“To play catch on an evening, to smell the river, to hear the train pass. These little towns were once the bold ramparts meant to shelter just such peace.”
― Marilynne Robinson, Gilead
December 1st I traveled to my friend’s home in Jefferson Texas.
In the early 1840’s Jefferson was founded by by Allen Urquhart and Daniel Alley. It was named after Thomas Jefferson.
Late 1834 or early 1844 the first steamboat, the Llama, reached Jefferson.
1846 a post office was established.
1848 the town was incorporated
1867 Jefferson became the first town in Texas to use natural gas for artificial lighting purposes,
1868 ice was first manufactured on a commercial scale there in 1868.
1870 Jefferson, with a population of 4,180, was the sixth largest city in Texas
Jefferson Texas was known for its places of historic interest, including numerous mid-nineteenth-century homes, churches, and other structures. In 1971 a roughly forty-seven-block area containing fifty-six historic structures was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, some ten other buildings have been accorded National Register status, including the antebellum Excelsior Hotel and Planters Bank and Warehouse. Every year Jefferson sponsors a three-day spring historic pilgrimage to view these sites. Since 1955 the festivities have also included a reenactment of the Diamond Bessie Murder Trail.
Late 1834 or early 1844 the first steamboat, the Llama, reached Jefferson.
1846 a post office was established.
1848 the town was incorporated
1867 Jefferson became the first town in Texas to use natural gas for artificial lighting purposes,
1868 ice was first manufactured on a commercial scale there in 1868.
1870 Jefferson, with a population of 4,180, was the sixth largest city in Texas
Jefferson Texas was known for its places of historic interest, including numerous mid-nineteenth-century homes, churches, and other structures. In 1971 a roughly forty-seven-block area containing fifty-six historic structures was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, some ten other buildings have been accorded National Register status, including the antebellum Excelsior Hotel and Planters Bank and Warehouse. Every year Jefferson sponsors a three-day spring historic pilgrimage to view these sites. Since 1955 the festivities have also included a reenactment of the Diamond Bessie Murder Trail.
WOW! Brick streets!
ReplyDeleteyou forgot a date, April 17, 1960. The most awesome person was born there...
ReplyDeleteSusan