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The
most noticeable landmark in Paris
Photo courtesy Lori
Martin, 2005 |
"The
Second Biggest Paris in the World" is the current slogan for this County Seat.
We say current, because you never can tell about France (or Arkansas either).
The Paris Fire of 1916
Paris
also holds third place in a category no town wants to be in. After The Chicago
Fire and The San Francisco Earthquake Fire, comes The
Paris Fire of 1916. This devastating fire resulted in the entire downtown
having to be rebuilt, including the courthouse. The beautiful Culbertson Fountain
in the Plaza was given to commemorate the rebirth of Paris.
(See America's
Third Largest Fire by Mike Cox
John Cross had the day off that afternoon,
March 21, 1916... About a mile from downtown Paris, a thriving North Texas city
of 12,000-plus, Cross heard the Central Station fire bell... more) |
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Paris,
Texas AttractionsThe
architecture of Paris is a direct result of the fire. Sturdy, elegant buildings
with style replaced the wooden and stone structures that burned. Worthy of note
are the R.F. Scott Building on the NE Corner of the Square and the Plaza Theater
as well as several former Banks.
Paris is also the official Crepe Myrtle
Capital of Texas. A visit in July or August is unforgetable and raises the question:
why don't other towns and cities use this cost effective and long-lasting beautification
plan? Crepe Myrtles are nearly pest-free, available in an array of colors and
inexpensive. |
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Lamar
County Courthouse
The
Gibraltar Hotel
"The Gibraltar Hotel was once Paris’ shining
glory...." - Robin Jett more
The
Wise House
"One of Paris’ most beautiful buildings is the 1889 Wise
House. Three stories tall, built with sturdy red brick, and decorated with ornate
Queen Anne style scrollwork, it once served as the home of W.B. Wise and his family.
Though not even a mile from downtown, the house sat surrounded by countryside.
Wise built a lake with a picnic island behind the house, which he allowed most
Parisians to use. Today, the lake has become the Wise baseball field. Because
Wise had the house built west of the fancy Cherry Street district, it escaped
the 1916 fire undamaged, and even the old carriage houses still stand." -
© Robin Jett
The
Santa Fe-Frisco-Kiamichi Depot (AKA Bonham St. Station) is being restored,
but it is in use as the arrival point for the Hugo Heritage Railroad excursion
train which arrives from Hugo every third Saturday. Paris is one of three destinations
offered by the railroad, the others being Antlers and Ft. Towson,
Oklahoma. Their schedule is available at their website: www.hugoheritagerr.ohgolly.com.
Sam
Bell Maxey House
Evergreen
Cemetery and "Jesus in Cowboy Boots" |
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The
Culbertson Fountain
Photo courtesy Lori
Martin, 2005 |
The
Culbertson Fountain:
You needn't look too hard for this. In the
square. Mr.Culbertson,
one of Paris' wealthier citizens and philanthropists, has a notable mausoleum
in Evergreen Cemetery.
His house once stood where the Paris Library is now (facing Bywaters Park). It
was dynamited in hopes of containing the spreading fire. Mr. Culbertson built
elsewhere and gave the city the Library as well as the lot.
The
First Presbyterian Church
"The oldest
church in Paris derives from one of the earliest Protestant congregations in Texas
– the First Presbyterian Church at 410 W. Kaufman. While the structure that stands
today dates from 1892, the land was used as early as 1861, and is said to have
come from the Presbyterian congregation in Clarksville, which had its start in
the 1830s." - © Robin JettParis
Hotels |
The
First Presbyterian Church
Photos courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2006 |
First
Methodist Church in Paris
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2006 |
The
restored Santa Fe-Frisco-Kiamichi Depot
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2004 |
| | R.F.
Scott Building in Paris
TE Photo, 6-2000 | |
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Paris
Chronicles America's
Third Largest Fire by Mike Cox
John Cross had the day off that afternoon,
March 21, 1916... About a mile from downtown Paris, a thriving North Texas city
of 12,000-plus, Cross heard the Central Station fire bell... William
McDonald - An Orphan’s Gift by Bob Bowman
"Standing
atop Mount Locke in the Big Bend area, McDonald Observatory is far removed from
East Texas, but without the interest and generosity of an orphaned Confederate
soldier...Woman's
Christian Temperance Union
by Archie P. McDonald
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was misnamed:
“temperance” means “moderation...avoiding extremes.” What the WCTU really wanted
was total abstinence from all alcohol beverages... The first chapter of the WCTU,
and then a state organization, were established in Paris in 1882...
PeopleCountry
Legend Gene Watson by Bob Bowman
Someone once asked country singing
legend Ray Price to name his favorite singers. Price paused a minute and finally
said, “I have too many to name, but Gene Watson would be right at the top.” But
Watson--who was born in Palestine and raised in Paris--is such a low-keyed individual
that he considers singing “just something I like to do,” like working on cars
in his shop....
The Judgement of Paris
Texas Escapes wants
to thank Judge Moree for his time and directions. We arrived after the Chamber
had closed, but were fortunate to be photographing the Courthouse when Mr. Moree
emerged (well after 5 pm). The Judge told us that as a boy, his family had unearthed
a trove of crockery and bottles in their front yard while transplanting a rose
bush. He owns a pocketknife engraved from a Paris Hardware Store that burned in
the fire. Judge Moree, who has been known to hunt Turkey in Coleman County, has
said he wouldn't consider living anywhere else but Paris. That's his final decision.
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Paris
Tourist Information The
Paris Visitor's and Convention Council has an 88 page Visitors Guide/Membership
Directory that is a lot nicer than some books you pay for. A map is right in the
middle on pages 44 & 45. Included in the booklet are Lamar County Cities of Blossom,
Deport, Reno and Roxton.
They also have a nice county/city
map that is not in a booklet.
Contact them at 1651 Clarksville
Street, or call them at 903-784-2501 or 800-PARISTX.
Paris is getting
a lot of attention lately, being voted "Best Public Plaza" by Texas Monthly and
"Best Pit Stop" by a Cross-country Auto Race.
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
Paris
Hotels |
Paris'
newest watertower
2004 photo courtesy of Herb Campbell, Paris |
Paris'
first water tower
1923 photo courtesy of Herb Campbell, Paris |
Paris Texas
ForumI'm
from Paris, Texas. Well I was born there, but my formative years were spent on
the outskirts of Paris in Taylor
Town. Down the street was Glory,
Texas. My family had an old general store in Taylor Town called Gordon Mart
(now closed)...now all that is left is a cemetery where a few of my relatives
are buried.
Glory is less than a mile from the Taylor Town area and
I think all that is left there are houses and a church my grandfather attends.
These two towns were an important part in my family heritage, and to
have them added to your site would mean the world to me. I don't want them to
be lost forever. Thank you. - Heather Gordon, December 29, 2004 |
1907
Lamar County Postal map showing Paris and Arthur
City
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us. | |
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