Texas Historical Marker Paper

The route I chose is mainly along I-20 starting from Tyler, Texas, heading towards Ruidoso, New Mexico. This is a route we used to take when I was younger to go visit my grandparents in New Mexico. These were always my favorite trips to take; although the car rides were long, we still had a good time singing to Neil Diamond and laughing at stupid jokes. It has been more than ten years since my grandfather passed away, and we have not gone back since. I chose five counties, starting with Smith County in east Texas, and ending with Yoakum County in west Texas.

First Christian Church of Tyler 4202 S. Broadway, Tyler #7727

1859 was the first known record of a Christian church appearing in Tyler. In 1861 the church, Disciples of Christ, was disbanded by the Civil War outbreak. For twenty years there were no active Disciples of Christ in Tyler. A new church was formed in 1889 by Reverend J.J. Lockhart, a state evangelist. The membership grew and two more sanctuaries were built. First Christian Church has played an important role in the Disciples of Christ brotherhood. http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=5423007727&site_name=First+Christian+Church+of+Tyler&class=5000

Site of Thornton’s Store Southeast corner of S. 4th and Oak Streets, Abilene #4900

Thornton’s store was one of Abilene’s leading businesses for almost seventy years. The store first started as a fruit stand in 1919 by E.L. Thornton. In the 1920’s an actual grocery store was built. With the help of E.L. Thornton’s brothers in the 20’s, the store eventually added dry goods, a drug store, and a feed store. A shoe department, beauty shop, café, and a radio and refrigeration department were added in the 30’s. In the 1940’s, Thornton’s store became a franchise for selling Studebaker cars. One of Abilene’s largest fires in the 1950’s, destroyed the store. The store was rebuilt, and in the 60’s E.L. Thornton died. The business continued until 1985 under the new owner....