Highlights of Marshall Texas Driving Tour

Entries on This Tour

1. Marshall Hall, East Texas Baptist University

Completed in 1916 with donations totaling $80,000, Marshall Hall remains the centerpiece of East Texas Baptist University. the University was established as the College of Marshall in 1912 by Dr. William T. Tardy. Although he knew that starting a new school would be difficult, Tardy felt East Texas needed a college that offered a Christ-centered education. The school started as a two-year college on the property of a former plantation, and Marshall Hall became the first buildings on the new campus when it was completed in 1916. In 1944, the institution received authorization to offer bachelor’s degrees and changed its name to East Texas Baptist College. The school became East Texas Baptist University in 1984.

2. Ginocchio Historic District

The Ginocchio Historic District preserves a number of historic structures including the former Ginocchio Hotel, the Texas & Pacific Depot, and historic homes. It is named after Italian native and successful businessman Charles A. Ginocchio, who built the hotel and one of the houses for himself and his family. The depot, which still operates as a train station for Amtrak, is also home to the Texas & Pacific Railway Museum. The Ginocchio restaurant occupies the first floor of the hotel. Both buildings and the homes in the district are notable landmarks in their own right, particularly in terms of architecture. To reach the depot, visitors must walk through an underground tunnel that extends from the hotel. Next to the depot are two pieces of Union Pacific railroading stock—a caboose and locomotive. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

3. Hochwald House

This attractive home is the historic Hochwald House, which was built by its namesake Isaac Hochwald, who was one of the prominent figures of the city's Jewish community during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The house, which Hochwald erected in 1894, is further notable for its design, which incorporates elements of the Mission, Stick and Colonial Revival architectural styles. It features a large, two-story porch with fluted columns topped by Ionic columns, a red tile roof, and painted decorative trusses. The house remains a private residence today.

4. Hagerty House

The Hagerty House was the first solid brick house erected in Marshall. Built in 1889, the house is also significant for its Italianate architecture and association with its namesake, William P. Hagerty, who was the personal engineer of George J. Gould, the president of the Texas & Pacific Railway. In terms of architecture, the house was designed by Thomas Higgins and built by craftsmen employed by the railway. The two-story house features a two-story porch, a cornice supported by brackets, and segmental arched, double-hung windows. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hagerty House remains a private residence today.

5. First Methodist Church

Located in the heart of Marshall, First Methodist Church is historically significant in the areas of architecture, religion, and, interestingly, military history. It was built in 1861 and is a rare example of monumental Greek Revival architecture in the state. It features a stuccoed exterior (covering brick), a large portico at the main entrance with square columns, a colonnaded cupola, and stained glass windows. The church was and continues to be the home of a Methodist congregation that was established in 1839. In terms of military history, the church has ties to the Civil War. In 1862, Confederate President Jefferson Davis held a conference of governors from the Trans-Mississippi states at the church to discuss the defense and administration of the region. Additionally, the Confederates stored supplies and ammunition in the church basement.

6. Old Harrison County Courthouse

Completed in 1900, this former county courthouse is one of the most recognizable buildings in the region and is home to the Harrison County Historical Museum. The Neo-Classical building was designed by J. Riely Gordon and served as the county courthouse until 1964. The building is known for its iconic columns, towering dome, and the bronze statues that surround the dome and stand over the public square.

7. Telegraph Park

This small urban park is named in honor of the first telegraph office in Texas, which opened here in Marshall in 1854 and was operated by the Red River Telegraph Company. This telegraph office connected the city of Marshall to other telegraph offices in New Orleans and Alexandria, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi. At the time, Marshall was the fourth largest town in the state due to its location on the new railroad through East Texas and the stagecoach service to Louisiana. The telegraph predated the telephone as a means of long-distance communication in the United States, and the growth of the new state of Texas was bolstered by this new invention. The park contains several historical markers that share the story of the Red River Telegraph company, which operated for nearly a century-and-a-half.

8. First Baptist Church, Marshall Texas

While the current church building for Marshall's First Baptist Church was completed in 1953, the history of this congregation predates Texas statehood. The congregation was founded by several men who played a role in support of the United State's annexation of Texas. In those early years, the congregation met at a schoolhouse until the first structures specifically for the church were completed in the late 1800s. To this day, the church continues to reach out to the community through multiple programs, including support of East Texas Baptist University.

9. Starr Family Home (Maplecroft)

The mansion called Maplecroft was built in 1871 by the Starr family, who were very influential in the cotton and railroad industries. The site is comprised of multiple buildings that were homes to four generations of the Starr family for over 130 years. The State Historical Commission has been preserving and restoring the site, which is open to the public for tours.

10. Thirkield Hall, Wiley College

Constructed in 1919, Thirkfield Hall is the oldest remaining building on the Wiley College campus and is named in honor of Bishop Thurkfield, the former President of Gammon Theological Seminary. Wiley College is named for Bishop Isaac T. Wiley, is one of the oldest historically Black colleges west of the Mississippi River. The college was founded as a school for African Americans in 1873 by the Methodist Church and the Freedman's Aid Society. The first college for African Americans in Texas, Wiley began with seven faculty members and 160 students. The college has won national championships in debate and now offers undergraduate degrees in 17 areas.

This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.

Highlights of Marshall Texas Driving Tour

Created by Clio Admin on November 9th 2020, 1:54:54 am.

This tour has been viewed 832 times.

Get a QR Code for this tour

Description

This short drive through Marshall Texas starts and ends at institutions of higher education. The tour begins at Wiley College, an HBCU established shortly after the Civil War and moves on to Maplecroft, one of the city's many historic homes that was also built shortly after the war. The tour includes several historic churches and civic buildings as well as the Ginochio Historic District before ending at Marshall Hall on the campus of East Texas Baptist University.

BESbswy

Entries on This Tour

Highlights of Marshall Texas Driving Tour

Description

Share