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History
in a Pecan Shell
Upshur is one
of the few counties in Texas to have both County
and Seat named after men who were blown-up in the test firing of a cannon. Thomas
W. Gilmer was an unfortunate sailor, and Abel P. Upshur was the U.S. Secretary
of State that fatal day in February, 1844. The " Peacemaker," a state-of-the-art
naval gun had already been fired once with satisfactory results. President Tyler
was delayed a few seconds and narrowly escaped the blast that killed 6 and injured
12. It was under John Tyler's administration (and with his signature) that Texas
joined the Union.
Gilmer had had bad times in the 20s when other parts
of Texas had it good. It was only fair that when
the Great Depression was being felt elsewhere, oil was discovered near Gilmer
in 1931. The boom paid for the new Courthouse
in 1937. A quarantine that had been placed on sweet potatoes after an infestation
of weevils was lifted in 1935 and the thankful people of Gilmore have been celebrating
it ever since with their Yamboree.
After WWII,
with the new availability of cars, Gilmer's workforce was able to drive to jobs
in Longview, Tyler
and Marshall. This brought in cash at first,
but then workers started seeing things to spend their money on in Longview,
Tyler and
Marshall.
Gilmer
Historical Marker TextFounded
1846. Named for Thomas W. Gilmer, U. S. Secretary of the Navy and ardent champion
of annexation for Texas. Supply, training, production and educational center during
the Civil War. Farming, lumbering and oil hub. Home of famous Annual Yamboree,
Sweet Potato Festival. |
| | Gilmer
town square in the 1930s
Photos Courtesy City of Gilmer |
Gilmer,
Texas by
Archie P. McDonald
"... Upshur County, authorized by the legislature
in 1846, and Gilmer, were named in memory of United States Secretary of War Able
Upshur and Thomas W. Gilmer, who lost their lives in an explosion aboard the USS
Princeton in 1844...." more |
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Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/%7Etxpstcrd/ |
Gilmer
Landmarks / Attractions Upshur
Museum: Located in the 1925 Post Office Building on the N. E. corner
of the square. Hours: Thursday to Saturday 10:00 until 5:00.The
Flight of the Phoenix Museum: Located at the Gilmer Municipal Airport. Website:
www.flightofthephoenix.org.Oglesby's
Tire and Rock Museum: 216 S. Wood Street (Hwy 271) South Upshur
County Library: Just west of the Courthouse Square, the Upshur County Library
has an excellent genealogy department as well as a Civil War reference section.
Hours are Monday to Friday 8 to 6, Saturday 9 to 1.Yamboree
Park on Hwy 271 has RV camping facilities. Call the chamber for information.Drive
the area roads to see spring wildflowers and rich fall colors.The
Roads of Upshur County Gilmer
Area Hotels - Longview
Hotels | Tyler
Hotels |
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YamboreeThe
Yamboree is perhaps the oldest food festival in the state. Upshurers were
always fond of the sweet potato, but when a weevil caused the harvest to be quarantined
in the late 20s, they realized its economic importance and have celebrated it
ever since. Third Thur., Fri., and Sat. each October. website: www.yamboree.com
Year 2000 Yamboree included a renaming of the Gilmer
Municipal Airport to honor Gilmer native Robert "Bobby" Stephens. Colonel
Stephens was a P-47 Thunderbolt Pilot in World
War II. After the war he became an Air Force test pilot and was among the
first to fly many new (and sometimes secret) aircraft. He also held the world's
record for speed. Col. Stephens always enjoyed coming home to Gilmer, especially
for Yamboree, and so it is fitting that the airport be named in his honor during
this year's celebration.
Yamboree - "The oldest civic festivals
in Texas"
From Gilmer,
Texas by Archie P. McDonald
"Upshur County farmers became major producers
of sweet potatoes early in the twentieth century, and in 1935 the county's citizens
began celebrating their area's major crop with an annual Yamboree festival. The
Yamboree quickly became the major civic promotion for Gilmer and remains one of
the oldest civic festivals in Texas."
Gilmer Area Hotels:
Longview
Hotels | Tyler
Hotels
Related
Topic: Texas Food |
Gilmer Area Recreations:
Lake o'the
Pines: 17 miles North on Hwy 155. This 18,700 acre lake, set among rolling,
timbered land is regarded as one of the nicest lakes in East Texas. website: www.lakeothepines.com
Lake Gladewater:
14 miles South on Hwy 271
Gilmer
Tourist Information
- The
Upshur County Chamber of Commerce - 903-843-2413.
Upshur County website:
www.upshurcounty.com
- Gilmer City website: www.gilmer-tx.com
Our thanks
to Diana Oglesby, Webmaster for both Gilmer and Upshur County for providing us
with photos and updating information for the Gilmer town page. |
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