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History in
a Pecan Shell
You want history? Groesbeck's got history. Originally the settlement
of Springfield (five miles north
of town on Hwy 14) was the county seat. It had to be - for years it
was the only town in the county. It died shortly after the Houston
and Texas Central railroad came through and bypassed the town in favor
of Groesbeck. To add insult to injury, Groesbeck was named after a
director of the railroad.
Today a cemetery alongside the road to Fort Parker State Park is all
that remains of Springfield.
The Parker Family Saga
If you're not familiar with the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, then
you haven't been in Texas long. Kidnapped
at nine by Comanches at a Fort
Parker, she gave birth to the "last of the great Comanche Chiefs"
Quanah Parker.
Cynthia was reunited with her original people some 24 years later.
She and her young daughter died shortly thereafter. Quanah
grew up to go wolf hunting with Teddy Roosevelt and Burk Burnett up
on the Red River. He built a fine two-story house complete with veranda
up in Oklahoma.
Quanah nearly died
- not in combat - but by blowing out the gas light in a white-man's
hotel. His companion did die, but the unconscious Quanah
was revived. |
Groesbeck,
Texas Landmarks
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Buildings along
Ellis Street (Texas 14) at Navasota St. intersection.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
Looking west
down Navasota St. The Rand Building is on the right.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
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Groesbeck's Rand Building
TE Photo |
We called the
library in Groesbeck since it looked like the handsome, three-story
Rand Building may have once been a hotel and would qualify
for our Rooms
with a Past series. Sadly this wasn't the case.
We were directed to Tom Hawkins who is president of the chamber and
also editor of the Groesbeck Journal (www.groesbeckjournal.com). The
chamber has a desk in the Journal office at 115 N. Ellis (State Hwy
14).
Mr. Hawkins is a Groesbeck native and told us that no, the Rand Building
wasn't a hotel, but the newspaper office had been. When we asked the
name he said it was one of those hotels that didn't officially have
a name, but just sort of rented out rooms. It had also been the Groesbeck
Opera House at one time. Groesbeck had had at least two other hotels.
These were The Cynthia Ann Hotel (named after Quanah Parker's Mother)
and The Thompson Hotel, but both have been razed.
The formidable Limestone
County Courthouse was built in 1924 of brick, concrete, marble
and tile (you were expecting limestone?) The impressive courthouse
is unusual in that there are practically no buildings facing it. Groesbeck
has no "Courthouse Square" per se. more
The Limestone County Historical Museum -
210 W. Navasota Street
Groesbeck is fortunate to have not one, but two bookstores in town.
There is Bill Bond's Books 729-5511 and Richard Morrison 729-8640.
Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce:
254-729-3894
In the Groesbeck Journal Office 115 N. Ellis (Texas Hwy 14)
Website: www.groesbecktexas.org
Book Hotel Here › Groesbeck
Hotels |
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Old
Bridge over the Navasota River
TE Photo |
Groesbeck,
Texas Area Attractions
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Old
Fort Parker
4 miles N of Groesbeck via Hwy 14 on Park Road 35.
254/729-5253 |
Fort Parker
State Park
5 miles N of Groesbeck via Hwy 14, on Park Road 28
194 Park Road 28 Mexia TX 76667 254/562-5751
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us |
Confederate
Reunion Grounds State Historic Site
194 Park Road 28 Mexia TX 76667
254/562-5751
6 miles south of Mexia on Hwy 14,
another 2.5 miles west on FM 2705. |
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1924
A Storefront Detail in Groesbeck
TE Photo |
Groesbeck Chronicles
From Titanic
Texans by Mike Cox
"Most of the Titanic victims who ended up in Halifax's cemeteries
have never been identified. Though DNA testing has led to some modern
identifications of some of those buried in Nova Scotia, no one knows
whether Samuel Beard Risien and his wife Emma lie among them. They
may have been buried at sea or their bodies never found.
Though not Texans by birth, they had been living at Groesbeck in Limestone
County when they left on one of numerous trips they had taken from
the Lone Star State to Risien's native England as well as to South
Africa. Before heading back to Texas, Risien sent his son a postcard:
"About the time you get this we will be leaving for N. York. We expect
to sail on the new ship 'Titanic' largest in the world (45,000 tons)...we
shall sail...on April 10th that is if they can get coal enough to
go on. It [coal] is getting very scarce and dear. Both well, Papa."...
Read full article
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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