Founded 1872 with coming of the I.G.N. Railroad. Named for site donor, a Confederate colonel, Constantine B. Kilgore, State Senator and U. S. Congressman.
Geographical center of huge East Texas oil field. World's greatest concentration of steel . . . — — Map (db m138956) HM
Commerce Street is jammed with boomers during the thirties. Businesses on this site included a hospital bank, dry goods and drug stores. All buildings along Commerce Street between North and Main Streets were razed.
(Photo faces . . . — — Map (db m139652) HM
Derricks topped 1,100 producing wells within Kilgore's city limits. At the back door of these businesses that face Kilgore Street, the photo shows 24 that stood in the world's richest acre – the greatest concentration of drilled wells in the . . . — — Map (db m139588) HM
This photo shows all buildings except Kilgore National Bank (which was the last to go) torn down to make way for the derricks. Remnants of flooring from the building behind the bank can be seen under the pumping unit.
(Photo faces . . . — — Map (db m139651) HM
On October 11, 1902, the five charter members of this congregation met and formed the Missionary Baptist Church of Kilgore. They were Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Choice, Mr. and Mrs. J.I. Choice, and Miss Lizzie Clinkscales. The Rev. P.J. Vermillion served as . . . — — Map (db m218686) HM
Organized in 1850 as Gum Spring Presbyterian Church in the rural Danville community, this congregation moved to Kilgore in 1874 and later changed its name to First Presbyterian Church. Built as a result of the 1930s oil boom, this sanctuary replaced . . . — — Map (db m138905) HM
Formal education of Kilgore’s African American youth is recorded
as early as 1873 through Kilgore Baptist church. On August 27, 1906,
Kilgore residents voted to incorporate the Kilgore Independent
School District (KISD), which included segregated . . . — — Map (db m139140) HM
Public education in Kilgore traces its history to classes held in private homes and the establishment of private institutions, most notably the Alexander Institute. Operated by Isaac Alexander, the school moved to Kilgore in 1873. It continued to . . . — — Map (db m138964) HM
Led in the town's economic development following the 1930s oil boom. Prosperity in the midst of the Great Depression influenced the board of directors to build this structure in 1937. Designed by Henderson architect James L. Downing, who used art . . . — — Map (db m138970) HM
This bungalow style residence was constructed in 1920 for Lou Della (Thompson) Crim (b. 1868), on the former site of the Hearne Hotel. The farm she owned at Laird Hill (4 mi. S) was part of an oil exploration project headed by her son Malcolm, later . . . — — Map (db m138967) HM
At the close of the Civil War, local African Americans, newly freed from slavery, formed the Mt. Pleasant Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. The Rev. M.F. Jamison served as the first pastor for the group, which was part of the East Texas Annual . . . — — Map (db m139138) HM
The invention of mobile workover rigs made standing derricks obsolete. Photographed in 1969 only one well was not cleared. Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation was founded in 1987 to restore the famous skyline. Today, 12 reconstructed derricks . . . — — Map (db m139589) HM
Before the establishment of public schools, education was provided by small private academies such as the Alexander Institute. a successor to the New Danville Masonic Female Academy, founded in nearby Danville in 1854. The institute was named for . . . — — Map (db m138971) HM
The Kilgore Methodist Society was organized in 1873 after many residents of New Danville (4 mi. NE) moved to Kilgore, founded in 1872 after the railroad arrived in 1871. They erected a school building in 1873 at Martin and North streets (1 blk. N) . . . — — Map (db m218687) HM
The town of Kilgore was platted by the International Railroad Company after it purchased land for a townsite from C. B. "Buck" Kilgore, who had donated a 200-foot railroad right-of-way in 1871. Kilgore, a resident of Danville (4 mi. E), recognizing . . . — — Map (db m138965) HM
Part of fabulous East Texas oil field discovered in 1930. This 1.195-acre tract had first production on June 17, 1937, when the Mrs. Bess Johnson-Adams & Hale No. 1 well was brought in.
Developed before well-spacing rules, this block is the . . . — — Map (db m96134) HM
