FAVORITE town in East Texas? (Houston, San Antonio: fit in, credit, how much)

[Billy444]

BRAND NEW in here, though I have been reading the posts for a few days, and really enjoyed the knowledge and information.

I havent been everywhere in East Texas, however, I'm becoming much more familiar with the north and southern portions the last three years due to truck driving work. A couple of years ago I spent a few days working in Winnsboro and Quitman. I really enjoyed the tall pines, greenery, and hills. I've heard that Gilmer is really amazing, and this coming from a more than one friend I have (who eats up travelin like me). I also like Tyler, Rusk, Alto, Douglass, and Nacogdoches town areas. In fact I am a truck driver. I lived in Huntsville several years ago, and love the pines and green hills.

Yesterday, I left Houston heading North on 59 to Corrigan, TX where I stopped to get some directions. This town was really nice. Big rolling hills, beautiful pines, and greenery. BTW, I love the pines that are BROAD at the base of the trunk, instead of the tacky lookin twiggy (at the trunk) pines seen in some low level areas. Anyway Corrigan was really nice, though as I got deep into the davy crockett national forest on 287 going towards Crocket, I can't tell ya how much I enjoyed it. I usually drive the speedlimit, but just felt like cruisin slow, with the window down on a crisp fall day (like yesterday) I could smell the pine! The trees were shading the road and I loved the town of GROVETON right in the heart of the forest, anybody else? It was depressing when all at once (between Groveton and Crockett about a mile before Houston county or less) the terrain just changed, and it looked like central texas immediately. There was definately no doubt when I was out of the national forest. However, Crockett was really nice (first time Ive been there) and it got east TX lookin again around this area.

Anyone have any PICKS for towns in East Texas that have a by gone era feel, are surounded in beautiful scenery, and anything else you might add?

[stargazer]

My family is from Trinity county and Groveton is the county seat. The court house is beautiful. I lived in Groveton from 11 to the age of 15. If you saw the First United Methodist Church, I lived at the time about 4 houses down from there but I know they tore down a couple of homes so it is now 2. It is a cape cod style house on the same side of the street. My friend Laura lived right behind the First Baptist and next to the Methodist in the red brick colonial house. I use to walk every day to school and from. My dad worked in the rock building right next to the courthouse. It housed his office and the library where I would go constantly to check out books. The jail was on the opposite side. My grandmother lived in Apple Springs right off the road and had for years. Her family is from Nogalus Prairie which is on the way to Crockett from Apple Springs. My grandparents and my dad are buried over there at Calvery in Noglaus. That land was their families land and if you ever get out and read the marker, the story is about my uncle who was shot and killed and buried out there and how the land was donated by my ggg grandfather Alexander Smith. Interesting stuff. I call it the wild wild wilds of east texas. Guns and pioneering was very popular. LOL. Jesse James came through there to recover from gun shot wounds. His 2nd cousin had a home maybe a half mile from the court house going out towards Apple Springs. I remember my daddy telling me that and pointing the house which always had a beautiful quilt on the front porch always. Interesting still huh? It is pretty there but too it was hard on me there. They spanked the kids there quite a bit and it was for anything, and most of the time it was not for causing trouble, which I found the kids got away with. It was so bad and I had fear every day I went to school. I also did not fit in because I was awkward. It was just awful for me and my brother. My youngest brother though was not awkward and he would fight anyone who caused him issues. I was not like that so I had problems. It always seemed like no one liked us because my dad was the chief appraiser there and one particular girl in my class would slap me and get away with it in pe because my dad raised the taxes on her families land. She would trip me and pinch my skin and the coach thought it was funny. Not everyone is backwards there but many are and mean. It was not a place of solace for me.

If I could chose a place that is my favorite to go to, it would be Etoile over at Blue Springs Cemetary. That is where my mother's family is buried at. It is extremely beautiful there with the tall pines. The history there too, it is phenominal. There are indian graves there and old settlers, some being my ancestors over 100 years ago. When I go there, it is a time of reflection and gives me a sense of my roots as well. I would say that is why it is my favorite, although it might seem morbid to others, it is not for me. We have also had family reunions there as well.

[Just Lookin]

Stargazer, I just love your stories. I feel like I am right there with you. Amazing how you do that. Completely from the heart.

Billy444, I am also interested in East Texas. That is the most I have heard about East Texas in a long time. Thanks

I can't wait to see where you land.

[Billy444]

I appreciate the nice comments from both of yall. 'Bound for Texas' its encouraging when someone reads into what Im saying enough to almost feel they are there, thats cool!

Stargazer, I identify with your problems in school. I had some problems in a couple of schools being I was in alot of schools all over Houston. Got in some fights and finally got tired of the 'licks' and stuff, and just kinda withdrew. Thats all over now, and I can go back to the same area because there was some good memories, and those I choose to concentrate on. I know your area was smaller in scope though, might be harder.

