The Early Years
1870 -1889 1871 - Longview is incorporated in May, The first community in Gregg County to do so. A post office is established in 1871 as well.
The former Longview News Journal building on East Methvin Street James Stephen Hogg Founds the Longview News, Longview’s first paper - when he is only 20 years old. Hogg Later serves as governor of Texas from 1891-1895
Forest workers rest beside the fruits of their labor: yards of cut and stacked logs, ready to be transported to the sawmill. Photo from Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin
141 Years
143
1872 - The International Railroad builds a connection between Longview and Palestine, The city of Kilgore is founded the same year.
1894 - May 23, Bill Dalton
leads his famous Dalton posse into Longview and hold up the First National Bank. A gunfight pursues, killing three local men and one outlaw.
1920 - 1929 1920 - Longview
Rotary Club, is organized in Longview.
1925 The W.E. Nunnelee Bus Line is the
first franchised motor bus line in Texas when it begins to offer passenger service from Tyler to
Gladewater and Mount Pleasant in March.
1929 The five story
Gregg Hotel, the hotel
to be owned and operated by Conrad Hilton, is constructed in downtown Longview. The site of this historic hotel is now
77 Years
TOPP OFFICE SUPPLY
the location of Heritage Plaza - where the history of Longview is often the site today of musical performances and other community events.
Early Street Car 1883
Operated by the Longview and Junction Railway Company, Longview’s streetcar system ran from the Uptown Depot to the Junction Depot, a total of .63 of one mile.
1930 - 1939
1870
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1930 – October, Columbus Mar-
ion “Dad” brings in the Bradford No. 3 oil well in Rusk County – near the present day community of Joinerville.
1931 – January, oil is discovered at 3,587 feet at J.K. Lathrop lease near Longview in Gregg County and it begins producing 18,000 barrels
1880
a day. • In April, the first Gladewater oil well blows in one mile outside town in the Sabine River Bottom, and the town’s population doubles to 1,000 overnight. The population eventually grows to 8,000 residents in the 1930’s before falling to 4,454 people in 1940 as the oil boom slows down.
1932
– The current Gregg County Courthouse is constructed in downtown Longview. The original courthouse, which was composed of brick, terra cota and marble, has been removed and expanded several times.
1890
1937— In June, oil is
discovered at the Mrs. Bess Johnson-Adams & Hale No. 1 well in the city of Kilgore — leading to the location of 24 wells on 10 lots at the ‘’The World’s Richest Acre’’ at Commerce and Main streets. 1938— In May, the first official Gladewater RoundUp Rodeo is held in Gladewater. The event includes a rodeo and a horse and dairy show. The rodeo still attracts top competitors from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association each June.
78 Years
SOBOL 1910
WELDER’S SUPPLY COMPANY, INC
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1940 - 1949 65 Years
1945— In June, Gregg County Airport
(now the East Texas Regional Airport) is completed south of Longview. The airport and terminal building are officially opened in July 1947.
68 Years 68 Years
Serving East Texas Since 1949 1501 E. Marshall Ave.
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67 Years
See us for all of your Security Needs
55 Years
Celebrating 55 YEARS Of Service • 7 BRANDS OF CUSTOM HITCHES • GOOSENECK & 5TH WHEEL HITCHES • ALUMINUM WELDING • GENERAL REPAIRS • STEEL SALES • TOW BARS • PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
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1950 - 1959 1950— Robert Newhouse, a member of
the Dallas Cowboys from 1972 to 1983 — and the third all-time leading rusher in team history, is born in Longview on Jan. 9, 1950. 1954— Lake Gladewater is constructed to provide recreation for city residents.
59 Years
A&L Fence Co. Inc. since 1955 Celebrating 59 Years!
903-753-6261 903-297-9990 903-297-9991 5201 West Marshall Ave After Hours: 903-297-2273 Open: Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm
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64 Years
903-753-0324
Fine Arts is created by the Junior Service League of Longview. The museum, which has been located at five different locations over the years, is now located on Tyler Street — in a building that was renovated in 1997. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum hosts traveling exhibits several times each year.
1959— Good Shepherd Hospital (now
Good Shepherd Medical Center) assumes the operations of Gregg Memorial Hospital from the Gregg County Commissioners Court. Today, Good Shepherd has 425 beds and approximately 2,600 employees.
PROUDLY SERVING EAST TEXAS SINCE 1950.
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1958— The Longview Museum of
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1960 - 1969 1964-1968— Interstate Highway 20 is constructed through Gregg County. 1965— City of Canton buys six aces of land two blocks from the courthouse square to be used for First Monday Trade Days — which had previously been held at the courthouse since the mid-1800s. Through the years, the time of the sale has been expanded from just the first Monday of the month to the weekend prior to the first Monday of the month. 1966— Schlitz brewery and a container factory are built in Longview.
