Name: Painting the Town Orange:
Brand: Pete Gershon
SKU: 9781626194397
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Painting the Town Orange:

9781626194397

$24.99

Houston's sprawl has come with controversy, but it has created a blank canvas for the public art community. It all started in the Telephone Road Place subdivision, where retired mail carrier Jefferson Davis McKissack built the Orange Show, an extraordinary and eccentric monument to self-reliance, hard work and, yes, the fruit itself. McKissack's installation spawned more of its kind in the Bayou City, like the Beer Can House, the Flower Man's House, Pigdom--one woman's shrine to swine"--and a flourishing art scene committed to preserving Houston's art environments. Author Pete Gershon tells the stories of these sites, their creators and the members of Houston's unique art community, all set against the backdrop of the city's quirky history.."

Sugar Land

9780738578804

$24.99

Sugar Land's earliest settlers arrived in the 1820s with Stephen F. Austin, "the Father of Texas." Originally named Oakland Plantation, the area was planted with cotton, corn, and sugar cane, and by 1843, it had its own sugar mill. Benjamin Franklin Terry, famous for leading Terry's Texas Rangers, and William Jefferson Kyle purchased the plantation in 1852 and were the first to name it Sugar Land. Col. Edward H. Cunningham, a Confederate veteran, later bought the property and built the first sugar refinery as well as a railroad to transport cane from nearby plantations. Under his ownership, a fledgling town emerged that included a store, post office, paper mill, acid plant, meat market, boardinghouse, and depot. The town, refinery, and surrounding 12,500 acres were acquired by Isaac H. Kempner and William T. Eldridge in 1908. Their vision resulted in Imperial Sugar, a thriving business and company town.

Robert Potter

9781589804739

$29.95

Robert Potter flashed across the history of Texas and North Carolina during the early 1800s, leaving an enduring record of inspired leadership and achievement. Known for engaging his enemies in legislative and political debate as well as in physical confrontations, Potter was the first person to be named secretary of the Texas Navy.

El Camino Real de los Tejas

9781467131940

$24.99

The Royal Road of the Tejas Indians, El Camino Real de los Tejas, was born hundreds of years ago when the Native Americans followed routes used by buffalo and other animals, realizing that these early creatures knew the best paths to take. Also known as Kings Highway, it later became a major thoroughfare used by travelers from the East coming to Louisiana, Texas, and Mexico. In 2004, El Camino Real de los Tejas took on new meaning when the historical road was designated as the 19th National Historic Trail in the United States. Development is guided by El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association housed in Austin, Texas.

Hidden History of Waco

9781467140874

$21.99

Since its establishment in 1849, Waco has grown from a frontier town on the Brazos River to a thriving city of more than 125,000 residents. And in those 171 years, Waco's citizens have seen triumph, tragedy, humor, heartbreak and infamy. Some of those stories garnered widespread attention or became established local lore, but many more have fallen through the cracks. Catch up on the backstory of notorious figures like W.C. Brann, firebrand publisher of the Iconoclast. Discover how one of the longest novels published in the English language was written by a wealthy recluse in a downtown mansion. From the artesian wells of "Geyser City'? to the tombs of Telephus Telemachus Louis Augustus Albartus "Tel'? Johnson, author Eric Ames offers a chance for a deeper appreciation of Waco's unique history.

Carrollton

9780738556376

$24.99

Over 160 years ago, bear and buffalo roamed the prairie and Wichita Indians camped on the banks of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Settlers from places like Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and as far away as England and Ireland began arriving in North Texas. Texas was not yet a part of the United States when Sam Houston, as president of the Republic of Texas, entered into an agreement with the Peters Colony Company to attract settlers to the area with the promise of free land. Carrollton likely received its name from one of these groups that emigrated from Carrollton, Illinois. The city grew as it became a railroad hub and later transitioned from a rural community to a prosperous Dallas suburb. In 1976, the city participated in many national bicentennial celebrations, and volunteers restored and opened a museum to honor its rural beginnings and courageous settlers.

