Author: Cassie Ham

Crisp morning air and the subtle transition from green to yellow, orange, and red announce autumn’s arrival in East Texas. While there are many ways you can enjoy the season in Texas’ gorgeous Pineywoods region, Palestine is the perfect place to appreciate fall’s beauty. Beyond exploring Davey Dogwood Park or fishing at a nearby lake, you can have a spooky experience at a historic Jailhouse, attend one-of-a-kind festivals, and more. Plan your perfect fall getaway by checking out these amazing autumn adventures in Palestine.

Award-Winning Bourbon and Whiskey

Dark, flavorful, and smooth like a flowing river, Tahwahkaro Distillery’s spirits are world-renowned. Now you can taste them at the source in Palestine. Recently relocated from Grapevine to its new location in a former Coors distribution center, Tahwahkaro crafts its bourbon and whiskey using corn from Valley View, rye from Denton, malts from Fort Worth, and water from Palestine. Try them out for yourself at the distillery’s tasting room or stop by to catch a show in the indoor/outdoor music space or relax on the patio. Make sure to set some time aside for a behind-the-scenes tour of the distillery, which is the perfect time to learn about the ins and outs of whiskey making.

Beautiful Fall Foliage in the Serene Davey Dogwood Park

Davey Dogwood Park isn’t only beautiful in the Spring when the Dogwoods are in full bloom. It’s the perfect place to take in all the beautiful fall colors that the woods of East Texas have to offer. The vibrant hues of amber, scarlet, and gold create a breathtaking tapestry among the trees. Strolling through the park’s trails, you can feel the stress melt away as you immerse yourself in nature’s beauty. The crisp, cool air and the rustling leaves provide a perfect backdrop for relaxation and reflection, making it an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Give yourself a scare at the Texas Jailhouse

The historic Anderson County Jail, also known as the Texas Jailhouse, is a notable landmark in Palestine, Texas. Built in 1931, this Art Deco-style building replaced an older jail from 1879. It has since become famous for its haunted house event, “Locked in Fear,” held annually in October. Visitors navigate through a labyrinth of cells, isolation tanks, and dark halls, experiencing a mix of dread and terror. The jail is reputedly haunted, with numerous paranormal investigations confirming ghostly activity. Jeremy Janz and Sonia Martinez, the current owners, have embraced its eerie reputation, hosting various events and tours that highlight the jail’s spooky history.

The Hottest Little Festival in Texas

Texas is known for its hot summers, but that’s not the kind of heat you’ll get at Palestine’s Hot Pepper Festival (Oct. 26). Instead of that afternoon sizzle, we’re talking about the kind of spice that’ll have your tastebuds feeling like they’re walking across hot coals. A true celebration of peppery heat, the festival kicks off with a parade starting at the Anderson County Courthouse and continues and live music all day long. There are even arts and crafts and a special play area for the kids. Whether you’re competing in an eating contest or you’re just taking in all the fun, you’ll see first-hand why this is the Hottest Little Festival in Texas.

Boot Stompin’ Texas Country Music

Music fans will also love the live music in Old Town nearly every weekend, as well as the Dogwood Jamboree, a Branson-style Country Music Show that takes place almost every month at the Palestine High School Auditorium. If you like good country music and clean, family-friendly comedy, this jamboree is right up your alley. Get tickets at the door for a 7:00 show and get ready for a night belly-aching laughs, sing-along songs, and all smiles.

Fall in Love with Palestine

Autumn’s cooler air and its many magnificent colors are reason enough to visit Palestine this fall, but the destination’s one-of-a-kind events make it even more welcoming. Discover all this East Texas town has to offer and plan your visit here.

“Downtown Palestine is worth saving as a grand memory in our minds forever. It’s full of great history, color, and great worth,” says Palestine Seventh-grader Madeline Moran.

Madeline was announced as the winner of the 2020 Save Texas History Essay Contest. Sponsored by the Texas General Land Office’s Save Texas History Program, Texas students were asked to answer the question, “What history in your community is worth saving?” Madeline selected historic downtown Palestine as the setting and focus of her essay. She writes that walking in downtown Palestine “makes you feel fuzzy, warm, and special because you are part of such of an astounding history-filled town.”

