Interesting Notes on Groesbeck and Limestone County
Groesbeck is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. The Groesbeck Heritage Festival on May 28, 29, 30 will be held to celebrate this milestone for Groesbeck.
Given below are some rather interesting facts about Groesbeck and Limestone County. Please watch for more articles on Groesbeck and its past in the coming weeks.
Limestone County was organized as a county in 1846. The Limestone County area is historically known for the settlement of the Parker’s Fort area. Parker’s Fort is now known for Fort Parker or Old Fort Parker.
On May 19, 1846, Parker’s Fort was attacked by a band of Comanche and Kiowa Indians. Many of the settlers escaped. Those killed were buried in a communal grave in a nearby area. That area is now Fort Parker Memorial Park. A large marker is placed at the gravesite of those killed at Parker’s Fort. The famed Cynthia Ann Parker was captured by the Indians. She was about 9 years old at the time. Her son, Chief Quanah Parker, is known as the last chief of the Comanche Indians. A monument honoring Cynthia Ann and her parents is located in Fort Park Memorial Park.
Springfield was the first county seat of Limestone County. Springfield is near the Navasota River. The town was located near the presentday Fort Parker State Park. In fact, the old Springfield Cemetery is in the boundaries of Fort Parker State Park. When the railroads came to this area, the Houston & Texas Central Railroad bypassed Springfield. This caused the population of this town to decline. The county government was moved to Groesbeck in December of 1873. Four courthouses were built in Springfield, and two of these buildings burned.
The coming of the railroad brought the creation of Groesbeck, Thornton, Kosse, and to some degree Mexia. The railroad greatly affected the beginnings of these towns.
Groesbeck was dedicated on Feb. 20, 1871. The town was named for Abraham Groesbeeck, a director of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad. The postal service changed the name to just Groesbeck by dropping one of the e’s. This change was made about 1900. Groesbeck became the county of Limestone County on December 20, 1873. Four courthouses have been built in Groesbeck with one of them being destroyed by fire. The present courthouse was built in 1924 and is considered one of the most attractive courthouses in the State. Groesbeck has a very beautiful city park and located in the city park is the Groesbeck Municipal Swimming Pool which was built in 1924. This swimming pool is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, municipal swimming pools in Texas. Over the years, the City of Groesbeck has kept the pool and park in very good condition. Mexia is the largest town in
Limestone County, and it has had a very interesting history including its oil boom history. During World War II Mexia was the home of a German Prisoner of War Camp. After the camp disbanded. The campus became the home of the Mexia State School, now the Mexia State Supported Living Center.
The cities of Thornton and Kosse in south Limestone County have very interesting histories. Kosse experienced a brief oil boom in the 1920s.
The city of Coolidge in northwestern Limestone County has a very interesting history.
Tehuacana in the northern part of Limestone County also has a very interesting history. Tehuacana was the home of Westminster College. The college closed in 1950, but buildings on the historic campus are still there. Tehuacana was the original home of Trinity University which is now located in San Antonio. Trinity is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. It is understood that observance at its original home in Tehuacana may be held later this year.
Limestone County has many interesting communities and attractions. Various crops and cattle are raised in the county.
Lake Limestone was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The lake has become a very popular attraction with many nice lake homes located at various points on the lake.
Attractions in the county include Lake Limestone, Fort Parker State Park and lake, Lake Mexia, Old Fort Parker, the Confederate Reunion Grounds, and the Limestone County Historical Museum in Groesbeck. Both Groesbeck and Mexia have excellent municipal libraries.
One of the county’s biggest attractions in the summer is going to the Point Enterprise community and buying some delicious Point Enterprise peaches.
Limestone County is a great to visit and a great place to live. Come and visit us.