Cover image for Carrollton, isbn: 9780738556376

Lost Abilene

9780738596938

$24.99

In 1881, the Texas & Pacific Railroad described Abilene as the "Future Great City of the West." While the train line was laying rails west out of Fort Worth, a group of ranchers, wanting the new town to become a prominent cattle-shipping point, selected the name Abilene after Abilene, Kansas, which was a main cattle-shipping town in the 1870s. With the arrival of the railroad to Abilene, this part of Texas opened up for settlement. Families rushed to establish the town and set up new businesses, but it was the military coming to Abilene that really made the city's population explode. Lost Abilene documents the early homes, businesses, schools, and entertainment that helped shape the city.

Progreso

9780738579474

$24.99

Spanish for "progress," Progreso is famous for the millions of tourists, known as "Winter Texans," who drive through the town to visit Mexico. Rumor has it that Al Capone did the same thing during Prohibition. Perhaps the first visitor captivated by the Rio Grande was Juan Jose Hinojosa, as he asked the Spanish crown for rights to the land that is now Progreso on July 4, 1776. But it was Florencio Saenz, founder of the iconic Toluca Ranch, who requested a U.S. post office in 1896. Connecting to the Spiderweb Railroad in the 1920s gave the town a short-lived commercial farming boom that attracted prominent investors. In the late 1940s, though, two disastrous freezes killed the citrus industry, and farmers switched to vegetables and cotton. After the Progreso International Bridge was built in 1953, growers gained access to the Mexican market, an advantage that continues to attract people to this small town along the Rio Grande.

Murder Most Texan

9781626197176

$23.99

Texas has long boasted its iron fist of the law and strict treatment of its hardest criminals. Nevertheless, scoundrels, fiends and homicidal criminals inevitably slipped through the Lone Star justice system despite the best efforts of even the legendary Texas Rangers. From roadside murder to political assassinations, discover the seedy underbelly of Texas' murderous past. In 1877, Texas saw its first high-profile murder case with the slaying of a woman in Jefferson and the subsequent "Diamond Bessie" trial. Over a century later, state legislator Price Daniel Jr. was shot in cold blood by his wife at their home in Liberty. Texas true crime writer and historian Bartee Haile unburies this collection of sixteen coldblooded killings from Lone Star history and the dirty details that have shocked and bewildered Texans for decades.

Tucson Mountains

9780738579238

$24.99

The Tucson Mountains are located several miles west of downtown Tucson. For thousands of years, this mountain range has been inhabited, explored, and traveled by Native Americans who settled near the Santa Cruz River. Homesteaders, prospectors, and ranchers arrived in the late 19th century, drawn by the area's close proximity to Tucson and the Southern Pacific Railroad, as well as the promise of land and mineral wealth. During the past 100 years, conservation efforts to preserve and enhance the community's understanding of this geologic treasure have led to the establishment of museums and parks, including Tucson Mountain Park, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and Saguaro National Park West. Old Tucson Studios has used the surrounding Tucson Mountains as a movie backdrop for more than 70 years. The White Stallion Ranch and the J. W. Marriot at Starr Pass make the Tucson Mountains a popular destination for visitors who want to experience the rugged beauty and character of the American Southwest.

Oak Cliff

9781467116268

$24.99

The community of Oak Cliff is one of progress and transformation, experiencing a "rebirth" over the last few decades. Covering approximately one fourth of Dallas County, Oak Cliff has become one of the most ethnically diverse and culturally opulent neighborhoods in the state of Texas. From the events surrounding the death of Pres. John F. Kennedy to the demographic shifts over the last 40 to 50 years, Oak Cliff has become a symbol of inimitability, re-establishing its image as one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the United States.

Tulsa Movie Theaters

9781467106856

$23.99

Going to the movies has always been special. Tulsa's first theater opened in 1906 with a lineup of silent reels and live vaudeville entertainment. During the next two decades, dozens of movie houses opened downtown, including the "Big Four:" the Ritz, Orpheum, Majestic, and Rialto. As Tulsa grew, neighborhood theaters, including the Brook, Delman, and Will Rogers, became favorites. Drive-in theaters soon followed around the city boundaries. In 1965, Tulsa's first multiplex--the Boman Twin--opened. Tulsans experienced blockbuster films at these theaters with multiple screens and increasingly smaller auditoriums. Tulsa also hosted star-studded movie premieres. Among them were The Outsiders and the 1949 premiere of Tulsa, featuring the biggest parade and crowd in Tulsa's history. Perhaps the most well-known theater--the Dreamland on Black Wall Street--was destroyed during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Although it was rebuilt, images of the Dreamland in ruins are iconic.