She details the history of Palestine and describes some of her favorite buildings, such as the Anderson County Courthouse, the Texas Jailhouse, and the Texas Theatre. Her teacher, Mr. Norris White, said he left the essay topics up for the students to decide. When asked why she chose downtown to focus on, Madeline said it’s where she loves to be. Her hope for this essay was to illustrate downtown so that people would want to see it for themselves.
Madeline attends UT Tyler University Academy in Palestine, Texas.

See below for a link to the complete essay:

PennyLynn Webb | Jul 16, 2019

Gov. Greg Abbott has made the second Saturday in September Quanah Parker Day.

Quanah Parker, the son of Cynthia Ann Parker and Comanche Chief Peta Nocona, is an iconic historical figure. He was the last great chief of the Comanche people during the difficult transition from free ranging life to life on the reservation.

He was an influential negotiator with government agents, a prosperous cattle-rancher, and a vocal advocate of formal education for Native American children.

The bill, signed by Abbott on Jun 10, was sponsored by Justin Holland, a Texas representative from Rockwall.

“This will mean that it’ll be..promoted with schoolchildren,” said Ron Parker, Quanah’s great grandson. “Children will know about that day.”

One of the reasons for the honor, is Quanah has been identified as a founder of the official state bison herd of Texas at Caprock Canyons State Park. This free-ranging bison herd are the very last bison of the great Texas southern plains bisons herd.

Quanah is also a Texas historical figure with strong ties to Houston and Anderson counties and many families who live here today.

It started with John Parker’s son, Daniel. In 1832, Daniel Parker, a staunch theologian, received permission to settle in Texas. He organized a group of people as part of the Predestination Baptist Church. They left Illinois in July of 1833 in an ox-drawn wagon.

Daniel and the majority of his followers originally settled in Grimes County but later moved to near present-day Elkhart, where a replica of their Pilgrim Baptist Church stands. Other group members went farther west, near the Navasota River and present-day Groesbeck.

Elder John Parker and three of his sons, Silas, James and Benjamin, cleared land in December of 1833 for the construction of “Parker’s Fort.”

John Parker negotiated treaties with local Indians, who were subject to the Comanche.    Historians believe Parker thought the treaties applied to all Indians and would protect his family from any attack.

Comanche customs, however, regarding treaties made by subject tribes didn’t limit the Comanche as a raiding nation. When Comanche raiding season began, Fort Parker was one of many settlements subject to attack.

It was on May 19, 1836, when the Comanche Indians attacked the fort. The Comanche killed five settlers and captured another five, as 21 surviving settlers fled to what is now Palestine.

Cynthia Ann Parker remains the most famous of those Comanche captives. The Native Americans caught John Parker and his men in the open. They managed to fight a rear guard action for some of the escaping women and children, but soon they too retreated into the fort. The Indians attacked the fort and quickly overpowered and outnumbered defenders.

They killed John Parker, but took two of his grandchildren and three others alive.

Historical accounts state that Cynthia watched as the attackers raped other women, and the men tortured and killed the other residents. John Parker was the last to die. He was brutally tortured, scalped and then killed.

The five captives, including -year-old, blonde-hair, blue-eyed Cynthia Ann, the daughter of Silas M. Parker and her brother John Richard Parker whom the Indians led away into Comanche territory.

A rescue party formed to save the captives. During their pursuit of the Indians, a teenage girl escaped.. The others were eventually released in exchange for ransom. However, Cynthia remained with the Comanche for nearly 25 years.

John Richard Parker was ransomed back to his family after six years, but was unable to adapt to white society and returned to the Comanche.

Cynthia Ann received the name Nadua that translates as “Someone Found.” She was adopted in the Nocona band of the Comanche. Although she was beaten and abused at first, Cynthia Ann adopted to Indian ways and later married Chief Peta Nocona, with whom she had three children: Quanah, Peanuts (sometimes referred to as Pecos) and Topsana, which translates to “Prairie Flower.”

As a tribute to Nocona’s great affection to Cynthia, he never took another wife, although it was traditional for chieftains to do so.

In December of 1860, Cynthia Ann, 34, and Topsana were captured in the battle of Pease River. They were reunited with Cynthia’s white family. However, Cynthia did not want to stay and is said to have mourned, even running away once, wishing to return to her Comanche family and her sons. Topsana died of an illness in 1863. Heartbroken, Cynthia, stopped eating and died of influenza in Anderson County in 1870.

