THE STORY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS

Back in the early years of this nation, springs of sulphur water gushed out of the rich soil of Northeast Texas in a place now known as Sulphur Springs. The springs contributed sulphur water as well as crystal clear fresh water to this fertile area.

Before the white settlers arrived, the Indian tribes of this area used the camping grounds around the springs for their home. Vegetation as well as the giant oak and bois d'arc trees flourished to make this area a lush grazing spot for animals. As time went on, long trains of ox wagons carried supplies to the new outpost and the immigrants used the springs for their camping grounds.

Mr. Eli Bib built a small cabin on the spring lot and kept a small stock of staples, whiskey, persimmon beer and slabs of Mr. Bib's ginger cake. Mr. And Mrs. Bib were well known along the old Indian highways.

It was not long until a few other people came. Dr. & Mrs. Davis built a log cabin in 1849. It was Dr. Davis who visioned this place as a future city.

In 1850 the families were called together and organized the first church, the Methodist Episcopal. The church was completed in 1853. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1852.

Benjamin and Ann Hampton built a two-story lodge, known as the Hampton House and it was said to have been the hiding place of Confederate documents and important personages. It later was called the Coffee House.

In 1850, the population was 441. At this time the city was beginning to take shape and commodities were brought in from Jefferson. Stores began to spring up to serve the influx of people.

The first post office was established in May 1854. The town was originally named Bright Star. Mail was delivered from Jefferson by Pony Express to the Post Office in the adjacent settlement of Tarrant. However, on May 11, 1871, the County Seat was moved from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs and the name Bright Star was removed from the Postal Directory. The local IOOF lodge was organized in 1857 in Sulphur Springs and still holds the original name. The Masons were organized in n1857 also.

At an early date the city government began to take form. The exact date is not known, but one of the first to hold office was William A. Wortham, who moved from Jefferson where he published his own newspaper. He bought the press of the Texas Star at Tarrant in 1854 and moved to Sulphur Springs where his brother-in-law, Will Ashcroft, along with Bill Davis, established the first newspaper, Independent Frontier, in the city.

In 1897, the Echo Publishing Company was founded in Sulphur Springs. It was a popular weekly with the first steam powered press and was known to be the biggest newspaper plant between Dallas and Little Rock. The plant burned and the new Echo Press was the first in Sulphur Springs to be run with the gasoline engine.

In 1884 the Sulphur Springs Enterprise, also a weekly newspaper, was founded. In 1884 Jim (Texas Cyclone) Davis bought the Vindicator, which he published until 1901. In 1916 John S. Bagwell bought the Hopkins County Echo and moved his family to Sulphur Springs. The Texas Star was absorbed into the Daily News Telegram in 1924. later, the Daily News Telegram was changed to the Daily Gazette and then to the Weekly Gazette. Finally, all the newspapers were consolidated into the Daily News Telegram and the Hopkins County Echo. These two papers serve Hopkins County today.

In 1857 ten acres were set aside for a Bright Star University. In 1877 Sulphur Springs District Conference High School began. This progressive school was established on the Bright Star University land on College Street. This school was the forerunner of the Methodist High School and became officially known as Central College in December 1882. It was the property of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was under its control. Under the new charter they re-named it Eastman College and Conservatory of Music and Art. The college burned before 1900 and Professor Eastman moved away.

The first steam-powered factory in this area was built in 1857 by the Bell brothers from Rollins, Michigan. The Morro Castle was built on the north side of Main Street. The builders of this magnificent old structure still remain a mystery.

In 1859 C. Denton was elected to head the new city government, which was incorporated.

January 1, 1862, brought news of the beginning of the War Between the States. After the war, business and trading revived in rail and lumbering. The town again had to be incorporated in n1866. Men of intelligence and influence aided this movement.

On August 10, 1868, Union troops rode into town and stayed for two years. At this time the county records were moved from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs. At the closing of the military regime in 1870, a new city government was installed, and A. J. Bridges, author of the Charter of the City, became mayor.

In 1872 a railroad line was extended to Mineola and settlers and visitors came in great numbers. Sulphur Springs was well known for sulphur water baths. People all over the nation were told of the curative power of the mineral springs and many came for treatment. Due to time and population growth, the springs were gradually covered and are now non-existent.

In 1879 another prosperous move was made. A railroad was established from Jefferson to Sulphur Springs. In 1855 the First National Bank of Sulphur Springs was nationalized. It is now the present Sulphur Springs State Bank. In 1886 a St. Louis and Southwestern Rail was brought through Sulphur Springs.

In 1887 an ice plant was erected. Perishables were brought in and shipped out. The present courthouse was completed in 1895. Wells were dug to take care of the city water supply until 1904. In 1904 a long distance telephone line was built from Sulphur Springs to Greenville. Soon Sulphur Springs was connected with the surrounding major cities. The City National Bank was organized in 1889.

Immediately after World War II a new city government was founded, new playgrounds were started, a city park, picnic tables, swimming pool, rodeo arena, baseball parks, little league and football stadium were built. The boundaries of the city have been expanded. A city beautification program was carried out and industries have moved in. The once small cabin on the spring lot has grown over the years into a city of 15,000+ people trying in all phases of economic endeavor to make it one of the best-known cities in Texas.