|
Corsicana's
May Day Parade
Photo courtesy Dianne West Short |
Armistice Day
in Corsicana
Photo courtesy Dianne West Short |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Navarro County
was named after Jose Antonio Navarro and the town after his
parents' birthplace of Corsica. Navarro was a signer of the Texas
Declaration of Independence and early Texas Legislator. Other famous
sons include "Lefty" Frizzell and Governor Beauford Jester.
Corsicana was one of the first cities in Texas
to use natural gas for lighting and fuel. Oil boom occurred years
before the famed Spindletop
in Beaumont
Area.
Corsicana's downtown remains occupied and vibrant. The dates on buildings
show a boom period between the end of WWI
and the Crash of '28. |
Historical Marker:
CORSICANA
Soon after Navarro
County was created by the Texas Legislature in 1846, a committee
was appointed to choose a site for the county seat. The committee
selected a 100-acre tract of land that came to be the city of Corsicana.
The town was named for Corsica, the homeland of the parents of Texas
patriot Jose Antonio Navarro, for whom the county was named.
Corsicana was first governed by a town commission, whose duty was
to map the area and sell lots. Early settler Hampton McKinney built
a log cabin for his home, which also was used as a school, post
office, courthouse, and land office. He also operated the McKinney
Tavern, where many early settlers and travelers boarded. Other early
Corsicana businesses included a hardware store, carpenter shop,
drug store, saddle shop, saloon, and blacksmith shop.
A period of tremendous growth was initiated in 1871 with the coming
of the Houston & Central Texas Railroad. The first free public schools
were offered during the early 1880s, and the late 19th century saw
Corsicana in the midst of an oil boom. The city became a Texas pioneer
in commercial oil production and in the use of natural gas for fuel
and lighting and continues today as a leader in the area's growth.
1985
|
Corsicana Landmarks
& Attractions
|
More
Corsicana Attractions
Collin Street
Bakery - Corsicana Fruitcake since 1896
401 W. 7th Ave. 800-248-3366
The Cook Arts,
Science and Technology Center
On Navarro college campus - 3100 West Collin Ave
800-988-5317, 903-874-1211. Admissions
Gaston C. Gooch
Library -
On Navarro college campus - Hwy 31 west of downtown
Lefty Frizzell
Country Museum Museum - in the Pioneer Village
Pioneer Village
- Restored and authentically furnished mid-1800s buildings. Projects
of Navarro County Historical Society
912 W. Park Street
Open Mon - Sat 9 to 5; Sunday 1 - 5. Admissions.
|
The
old Montgomery Ward building
Intersection of W. 6th Ave. and S. Main St. looking east.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
First
United Methodist Church
N. 15th St. (TX 22) and W. 3rd Ave.
Built 1896
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
First Baptist
Church
N. 15th St. (TX 22) and W. Collin St.
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
Temple Beth-El
S. 15th St. (TX 22) and 7th Ave. (SH 31)
Built 1900
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
Christian Church
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texa Churches |
U.S.
Post Office
S. Main St at W. 6th Ave.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
First National
Bank Building
S. Beaton St. at W. 6th Ave.
Built ca.1915
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011
More Texas Banks |
Old
Dyer's Department Store
N. Main St. and W. Collin St.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
Flight training
mural in Corsicana
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2005 |
"Birth
Place of the Texas Oil Industry"
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, October, 2009 |
Corsicana Chronicles
Fruitcake
by Mike Cox
Corsicana's famous Collin Street Bakery
Elephantine
Memories by Dianne West Short
Elephants were responsible for several Corsicana tragedies.
Rope
Walker by Dianne West Short
In the old Hebrew Cemetery in Corsicana, Texas is a headstone with
only two words on it, “Rope Walker.” Almost nothing is known of
the man in the grave except the manner of his death...
Mysterious
Malakoff Men by Clay Coppedge
"Archaeologists Evans and his collaborator, George Shafer,
believed Malakoff Man was authentic, agreeing that it was as old
as the geologist Sellards thought it was. Current-day believers
consider the Malakoff Men authentic, though not as old as Sellards
and Shafter thought. Skeptics insist that all three Malakoff Men
are imposters.
Today, the Malakoff Men are housed together-for the first time-at
the Pearce Museum inside the Cook Education Center at Navarro College
in Corsicana..."
Wolf Brand Chili Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
The famous canned chili, WOLF BRAND, was born in Corsicana
Fruitcake
Capital Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
1895
Corsicana Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
Slugger
Clark of Corsicana Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
Slugger
Clark Hits 8 Straight Homers Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
|
Corsicana Old
Photos & Postcards
|
Beaton Street in 1906
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Corsicana Cotton Scene
1913 Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Corsicana New High School
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Corsicana New High School c1911
Old postcard |
Corsicana High
School
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas
Schoolhouses |
Navarro Hotel
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Rooms
with a Past |
Elks Club
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
See Texas Lodges |
Nearby Destinations:
Navarro
County - Towns & ghost towns
Navarro Mills
Lake
Kerens
and Malakoff - Take Hwy 31
east 14 miles to Kerens, another 13 miles east to Malakoff.
Corsicana
Hotels
Corsicana
Tourist Information
Corsicana Visitor Center
301 S. Beaton Street Corsicana, Texas 75110
903.654.4850
toll-free 877.648.2688
www.visitcorsicana.com
Corsicana Chamber of Commerce
(903) 874-4731, Toll-Free 1-877-376-7477
http://www.corsicana.org/
|
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories
and new or vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
|
|
HOME