Española

9780738579672

$24.99

The story of modern Española begins in 1790, about 100 years after the Pueblo Revolt, at the colonial settlement of Santa Cruz de la Cañada, the largest village in the Spanish Empire north of Chihuahua. At that time, the people of the region lived in tiny hamlets clustered around the hub of Santa Cruz. In 1848, following the Mexican American War, the U.S. government annexed New Mexico under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Santa Cruz de la Cañada was now American territory, connected to a larger world by the Santa Fe Trail. New energy began to flow into the region. The arrival of the Chili Line railroad in 1880 created a corridor of commerce across the river from Santa Cruz--a portent of the Española to come.

Oklahoma Cherokee Baskets

9781467119825

$21.99

The forced relocation of fifteen thousand Cherokee to Oklahoma nearly two centuries ago left them in a foreign landscape. Coping with loss and new economic challenges, the Cherokee united under a new constitution and exploited the Victorian affinity for decorative crafts. Cherokee women had always created patterned baskets for everyday use and trade, and soon their practical work became lucrative items of beauty. Adapting the tradition to the new land, the industrious weavers transformed Oklahoma's vast natural resources into art that aided their survival. The Civil War found the Cherokee again in jeopardy, but resilient, they persevered and still thrive today. Author and Cherokee citizen Karen Coody Cooper presents the story of this beautiful legacy.

Round Rock

9780738556413

$24.99

Named for a distinctive rock formation that marks a natural, picturesque ford, Round Rock is a reflection of the past. Nomadic people lived here for countless ages, leaving clues of their existence for future generations. Explorers and frontier travelers visited the area bounded by rolling hills to the west and fertile fields to the east. The location became a permanent name on the map when settlers made the site their home in 1851. These pioneers established the traditions that defined the community. Positioned near the state capital, Round Rock has prospered through transportation and commerce. Horseback paths, stagecoach routes, military roads, and cattle trails have yielded to railroads and highways. Within a few generations, the community once known for education and agriculture is now equally renowned for technology and trade. A common thread through it all has been the citizens' pride of place in their hometown. This is the story of a once-quiet village that evolved into a vibrant city.

Cotton on the South Plains

9780738595856

$24.99

Today's cotton production on the South Plains barely resembles the cotton culture of 100 years ago. When cotton first came to the South Plains it was very labor intensive, with every stage of production depending on large amounts of hand labor. The planting, cultivating, and picking or pulling of cotton were all done by hand. Often, the harvested cotton was transported to gins in wagons pulled by teams of horses or mules. Today, due to the many improvements in the industry, most cotton is grown without ever being touched by human hands. The story of cotton on the South Plains is the story of continuous change, improvement, and mechanization.

Remembering Slaton, Texas:

9781609492434

$21.99

Retrace Slaton's history with local author James Villanueva as he profiles one hundred years of the town's stories and its people. From its founding in 1911, through the Roaring Twenties, the turbulent 1960s and into today, Remembering Slaton, Texas, is a look at the rich history of this charming Texas town. Sometimes haunting and sometimes inspiring--but always entertaining--these are the tales and legends that made Slaton what it is today.

Ross Youngs:

9781626191105

$21.99

Though Ross Youngs has been enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame since 1972, few have given his remarkable career its due. Born in Shiner and raised in San Antonio, Youngs played his first game as a professional at the age of sixteen, and just three years later, his contract was purchased by the New York Giants, one of baseball's elite teams in the early twentieth century. Tragically, his promising career ended when he died from an illness at age thirty in 1927. Join author David King in a journey to discover the amazing Youngs as he was and the incredible legacy he left behind.

Pawnee County

9781467114714

$24.99

Pawnee County is unique among Oklahoma's counties. It represents a microcosm of the state's culture and heritage. Like Oklahoma, Pawnee County is divided in half by the cross timbers: to the east are woodlands and lakes, and to the west are the short grass country and the Great Plains. The eastern half of the county was a part of old Oklahoma Territory and is filled with lake homes that serve as a bedroom community for Tulsa, while the legacy of the Wild West lives in western Pawnee County, home of the Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo. A vibrant agriculture and cattle economy made the county an economic center of the Oklahoma Territory. Then came oil and a rush of fortune seekers. Thousands of wells produced millions of dollars in black gold, as tens of thousands of oilmen rushed to the region, along with gamblers, con men, prostitutes, bootleggers, and other ne'er-do-wells. From this colorful legacy, modern Pawnee County emerged.

