Corsicana, Texas

Is anyone reading this blog who grew up in Corsicana, Texas? Did you know that your hometown was named by Jose Antonio Navarro, a famous Texas statesman, who was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence . The county is named for Navarro. When he was asked to name the town, his response was "Call it Corsicana in honor of the island of Corsica, the birthplace of my father." The Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce reveals more interesting tidbits about their famous town. Anyone looking for Corsicana art can see Michelle Rideout's beautiful pencil drawing of the town by clicking on this link: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/texas/corsicana-tx/. These limited-edition prints make excellent gifts for any occasion. Many people purchase one for each of their children and grandchildren. Anyone who grew up in Corsicana, TX and later moved away will treasure one because it brings a little bit of home back to them.

If you are from Corsicana, TX, you surely know about the town's famous fruit cake. Corsicana is best known for its Corsicana fruit cake, baked by the famous Collin Street Bakery and marketed under the name "Deluxe." The cake is possibly the world´s most famous and is shipped each year to every state in the nation and more than 290 foreign countries. I have visited the Collin Street Bakery several times and enjoyed their delicious cakes.

Corsicana is also famous because oil was first discovered west of the Mississippi River in this Texas town by a drilling firm that was searching for water for the growing town. Thus, Corsicana became the first Texas oil boom town. Corsicana was the site of the first use of crude oil as fuel for locomotives. The state's first oil refinery--known today as Mobil Oil was built in Corsicana. The Texas Company, Texaco also traces its origin to Corsicana. Russell Stover Candy Company built its largest plant in Corsicana. Russell Stover is the nation's largest handmade candy company.

Corsicana, Texas is just one of the towns that the Village Prints artists have captured on paper. Village Prints has completed pencil drawings of more than 300 towns in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas and has produced limited-edition prints of these drawings. The originals are pencil drawings, featuring composites of outstanding landmarks and historical buildings such as those in Corsicana, Texas.

Art prints, which portray the historical and architectural heritage of Corsicana, Texas, quickly become collectors' items. Each print is signed and numbered. The prints are especially appropriate for professional offices. Some professional people have collected all of the prints of their particular regions.

Pencil Drawing of Fayetteville, Arkansas

Michelle Thompson Rideout created this drawing of Fayetteville, Arkansas, which was used as a fundraiser to benefit the Children's House, a nonprofit, therapeutic day treatment center for preschool children who have been extremely neglected, and/or physically, emotionally or sexually abused. The Fayetteville civic club that sponsored this project had this to say about artist, Michelle Rideout:

"Michelle Thompson Rideout is fast becoming a modern day Norman Rockwell. Concentrating on towns of the South, she is one of the region's most prolific artists in capturing small town Americana.”

Rideout graduated from the University of North Alabama with a bachelor of science degree in graphic design. Soon afterwards she began working with her father, Tommy Thompson, also known for his sketches of Southern towns.

Rideout's composite pencil drawings reveal a meticulous attention to detail, which gives a delicate quality to the overall print. Her prints have often been used for fundraisers, raising money around the country and receiving greater prominence through features in national magazines.

Rideout has done drawings of the homes of the late record producer Sam Phillips and late author Alex Haley. Because her art prints are limited editions, they represent an investment that increases in value with time.

Super Bowl Sunday Shopping

Girls, while your husband or significant other is absorbed in the Super Bowl game, why not go shopping online at Village Prints? You will find limited-edition prints (published on parchtone paper) of more than 300 towns across 12 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. A few of the towns that you will find on the web site are Bristol, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; North Little Rock, Arkansas; Palatka, Florida; Camilla, Georgia; Due West, South Carolina; Kannapolis, North Carolina; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Bunkie, Louisiana; Yazoo City, Mississippi; Hayti, Missouri; and Corsicana, Texas. These prints make excellent gifts for any occasion; some people present them to their friends and relatives as they retire, for birthday or valentine gifts, or any other reason.

Happy Shopping!

Henderson, Tennessee Drawing

One of Tommy Thompson's daughters, Michelle Rideout, created the pencil drawing of the town of Henderson, Tennessee. Rideout is known for her meticulous attention to detail in drawing and this one is a good example.

Henderson, Tennessee, was founded in the 1850s as a railroad stop on the Mobile Railroad. Most of the town was built around the railroad, but a college caused growth as well. Freed-Hardeman University was founded in Henderson in 1907.

Henderson has had several interesting natives who made an impression upon our nation. Sue Shelton White became one of the great leaders of the Woman's Right to Vote Movement of the early 1900s. She later helped design the U.S. Social Security System under the Roosevelt Administration.

Henderson's most famous son is country music singer and songwriter, Eddy Arnold, who was born in Henderson in 1918. Arnold was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966.

To purchase one of the limited-edition prints of Henderson, Tennessee, please check out http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/tennessee/henderson-tn.

