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SULPHUR
SPRINGS, TEXAS"Dairy
Capital of Texas" Sulphur
Springs celebrates 150 Years of History in 2004
Hopkins County Seat, East
Texas
Junction of I-30 and State Hwys 11, 19, and 154
38 miles
S of Paris
43 miles N of Canton
78 miles E of Dallas
Population
14,551 (2000) |
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The Hopkins
County courthouse and square.
1906 Postcard courtesy James Perkins |
Hopkins
County Courthouse and Town Square
Text and Photos by Sam Fenstermacher
The town square in Sulphur
Springs is a dramatically different place. A vintage J. Riely Gordon courthouse
occupies the northeast corner of the spacious town square. This offset location
is both by choice and chance. The previous courthouse was built on the east side
of the original town square. When that building burned down in 1894, a decision
was made to buy additional property east of the town square and build the present
day courthouse on the northeast corner of the enlarged town square.
The
net result of all these events in Hopkins County is a spacious public square with
plenty of room for parking and public gathering. Along the eastern side of the
square there's a bandstand and a small yard with trees and benches. The parking
lot and walkways on the square are paved with red bricks. This adds a vintage
feel to the place, and also creates a dramatic approach to the county courthouse....
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Here & Save
Sulphur
Springs Hotels |
| | Mission
Theatre in Sulphur Springs
December 1984 photo courtesy Billy
Smith | |
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Sulphur
Springs Attractions
Cooper Lake
State Park
In northern Hopkins County
Rt 3 Box 741 Sulphur Springs
TX 75482
903/945-5256 Hopkins
County Museum and Heritage Park
416 N Jackson St. Admission feeMusic
Box Gallery
611 N Davis St. in library. 903-885-4926Southwest
Dairy Center
In Civic Center Complex, 1210 Houston St. (Hwy 11).
903-439-MILK Sulphur
Springs Tourist Information Visitor
Center - I-30. At the Factory Store of Amaerica mall.
888-300-6623 - Information
on city, events, accommodations and diningCity
of Sulphur Springs - http://www.sulphurspringstx.org/ Hopkins
County Chamber of Commerce - 903-885-6515
http://www.sulphursprings-tx.com/
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Sulphur
Springs Hotels |
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Sulphur
Springs water tower, razed in 2002
2002 photo courtesy Lou Ann Herda |
Sulphur
Springs Water Tower (Razed in 2002)
Photographer's Note
"Sulphur
Springs complete with power lines/phone lines that I couldn't get around. I was
standing in the middle of a very busy road at the time before I realized traffic
was headed my way. I think this tower is an A-1 example of a fine Texas water
tower. Not as nice as the Fayetteville
one, but still pleasant. The cursive lettering is unmatched." - Lou Ann
Herda, April 14, 2002
Reader's Comments
Thank you for
your kind remarks about our water tower. However, I'm afraid it is no more. Not
long after you took that photograph, the landmark was torn down. It was really
sad to a lot of us. - John L. Bradberry, Sulphur Springs, TX, August 12, 2003
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Sulphur
Springs History "The
town was originally known as Bright Star when stores and a hotel were first built
at the site, which had become a popular camping place for teamsters hauling commodities
west from Jefferson. ... A post office named Bright Star was established in 1854
... Bright Star was incorporated possibly as early as 1852. Dr. O. S. Davis deeded
the public square to the county when the town was rechartered and became the county
seat in 1870. The name was changed to Sulphur Springs in 1871, when the mineral
springs in the area were being advertised to make the town a health resort."
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From
"The Handbook of Texas Online". More:
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/hes8.html |
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