Hill Country Chronicles

9781596299801

$21.99

Texas Hill Country is a rugged and hilly area of central Texas known for its food, architecture and unique melting pot of Spanish and European settlers. The area's rich history is filled with quirky and fascinating tales about this landscape and the animals and people who have called it home. Clay Coppedge has been gathering Texas stories for over thirty years. This collection of his favorite columns includes his best Texas-sized stories on Hill Country history. From the legend of Llano's Enchanted Rock and the true story of Jim Bowie's famous knife to one rancher's attempt at bringing reindeer to the hottest area of the country and an oilman's search for Bigfoot, Hill Country Chronicles has them all and more.

Historic Austin Restaurants

9781626191235

$21.99

Austin has staked its claim as the seat of innovative culinary movements, and its food culture mirrors the transformations taking place across the city. The evolution of the east side is reflected in joints like Franklin Barbecue, while landmarks like Scholz Garten, the oldest restaurant in the capital, testify to the contributions of the town's college presence and a healthy German influence. Joe's Bakery isn't just one of the town's most beloved Tex-Mex spots; it's the place where the real wheeling and dealing in Texas politics happens. Food writer Melanie Haupt samples Austin's iconic restaurants and the rich heritage that produced them.

Legendary Locals of Fort Worth

9781467101349

$24.99

Fort Worth is "the City of Cowboys and Culture"--and where the West begins. Its citizens highlight the Texas can-do spirit and the determination and compassion to make a difference, to be legendary. When Buckley (B.B.) Paddock persuaded the railroad to lay track west of Dallas, a city was born and so was opportunity. Cowboys like T.J. Ryon rode into town with their cattle. J. Frank Norris preached against the vices in Hell's Half Acre while Jennie Schueber tried to rally support for a free library. Feisty entrepreneurs like Ninnie Baird and John B. Laneri baked bread and sold pasta noodles. "Cowtown" also boasts such notables as Edna Gladney, who helped countless orphans find a home; the Clark brothers, who brought Texas Christian University home; and Claude R. Platte, who bravely served as a Tuskegee airman. These fine folks are just a sampling of Fort Worth's fascinating--and sometimes infamous--characters.

Hip Hop in Houston:

9781609499785

$21.99

Rap-A-Lot Records, U.G.K. (Pimp C and Bun B), Paul Wall, Beyonce, Chamillionaire and Scarface are all names synonymous with contemporary hip-hop. And they have one thing in common: Houston. Long before the country came to know the chopped and screwed style of rap from the Bayou City in the late 1990s, hip-hop in Houston grew steadily and produced some of the most prolific independent artists in the industry. With early roots in jazz, blues, R&B and zydeco, Houston hip-hop evolved not only as a musical form but also as a cultural movement. Join Maco L. Faniel as he uncovers the early years of Houston hip-hop from the music to the culture it inspired.

Snyder and Scurry County

9780738596969

$24.99

Everything is bigger in Texas. From ranches that cover more acres of land than Rhode Island to 10-gallon hats, monster belt buckles, and heart-attack barbecue, even the most remote corners of the state are bold, proud, and full of character. Scurry County is one such place. Following trails blazed by Comanche chief Quanah Parker and the US Army, settlers began moving to this part of West Texas in the 1870s. The town of Snyder was founded as a trading post on Deep Creek, which was made famous when buffalo hunter J. Wright Mooar shot a white buffalo there in 1876. Believed to be sacred by many Native American tribes, white buffalo are rare--only one out of every 10 million. Like the white buffalo, the town of Snyder is an anomaly, a strange combination of tradition and transition. Families who have farmed and ranched here for generations live in close proximity to an increasing transient population of oil field workers, college students, engineers, and electricians. Cattle still graze where buffalo once roamed, but today, many of their former pastures are filled with futuristic wind turbines.