Several years after the Pease River battle and after the death of Nocona, Quanah was taken under the wing of Chief Wild Horse who taught him the ways of the Comanche warrior. History states that Quanah received considerable honor as a warrior and joined the Quahadi Comanche band, which grew to become the largest and most notorious of the Comanche. Quanah became the leader among the Quahadi Comanche and led the tribe successfully for many years.

After the Comanche tribes on the “Staked Plains” were defeated, Quanah led his group to surrender to the authorities after the battle of the Great Plains. Their food sources were depleted and they were under constant pressure from the army. They were forced to live on a reservation in Oklahoma territory.

The Quahadis were the very last tribe on the Staked Plains. Quanah was made the chief of all the Comanche tribes on the reservation, and proved to be a forceful and resourceful leader. Through investments, he became very wealthy.

After moving to the reservation, Quanah reached out to his white relatives from his mother’s family. Many of them rejected him at first. However, after much correspondence, they began to connect. He even visited the Anderson and Houston County area, staying with relatives for a few weeks to study the English and Western culture and eventually adopted the surname Parker.

Quanah forged a close relationship with several Texas cattlemen, like Charles Goodnight and the Burnett family. He worked with these men to build his own herds. He also worked to see that the tribe received “grass” payments for grazing rights on Comanche, Kiowa and Apache lands.

Quanah passed away on Feb. 23, 1911 at the age of 59 at his home, Star House, on the Comanche reservation. Before his death, he arranged for his mother and sister to be reburied in a plot next to his own at Post Oak Cemetery near Cache, Oklahoma. In 1957, due to an expansion of a missile base, the three were moved to the Fort Sill Military Cemetery in Oklahoma.

Old Fort Parker was reconstructed to pay tribute to the Parker family and the other pioneer families who journeyed to Texas from Crawford County, Illinois in 1833.

For directions to the Old pilgrim church, click here.

See the original article by the Palestine Herald Press at:  https://www.palestineherald.com/news/historical-figure-with-local-ties-gets-annual-holiday/article_de27b862-a832-11e9-ae03-efd438739365.html#tncms-source=article-nav-prev

My name is Pflitta and I come from Cornwall, England. It’s a beautiful place, but I had a wandering spirit, so adventuring I went! It was on one of those adventures that I came upon a human girl with pink hair like my own. I found myself to be most intrigued by this human, so I snuck into her backpack when she wasn’t paying attention. This led me to being in a fantastic hollow metal creature that engulfed many humans and flew without having to use feathery wings. How delightful! We ended up in a place called Texas; a place far from my home back across the ocean. Even though I was so far from home, I was eager to study this human further. However, I became distracted by the sights, sounds, and smells around me. I magicked myself and flew east. Things soon quieted down. There were trees, hills, and flowers all around me. How enchanted I was and still am here at the Davey Dogwood Park I discovered in Palestine, Texas. Here I have become an avid moon bather, wing washer (even fairies have jobs), and use my sweet home and gardens as a fairy bed & breakfast. Collecting shiny trinkets and gardening keep me the busiest, but I am very a very happy host to my guests. Breakfast is always cupcakes! Come and stay with me sometime as I rarely travel anymore. Thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to see what I have left un-magicked for you to see.

Glittery Goodbyes!  Pflitta

Welcome to the quaint village of the Loblollies, more commonly known as “Pine Fairies”. The Loblollies migrated from another dimension to the area known as “Palestine” about 460 years ago. With them, they brought the first pine seeds in the cones that they wear as crash helmets. It is a little known fact that this is how the Loblolly Pine trees that grow in this area got their name.

I have been observing this species of faerie for nine years now, and documenting my research. This is what I’ve found: The Loblollies are about 70% friendly and 30% mischievous. They love a good laugh and are often playing practical jokes on one another or slyly tying each others wings together and disappearing behind a hedge. They have a fondness for “borrowing” things that are laying around; especially shiny things, as their interdimensional stargate is powered by shimmer. If you’ve ever found yourself missing an earring, a bracelet or a shiny vase or candlestick, it is certainly a possibility that the Loblollies in charge of accruing fuel for shine power have “borrowed” it for their quantum leap. Of course they have every intention of returning the item, but you know how busy a faerie’s life can be.

There’s a saying that goes “Every time a bell rings a faerie gets their wings.” I have field tested this hypothesis and it is in part true. This particular specie is oviparous, and much like caterpillars, the Loblollie babies are wingless when they hatch. A little jingle from the “birthing bell” and iridescent green wings begin to emerge. Once a Loblollie reaches maturity, these baby wings are shed and the adult faeries remain wingless until (usually) a human nearby jingles a bell.

