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Waxahachie
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Waxahachie:
Where Cotton Reigned King
by Kelly McMichael
Stott
Arcadia
Publishing's
The Making of America Series.
December 2002
Vintage photographs courtesy of The Ellis County Historical Museum
A Review by John Troesser
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Here's
another Arcadia title in the Making of America Series - and another
deserving city. Waxahachie is close enough
for Fort Worthians and Dallasites to visit (or commute from), yet
it has retained the charm and elegance of the quintessential Texas
town - a fact proven by it's popularity as a 30's era movie backdrop
(Places in the Heart, Bonnie and Clyde to mention just two).
If the Arcadia series is unfamiliar to you, this volume would be an
excellent introduction. Besides the generous number of images, the
text is candid and revealing. The author reveals that the crime (misdemeanor)
of loading cotton bales with rocks to win the coveted honor of heaviest
bale was known and practiced in Waxahachie (although it certainly
wasn't invented there).
She also blows the cover off of one of Texas' favorite most frequently
told legends - the Waxahachie
County Courthouse "stonecutter's revenge" - a poignant tale of
love and rejection.
The recently restored
courthouse is Texas' favorite, although it certainly had its critics
at the time of construction. The courthouse is featured in several
photos along with the neighboring Rogers Hotel, one of, if not the
oldest business in town. Some say the Rogers Hotel has more stories
than the library - which happens to be a building with its own interesting
story. There's also the Ellis County Museum, several beautiful residences,
the Interurban and a wide cross-section of the people who called Waxahachie
their home.
The Interurban connected Waxahachie to
Waco
and Dallas and there
are photos, a history and even a route map of service. Also included
are the town's mule-powered streetcars, the Chautauqua (building still
standing and in use), the rail yard and photos of various businesses,
delivery vehicles, people, public servants, pedestrians and picnickers.
It's a trip to Waxahachie without leaving home. If you can't make
the drive - it's the certainly next best thing and if it's not included
in the book - it's not worth knowing.
Other Texas Titles published by Arcadia include: Waco, Del Rio,
Fort Clark and Brackettville (one volume), Val Verde County, Big Spring
and Howard County, Weslaco
and Hidalgo County (separate titles).
©
John Troesser
May 2003
Waxahachie
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