Cleveland, Tennessee Drawing

Cleveland was established in 1837 as a county seat for Bradley County, which had been created the previous year. The town was named after Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, a commander at the Battle of Kings Mountain during the American Revolution. Cleveland, TN, is the fifth largest industrial city in the state with 12 Fortune 500 manufacturers. A few of the products that are manufactured in Cleveland include Coca Cola, Dasani Water, M&M Mars, Coppertone, Dr. Scholl products, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Tappan appliance, Catnapper recliners, and Duracell batteries. Cleveland is home to Lee University and Cleveland State College. Lee is the second largest privately owned university in the state, second only to Vanderbilt. To order a print of Cleveland, TN, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/tennessee/cleveland-tn. 

Adamsville, TN Drawing

Adamsville, Tennessee, is located at the crossroads of Highway 64 and Highway 22 in southwest Tennessee. Adamsville is a thriving community with many amenities and all the charm of Southern living without the big city problems. This town has easy access to Memphis, Nashville, and Jackson, TN; Corinth and Tupelo, MS; and Florence, AL. To order a print of Adamsville, TN, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/tennessee/adamsville-tn.
 

 

Due West, South Carolina

Due West is a town in Abbeville County, South Carolina. Due West is the home of Erskine College, a private Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. To order a print of Due West, SC, please click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/south-carolina/due-west-sc.

Greenwood, South Carolina Drawing

Greenwood is located in the Lower Piedmont region of Upstate South Carolina. The city provides a friendly, small-town setting along with the progressive and active environment of a larger city. Greenwood is the home to Lake Greenwood, Lander University, and Piedmont Technical College. Every year in June, Greenwood hosts the South Carolina "Festival of Flowers." The festival was originally started in 1968 as an outgrowth of Park Seed Corporation's annual Grower Days, and Park Seed remains a major sponsor of the festival. The Festival has also included jazz concerts, Cessna flights for children, world food, a showcase for classic cars, and a dog show. This event draws many gardening enthusiasts from around the nation. To order a print of Greenwood, SC, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/south-carolina/greenwood-sc.

Bennettsville, South Carolina Drawing

Founded in 1819 and named after Governor Thomas Bennett, Bennettsville quickly grew into one of the richest agricultural communities in the entire state. Legend has it that the land was so rich it once sold by the pound instead of the acre. To order a print of Bennettsville, SC, please click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/south-carolina/bennettsville-sc.

Monroe, North Carolina Drawing

My wife Marie and I enjoyed a visit to the beautiful town of Monroe, North Carolina. Everyone we met was so friendly and helpful. We enjoyed meeting people like Helen Thomas of the First Citizens Bank, who is also president of the Breakfast Rotary Club. Matthew Sganga, chef/owner of Stone Table Cafe and Catering in Nottingham Plaza fed us well.

The pencil drawing of Monroe was done by our daughter, Michelle, whose work has been published in national civic magazines. She has been called "one of the South’s most prolific artists in capturing small town Americana." Her interest in art was sparked while she was a small child looking over her father’s shoulder as he was drawing. She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in graphic design; soon afterwards she began working with her father, Tommy Thompson, also known for his sketches of Southern towns. The artist's composite pencil drawings reveal a meticulous attention to detail, which gives a delicate quality to the overall print. Her prints have often been used for fundraisers, raising money around the country and receiving greater prominence through features in national magazines. She also produced drawings of the homes of the late record producer Sam Phillips and late author Alex Haley. To order a print of Monroe, please click here: 

http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/north-carolina/monroe-nc.

Terry, Mississippi Drawing

The area that would eventually become known as “Terry” was first settled in 1811 by settlers from Virginia.  In 1867, the town of Terry was established when the railroad was built through the area. Terry is a town in Hinds County, Mississippi, located near Interstate 55, about 15 miles southwest of Jackson. Terry is the birthplace of the influential blues musician Tommy Johnson, who had claimed to have sold his soul to the devil at a secluded Mississippi crossroads in exchange for fame and fortune, a legend that was later popularized by its attribution to bluesman Robert Johnson. To order a print of Terry, MS, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/mississippi/terry-ms.

Sardis, Mississippi Drawing

Sardis is a town in Panola County, Mississippi. Sardis is one of two county seats for Panola County. The other is Batesville. Located on the Little Tallahatchie River, Sardis Lake is a 98,520-acre water resource development project occupying parts of three North Mississippi counties. The dam site is nine miles southeast of the town of Sardis and is approximately an hour’s drive from Memphis, Tennessee. Sardis Dam was the first of the Yazoo Headwaters Projects to be built. Authorization for the project came when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Flood Control Act of 1936. Construction took 4 years and required thousands of men to clear 14 miles along the Little Tallahatchie River, which was characterized by dense woods and undergrowth, and meandering sloughs. Annual visitation to Sardis Lake tops 5 million people. The lake is popular with anglers and has a reputation for its abundant bass and crappie. Other recreation activities include hunting, camping, boating, skiing, swimming and picnicking. Its proximity to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) makes it popular with students.To order a print of Sardis, MS, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/mississippi/sardis-ms.

