Carthage Texas history, trip, landmarks, attractions & photos. (original) (raw)

Drawing of the 1885 Panola County courthouse, Carthage, Texas

Drawing of the 1885 Panola County courthouse.
Photo by Terry Jeanson

The Panola County Courthouse
One of the worst architectural errors in judgement occurred in Panola County in 1956. The 1885 courthouse was replaced with the 1953 structure in use today.

History in a Pecan Shell(A timeline of significant events)
1846: Panola County is organized � the town of Pulaski was made temporary county seat.
1848: Carthage is named seat for its central location. Named for Carthage, Mississippi.
1849: Post office was established and a log courthouse was built
1853: Brick courthouse was completed
1874: Carthage is incorporated � although it needed to be reincorporated in 1902 and again after that
1885: Third courthouse is built
1888: Texas, Sabine Valley and Northwestern Railroad arrives


Sunday Drive :

Carthage: Music from two country masters

(Excerpted from "THE EAST TEXAS SUNDAY DRIVE BOOK" by Bob Bowman)

Concentrated largely in Panola County, this Sunday Drive will provide you with some of the flavor of East Texas' country and western music, a look at a ghost town, a stop at an old railroad depot, and a drive through the beautiful pine and hardwood forests along the Sabine River.

Start your Sunday Drive at Carthage, the county seat of Panola County (Panola means cotton in Indian), where Potlatch, a festival of arts, crafts and country foods is held every October.

Carthage... became the county seat in l884 when Jonathan Anderson donated 100 acres for the townsite.

[A] block off the town square... you'll find a good collection of quaint shops as well as the Heritage Museum, located in a restored bank building, and the Panola County Historical Museum, located in the old county jail... more

Carthage Landmarks/Attractions:

Former Panola County Jail, Panola County Historical Museum, Carthage Texas

Historical Marker:

Old Panola County Jail

Designed by J. N. Carnes and completed in 1891, this structure served as the Panola County Jail for sixty-two years. The two-story brick building exhibits Italianate and Romanesque style influences and features a symmetrical facade with projecting tower, arched openings, and corbelled detailing. It was used as a city jail from 1953 to 1965. A restoration project begun in 1988 converted it to a community museum and historical center.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967

Present  Panola County Courthouse, Carthage Texas

Carthage TX - Esquire Theatre

Carthage TX - Esquire Theatre neon sign

Carthage TX - Esquire Theatre  ticket booth

Woods Methodist Church, Texas


Only US International Boundary  Republic of Texas Granite Block


Carthage Chronicles


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