Sunday Trip to Jefferson

A few Sundays ago Dick suggested we take a road trip after church and lunch with friends.  He didn't have to ask twice.

We decided on the small town of Jefferson in East Texas, which is only an hour away.  It had been years since we had been there and really didn't remember anything about it.

Along the way we found this interesting sight.

We weren't sure of the significance of all the old bikes but assume there is an intriguing story there somewhere.

We also saw this relic of a school house.  We found the stonework of interest and later saw several homes in Jefferson made of the same material, so it must be a local stone.

A sign of desertion.  I hope that last piece of mail got picked up.

Little did we know that the re-enactment of The Andrews Raid was wrapping up that day.  Our late arrival had meant we missed the final battle.  We hoped the right side won.

I did learn something about this battle though.  Evidently, it was the Civil War's most gripping railroad story and took place aboard a live steam train and is called "The Train Battle of Port Jefferson."

We did get to see the dismantling of the two camps and enjoyed seeing some still in costume walking around the village.

The first attraction upon entering Jefferson from the south is the 

"1879 Howe Truss Lighted Bridge".  Of course we didn't get to see it lighted but I'm sure it is a sight at night when lite.

We parked near this bridge and started our walking tour through the old downtown and so enjoyed seeing the business district with its historic buildings.

The original County Courthouse is definitely a historical landmark.  The bikers were out on this gorgeous day.

The Main Street is lined with old buildings and because this is a tourist town, most still contain some sort of business although few were open on Sunday.

This store has served East Texas as a hardware Store and a General Store since the 1870's and the inside is still authentic.

This building with the flower garden balcony reminded us of New Orleans.  Wrought iron balconies are a common sight here in Jefferson also.

If we had not already eaten, this might have been temping.  It is an 1880's building and the history behind the Cornbread Sandwich can be found HERE.

The building which now contains the Jefferson Historical Society Museum was constructed in 1888 - 1890 as a Federal Courthouse and Post Office.

Jefferson is home to more state registered historic structures than anywhere else in Texas, many of which are also listed on The National Registry of Historic Places.

One of these is the The Excelsior House.  It has been in continuous operation longer than any other hotel in the whole state of Texas.  That says a lot.  If you like antiques and southern charm, this is the place for you. 

Right across the street is the Historic Jefferson Hotel.  It was built in 1851 but is currently closed for renovations.

Another historic building boasts the town's Golden Era Mural.

Evidently the Garden Club of Jefferson provided personal tours for the weekend, or just maybe a fancy mode of conveyance.

There is only a block that separates the business section from the residential.  This stature serves as the line of demarcation.

The Stearns Fountain was given to the City of Jefferson by the children of Jacob and Ernestine Sterne in 1912.  Cast of pure bronze, it is the statue of Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth.  It is still used as a water source for horses, cows, dogs, cats, and people.

On the right side corner of the fountain is the Carnegie Library.

Built in 1907, it is one of four libraries in Texas, from the original 34, to currently operate as a library.  Some early fascinating facts can be found HERE

The following pictures are of the many historic homes we were able to see from our self-guided tour.  I have learned since that there is so much more to see of Jefferson, and that calls for another road trip.

One must take care walking on the sidewalks because of the tree roots tearing up what appears to be very ancient concrete.  But, it was such a lovely walk.

The Schluter House is a lovely Colonial-style home and was built in 1856 by F. A. Schluter, who was one of the first six settlers in Jefferson.  This private residence sits atop a small hill at the end of a main street and overlooks one of the towns small parks.  There is also a Schluter Building on Main Street.

There are over 26 Bed & Breakfasts in Jefferson and each is unique.

We found the old walls and steps to some of the homes very interesting and doubt they see much use.  But oh the tales they could probably tell.

I hope you enjoyed seeing Jefferson, Texas as much as we did and I will let you know when we make a return trip.