Honey Grove, TX history, landmarks, attractions, photos, travel. (original) (raw)

HONEY GROVE, TEXAS

Fannin County, Central Texas North / East Texas

33� 35' 10" N, 95� 54' 26" W ( 33.586111, -95.907222)

US 82, State Hwy 56 & 34, FM 100 and 824
16 miles E of Bonham the county seat
39 miles N of Greenville
42 miles E of Sherman
90 miles NE of Dallas Central Business District
ZIP code 75446
Area code 903
Population: 1,737 Est. (2019)
1,668 (2010) 1,746 (2000) 1,681 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Bonham Hotels

Classing Cotton for Export - Blocker Millers Co's Classing Room,
Honey Grove, Texas
Postmarked July 23, 1910
Courtesy The Will Beauchamp Collection

The Spanish searched for El Dorado, but early settlers in the 19th Century were looking for "a honey pond and a fritter tree." If it was under the Rock Candy Mountain, then all the better.

Supposedly, Davy Crockett had camped here on his way to the Alamo and described the place in glowing terms to a friend back in Tennessee, who eventually settled here.

Now, if you're traveling to northeast Texas, you're probably going to visit Bonham or Paris. That's fine with us and it's fine with the folks at Honey Grove.

But if you were to speed by and not take a look at this neat and beguiling little town, then you'd be missing a lot of what you take trips for.

	A young blade from Honey Grove circa 1895, Cabinet Card

The beautiful Bertha Voyer Memorial Library
on the NE corner of Highway 56 and Sixth Street.
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, April 2008

Jacob Fein, a stone mason from Germany who worked on the State Capitol came to Honey Grove and found lots of stone in Floyd's quarry, just south of town. Mr. Floyd of course had found it first, or it would've been called Fein's quarry.

Because of Fein's skills and Floyd's stone, Honey Grove now has more handsome structures for a town its size than any other in NE Texas.

Buildings in Honey Grove made from Floyd's stone include:

• The First State Bank Building on 5th and Market
• The City Hall Building and
• The McKenzie United Methodist Church on the corner of Pecan and 7th Street.

Honey Grove City Hall historical marker
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, April 2008

Historical Marker: Hickory & 6th St.

Honey Grove City Hall

In 1885, ten years after the town of Honey Grove was incorporated, Mayor J. P. Gilmer brought to the attention of the City Council the need for a city hall and jail building. This structure was completed four years later. It is Fannin County's only original civic building that is still standing.

The minutes of the City Council meetings during the years 1885-1889 are full of the deliberations concerning the construction of the city hall, including the matters of lot selection, financing, selection of a builder, and selection of material. A piece of property secured by the City Hall and Jail Committee in 1886 later was thought to be too small to serve Honey Grove's future needs, and this site was selected in 1888. The Fannin County Commissioners Court offered $500 in financial aid, but when the commissioners requested a 25% interest in the building, the City Council voted to reject their offer.

W. N. Allen was awarded the construction contract in October 1888. Stone for the building was secured from the Floyd Quarry, an early Honey Grove industry. Bad weather delayed the completion of the new city hall and jail until October 1889. It has since continued to serve as the seat of government in Honey Grove.

1985

Honey Grove Feed & Hardware store building
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, April 2008

On the south side of Honey Grove's main street (State Highway 56) is a small park shaded by a stabilized ruin of an old brick building. The vines and plants make this one of the most appealing pocket parks we've seen anywhere in the state.

Honey Grove, Texas Forum

I LOVE HONEY GROVE. WOULD LOVE TO LIVE THERE.I SPENT SOME TIME WITH A FRIEND OF MINE THAT LIVED THERE A FEW YRS. AGO & ENJOYED EVERY LAST MINUTE OF IT. WE WOULD WALK TO TOWN & HAVE SUPPER, SIT IN THE SQUARE & LOOK AT ALL THE OLD BUILDINGS. OH THOSE BUILDINGS COULD TALK. WILL BE BACK SOME DAY SOON, I HOPE. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES! - Peggy Babb, Midland, 20/May/2002

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