In this book, the author catalogues 375 black congregations, each at least one hundred years old, in the parts of Texas where most blacks were likely to have settled -- east of Interstate Highway 35 and from the Red River to the Gulf of Mexico. Ninety-nine counties are divided into five regions: Central Texas, East Texas, the Gulf Coast, North Texas, and South Texas.
Once part of Farmington, Southington began as an agricultural community dotted with family farms. Like other towns along the Quinnipiac River, it developed a healthy industrial economy once entrepreneurs discovered that the river and other waterways could be harnessed for manufacturing purposes. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the factories multiplied in size and number. This growth sparked a need for a labor force that was readily supplied by an influx of German and, later, Italian and Polish immigrants. These mills are now gone, yet the history lives on. Relics of the cement industry can still be seen on Andrews Street, and Center Street still provides opportunities to shop and dine. Lake Compounce remains a place of fun and amusement, and Roger's Orchard still flourishes and is now the largest apple producer in the state.
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.
In the mid-1900s, Coatesville was a manufacturing gemstone amid the rolling farmland of Chester County. It was home to Lukens Steel, maker of the steel "trees" that became the first nine stories of New York City's World Trade Center. Retailers such as JC Penney, JJ Newberry, and Woolworth's were large employers serving Coatesville citizens and visitors from neighboring counties. By the mid-1970s, Coatesville's commerce was deeply affected by the influx of shopping malls and big-box stores. Thanks to locally minded developers and community advocates, Coatesville's revival is very real and centers on the arts, boutique retailers, faith-based progress, and handshakes. Coatesville marks its centennial in 2015.
In this seventh edition of Moon Oregon, Elizabeth and Mark Morris return with the energy and excitment they brought to previous editions. Making sure you will have the best time possible in Oregon this guide covers all corners of the "Beaver State," all the way from big buildings of downtown Portland to Umpqua Hot Springs. Self-proclaimed lovers of the Pacific Northwest Elizabeth and Mark have a history of guide writing, but what they relish most is helping you find new ways to enjoy Oregon for the first, second or fifteenth time. They even include updated strategies: • Best of Oregon • Wine Lover's Tour • Oregon Outdoors • Long Weekend in Oregon Moon Oregon is sure to answer any of your questions while visiting the lush locales of Southeast Oregon's Lost Forest, The Cascades Sparks Lake or dining on orange almond chicken at Williamette Valley's Sassy Onion Grill. In a state filled with fishing, foilage, and Fat Tire Festivals you're sure to see it all with Moon Oregon.
