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The Stafford
Opera House was built in 1886 and his future looked pretty darn
good. John and Bob Stafford were shot dead in 1890 by Columbus Deputies
who confronted them in front of a saloon.
This opened the lid on a whole bunch of smoldering feuds which,
when fully in flame, continued well into the 20th Century. They
even resulted in Columbus being unincorporated from 1907 to 1927.
Texas' Second
Largest Live Oak Tree AKA
The Necker Estate Oak
1218 Walnut Street.
Compare it to the Goose
Island Oak, 10 miles North of Rockport
in the Goose Island State Park.
Grave of
Gunfighter Dallas Stroudenmire
3 miles East in Alleyton
- Easy to find - it's the only newly fenced grave in the cemetery's
large open field.
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Hotels
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The
1886 Stafford Bank Building / Opera House in Columbus
Photo Courtesy Colorado County Visitors Bureau |
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| Columbus has
the distinction of being "the oldest surveyed and platted Anglo-American
town in Texas." |
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A view
from the courthouse showing the water tower and the Stafford Bank
Building (Opera House) left. Photo c.1906
Courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library, Columbus, Texas
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History in a Pecan Shell
Columbus'
history is so rich, it's difficult to mention even the highlights
in the space available. We suggest that the reader consult one of
the histories available at the K. Nesbitt Memorial Library (529
Washington Street). We will attempt to include some of the more interesting
facts, although each could be (and many have been) written about in
length.
The Early Years:
Columbus (as Beason's Ferry) played an important part in the
Texas Revolution and the few houses that comprised the town were burned
by Houston in his scorched-earth tactics during the Runaway
Scrape. He spent six days on the east side of the river drilling
his troops before continuing on to San
Jacinto. The last Indian raid in Columbus took place in 1838 when
two citizens were killed.
Stagelines connected Columbus to San
Antonio (a 48 hour adventure) and steamships appeared as early
as 1838. The river was navigable from just above Matagorda
and in later years (1871) a steamboat once went as far as Dripping
Springs.
Just prior to the Civil War, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado
Railroad came just short of Columbus to Alleyton.
This made Alleyton
the most important town on the Confederacy's "Cotton Road" to Matamoros,
Mexico. The railroad's post-war plan was to bypass Columbus and
Columbians raised money to build a three-mile "tap line" to Alleyton.
The four Stafford Brothers came from Georgia just before the
Civil War.
R.E. "Bob" Stafford drove cattle to Kansas in 1867 and started
making his sizable fortune. He opened his bank in 1882 and he also
owned the Columbus Meat and Ice Company on the river. |
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400,000
nicely arranged bricks make up the 32-inch walls of this beautiful
tower (c. 1883)
The tower stored water piped from the Colorado River.
The photo left is the earliest photograph of the tower.
Courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library |
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| Columbus shares
its name with 22 other municipalities (of varying size) around the
country. They get together every two years and compare notes on what
burdens and blessings the name brings. They also vote for a "Miss
Columbus, U.S.A." The year 2000 winner was from Texas' Columbus. |
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Grain elevators in Columbus
Photo by John Troesser, 2-2003 |
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Columbus
Texas Forum
I don't know where
Columbus City Cemetery is.....never cared. But this great piece on
Live
Oaks and Dead Folks is fantastic! I will be planning a trip next
year just for this fun time. I love the writing style and the information
makes it come alive (so to speak). Please keep up the good work! I
have found you and plan to read and read and read...then maybe mosey
on down the road a piece. - Sandy Knebel, Garland.... by way of
Waxahachie, December 17, 2005
Bibliography: Colorado County Chronicles: From the beginning to 1923
Volumes I & II Compiled by the Colorado County Historical Commission
© John Troesser
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