Where is atoile at? I guess I need to look it up. I'm taking a job in Nacogdoches starting Monday. I will be gone in the truck Mon-Fri, and back on weekends; may end up moving there if the job works out.

[stargazer]

Etoile is not too far from Nacogdoches. It is on Sam Rayburn too, very tiny community. My mother was born there and my grandmother's sisters never left, lived there till they passed away. My mothers childhood was spent there chopping cotton for 2 dollars a day along side her mother, sister, cousin and grandmother. My mom rememberd those long days and how afterwards, her grandmother would take her , her sister and cousin and walk 3 miles to a tent revival that was put on summer nights and walk the road home afterwards.
My mom credits her grandmother for giving her a foundation in Jesus. She took the time out when no one else did. Many wonderful tales have been told to me about my mothers raising all there in Etoile, very interesting to me. I too loved going to my Aunt Sib's house. They had family reunions there where we played volley ball. It was a nice thing to do.

[neddy]

I like about any town around Caddo lake cause it has a beauty that is not found anywhere else. Course I have family in Jefferson, Marshall and Uncertain up there and went to school at SFA in Nac so I think that area is awful special to. Lake o the pines is something pretty. Heck all of East Texas is nice to look at esp in the spring when all the roses and everything starts to bloom!

[jochrs]

East Texas (every town) is prettier and friendlier than the last one. I have lived in other states and visited many other states, but I always come home.
Every town (big or little) has their share of bullies and just mean people. But you'll find less of them in East Texas.
I was born in San Antonio, lived on the coast in Galveston and in Pascagoula, Ms., went to high school at Austin and Milby in Houston, U of H in Houston. Raised a litter of kids in Houston and Mansfield, Texas.
But I still think of East Texas when I think of home. Lufkin, Groveton, Apple Springs, Helmick and so on.
We are in the process of rehabbing a house in Oakhurst, Texas between Huntsville and Livingston for retirement.
And, though I have never lived there before I know I will love living there.
We met a couple at an auction yesterday who live less than 4 miles from where we are moving and they were very friendly.
When we are at the property working absolutely no-one has passed the house without waving at us.
As soon as we can move into it we will be having a party for our neighbors (though they are all at least 2 blocks from our house).
Just gonna put a sign up and tell them to come on in and eat some barbeque. Bet they stop and met us, cause that is the way East Texas people are.
Bye for now, Jo

[stargazer]

I have 25 acres in Helmick. You must have relatives there is you know where that is. That at one time was a small community but there is nothing there but a dirt road now with a few families still there. We have a man who rents the land for his cattle to graze on out there. Works out well for us, he has been faithful for years and a nice man. I don't know why mean adults are always in the schools there, but I found that they were the ones teaching or involved with the kids. When I lived there too, it was ok that 2 teachers dated the students and marry them( not ok to me). There were though lots of nice people but I found such a high concentration of people who just wanted to stir up trouble. I went to First Baptist in Groveton and it was a place that I felt safe and loved and most everyone there was nice and that was a wonderful influence. Centerville is where my father and uncle graduated from. The school is so small there are about 5 - 10 kids a grade. I remembering visiting where they combined together grades to make a bigger class. If you know where Helmick is, you would know that school. My Great Aunt drove the school bus way back and my Grandmother worked in the kitchen there for 25 years. I did not go there though, I went to Groveton.

[speedoflight]

I liked Jefferson in East Texas. The town is so cute with so many things to see and visit. I love towns with old buildings, lots of history and feels like time stopped. My favorite part of TX is actually East Texas. We'd spent time there during the Fall when the foliage turns gold/brown. The area looks like New England. Daingerfield State Park (in Daingerfield) is very beautiful in the Fall. Daingerfield is my fav among the many TX state parks I've been. It's a must see if you've never been. When the leaves turn gold/orange/brown, the lake is so beautiful. There's very few people there during the Fall, so you get lots of privacy. We also went to Caddo Lake State Park (in Karnack) and enjoyed the grand cypress trees. It's more of a park for the spring/summer when the trees are green and thick.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/daingerfield/

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/caddo_lake/

[Billy444]

I need to go to Dangerfield State Park then; I love the fall. Ive always wanted to be in New England in the fall, but not yet. The closest Ive come to new england in the fall is Waukegan, IL. Waukegan is Close to Wisconsin, on Lake Michegan, and very beautiful in the fall! I remember walking through the woods various colors, and the SMELLS! Man, I felt so invigorated like never before. I would love to experience a fall like that again.

I do need to visit the places mentioned like Caddo Lake and Jefferson. To JOCHRS, just so happens I just returned from a job in Houston. I stayed in the DENVER HARBOR area of Houston. My great grandmother also lived there until around 99 shortly before she passed. I also had a friend from Milby. My grandparents both graduated from nearby Jeff Davis High.