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History
in a Pecan Shell
Coldwater was the former county seat of Sherman
County although the town doesn't even appear on the Texas Department of Transportation's
detailed county maps. Not even a cemetery.
When the county was organized
in 1889 Coldwater, named after the creek of the same name, became the county seat.
In 1890 the William B. Slaughter ranch (aka The Coldwater Cattle Company) was
the only post office in Sherman County.
The following year a courthouse,
jail, store and hotel were built.
The
Sherman County Banner, started publishing in 1893 and a windmill and well-drilling
company did business in Coldwater - for a time. When the railroad bypassed the
town, Stratford became
(1901) and has remained the county seat.
By 1904 the only business left
was the store / post office which closed in 1907. The stone courthouse is no longer
standing. |
1889
Sherman County Courthouse in Coldwater
Photo courtesy Ann Wells |
This photo, taken in 1904,
shows the Sherman County courthouse in the first county seat of Coldwater. Completed
in August of 1890, it was built of rock and was 22' x 33'. The builder, J.M. Turner,
is at the far right in this picture. The courthouse was used by the Baptist Church
after the county seat was moved to Stratford
in1901. - Terry
Jeanson , March 2008
See Sherman
County Courthouse - Stratford,
Texas |
Coldwater
on 1907 Sherman County postal map
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
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A Hotel in Coldwater, circa 1891
Photo
courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
The hotel
boasted about:
"Bath upstairs and down
Hot and cold running water
in all bedrooms
Electric lights
Thoroughly modern
"Nothing but the
best for each and every guest." |
Coldwater,
Texas ForumSubject:
Coldwater City - Sherman County - Texas
I enjoyed your article on Coldwater
the former county seat of Sherman County, Texas. However I do need to make one
correction. The original Court House was built of stone, not brick and it is not
still standing. I'm not sure how long it did stand. I have a picture of the original
court house, it is in our Sherman County Depot Museum. Thanks - Ann Wells,
Depot Museum Board member, December 05, 2007 | |
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