47 Years
Tidwell Tire Center
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51 Years
Highland Pines Nursing & Rehabilitation
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50 Years GREGGTON PAWN SHOP INC
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1970-1979
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40 YEARS 2014
Jean Simpson, Founder with Jean Simpson, with daughter andFounder President daughter President Sandraand Braddock Sandra Braddock
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40 Years
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35 Years
35 Years
Need skilled employees just in time? What do you do?
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35 YEARS 903-736-2784 stephenferguson.com
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41 Years
Royce’s Since 1973 Paint & Body Shop, Inc. Family Owned & Operated insurance claims free estimates monday - friday 8 - 5:30 2713 east marshall ave, Longview, Texas
35 Years
Legally You have the Right To Use the Body Shop of Your Choice
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Serving Longview & East Texas • Gridwall, Slatwall and Accessories • Store and Warehouse Shelving • Showcases, Clothes and Shoe Racks • Jewelry and Belt Display Racks • All Types Store Hardware • Mannequins, Forms, Mirrors • Marking Gun Supplies • Pegboard Hooks, Clothes Hangers • Clothing Tagging • Equipment Tags • Numerous Other Supplies •Pallet Racking
1976— Construction of Longview’s cur-
rent city hall and the current Longview High School are completed. 1978— The Great Texas Balloon Race begins at the Longview Mall (which opened the same year) The Balloon Race, now held at the East Texas Regional Airport each summer, attracts hot air balloonists from around the world as well as thousands of spectators.
1980 - 1989
1980— Longview Regional Hospital (now
Longview Regional Medical Center) is founded to offer health-care services for a growing area population. Today, the medical center has more than 130 beds and about 700 employees. • In October, the East Texas Oil Museum opens in Kilgore on the campus of Kilgore College — featuring exhibits relating to the oil boom of the 1930s. Today, the museum continues to draw more than 50,000 visitors a year.
1982— The Historic Jefferson Founda-
tion begins presenting its annual Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes in Jefferson during December. The event features historic homes which are decorated in natural Christmas greenery. Visitors participating in the tours are greeted by hosts in Victorian attire. The tours will continue in December 2010.
1984— Maude Cobb Activity Center
opens in Longview. The facility was a joint project between the city of Longview and the Longview Chamber of Commerce, and it was built debt-free. The center is named for Maude Cobb, the grandmother of Cecile Moeschle, who donated $330,000 for the center. The center is a 40-000-square-foot facility with five auxiliary meeting rooms. It hosts such events today as the East Texas Boat, RV and Camping Expo in January and the Zonta Antique Show in March.
32 Years SONNY MELTON’S SELF STORAGE, RENTAL & USED TRUCK SALES
SELF OWNED & OPERATED BY SONNY & BETTIE MELTON
1985— Northeast Texas Community College 1986, in Rusk. He played football for Rusk holds its first classes ever — for the fall semes- High School and University of Nebraska ter — at its Chapel Hill campus. The college before joining the Indianapolis Colts as a attracts an initial enrollment that semester of linebacker in 2009. 1,396 students. Through the years, that enrollment has continued to grow — reaching a total of 2,923 students in the fall of 2009. 32 Years 1986 — Christopher ’’Chris’’ Davis, a first baseman for the PAYROLL INVESTMENTS* BOOKKEEPING ESTATE PLANS Texas Rangers, is born March 17, INCOME TAX RETURNS FINANCIAL PLANS 1986, in Longview. • Nicholvin ‘’Cody’’ Glenn is born Oct. 6,
30 Years 30 Years • Since 1984
U. S. Title Company, Inc.
Serving Gregg, Harrison, Rusk, Sabine & Upshur Counties
Stephen McDaniel Attorney
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663-1379
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27 Years
Your Future Begins Here! • Data/Word Processing • • Clerical/Secretarial • Receptionist • • Technical • Light Industrial • Accounting • Bookkeeping •
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1990-1999 19 Years
21 Years
M AKE Y OUR N EXT M OVE T O E XPRESS
20 Years of Experience
1992— TSTC Marshall opens on U.S. 59, less than two miles from I-20. Students at the Marshall facility can earn a two-year associate of science degree in such fields as health and safety, information technology, engineering and manufacturing, biomedical equipment technology, diesel equipment technology and process operations. 1995— In December, Neiman Marcus opens a 420,000-square-foot national distribution center in Longview Business Park. The center handles catalog sales and mail orders.
23 Years
W
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23 Years of Helping You Start a Lifetime of Memories RAINBOW REALTY
18 Years
19 Years
19 years in Longview...
First Quality Used RV’s
licensed since 1979.
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2010 - 2014 2000— University of Texas at Tyler
Longview University Center opens its doors. The two-story center is located at 2101 N. Eastman Road. The center conducts more than 90 classes and offers nine degree-completion programs.
2003 — A new all-aluminum rodeo
arena is constructed in Gladewater at a cost of $1 million. The arena, which was built totally with corporate and individual
donations and completed by volunteers, has a seating capacity for 5,000 spectators. The new facility replaces an arena that was part of an earthen oil pit that dated back to Gladewater’s oil days.
1 Year
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A good nights sleep
”
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903-295-8400
1407 W. Loop 281 Longview