Hopkins Co. TX - The Passing of Cumby Land Mark - R.W. Harris Submitted by: June E. Tuck ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. R. W. Harris - The Passing of Cumby Land Mark June 7, 1932 In the burning of the City Hotel about midnight Friday night, one of the historic landmarks of old Black Jack Grove was destroyed. This well known hostelry was erected in the summer of 1885, by R. R. Williams, who at its completion gave a supper and dance, for which he charged $1.50 a head, taking in $150.00 in cash receipts on the occasion. It is quite reasonable to suppose that many of the social set of that day were present from Sulphur springs, as well as from Cow Hill (now Commerce) and other adjacent suburban towns. The building was noticed to be on fire in the upper story shortly after midnight by our efficient night watchman, Dan Rippy, who immediately gave alarm and although the fire boys responded promptly and labored heroically, yet before the fire was placed under control, the house was damaged beyond repair and is practically a total loss. t the time of the fire, it was occupied by H. C. Mathis and family as a home, but it had not been operated as a hotel for the past couple years. When one recalls the many years that elapsed since its erection, it brings vividly to mind many names of men, once prominent in this county and state, who have been quest within its walls during the years that are passed and gone. Most of the prominent men of Sulphur Springs have enjoyed its hospitality, especially those of the long ago. Amongst these prominent citizens might be mentioned - John W. Cranford, Scurry Christian, J. C. and J. W. Evera, W. J. Cline, Frank Gafford, W. B. Loving, Basom Sherman, Gus Garrison, R. B. Keasler, Howard Templeton, B. W. Foster, J. H. Dinsmore, bill Leach, Jno. T. Hargrove, Phil Foscue, C. O. James, and many more. Of those with state-wide reputations have been Congressman John Sheppard, Dick Wynne, Dick Hubbard, Thomas H. Bell, Joseph W. Bailey, O. B. Colquitt, Jas. E. Ferguson, Wm. Hobby, Pat Neff, Cyclone Davis and dozens of others who are known all over the state. During the coarse of the past 42 years the writer has boarded there for months at a time. When we first came here, W. F. Mahaffey was conducting the hotel and we ate several times with him and with every change of administration, we have given them more of less business. The late O. B. English took charge of the place in the fall of 1890, and we were regular boarder with him until he left it in the summer of 1891. There has been many joyous occasions when extra special meals were given and hilarity and joy reigned supreme and again deaths have been recorded inside its spacious rooms. The late Robert N. Holderness died there in August of 1905, and both Sam S. Mathews and his good wife breathed their last in the old hotel, and there have also been other deaths. After the building was completed, Mr. Williams used it as a hotel for about a month, when he sold it out to the late Dr. Bays who ran it successfully for quite a while. To recount the different people who have been in charge of the place would probably not be interesting to many, yet the writer has intimately known them all with the exception of from 1885 until the early part of 1890, which was prior to our arriving here. While not offering much in the way of style or pretentious fittings, it was known far and wide as a splendid place to get a good old-fashioned meal^Òs victuals devoid of any unnecessary put-on and hundreds of people still living will recall with a degree of pleasure meals.