My Hometown!

State Line Avenue December 2013 - Confederate Mother's Monument &  US Post Office

Same spot sometime between 1905 and 1932 - former Central Christian Church on left

Central Christian Church today at 903 Walnut

12-19-13:  David took me on an exploration of Texarkana today.  My parents and our schools were so good about teaching us the history of our town.  But when we lived here, I took much for granted.  Now that we travel and enjoy learning about other towns' history and points of interest, I decided it's time to refresh my memory about T-Town -- and learn a little bit more!

Monument for Patriotism - probably erected just after WWI

Confederate Mother

 Confederate soldier

Took pix of the Civil War Monument and WWI Monument across from the Post Office on State Line Ave.

at the Post Office on State Line -- which straddles AR and TX

Rocky's first pic on the AR/TX line in front of the post office

our downtown post office is one of a kind

a new downtown structure I read about recently - located near rail yards

one of the pix on the railroad sculpture

trains - how we got our start

Four States Area fallen officer memorial downtown

My Grandpa Goff's name is on this one, as well as the one in Little Rock, AR and Washington D.C.

William Madison Goff

killed at age 34 in the line of duty in Hempstead County, AR

Ace of Clubs House

Melissa, the tour director, and me in front of the Ace of Clubs House

We had never toured the Ace of Clubs House downtown when we lived here.  It was actually still being lived in until about 1985.  The Moore family deeded it to the Texarkana Museums Systems.  However, they did not deed any money for the upkeep.  So the systems have recently reached the end of their funds to maintain it -- and a LOT of maintenance is required.  Unless someone comes forward very soon to help the cause, it may be turned back over to the family in January.  We decided it could be now or never to see this gem.  It was built in 1885 by railroad local entrepreneur and Confederate soldier, James H. Draughon.  He built it with money he won from a poker game (Texarkana was a big gambling town in those days), and had it built in the shape of the ace of clubs - his lucky card.  In 1887 he sold it to William Whitaker who lived in it until 1894, when he sold it to Henry Moore, Sr.  It stayed in the Moore family until deeded to Texarkana Museums in 1985 upon the death of one of its matriarchs, Olivia Moore. Among the intricate details of the structure of the house, furnishings, and belongings, are Olivia's shoes!  This woman had humdreds of shoes, many of which are on display in the house.  She got most from Neiman Marcus in Dallas.  When Olivia became unable to travel to Dallas to get her shoes, NM sent a truck full to Texarkana for her to shop from home.  I might've enjoyed buying hundreds of shoes myself if I'd had her money and her size 5 1/2 feet.

Photos were not allowed inside on our tour, so we had to settle for postcards and an outdoor pic with our tour guide, Melissa Nesbitt. She did a great job and really knew her history of Texarkana and the Moore family.

Spring Bank Ferry is on display now in Doddridge, AR

Last year we read about the Spring Bank Ferry retiring and finding a home at a park in Doddridge.  We added that to our bucket list and today drove out there to see it.  Pretty drive and neat to see this ferry which was one of the longest running in AR.  It made daily trips across the Sulphur River near here.

interesting to be able to see the underbelly of the ferry

captain's seat

info on this ferry

the ramp which cars would drive onto it

Such a great adventure today.  Didn't get to everything I wanted to see, but that'll give us something to do the next time we come to town!  This is a link on a little of the history of Texarkana -- http://www.texarkana.org/Texarkana_USA/History_of_Texarkana.aspx

Hope you all find something great to explore!  It's a great day when we learn something new!

Happy Adventures!

Henry Sr, Olivia, and Henry, Jr