Winnsboro TX Historical Museum

06/17/2026

This photo was published on September 16, 1993, in the Winnsboro News, and at that time the photo was already 32 years old. Now as of this posting on Facebook, another 32 years have passed.

Do you recognize any of these folks?

Corbitt Family Reunion - October 22, 1961

OLD COOLEY LOG HOUSE, for many years one of the stops on the early Autumn Trails tours in its original location off FM 2088, was the back drop for this gathering of more than 60 descendants of the late W.C. Corbitt, who built the house in 1853. This family reunion was held on Oct. 22, 1961 - 108 years after the construction of the home, which through the years had fallen into disrepair. In the last few years it was purchased by a local landowner, who moved it a few miles up the road and restored it to "mint condition." Corbitt descendants shown here 32 years ago are (kneeling in front) W.E. Cooley; (front row, I-r) Gussie Mae
Morris, Estelle Burkett, Lucille Sansom, Aurlia Blankenship and
Kim, Earl Cornett, Nona Cornett, Lanell Cornett, Ella D. Smith,
Leiler Bryce, Ed Corbitt, Dee Corbitt, Myrtis Geary, Ruby King,
Emma Cox; (back row) Royce Cornett, Eduora Massingill, Henry
Massingill and J.D. Corbitt.

Have you got old photos or other remnants of Winnsboro's history? We love to see it and maybe even add a copy to the archives so that we can continue to share the past with the present and future.

Managed by the Winnsboro TX Historical Museum Archives.
To support our preservation efforts please visit WinnsboroTxMuseum.com.

06/14/2026

A lot of history in that flag. Happy Flag Day!

Flag Day is celebrated annually on June 14 to commemorate the adoption of the United States flag by the Continental Congress in 1777. Congress resolved that the flag consist of 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars on a blue field, representing a new constellation. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation establishing this day as Flag Day in 1916, and it was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949.

06/12/2026

✨ Do you love Winnsboro and enjoy meeting new people? We need YOU! ✨

The Winnsboro Museum is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our docent team. If you’ve been wanting to give back to our wonderful community, this is the perfect opportunity!

Think you can't do it because you aren't a local history expert? Think again! You do not need to know Winnsboro’s history by heart to join us. We provide full on-the-job training, and we have excellent training materials right on hand.

Here is what we are actually looking for:

A Friendly Face: You love talking to people and can warmly greet patrons as they walk through the front door.

Good at Following Directions: You can comfortably follow a task list and handle opening and closing procedures for the museum.

Resourceful: You don't need to know all the answers—just how to look them up in our handy guides!

Team Player: You're willing to help out with some light cleaning duties to keep our museum looking its best.

If you are a people-person who can follow a checklist, you are already fully qualified!

📚 Want a head start?
If you want to brush up on some fun facts before you start, our page and website are fantastic places to dive in.

🗺️ Ready to join us?
Help us keep Winnsboro's stories alive! Fill out our online form at www.winnsborotxmuseum.com/volunteer or drop by the museum to grab an application. We can’t wait to welcome you to the team!

06/10/2026

That's a fine looking family in this photo from just down the road. One of the things that stands out to me from the story is that it took two days by wagon to get here from Mineola!

From the files of the Winnsboro News, December 28, 1995

Family of Stephen Albert & Nancy Ella Rouse Wilson - About 1899

This is the family of Stephen Albert & Nancy Ella Rouse Thompson Wilson, taken at their home in the Pleasant Grove Community. The former Nancy Ella Rouse and her first husband, William Alexander Thompson, were married on Oct. 14, 1875, in Pike County, Alabama. They came to Texas in 1877 and were met in Mineola by previous settlers from Pike County, who had made their home in Pleasant Grove, west of Winnsboro, According to their records, it tock 2 days to make the trip to Pleasant Grove from Mineola by wagon. Three children were born to that marriage. After Thompson died in Jan. 27, 1885, Nancy Ella married Stephen Albert Wilson on July 31, 1887. The family pictured here are (front row, l-r) James William Thompson, Hallie Wilson, Emma Wilson, Oliver Clanton Thompson (in the photograph), Minnie Wilson, Lola May Wilson; (back row) Owen Bryan Wilson, Nancy Ella and Stephen Albert Wilson,

Photo Courtesy of Olga Beard McElyea

Have you got old photos or other remnants of Winnsboro's history? We love to see it and maybe even add a copy to the archives so that we can continue to share the past with the present and future.

