Canadian, Texas, Oasis of Texas Panhandle. (original) (raw)
History in a Pecan Shell
In early 1887 E. P. Purcell and O. H. Nelson, laid out a 240-acre townsite for the soon to arrive Southern Kansas Railway. The site, which was on the South bank of the Canadian River connected to the community of Hogtown (AKA Clear Creek) by a bridge that summer. Residents and businesses crossed from Hogtown to be near the rails.
A post office was granted in August of 1887 and the town's first hotel - The Log Cabin opened its doors. On Independence Day 1888, Canadian hosted the first annual Cowboys' Reunion rodeo - one of the first commercial rodeos in Texas.
By 1900 the town was thriving due to its being a division point fort the railroad. The town soon had cotton gins, grain elevators and even a private academy, as well as the usual businesses necessary to a vibrant town. It was estimated that the town once had as many as thirteen saloons.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union set up their own building - which also houses the city library.
The Handbook of Texas acknowledges the names of early business pioneers as George and John J. Gerlach, Harvey E. Hoover, Edward H. Brainard, and Nahim Abraham, who immigrated from Lebanon.
Mr. Abraham, descendant, is the man responsible for the renovation of Canadian's beautiful Palace Theater.
Temple Lea Houston, Sam Houston's youngest (and most flamboyant) son once lived in Canadian before settling in what is now Oklahoma.
The railroad, which had long since been absorbed by the Santa Fe - closed the roundhouse in the 1950s. This might have been a deathblow to a lesser town, but Canadian survived. From the 1950 population of 2,600, it grew to nearly 3,500 by 1980.
- Hemphill County Jail
- Hogtown, Former Site of
- Springer's Road Ranch, Site of Old
- Canadian River Trails
- Marcy Trail, Route of
- Historic Trails
- Robert R. Young
Canadian, Texas Landmarks / Attractions ›
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The Roundhouse in Canadian Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com See Texas Railroads |
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Canadian Depot Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com More Texas Depots |
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Canadian, Texas Landmarks / Attractions
Photographer's Note:
"Canadian is such a nice town to drive around in. It is very tourist friendly. I saw no junk. Everything was neat and well kept... [Here are photos] 'in and around' the town of Canadian." - Barclay Gibson
Historical Marker:
Hemphill County Jail
Built in 1890, first permanent public building in both town of Canadian and Hemphill County. Erected under administration of E. E. Polly, first county judge. Ironically, deception plagued construction of this jail, as building contracts were found to be fraudulent and citizens took legal action all the way to the Texas Supreme Court (1889).
In mid-1920s, jail held outlaws from notorious oil boom town of Borger (65 miles southwest).
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1970.
The Palace Theater: 210 Main Street
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
The recently restored Palace Theater has a history going back 80 years.
Photo courtesy Wes Reeves
More Texas Theatres
"Former Site of Hogtown" historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
Site of Old Springer's Road Ranch Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
Canadian River Trails Historical Marker
At Historical Wagon Bridge roadside park, off US 60/83
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
Route of Marcy Trail Historical Marker
on US 60 about 8 miles S of Canadian
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
Historic Trails Historical Marker
on US 60/83 about 6.5 miles S of Canadian
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
Robert R. Young Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
Canadian, Texas Tourist Information
- Chamber of Commerce: 216 South Second Street Canadian, Texas 79014 806-323-6234
- Canadian-Hemphill County Economic Development Council
216 South Second 806-323-5397
Contact the Chamber for their complete, all-in-one, 60 page information guide. Although there is no table of contents, you'll probably see things you might have missed had there been one. Maybe that was the idea. There's an abundance of historic photographs which are usually left out of most brochures. - Canadian Hotels > Book Here
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