Escapees September-October 2022

skp stops

the second fl oor. A room that once served as the court room is fi lled with glorious objects that once graced Jeffersonians’ wealthy homes. Grand portraits of fi ne ladies and gentlemen, gold watches, fi ne furnishings and decorative art fi ll the space offering an even better understanding of the wealthy gentry of 150 years ago. Next to the museum is The Excelsior House, the oldest hotel in Texas that fi rst welcomed guests in 1858. I am greeted by a friendly desk clerk who shows me the actual register where Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes and railroad magnate, Jay Gould, signed in. Other famous guests, she says, include Oscar Wilde, Steven Spielberg and Lady Bird Johnson. “This is a not-for-pro fi t hotel owned by the Jessie Allan Wise Garden Club,” she explains as she shows me into the ballroom. “We have 15 guestrooms featuring lovely antiques.” I continue my exploration by strolling along Austin Street. Obviously, had commerce not shifted away from Jefferson, it would most likely have become a Dallas or Houston-like city. Instead, it is where big city folks go in search of a romantic weekend, to relax and unwind, and to explore Texas history. It’s easy to imagine a busy port where moneyed men and women attended to business, social obligations and ran their households. I stop at several gift shops and antique stores, have a quick lunch at one of the many restaurants and take in the beauty of this city, seemingly lost in time. If you’re looking for a historical, romantic or relaxing destination, you’ll fi nd it in Jefferson. If you go: There are walking, bayou boat and other historic houses to tour and other museums. For more information, check the website visitjeffersontexas.com or call 903-665-3733. The House of the Seasons is located at 409 S Alley St. For more information about staying at the bed and breakfast or taking a tour, check the website www. houseoftheseasons.com or call 903-665-8000. The Excelsior House is located at 211 W. Austin. For more information, check the website theexcelsiorhouse. com or call 903-665-2513. Jefferson Historical Museum is located at 223 W. Austin. For more information, check the website jeffes onmuseum.net or call 903-665-2775. Article and photos by Marilyn Jones, Guest Contributor

port served as the primary entry point for settlers, immigrants and supplies from the east. So, what happened? Where did the commerce go, and why didn’t the city grow? The vast majority of cotton from North Texas, South ern Arkansas and Oklahoma arrived by rail in Jefferson to be shipped to ports far and wide by steamboat. “But there was a 150-mile-long natural log jam on the Red River,” she explains. “When it was dynamited in 1873 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the water level dropped, and steamboat navigation was no longer possible.” At its peak shortly after the Civil War, the city had a population of more than 30,000. Today it’s only a fraction of that number at a little over 2,000. Exploring Further I am so impressed with the house tour and Shirley’s knowledge I decide to visit the Jefferson Historical Museum which is in what was once a federal courthouse. I am greeted by a friendly docent who tells me everything in the museum was donated by community members. There are four fl oors, including the basement set up as a country store. Although every fl oor offers interesting displays and exhibits from the city’s early days into the 20th century, I am most impressed with

CONSIDERED THEMOST HAUNTED TOWN IN TEXAS, THOSE WHO ENJOY THE PARANORMAL CAN ALSO TAKE GHOST TOURS IN JEFFERSON. (JEFFERSONGHOSTWALK.COM)

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September/October 2022 ESCAPEES Magazine