Managed by the Winnsboro TX Historical Museum Archives.
To support our preservation efforts please visit WinnsboroTxMuseum.com.

06/09/2026

🏺 Do you have a piece of Winnsboro History? 📜

We love uncovering the stories that make our town special! If you’re looking to find a permanent home for a local treasure, we want to help you do it right.

📞 START HERE: Please call (903) 347-2668 or email us at [email protected] before bringing items down. We want to make sure your item fits our collection and that we have a specialist ready to assist you!

🗓 OFFICIAL INTAKE HOURS:
Wednesdays & Thursdays | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
(By appointment only at all other times!)

Protecting the Museum:
To keep our current displays safe, we cannot accept items with mold, smoke damage, or signs of pests. We also generally cannot accept items without a direct Winnsboro connection or large furniture without prior approval.

A Friendly Reminder: Please do not leave items unattended at the door. Our tour volunteers are not authorized to accept donations—they are here to share history, not process it!

Thank you for being such wonderful supporters of the Winnsboro Historical Museum!

06/07/2026

We've made it even easier to support our work with the launch of our new donation page on our website. When you contribute, you're partnering with us to preserve our local history. Your generosity empowers us to grow and serve even more.

Learn more and make a contribution here: https://www.winnsborotxmuseum.com/donate

We are open Thursday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm.

Monetary donations and donations of items and artifacts are what keep the Winnsboro Historical Museum operating towards our goal of preserving local history.

06/05/2026

Edit: We're aware that we could take the easy way out and order a copy online or through other means, but then we wouldn't be able to enjoy the stories that usually come along with the item. Yes, we would like to get the information contained in the article, but more importantly, we want to hear your stories of your Autumn Trails memories.

This is the cover of Southern Living magazine from October 1966. Would anyone happen to be holding onto a copy of this magazine? It featured a story about the Winnsboro Autumn Trails and the museum would love to scan a copy for our database.

If you have a copy and would allow us to do this, you can contact us by messaging us here, calling the museum at 903-347-2668, or emailing us at [email protected].

Help us spread the word by sharing this post to your feed.

06/05/2026

Here's to 85 years of Winnsboro Red Raider history!

Article is dated April 24, 1941 in the Winnsboro Weekly News.

06/04/2026

From archives of the Winnsboro News, July 21, 1994

"Sam Bozeman & His Hunting Dogs - Circa 1920

This sporty looking gentleman is Sam Bozeman of Winnsboro, who was known as a 'fox runner' and it appears from the photograph that he and his pack of 'fox hunters' had bagged 2 foxes on this day. According to the information from Quitman Library that accompanied the photograph, Sam Bozeman 'once roomed with Aunt Hallie.' The card also notes that 'He lived in Winnsboro with his mother until she passed away. He had a brother, Titus Bozeman, who clerked for Perkins Brothers for many years in Winnsboro. He also had a brother, Barto (Barte) Bozeman, whose hobby was raising big mules.' Titus Bozeman was the husband of Winnsboro's first Carnegie librarian, Bunny Bird Bozeman. The Bozeman livery stable and 'mule yard,' which was said to be owned and operated by Sam and Barto Bozeman, was located about where Ken Summers Accounting Office is today.

Photo Courtesy of Quitman Public Library

***Ken Summers' office was located at 310 North Franklin in 1994.

Have you got old photos or other remnants of Winnsboro's history? We love to see it and maybe even add a copy to the archives so that we can continue to share the past with the present and future.

Managed by the Winnsboro TX Historical Museum Archives.
To support our preservation efforts please visit WinnsboroTxMuseum.com.

06/03/2026

Make plans to either participate or watch the July 4th parade in downtown Winnsboro!

🇺🇸 Small Town Big Spirit is coming to Winnsboro! 🇺🇸
Join us for the 4th of July Parade on Saturday, July 4, 2026 as we celebrate Independence Day with a fun 1950s theme and plenty of red, white, and blue!
〰️ Line up begins at 8:00 a.m. in the Barrel House Parking lot.
✨Parade kicks off at 9:00 a.m. the route is 0.9 miles and and easy walk or bike ride.
🚲 🇺🇸 Side-by-sides, bicycles, and community members carrying flags, pulling wagons, enjoying their families are welcome.
🇺🇸This is a Winnsboro community event. 🇺🇸
Decorate everything, dress the theme-poodle skirts, rolled jeans, white shirts, and bobbie socks.
Bring that big Winnsboro spirit!