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HILLSBORO,
TEXAS
"Antique Capital
of I-35"
Hill County Seat,
North
Central Texas
Just off I-35
50 Miles S of Ft. Worth
55 Miles S of Dallas
33 Miles N of Waco
Population:
8,232 (2000) 7,072 (1990)
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The Katy Depot, home of the Hillsboro Area Chamber of Commerce.
Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher, 8-04 |
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HILLSBORO
ATTRACTIONS
The chamber in
the beautifully restored MKT (Katy) Railroad Depot is reason
enough to visit Hillsboro. Lots of railroad artifacts and photographs
of Hillsboro as it was. Hillsboro was also an Interurban stop between
Dallas and Waco. |
The Cell Block
Museum. Former Hill County Jail
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, June 2003 |
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The Cell
Block Museum, just a block away, is one of the more attractive
jails anywhere in Texas. Featured in Texas Highway Magazine's article
on jails, this one had Elvis as one of its short-term guests.
(Elvis was stationed at Ft. Hood).
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"The
building with 'The Spirit of Progress' on it was a Montgomery-Ward
store. This image was M-W's logo and appears on many of their storefronts
from the early 20th century. It's a good way to spot old M-W stores
that have been converted to new uses." - Dwight Young.
TE photo |
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The Texas
Heritage Museum: Devoted to Civil War Era documents and exhibits,
especially Hood's Texas Brigade. 3000 volume library.
On the
Campus of Hill College. 254-2555 ext. 295
Open Monday through Saturday 9 to 4 and Sunday 11 to 4.
Pick up their brochure at the Chamber.
Hillsboro Junior College dates from 1923, but was closed
in 1950. It was reopened in 1962 as Hill Junior College.
The 1913 Post Office is now the City Library. This
was the first restoration project of Hillsboro in 1972.
Hillsboro abounds with handsome buildings. You can eat Mexican food
under 40 foot ceilings in what was once a bank. Another restaurant
on the square lets you know there's more to Czech cooking than the
Kolache.
Hillsboro
Hotels >
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
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The
1890 Hill County Courthouse
This is the one responsible for making Texans aware their "temples
of justice" were threatened and needed attention.
This wedding-cake masterpiece was designed by Wacoan Architect W.
C. Dodson. The Cornerstone was laid without a horned
toad in it in 1890. The stone came from another neighbor - Bosque
County.
The courthouse won the Downtown Association's award for "Best Restoration
1999". Burned "beyond recognition" in 1993, you can now visit
it as it was meant to be seen.
On the Square.
See
Hill
County Courthouse
by Sam Fenstermacher
County history, the courthouse, the courthouse square and other
attractions.
Hill
County Courthouse by Lou Ann Herda, Ed.D, July 2002
Prior to 1854, the county seat was spelled Hillsborough.
In 1890, Hillsboro's two newspapers were the Mirror and The
Reflector.
Hillsboro
Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here
& Save
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Hillsboro
Recreation
Lake Aquilla
- I-35, FM310, 10 miles SW of Hillsboro.
Lake Whitney - FM1244, FM 1713
Lake Whitney State Park - Along the eastern shore of Lake Whitney,
16 miles west of Hillsboro.
Box 1175 Whitney TX 76692, 254/694-3793 |
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The
Texas Theater in Hillsboro
Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher, 8-04 |
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NATIVE SONS
Willie Nelson has a room (not cell) of his own, qualifying
by being raised in nearby Abbott.
Other hometown boys made good are the late Bob Bullock and
Dr. Red Duke. There's a lot of Audie Murphy memorabilia
as well. Although Murphy was from Hunt County, Murphy's Biography
was written by the founder of the Texas Heritage Museum. (Our thanks
to the museum's sidewalk bricklayers for letting us visit the museum
outside of regular "visiting hours".) |
Hillsboro,
Texas Tourist Information
Hillsboro
Chamber of Commerce
115 N. Covington 254-582-2481
www.hillsborochamber.org/
1-800-Hillsboro
Hillsboro
Hotels > Book
Your Hotel Here & Save |
| Hillsboro,
Texas Forum
Subject:
Hamlin's
Bluebird of Happiness 1942
Dear Texas Escapes,
I am seeking information about two young (young in 1942-43) Black
men. They were known as Joe B. and Slim.
Slim had two sisters Willy May and Lily May ? One was married to
a man named James. They pulled cotton for my parents in 1942 or
1943 in Hamlin,
Texas.
Most of [their] family moved on, but Joe B. and Slim did not yet
wish to leave --- so they lived in our front living room for two
more months before they returned to Hillsboro. My family at that
time consisted of my parents (Herbert and Dolores Nauert) and me
(Clinton aged 4).
After Joe B. and Slim went to town one Saturday on their return
they gave me a tiny metal bluebird --- they had gotten from a box
of Crackerjacks --- This was one of the only gifts I had ever been
given --- other than at Christmas. I am now 68 years of age and
I have never forgotten those fellows' kindness. Nor have I ever
forgotten eating breakfast with them for those two months in 1942
or 1943. If I could contact them or one of their children I would
just like them to know how a little kindness can mean so much to
a child. My parents and I have very fond memories of those two really
nice young men. Thank you, - Clinton Nauert, Greenwood, Arkansas,
August 29, 2006
To share history or photos of Hillsboro, Texas, please contact
us.
©
John Troesser
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