More July 4th Activities in Jefferson, Texas

Here are a few more fun activities that you can enjoy while visiting Jefferson this weekend.

• Riverport Ambassadors of Jefferson, Texas will introduce “persons in character” at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 3, 2010 in downtown Jefferson. The members in period costumes will recreate the atmosphere of Jefferson during the Civil War as guides interpret the mid-1800’s to bring history to life.
  
  The gathering will take place under the trees at the First National Bank located at 202 N. Polk. A band of merry characters will be on hand for this inaugural experience. You could see Civil War heroes, scalawags, railroad tycoons, clerks, church ladies or steam boat captains. This is a great opportunity to put history in your children’s eyes as the Riverport Ambassadors take you through a stroll of Jefferson history.
  
  Jefferson is a showcase of the Golden Era with many people still living in restored nineteenth-century homes. It is a town of warm hospitality with a rich past.

• July 1, 2010 - July 3, 2010: "The Boyfriend" Summer Musical -An East Texas version of an American Parody of an English Spoof on the 1920's!. July 1, 2 & 3 at the Russell Building, 121 W. Austin St. Tickets available at Blessings Gift Shop, 119 N. Polk St. Adults - $15 -- Child under 12 - $10. Limited Seating. Info: 903-665-3895. Any tickets left for purchase may be sold at door but there is limited seating--less than 70 this time, so hurry! Young people shine in this one! And it's ridiculously silly and lots of fun for the whole family!

Historical Jefferson

There was a wonderful quote in today's Jefferson Jimplecute that I just had to share. A contractor that the city of Jefferson is working with on a water project said that "archaeologists eyes light up when they hear the word Jefferson." I couldn't help myself from giggling a little. When you live in an old town like Jefferson, you get used to living in and around history. You are persistently reminded that many others have walked and lived here before you.

The Carriage House is considered to be new construction even though the house is 100 years old. As we have been restoring the gardens we have found many old foundations, boundary lines, rusted chains, large pieces of window glass, etc. Old pictures from the Civil War show either a church or a house on this lot. I have no idea what was here before this old house was built but I intend to find out. One of my projects for the winter is to begin to research the history of this house and this lot. There are many questions that I have and no answers yet.

Hopefully my research project will allow another page to be written in the history book that is Jefferson, Texas. Who knows what I will turn up.

Historic Jefferson Railway

I have some good news to report!!

A few days before the busy Memorial Day Weekend, the Ghost Train had an unfortunate incident. They boiler on the steam locomotive blew out. The Historic Jefferson Railway is one of the main draws to Jefferson. People come here from iles around to ride on ths amaxing train. Many folks have wonderful memories of the evening ghost ride and the daytime bayou tours.

Well, the summer is not lost. Although the train is not running, you will still be able to have a spooky time. How about a haunted hay ride for fun!!!

Take a ride on the tractor-drawn people-movers through the dark and spooky woods. This narrated ride will take you through a graveyard filled with eerie creatures and ghostly haunts! Keep a wary eye toward the cypress-filled woods and swamps. The backwoods atmosphere, combined with the haunted effects, blend seamlessly to fully submerse riders into a world of ghostly haunts.

You never know what lurks in the shadows on the Forest Ride. Something sinister is hiding there. You know something is going to reach out and touch you -- you just don't know where or when. You’ll be spooked by more than ghosts!

The Haunted Forest Ride will depart Firday and Saturday evening at 8:00 and 9:00 and is priced at $10.

Things to Do in Jefferson for the weekend of June 18th.

We have an action packed weekend coming up this. So if you are looking for a weekend getaway, look no further than Jefferson.

This weekend is the T-Bone Walker Blues Festival in Linden, Texas. The weekend long event in the birthplace of blues greats, Scott Joplin, T-Bone Walker, and Don Henley will bring music lovers in from all over the country. The festival starts Friday afternoon and rocks on until Saturday evening.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has several activities going on this weekend. Collins Academy will be hosting the "Growing Up Wild" program for children between the ages of 3 and 7 on June 15th. This three hour long program will allow the children to explore wildlife and the world around them. Daingerfield State Park will be teaching the basics of the fine art of historic camp cooking with cast iron in the Dutch Oven Cooking class on June 19th.

If you are looking for nightlife then we have just the ticket for you. The Voodudes will be playing at Auntie Skinners Saturday night. This classic rock band out of Shreveport, LA will start playing at 9pm.

In addition to all of this, we will have all of our usual fun things such as boat rides both out on Caddo Lake and the Big Cypress Bayou, carriage rides, mule drawn wagon rides, shopping, antiquing, musuems and tours.

So come on down. We are going to have some big fun on the bayou.

Tips to Beat the Summer Heat!

It is hot! There is no other way to describe it. Summer came early this year, and I feel like we have been cheated out of spring. Especially since we had to endure such a cold and wet winter. I promised myself back in January that I would not complain about the heat this summer but...

The Dallas Morning News printed a story recently titled "8 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat". Well here is my own version but with a Jefferson twist.

• Cool down with some Blue Bell Ice Cream or a Root Beer Float at the Jefferson General Store. Nothing will cool you off faster or make you feel like a kid quicker.


• Go swimming at the Lake O' the Pines. This lake is known for it's beauty and great fishing. There are also some great beaches around the dam. On these hot summer days, a quick dip in an old fashioned swimming hole will do just the thing in cooling you down.


• Take a boat ride down the Big Cypress Bayou or Caddo Lake. The amazing scenery and the comfortable breeze coming off of the water will cool you off in a hurry. Both the Bayou Tours and the Caddo Lake tours leave daily at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.


• Grab a frozen Margarita at Auntie Skinners. Once you cooled off with your frozen refreshment, you can go about your outdoor adventures again.


• Enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine in the patio at Glory Dayz. This retro 50's diner is cool and it is cool.


• Go hunting for ghosts...at night. The temperatures drop at night so the dark is the perfect time to go looking for some of Jefferson's friendly spirits.


• Take a train ride. Feel the breeze as it rustles through your hair and cools you down. The Historic Jefferson Railway has tours at 2.30pm, 4.30 pm and a the ghost train leaves at 9pm.


• Stay at the Carriage House. No need to wonder or worry about your A/C here. All of our units have recently been serviced so that they are operating at the peak of their performance. We also have guest fridge that is stocked with cold sodas and water.

So you see, there really is no reason to complain about the heat this summer and now you have eight good reasons to come to Jefferson.