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Pine
Street
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
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History
in a Pecan Shell
Buffalo Gap
had been the county seat when Taylor County was organized in 1878.
Business men somehow convinced the Texas & Pacific railroad that their
land was flatter, or otherwise more suitable for a laying tracks and
Buffalo Gap was
left where it was. One of these same business men suggested they name
it after Abilene, Kansas. And so it was.
Abilene was then promoted as the "Future Great City of West Texas."
Lots were sold in 1881 and on January 2, 1883 it became the county
seat. |
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Cotton
in Abilene
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
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Spillway,
Lytle Lake, Abilene
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
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Abilene
Landmarks include:
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Windsor Hotel
- 174 Cypress, Abilene
The original Windsor Hotel was built in 1890 and is the oldest commercial
building in Abilene. It featured arched openings on the second and
third floors and a 16-foot high balcony with ornate iron decoration.
The 1997 renovation returned the facade to its original hotel look,
now called the Cypress Building. - Steve Johnson, May 2007 |
Boyd Building
- 1292 N. 1st, Abilene
Built in 1925, the Boyd Building is one of Abilene's premier examples
of an early service station. The original station was Gulf Refinery
Company, No. 3, and was later taken over by the C. H. Boyd and Sons
Tire Co. - Steve Johnson, May 2007 |
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The Grace
Museum - 102 Cypress Street. The former Hotel Grace,
later the Drake Hotel, was built in 1909.A recent 4.8 million
dollar restoration has given Abilene one of the finest restored
hotels in the entire state.
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The Wooten
Hotel
Now Abilene Towers (Right)
302 Cypress Street.
Built in 1930 and paid for in cash by grocery magnate H.O. Wooten,
whose home is also on the historic landmarks tour.
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The Paramount
Theater - 352 Cypress Street. Also built in 1930, it was no
coincidence, but was part of a plan by H.O. who had the captive
audience in his hotel.
Old
Taylor County Courthouse (1914) - 300 Oak Street. This was
the County's third courthouse. The first was in Buffalo
Gap when it was the county seat. The second, which strongly
resembled the Albany Courthouse was razed to make room for this
one.
Abilene
Hotels > Book
Your Hotel Here & Save |
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Majestic
Theater
1986 photo courtesy Billy Smith |
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Abilene
Nearby Destinations
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Buffalo
Gap - The former county seat is fourteen miles south of
town on Hwy 89. Buffalo actually migrated through this gap in the
Tonkawa mountains. Famed for being a scenic oasis in West
Texas, Buffalo Gap also has the Buffalo Gap Historic Village.
The village consists of 20 restored buildings including the old
Taylor County Courthouse and Jail. 325-572-3365
Fort
Phantom Hill
- 14 Miles N of Abilene
Abilene
State Park and Lake Abilene :
Off Hwy 89 South of Buffalo Gap
150 Park Road 32
Tuscola TX 79562
325/572-3204
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/abilene/abilene.htm
Lake Clyde
- 5 miles south of Clyde.
25 miles east of Abilene. On the headwaters of the Pecan Bayou.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/clyde/lake_id.htm
Lake Leon
- On the Leon River in Eastland County, 68 miles east of Abilene
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/leon/lake_id.htm
Hwy 351 Northeast
35 miles to Albany
Hwy 84 South
52 miles to Coleman
Abilene
Hotels >
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
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Old Coca Cola sign
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson |
Abilene
Tourist Information
The Abilene
Convention and Visitor's Bureau -
Located in the
beautifully restored T & P Depot.
A downtown walking guide is available and a booklet of historical
landmarks is for sale.
1101 North First Street. 1-800-727-7704
website: www.abilene.com/visitors
Abilene
Hotels >
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save |
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Abilene
street scene - North Third Street looking West |
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Underpass and Pine Street looking north
Old Postcards circa 1944 |
Abilene
Texas Forum
Tacoma Calling
Abilene
Dear Texas Escapes, I was wondering if anyone remembers the
drug store that used to operate as Cooks Drugs in Abilene. It was
located, I believe, on South 7th close to the intersection with
Willis Street. I would like to know if it still exists although
I am sure it's long gone. I spent many summers in Abilene at my
grandparents on the corner of South 6th and Willis. This was back
in the 1960's. Back then we use to go to Cooks to their soda fountain
and had "real" Cherry Cokes. I would love to see a picture of the
existing structure and other structures close by to the Ole Cooks
drug store. - Carl Pederson, Tacoma, Washington, September 04,
2006
To share history or photos of Abilene, Texas, please contact
us.
© John Troesser
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