Hudson Bend and the Birth of Lake Travis:

9781626196674

$21.99

Along the picturesque shores of the Colorado River lies historic Hudson Bend. Established by Wiley Hudson in the 1850s, the verdant hills and abundant water attracted scores of farming families. Hudson's example was soon followed by still more settlers, who created their own thriving communities in the area. Discover the evolution of this cherished region and the courageous people who shaped it, from the Comanche tribes and Anglo settlers to the developers, cedar choppers" and construction workers who forged the lake in 1937. Author and hill country native Carole McIntosh Sikes offers a collection of essays that explores a history forever linked with hill country culture, New Deal-era programs and Texas politics."

Hudson Bend and the Birth of Lake Travis:

Roosevelt Dam

9780738558615

$24.99

At 5:48 p.m., on March 18, 1911, former president Theodore Roosevelt pushed the button allowing the first waters to be released from the world's highest masonry dam. The dam was one of the first projects authorized under the Newland Reclamation Act of 1902. The act provided federal money for state reclamation projects and established the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which, between 1902 and 1907, began 30 projects within 11 western states. The confident promoters of the Roosevelt Dam began developing the project at the confluence of Tonto Creek and the Salt River five months before receiving formal approval by the newly established bureau in 1903. As a result of a 1992 expansion and renovation project, today's dam stands 357 feet high and bears little resemblance to the dam dedicated by Theodore Roosevelt.

Central Texas Tales

9781609497392

$21.99

Central Texas is an area as diverse culturally as it is geographically. Bordered by Hill Country in the west, green farmland in the east and Waco and New Braunfels in the north and south, this area has drawn settlers from around the globe for over two centuries, leaving their mark and their stories along the way. From a surprising story of nineteenth-century psych ops at Fort Mason and what really happened to Bevo, the UT longhorn, in 1920 to Mrs. Ross's Croghan Cobbler recipe and rumors of a Lone Star visit by old Abe himself, historian Mike Cox regales readers with over fifty stories about the fascinating people, history and places of middle Texas.

Southlake

9780738578750

$24.99

Of the settlers who journeyed to North Texas 165 years ago, 12 families from Missouri traveled in oxen-drawn wagons to the Eastern Cross Timbers. These families laid claim to land in Peters Colony that was promised by the Republic of Texas's first empresario. The hardscrabble colonists built log cabins and the Lonesome Dove Church, the first church in Tarrant County. Their village came to be called Dove. Later settlements included White's Chapel, Old Union, and Jellico. The Depression hit local farmers and cattlemen hard, and newspaper accounts tell of small-time outlaws passing through, including members of the infamous Bonnie and Clyde gang who shot and killed two state troopers near Texas Highway 114. In 1956, a handful of neighbors voted to incorporate, and the town of Southlake was born. A decade later, city leaders from nearby Dallas and Fort Worth agreed to the construction of a regional airport east of Southlake, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport brought many families and prosperity to an area that flourishes today.

American Choral Directors Association

9780738560724

$21.99

American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) was formed in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 24, 1959, by 35 choral directors from around the United States. They aimed to create an organization that would meet the professional needs of all choir directors. To achieve this goal, they made the promotion of excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching their central purpose. In addition, ACDA strives through arts advocacy to elevate choral music's position in American society. From the original steering committee to today's leaders, this central purpose continues to drive ACDA's development. Among the ways that ACDA has promoted excellence in choral music are national and division conventions featuring the best choirs in the world, awards given to individuals who have in some way contributed to the art of choral music, state workshops and clinics, and honor choirs and commissioned works. Each generation that has passed through ACDA has left its indelible mark. The first generation built the foundation and gave ACDA its purpose. The second generation gave ACDA its independence and voice. The third generation leads the organization into a new and more globally connected world. And through it all, ACDA remains true to promoting choral music excellence.

Hidden History of the Llano Estacado

9781625858863

$24.99

The Llano Estacado, or "Staked Plain," of Texas and eastern New Mexico spreads two hundred miles across what early visitors called "an ocean of land." No other place on Earth is quite like it. Humans first inhabited the area more than twelve thousand years ago. Subsequently, settlers came to convert the grassland to ranches and then to sprawling farms. Every new generation performed its duty at this cultural crossroads, from the trade routes established by the comancheros to the fateful meeting between Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley at Lubbock's Cotton Club. Noted West Texas historians Paul H. Carlson and David J. Murrah compiled and edited fifty-six brief stories presenting the Llano Estacado's heritage at its liveliest and most unfamiliar.