Ripley, Mississippi Drawing

Ripley is a city in Tippah County, Mississippi. It is the county seat of Tippah County. Colonel William Clark Falkner, great-grandfather of author William Faulkner, was a prominent resident of Ripley in the mid- to late- 19th century. Ripley is the home of the First Monday Trade Day held the weekend prior to the first Monday of every month, one of the oldest outdoor flea markets in the United States. It started around the turn of the century at the old square but is now held south of Ripley along Highway 15 across from the Tippah County Fair Grounds.To order a print of Ripley, MS, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/mississippi/ripley-ms.

Jackson, Mississippi Drawing

Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County (the town of Raymond is the other). Jackson is ranked third out of America's 100 largest metro areas for the best "Bang For Your Buck" city according to Forbes magazine. The study measured overall affordability, housing rates, and more. The city is named for Andrew Jackson, who was still a general at the time of the naming but later became president. To order a print of Jackson, MS, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/mississippi/jackson-ms.

Columbia, Mississippi Drawing

Columbia, MS, was first settled by John and William Lott in the early 19th century, giving the town its original name, Lott's Bluff. It was incorporated as Columbia in 1819. It served as the temporary capital of Mississippi until Jackson was selected as the permanent capital. Former Mississippi governor and Columbia native Hugh L. White introduced white squirrels to the area, and they are still common in Columbia City Park. In the mid- 1930s, Columbia became the historic “Home of Mississippi Rodeo.” The first rodeo of 1935 was held at Columbia’s City Park and is now known in rodeo history as the world’s first outdoor night rodeo held under electric lights. In 1936, Mississippi’s first permanent rodeo arena was constructed in Columbia. To this day, rodeo remains a popular sport in Columbia and Marion County. To order a print of Columbia, MS, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/mississippi/columbia-ms.

Madisonville, Kentucky Drawing

Madisonville, KY, was founded in 1807 and named for James Madison (who was then Secretary of State). Madisonville was named the county seat of Hopkins County in 1808 and was incorporated in 1810. The courthouse in Madisonville was burned by Confederates in 1864, as they passed through western Kentucky. The policies imposed by the occupying Union armies caused resentment and sparked sympathy for the Confederate cause. Farming was the major occupation in Hopkins County for most of the 1800s, with tobacco as the leading crop. Around 1837 an outcropping of coal was discovered and the first coal mine in the county opened in 1869. Mining did not become a major industry until the Louisville & Nashville Railroad pushed its line southward from Henderson through Madisonville and toward Nashville in 1870. By the early 1900s, Madisonville was a rail hub, coal mining center, and had a large tobacco market. This continued until the 1960s when manufacturing and service industries came to the area. To order a print of Madisonville, KY, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/kentucky/madisonville-ky.

Franklin, KY Drawing

Franklin, KY, was founded on November 2, 1820 on a 62-acre tract of land. This land was purchased from William Hudspeth and was named for Benjamin Franklin. The post office was established on September 29, 1822, with Robert W. Simpson as postmaster. To order a print of Franklin, KY, please go to: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/kentucky/franklin-ky

Bowling Green, KY

Bowling Green, Kentucky, is the third most populous city in the state of Kentucky, after Louisville and Lexington. Bowling Green is located in southern Kentucky, 110 miles south of Louisville and 55 miles north of Nashville, TN. The city was officially incorporated by the State of Kentucky in 1798. General Motors has an assembly plant in Bowling Green in which all Chevrolet Corvettes have been constructed since 1981. Other significant businesses in Bowling Green include Fruit of the Loom and Camping World. The third largest Kentucky public university, Western Kentucky University, is located in Bowling Green. To order a print of Bowling Green, Ky, please click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/kentucky/bowling-green-ky.  

Louisville, GA Drawing

Louisville is a city in Jefferson County, Georgia. It is the former capital of Georgia and is the county seat of Jefferson County. It is located southwest of Augusta on the Ogeechee River. Louisville was laid out in 1786 as a prospective state capital since Savanah was considered too far from the center of the growing state. It was named for Louis XVI, who was still the king of France and had aided the Continentals during the successful American Revolution. Development of the city began later, and its state buildings were completed in 1795. The city of Louisville served as the state capital of Georgia from 1796 to 1806. Louisville's historic market house still stands in the center of downtown. The original market had sections for everything from produce and household goods to slaves. The market square became the hub of the transportation routes that centered on Louisville when the state capital was located there. To order a print of Louisville, GA, click here: http://villageprints.com/drawings/georgia/louisville-ga

Sylvania, GA Drawing

The European-American town of Sylvania was founded in 1790 by settlers' migrating to the area after the American Revolutionary War. It was part of the Black Belt of Georgia, developed for cultivation after the cotton gin made it easier to handle short-fiber cotton. Cotton was the most important commodity crop until late in the 19th century. Planters imported many enslaved African Americans to cultivate the crops. The county seat was moved from Jacksonborough to Sylvania in 1847. Sylvania calls itself the "Azalea and Dogwood City." The area was inhabited for thousands of years by various cultures of indigenous peoples. By the time of European encounter, historic tribes included Iroquoian-speaking Cherokee, as well as Siouan-speaking tribes. To order a print of Sylvania, GA print, click here: http://www.villageprints.com/drawings/georgia/sylvania-ga.