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| | Pine
Street
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
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History
in a Pecan Shell
Buffalo
Gap had been the county seat when Taylor County was organized in 1878. Business
men somehow convinced the Texas & Pacific railroad that their land was flatter,
or otherwise more suitable for a laying tracks and Buffalo
Gap was left where it was. One of these same business men suggested they name
it after Abilene, Kansas. And so it was.
Abilene was then promoted as
the "Future Great City of West Texas." Lots
were sold in 1881 and on January 2, 1883 it became the county seat. |
| | Cotton
in Abilene
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
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| | Spillway,
Lytle Lake, Abilene
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
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Abilene
Landmarks include: |
Windsor
Hotel - 174 Cypress, Abilene
The original Windsor Hotel was built in 1890
and is the oldest commercial building in Abilene. It featured arched openings
on the second and third floors and a 16-foot high balcony with ornate iron decoration.
The 1997 renovation returned the facade to its original hotel look, now called
the Cypress Building. - Steve Johnson, May 2007 |
Boyd
Building - 1292 N. 1st, Abilene
Built in 1925, the Boyd Building is one
of Abilene's premier examples of an early service station. The original station
was Gulf Refinery Company, No. 3, and was later taken over by the C. H. Boyd and
Sons Tire Co. - Steve Johnson, May 2007 |
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The Grace Museum - 102 Cypress Street. The former Hotel Grace, later
the Drake Hotel, was built in 1909.A recent 4.8 million dollar restoration
has given Abilene one of the finest restored hotels in the entire state. |
The
Wooten Hotel
Now Abilene Towers (Right)
302 Cypress
Street.
Built in 1930 and paid for in cash by grocery magnate H.O. Wooten,
whose home is also on the historic landmarks tour. |
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The Paramount
Theater - 352 Cypress Street. Also built in 1930, it was no coincidence, but
was part of a plan by H.O. who had the captive audience in his hotel.
Old
Taylor County Courthouse (1914) - 300 Oak Street. This was the County's
third courthouse. The first was in Buffalo
Gap when it was the county seat. The second, which strongly resembled the
Albany Courthouse was razed to make room for this one.
Abilene
Hotels > Book
Your Hotel Here & Save |
| | Majestic
Theater
1986 photo courtesy Billy Smith | |
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Abilene
Nearby Destinations |
Buffalo
Gap - The former county seat is fourteen miles south of town on Hwy 89.
Buffalo actually migrated through this gap in the Tonkawa mountains. Famed
for being a scenic oasis in West Texas, Buffalo Gap also has the Buffalo Gap
Historic Village. The village consists of 20 restored buildings including
the old Taylor County Courthouse and Jail. 325-572-3365Fort
Phantom Hill
- 14 Miles N of AbileneAbilene
State Park and Lake Abilene :
Off Hwy 89 South of Buffalo Gap
150
Park Road 32
Tuscola TX 79562
325/572-3204
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/abilene/abilene.htm
Lake Clyde
- 5 miles south of Clyde.
25 miles east of Abilene. On the headwaters of the Pecan Bayou.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/clyde/lake_id.htm
Lake Leon
- On the Leon River in Eastland County, 68 miles east of Abilene
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/leon/lake_id.htmHwy
351 Northeast 35 miles to Albany
Hwy
84 South 52 miles to Coleman
Abilene
Hotels > Book
Your Hotel Here & Save |
| |
Old Coca Cola sign
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson |
Abilene
Tourist InformationThe
Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau -
Located in the beautifully restored
T & P Depot.
A downtown walking guide is available and a booklet of historical
landmarks is for sale.
1101 North First Street. 1-800-727-7704
website:
www.abilene.com/visitors
Abilene Hotels
> Book
Your Hotel Here & Save |
| | Abilene
street scene - North Third Street looking West |
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Underpass and Pine Street looking north
Old Postcards circa 1944 |
Abilene Texas
ForumTacoma
Calling Abilene
Dear Texas Escapes, I was wondering if anyone remembers
the drug store that used to operate as Cooks Drugs in Abilene. It was located,
I believe, on South 7th close to the intersection with Willis Street. I would
like to know if it still exists although I am sure it's long gone. I spent many
summers in Abilene at my grandparents on the corner of South 6th and Willis. This
was back in the 1960's. Back then we use to go to Cooks to their soda fountain
and had "real" Cherry Cokes. I would love to see a picture of the existing structure
and other structures close by to the Ole Cooks drug store. - Carl Pederson,
Tacoma, Washington, September 04, 2006 | |
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