Slip Into Summer at State Park Lakes
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) invites visitors to take a dip at the region’s state parks to beat summer’s heat. Cooper Lake State Park and Lake Tawakoni State Park in the Upper East Side of Texas top TPWD’s list of swim-friendly lakes. Cooper Lake State...
State Assessment Team Visits Van Zandt Arts District
The Van Zandt Arts & Cultural District Foundation (VZACD) hosted a State Tourism Assessment team May 19-20 for the communities of Edom, Van, and Ben Wheeler, Texas. Attending was Spencer Zamora with the Travel Texas department of the Office of the Governor; Lois...
The Art and Influences of Biggers and Criner
By P.A. Geddie County Line Magazine is proud to sponsor a new exhibit titled Student/Teacher: Works by Charles Criner & Dr. John Biggers May 15 through August 14 at Tyler Museum of Art. The show spotlights each individual’s artistic style while examining Biggers’...
Opal Lee Walks Juneteenth to Victory
By Lisa Tang As a child in Marshall, Texas, Opal Lee loved the playful joys of an elaborate annual summer community picnic at a local park. The older relatives called it “Juneteenth,” commemorating freedom for enslaved people. When she was 10 years old, Lee’s family...
Ancient Road Leaves Modern Tracks: Evidence of Trails Used by Caddo Indians, Spanish explorers, and Texas Heroes Remain Across Eight East Texas Counties
By Gary L. Pinkerton It is difficult to imagine the terrain of East Texas when there was almost nothing across the countryside. Finding places today where cell towers, high-voltage power lines, railroads, and ranches disappear from our field-of-view is a challenge to...
Celebrate Spring Along Flower Trails
The first day of spring arrives Sunday, March 20, just in time to welcome visitors to see nature’s most vibrant blooms across the Upper East Side of Texas. Parks and trails offer stunning views of perennial flowering shrubs and trees while wildflowers pop up along...
The Tall Tales of Ben King Green
By P.A. Geddie Ben King Green of Cumby, Texas, had a sly cowboy sense of humor and with a golden gift of gab told tales of his days with horses and cattle. Despite his need for an audience from time to time, the call for wide open spaces during his earthly trek ran...
Jesse Rogers Was Henderson’s Broom Man
Jesse Rogers was born in southern Rusk County February 11, 1913. He lost his sight during childhood but later achieved local fame and appreciation as the Broom Man of Henderson. At age 10 Rogers began attending at the Texas School for the Blind and Deaf in Austin...
Moving Figures: Martin Creates Captivating Metal and Kinetic Art
By Lisa Tang Graceful objets de art by Randolph Martin spin gracefully in the wind and create the illusion of flying in the air or floating on the sea. He attaches metal bats, dragons, mermaids, ravens, sailboats, and dragonflies to a steel bearing that allows the...
Kolstads Owned Oldest Jewelry Store in Texas
Born February 23, 1823, Soren Kolstad, a skilled artisan and clockmaker, migrated to Texas from his native Norway in 1852. He settled in Palestine, where he opened a jewelry store in 1853. The store has occupied four locations. Mahogany display cases, installed in the...
Blues Legend Floyd Dixon Hailed From Marshall
Blues legend Floyd Dixon was born in Marshall, Texas, on February 8, 1929. He taught himself to play the piano while growing up. He became known as a rhythm and blues pianist, often playing with big bands. Some of his songs include “Hey Bartender” (which was covered...
Hearty Beef Stew From ‘The Rose Table’ to Yours
By Katie-Rose Watson This Hearty Beef Stew is such an easy recipe. It’s perfect for entertaining, since it’s inexpensive, flavorful, and a one-pot wonder. A tablespoon of balsamic, bay leaves, and great wine (I used Marl, a Merlot and Syrah blend) transform this dish...
Coming Summer 2025
County Line Magazine archives are going to The Portal to Texas History, a gateway to rare, historical, and primary source materials from or about Texas. Look for the County Line issues there soon.