Although the adult Loblolly diet includes garden vegetables and all things sweet, baby Loblollies are fed a regimen of Dogwood pollen and honey; presumably why they chose to settle here in this area. Every Spring, the village elders enchant the Dogwood trees to blossom for the year’s harvest.

During my years of observation, I have begun to understand the language of the Loblollies. Text, which they usually write with their feet dipped in berry paste, resembles Sumerian cuneiform, but spoken dialect is a melodious composition of whistles, clicks, buzzes, and wurbles not resembling any Earthly language. Incidentally, their words for “human” most commonly resembles our words for “bell-ringing blimp”. The Loblolly village is usually veiled in an invisibility cloud, but they have agreed to temporarily put their township on display for this year’s Dogwood trails event and [fairy] garden walk. The Loblollies went a step further and even included signs in English (with translation help from me). They were surprised and delighted to see other [fairy] gardens popping up around the forest and have made many new friends along the path.

There is still much to learn about these impish little creatures, but as long as the Dogwoods bloom, we can be sure that the Loblollies are still with us.

A sprinkle a day keeps the clouds away!

It had been days of nonstop rain in Dogwood Junction, and you could tell by the mood of the town’s fairy population that something was desperately needed to lift their tiny spirits.

Everyone was grumpy! No one was even saying hello as they flew along the streets in the tiny fairy town. The normal atmosphere of love and cooperation had turned into one of indifference and gloom. Acts of kindness in the forest stopped. No one was delivering food to their elderly next door fairy neighbor or checking on a nearby fairy friend who was ill.

That was until two fairy explorers stumbled across the Davey Dogwood Fairy Dust Mine. Just a sprinkle of fairy dust from the mine caused a transformation! The town was back to its kind and caring spirit, and the fairies were filled with love and concern for their fellow neighbors.

Even on a cloudy, gloomy day, with a sprinkle of the dust, everything changes! The skies seem clear and sunny. Moods brighten. Love is in the air. Fairies lend a helping hand to their neighbors. They even reach out to connect with complete strangers and share a good word or an act of kindness.

Although the mine is hidden deep in the forest, it is said that if you stumble upon it by accident, and get sprinkled with the dust, it will change your whole outlook, too!

A garden installation by WE CARE Palestine

Deep in the beautiful dogwood forest is an enchanted home for the oldest, wisest Dogwood fairies. These silver haired fairies know all the secrets of the forest and love to share their stories (and magic) with the younger fairies that visit. Sharing wisdom and life is the way they leave their mark on all who will listen, so they call their home “Legacy.”
The silver-haired fairies have learned to enjoy the little moments, including sugarplum bingo, swinging beneath branches, wearing the sparkliest clothes and spending time meditating in the sprite chapel.

Those who live here truly understand the source of fairy life: the laughter and smiles of children and the young at heart as well as the splendor of nature. For this reason, they invite all who visit to reach into their magical chest and take home flower seeds and a little fairy dust.

“Fáilte roimh ár nGairdín”

“Welcome to our garden”

(Irish Gaelic, ancient Irish ogham writing)

Down the path of past the dust mine
there is a neighbourhood that is fairy fine!

There is a pool and a ladder too,
Our fairies there await you!

Come and find them.
Look to see.
If you may find
Where they may be!

Sometimes they’ll tease you
And twinkle bright in a flash
Other times, they’ll trick you
To blink & its over in a dash

So look to the left, then look to the right
Everywhere you’ll see, are fairies happy & bright

