History on every corner

One of the neatest things about working downtown is getting out of the office and leisurely strolling the sidewalks. I get to taste the foods, notice the window dressings, and often have a brief, friendly exchange with a shop owner or a customer.

Since I like to walk, I decided to see how big it is by measuring it in steps using a phone app while I map it out. An informal map just for me.

An actual new map of downtown is in the works by a committee of the Downtown Business Alliance for ‘“eclipse planning.”

I hope you have already heard about the Great Eclipse to move across Hopkins County mid-day on Monday, April 8, 2024! Our Chamber of Commerce is spearheading plans to best accommodate the possible 20,000 visitors here over that four-day weekend! Be sure and mark it on your calendar.

So, I began my walk on the far eastern side of the square, and almost immediately got sidetracked at Briley’s Barber Shop. What a place to learn some town and county history! Mike Briley is a 50-year career barber, and he didn’t always own the shop. In fact, he doesn’t own it now, because he sold it in recent months, but still barbers there.

Mike hails from Saltillo, Texas, a Hopkins County town once known as ‘Twin Groceries’ and which could have just as well been called “twin barber shops.” Mike’s dad was the owner of one of them. According to the Texas Almanac, in 1914, this “new” Saltillo had an estimated population of 350 and a number of stores, several barbershops, a bank, a printing shop, and a newspaper, the Saltillo Signal. One of the most historic Methodist churches in Hopkins County is at Old Saltillo, near the cemetery which was established in 1865. In fact, that church and cemetery are the main features of Old Saltillo, located south of Interstate 30, and an annual Memorial Day is usually held in July. Today’s Saltillo community is located along US Highway 67 East, (the old Bankhead Highway) is slightly north of the Interstate and has a post office, a thriving school district, a cafe and a feed store. A native of Saltillo, Robert G. Cowser, grew up to be a well-known journalist, and he included many of his most vivid childhood memories within his prolific writings.

I realize that my walking map may take a while. On my first day, I got less than 20 steps before going down the rabbit hole. If I follow every interesting side note I encounter, my map won’t be ready for a decade, and many things will have changed by then. Oh, well. I can’t think of a better way to spend time than learning more about the place I now call home.

Your input is welcome! enola@ssnewstelegram. com or by mail at 200 Main Street.