By Brandon Evans | Published Sunday, October 25, 2009
A century ago the Decatur Square bustled with activity. Saloons, inns, dry goods stores, department stores, cafes, restaurants and professional offices filled the buildings surrounding the courthouse.
Over time, as the 20th century wore on, the businesses in the storefronts shifted and changed like the seasons. Late in the century, commerce started drying up like a Wise County creek bed in the summer.
In 1994, Decatur joined the ranks of many other Texas towns and became a Main Street City. Since that time, more than $3 million has been reinvested into the Square in the name of historic preservation. This year marks the 15th anniversary of Decatur's Main Street status.
And in 1996, The Main Street Historian Committee began the overwhelming task of collecting nearly every scrap of historical evidence in existence relating to the Decatur Square. They had the intention of writing a book on the history of the Square.
"The Main Street Historian Committee has been working on this book for more than 12 years," said Frieda Hanley, Main Street director.
The committee scoured Sanborn fire insurance maps, deed records, microfilm of old newspapers, minutes from commissioners' court, tax records, yearbooks, old phone books, family histories and historical books. They also conducted interviews to include first person perspectives and narratives.
A host of different researchers and writers worked to create "A Walk Through Time: The Decatur Square." After years of preparation, the book will be released next week.
"You can see the different styles and perspectives from all the different contributing writers we had for this book," Hanley said.
In addition to countless details about all the people and businesses that kept the Square alive, the book is also filled with interesting anecdotes. For example, in the mid-1930s, a big dance was held in the Greathouse Hotel on the Square's southside. In attendance was aviator Amelia Earhart. She made her appearance in Decatur shortly before she vanished during her infamous attempt to circumnavigate the globe.
The book reveals the people behind the names on street signs and the rich history of every building lining the Square.
It is also filled with color photographs, allowing the reader to view the people and places of the Square throughout its history.
The book will be available for sale Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Decatur Visitors Center at 106 S. Trinity. The cost is $50. It is a leather-bound edition with stitched pages.
