Corsicana, Texas, Navarro County seat. (original) (raw)
Corsicana's May Day Parade
Photo courtesy Dianne West Short
Armistice Day in Corsicana
Photo courtesy Dianne West Short
History in a Pecan Shell
Navarro County was named after Jose Antonio Navarro and the town after his parents' birthplace of Corsica. Navarro was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and early Texas Legislator. Other famous sons include "Lefty" Frizzell and Governor Beauford Jester.
Corsicana was one of the first cities in Texas to use natural gas for lighting and fuel. Oil boom occurred years before the famed Spindletop in Beaumont Area.
Corsicana's downtown remains occupied and vibrant. The dates on buildings show a boom period between the end of WWI and the Crash of '28.
Historical Marker:
CORSICANA
Soon after Navarro County was created by the Texas Legislature in 1846, a committee was appointed to choose a site for the county seat. The committee selected a 100-acre tract of land that came to be the city of Corsicana. The town was named for Corsica, the homeland of the parents of Texas patriot Jose Antonio Navarro, for whom the county was named.
Corsicana was first governed by a town commission, whose duty was to map the area and sell lots. Early settler Hampton McKinney built a log cabin for his home, which also was used as a school, post office, courthouse, and land office. He also operated the McKinney Tavern, where many early settlers and travelers boarded. Other early Corsicana businesses included a hardware store, carpenter shop, drug store, saddle shop, saloon, and blacksmith shop.
A period of tremendous growth was initiated in 1871 with the coming of the Houston & Central Texas Railroad. The first free public schools were offered during the early 1880s, and the late 19th century saw Corsicana in the midst of an oil boom. The city became a Texas pioneer in commercial oil production and in the use of natural gas for fuel and lighting and continues today as a leader in the area's growth.
1985
Corsicana Landmarks & Attractions
More Corsicana Attractions
- Collin Street Bakery - Corsicana Fruitcake since 1896
401 W. 7th Ave. 800-248-3366 - The Cook Arts, Science and Technology Center
On Navarro college campus - 3100 West Collin Ave
800-988-5317, 903-874-1211. Admissions - Gaston C. Gooch Library -
On Navarro college campus - Hwy 31 west of downtown - Lefty Frizzell Country Museum Museum - in the Pioneer Village
- Pioneer Village - Restored and authentically furnished mid-1800s buildings. Projects of Navarro County Historical Society
912 W. Park Street
Open Mon - Sat 9 to 5; Sunday 1 - 5. Admissions.
The old Montgomery Ward building
Intersection of W. 6th Ave. and S. Main St. looking east.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, December 2011
First United Methodist Church
N. 15th St. (TX 22) and W. 3rd Ave.
Built 1896
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, December 2011
First Baptist Church
N. 15th St. (TX 22) and W. Collin St.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, December 2011
Temple Beth-El
S. 15th St. (TX 22) and 7th Ave. (SH 31)
Built 1900
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, December 2011
Christian Church
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texa Churches
U.S. Post Office
S. Main St at W. 6th Ave.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, December 2011
First National Bank Building
S. Beaton St. at W. 6th Ave.
Built ca.1915
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, December 2011
More Texas Banks
Old Dyer's Department Store
N. Main St. and W. Collin St.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, December 2011
Flight training mural in Corsicana
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2005
"Birth Place of the Texas Oil Industry"
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October, 2009
Corsicana Chronicles
- Fruitcake by Mike Cox
Corsicana's famous Collin Street Bakery - Elephantine Memories by Dianne West Short
Elephants were responsible for several Corsicana tragedies. - Rope Walker by Dianne West Short
In the old Hebrew Cemetery in Corsicana, Texas is a headstone with only two words on it, �Rope Walker.� Almost nothing is known of the man in the grave except the manner of his death... - Mysterious Malakoff Men by Clay Coppedge
"Archaeologists Evans and his collaborator, George Shafer, believed Malakoff Man was authentic, agreeing that it was as old as the geologist Sellards thought it was. Current-day believers consider the Malakoff Men authentic, though not as old as Sellards and Shafter thought. Skeptics insist that all three Malakoff Men are imposters.
Today, the Malakoff Men are housed together-for the first time-at the Pearce Museum inside the Cook Education Center at Navarro College in Corsicana..." - Wolf Brand Chili Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
The famous canned chili, WOLF BRAND, was born in Corsicana - Fruitcake Capital Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
- 1895 Corsicana Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
- Slugger Clark of Corsicana Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
- Slugger Clark Hits 8 Straight Homers Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
Corsicana Old Photos & Postcards
Beaton Street in 1906
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Corsicana Cotton Scene
1913 Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Corsicana New High School
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Corsicana New High School c1911
Old postcard
Corsicana High School
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas Schoolhouses
Navarro Hotel
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Rooms with a Past
Elks Club
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
See Texas Lodges
Nearby Destinations:
- Navarro County - Towns & ghost towns
- Navarro Mills Lake
- Kerens and Malakoff - Take Hwy 31 east 14 miles to Kerens, another 13 miles east to Malakoff.
- Corsicana Hotels Corsicana Tourist Information
Corsicana Visitor Center
301 S. Beaton Street Corsicana, Texas 75110
903.654.4850
toll-free 877.648.2688
www.visitcorsicana.com
Corsicana Chamber of Commerce
(903) 874-4731, Toll-Free 1-877-376-7477
http://www.corsicana.org/
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