Civil War Blockade Running on the Texas Coast

9781626195004

$21.99

In the last months of the American Civil War, the upper Texas coast became a hive of blockade running. Though Texas was often considered an isolated backwater in the conflict, the Union's pervasive and systematic seizure of Southern ports left Galveston as one of the only strongholds of foreign imports in the anemic supply chain to embattled Confederate forces. Long, fast steamships ran in and out of the city's port almost every week, bound to and from Cuba. Join author Andrew W. Hall as he explores the story of Texas's Civil War blockade runners--a story of daring, of desperation and, in many cases, of patriotism turning coat to profiteering.

Civil War Blockade Running on the Texas Coast

Around Sanger

9780738585055

$24.99

Originally incorporated in 1886, the city of Sanger began as a watering station for the railroad. The Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway purchased land from Elizabeth Bullock Huling and laid tracks that went to Kansas City. Area ranchers could now ship their cattle to market rather than drive them up the Chisholm Trail, which lay a few miles to the west. Among the well-known people who called Sanger home were Marijohn Melson Wilkin and Perle Mesta. John Chisum had a ranch north of Bolivar. Additionally, local citizens such as Dr. Roma Alva King, an acknowledged scholar on Robert Browning; Lt. Gen. James F. Hollingsworth; and Fulbright scholar Dr. Diane Hughes Barentine received recognition. Sam Bass was a known outlaw who found a haven nearby. A 520-foot mural painted in 2008 at the southernmost exit of Interstate 35 illustrates bits of Sanger's past as well as its present.

Pontotoc County

9780738590547

$24.99

Pontotoc County, located in South Central Oklahoma, is one of the smaller counties in the state. The word pontotoc roughly translates to a Native American phrase meaning "cattails growing on the prairie." Dotted with many communities, some booming and others slowly disappearing, Pontotoc County is rich with history. This county was the epitome of the Old West at its most raw and dangerous. Pontotoc's lowest moment came on April 19, 1909, when a band of unknown Ada citizens made one of the most infamous decisions in American history and hanged four men without a trial. The modern consensus is that Ada, the county seat, became the horizon on which the sunset of the Old West was witnessed. Today, Pontotoc County is home to the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, the corporate headquarters of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Holcim Inc., Tornado Alley Turbo, and the Chickasaw Nation Headquarters. This thriving county has much to offer--not only to the United States, but also to the world.

New Mexico Cocktails

9781467135566

$21.99

New Mexico may appear to be the land of a thousand Margaritas, but its distilleries and historic cocktails are complex enough to satisfy even the most discerning palate. Cowboys and banditos alike distilled and drank their way to infamy. Prohibition drinkers masked the questionable spirits with cocktails at local joints like the legendary triple-level speakeasy of Santa Fe that was so secret, it had no name. Though the state had no legal distilleries for several decades following Prohibition, Arturo Jaramillo created the quintessential New Mexican cocktail in 1965. When Don Quixote Distillery opened in 2005, it set the stage for a cocktail revolution. Cocktail enthusiast Greg Mays explores a boozy history spiked with anecdotes and garnished with over one hundred simple recipes for the home bartender.

Weatherford

9780738585499

$24.99

The early years of Weatherford yield stories of trials and triumphs as a rowdy frontier town that matured and became known as the "City of Churches" and the "City Beautiful." Created in 1856 as the county seat of newly formed Parker County, Weatherford was lush with grasslands, timber, and fertile soils. In 1858, the two-story brick courthouse was surrounded by log cabins, frame buildings, and tents. For nearly two decades, the town was the principal supply center for points west and a safe haven for settlers seeking refuge from Indian raids. Stalwart men and women nurtured the development of religious, educational, and cultural refinements. But when the Texas & Pacific Railway arrived in 1880, it spurred Weatherford's stature as an agricultural, banking, and commercial center and opened national markets to local cotton and prize-winning watermelons. The historic City Beautiful is still evident today in Weatherford's picturesque courthouse square and quaint tree-lined residential districts.