— B & C Fairy Garden

Once upon a time deep in the Enchanted Davey Dogwood Forest where the dogwoods bloomed, there lived a Fairy Village called Windermere. This Fairy Village was unlike any other in all the land. This was because all the fairy’s were ancient and wise. It was known throughout the forest that Windermere fairy’s were kind and trusting to all. In fact, they were so trusting that they accidentally trusted a Greedy, Horrid Giant named Maerceci [pronounced [May-air-suh-kia]. Maerceci was Gargantuan & green. He wasn’t always that way thou. Maerceci was once a nice fairy, but he disobeyed the rules of his village. As punishment for disobeying the rules, the headmaster of his village cast him out to live among the hills by himself. When Maerceci was cast out of the village, a curse was put on him turning him green. Maerceci wandered the hills of East Texas alone and hungry. The longer he was isolated from civilization, the greedier he became. Meanwhile in the Windermere Fairy Village the fairy’s were living life to the fullest. There were activities every day for the fairy’s, so they never got bored. The fairy’s loved playing bingo. Windermere fairy’s were not all about fun thou. The fairy’s were very active by going to exercise every day with their mysticial blue-haired Activity Director Charla. Charla loved all the fairy’s very much, including Peaches. Peaches was Fairy-Rosie’s pet poodle. One day while Fairy-Rosie was out walking Peaches for her daily walk, Peaches started growling. It worried all the fairy’s so much that the head fairy Gregory called a special meeting to discuss why Peaches would growl every time she was walked outside the village. It was decided by Fairy Gregory that it might not be safe outside the walls of Windermere. No one knew that Peaches could smell Maerceci every time she went outside. For Maerceci was hiding in the hills behind Windermere. One Friday afternoon Fairy Gregory decided to take a trip to Crockett, a neighboring village. Before he left he instructed all the fairy’s to stay indoors for the weekend while he was gone. Now here is where the problem began. Fairy-Woody was not at the meeting when Fairy-Gregory ordered the fairy’s to stay inside. So Fairy-Woody went outside to play with his friend, Fairy-Danny. While they were outside playing, Maerceci decided to come down out of the hills and befriend Fairy-Woody and Fairy-Danny. Fairy-Danny was so excited to have a new friend to play tag with that he accidentally told Maerceci the door code of Windermere. That night while all the fairy’s of Windermere were snuggled all safe in their beds Maerceci used the door code and came inside the walls of Windermere. Maerceci roamed the halls all night and learned everything he could about the layout of Windermere. Maerceci liked that Windermere had Fairy-corns and he also liked that there was a pet skunk. While Maerceci was wandering the halls of Windermere he decided he didn’t like living in the hills anymore. He decided that before daylight he would take Fairy-Gregory’s job of being head fairy. So Maerceci went to each room and put spells on all the fairy’s one by one so that when they woke up they would obey Maerceci. Saturday morning when the fairy’s woke up the spell worked and they followed Maerceci’s orders. The entire weekend the fairy’s obeyed Maerceci and the fairy’s never knew a spell had been put on them. The fairy’s did things that weekend that they would never have done if the spell wasn’t on them. For instance, when visitors came into Windermere that weekend, they were allowed in. But when the visitors tried to leave, the fairy’s charged the visitors .25 cents to get out the locked door. Maerceci had lots of fun reeking havoc that weekend with the fairy’s. On Sunday Fairy-Carla had to go to the building to get something out of her desk. As soon as Fairy-Carla walked into the building she knew something wasn’t right. The building was a mess. You see, Maerceci was controlling the fairy’s minds. The fairy’s would read a book and then leave the book in the floor. They would play games and not clean up their mess when the game ended. Fairy-Carla did not like what she saw. Now remember, Windermere fairy’s are wise. Fairy-Carla knew they were under a spell of some sort. For she knew that these fairy’s would never leave books on the floor. Fairy-Carla left the building and immediately called Fairy-Gregory. It was decided that Fairy-Gregory would handle this situation first thing Monday morning. So all weekend the Windermere fairy’s were being controlled by Maerceci. On Monday morning Fairy-Gregory got on his White horse and went to see Wizard Tim. He told Wizard Tim all that Fairy-Carla told him. So Fairy-Gregory on his white horse and Wizard Tim on his black horse went to Windermere. Immediately Wizard Tim knew what was wrong. He knew that the fairy’s were being mind controlled. So Wizard Tim set about walking the halls of Windermere chanting. While he was chanting Fairy-Gregory went and hired a troll-frog to come and be a guard. Once Wizard Tim was done chanting he found Maerceci and put him behind a trap door that led to a basement underground. The troll-frog was to guard the door forever. With Wizard Tim braking the spell, all was right in the world of Windermere. When Queen-Debbie heard of Maerceci and that he was being kept underground behind a large door guarded by a troll-frog she insisted that Maerceci be able to have a pet cat live with him. For Queen-Debbie was a very kind queen with a good heart. She did not want Maerceci to live out his life alone. So Maerceci got a pet cat and all the fairy’s lived happily ever after. And the Troll-Frog had a job that paid him money. The End