Palestine Things to Do

There are also some antique things and fun hats and boas. Lots of wonderful smells from the soaps and bath salts as you enter the shop. In the front of the store is the Bayberry Clothing Company which have brands such as April Cornell, Faith, and Usinda.

The Texas State Railroad dates back to the late 1800's when the TexasPrison System opened the East Texas Penitentiary in Rusk, Texas. The railroad was opened to transport timber and iron ore. After renovation, the railroad was reworked and reopened in 1976 as a tourist attraction to provide rides from Palestine to Rusk.

The office is opened 8am - 5pm to make a reservation for a ride. Check the website for a schedule.
Prices:
Adult Round trip $16 or $22 for climate controlled.
Child Round trip $10 or $14 for climate controlled.
Children under 3 travel free.

Mark and I didn't have time to take the train ride, but it looked fun. There is also a small gift shop to browse in and lots of pictures on the walls to look through from the early days of the railroad.

This house is quite a landmark in Palestine and was built in 1896 by a native Texan from Robertson County, John Randolph Hearne who moved to Palestine in 1876. Mr Hearne operated retail drug stores in both Dallas and Palestine and also helped organise the Palestine National Bank. John Hearn's parents gave land to him and his new bride Emma Howard in 1883 as a wedding present. The house was built in pine and oak which Hearn personally selected and the red brick veneer was added in 1902.

The house continues to remain in the Hearne Family. Infact Esther Hearne lives in the house. The Texas Country Reporter t.v. series did a segment on this wonderful old lady in 2004, who at 102 yrs old was learning the computer, sending emails and surfing the net. Her instructor was a former pupil of this school teacher. It was an amazing story.

The Masonic Lodge or Temple is one of the oldest organisations in Anderson County and was unofficially established in 1846. For the first two years, meetings were held in members homes until the lodge was built in 1848. In 1859 the masons built a 2 story structure to provide a school for boys with a meeting hall on the 2nd floor. They later constructed a separate schoolhouse for girls in 1852.

This is the 3rd lodge which has 3 floors. The first floor was split into 3 separate stores for rental to local merchants. The second floor was styled as the city's first Opera House and the third floor was the meeting rooms for the lodge.

The Museum which was opened in 1982, is set up in the old Palestine High School building which was designed and built in 1915/16. Some of the exhibits include the railway room, The Fire Department Room, The Reagan Campbell Room, The Main Floor Hallway. There is also a vast collection of business and commercial historical documents as well as genealogy records stored there. Located right next to Reagan Park.

Open : Mon-Sat 10.00 - 5.00, Sun 1.00 - 4.00. Admission $1.00

Martin Hinzie built this elaborately styled building in 1878. He was a local realtor who made but also lost a fortune. The building has had housed many different business over the years including as an architects office, men's store, ladies clothing store, a fish and oyster market and a jewellery store.

The Old Town Mercantile is set up in what was originally an automotive repair shop. There was also an old Mule Barn where the horses and mules were available for the farmers using the Gin. They have a great collection of cottage and cabin decor as well as all the bits and bobs for your garden decoration as well.

The house was built by Judge McClure in 1849 when he moved to Palestine. He was the first district clerk for Anderson County and co-owner of the regions first newspaper, the 'Trinity Advocate' . Originally the house was built as a centre passage dwelling but the next owner, Zacharia McReynolds altered it in 1884 to a U-shape plan. McReynolds was a confederate veteran from Georgia and was held many jobs such as district clerk, county clerk, county judge, tax collector and postmaster. McReynolds daughter married John Reagan's grandson, Colonel Godfrey Fowler and the couple retired to the house in1934 when her father died. The house is still in the McReynolds family.