren wrote a series of articles for the Wolfe City Sun entitled “A History of Northern Hunt County.” In it he described the land around the Wolfe City area and much of the rest of … Continue reading

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How Did Cooper Get Its Name?

Delta County has a unique landscape and history. Surrounded on two sides by the North Sulphur River and the Middle Sulphur River, the county was not created until 1870, much later than adjacent counties. It was carved out of land … Continue reading

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