Memphis Texas, Historic Memphis, Memphis Hotels. (original) (raw)

One of the brick-paved streets of Memphis
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, January 2008

History in a Pecan Shell

The county was named after Warren D.C. Hall who served as Secretary of War while Texas was a Republic. He was a lawyer from North Carolina before coming to Texas.

A timeline of significant events in Memphis' history
1889: land bought along the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway
1890: townsite platted - yet names were rejected by postal authorities until September of that year
1891: Memphis wins contested election for county seat against towns of Salisbury and Lakeview
1891: depot built after Memphians kept putting soap on rails to stop trains
1892: courthouse constructed
1901: Memphis gets telephone service
1906: town is incorporated
1912: Memphis gets their own Carnegie Library
1923: New courthouse built
1926: 50 miles of streets are paved with brick

Memphis, Texas

Landmarks / Attractions

• Hall County Courthouse
• Memories of the Hall County Courthouse by Wes Reeves
• Hall County Museum: On the Square - 6th and Main
• Presbyterian Building: c. 1911
  A former church designed after St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The church contains a pipe organ - one of only two examples of its type left in the United States.

Presbyterian Building in Memphis
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2005

Memphis Hotel fire escape

"An old farm workers house. Just east of Memphis on U.S. 287."
Photo courtesy Robert Vahle, June, 2005

Memphis Tourist Information
Chamber of Commerce: 806-259-3144
Website: www.webtex.com/memphis

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.