Sulphur Bluff

A view of Main Street in Sulphur Bluff, Texas.
About 1843 Selen Stout, an Indian scout and member of an early ranging company, led Old James Hargrave, his four sons and three daughters, to a bluff overlooking the South Sulphur River. The original bluff is three miles northeast of the present Sulphur Bluff community.

Sons Robert Hargrave and Hezekiah Hargrave built a blacksmith shop, wood and iron workshop, and a grist mill. They prepared mill rocks, made horseshoes, horseshoe nails, a unique plow, cards for carding wool, and other utensils. Robert also made the first Hopkins County seal and built a toll bridge on the South Sulphur river, near his mill.

Many call Robert Hargrave the Father of Sulphur Bluff. When he moved three miles southwest of the old bluff Robert also moved the post office and thus the name Sulphur Bluff with him. Then Robert sold town lots and gave land for the Methodist Church and Masonic Lodge.

In 1884 Sulphur Bluff, population 250, had a steam grist mill, three cotton gins, two general stores, a lumber yard, three churches and a school. There were also three physicians, a carpenter, and two blacksmiths.

In 1914 Sulphur Bluff boasted a farm implement company, a cotton gin and grist mill, three physicians, a garage, general store, two blacksmiths, a lumberyard, three churches, a bank, a hotel, a meat market and restaurant, a hotel, a notions store, a drug and grocery store, a men's furnishings and grocery store, a furniture and general store, a telephone exchange, and Sulphur Oil and Gas Company.
Main Street Sulphur Bluff Texas circa 1912. Hinnant's store is on the right. The Big Oak Tree can be seen in the background.
The Old Bluff, original site of the community of Sulphur Bluff.
Sulphur Bluff about 1870. The building on the left housed the school and the Masonic Lodge. The building on the right was home to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
The Gregg-Smith home place was located halfway between The Old Bluff and present day Sulphur Bluff. The two log rooms, on the first floor, were built by Jacob Gregg in the late 1850s. After Mr. Gregg's death the home was sold to James Smith in 1873. Two rooms were built upstairs and at the back of the house. This house is currently located in Heritage Park in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Posey Store, in Sulphur Bluff, could have been built as early as the 1860s. The store burned in 1907. Signs read "New Molasses Here", "This contest ends Oct. 1, 1905", and "50 cents gas purchase entitles you to a guess at the contents of the bottle. The lucky one gets a $40.00 saddle."
Early Sulphur Bluff post office.
Picnicking at the Old Bluff about 1923.
Dawson Cotton Gin circa 1890.
Do you have pictures, recollections, or stories of historic Sulphur Bluff that you would like to share? Email or call us with your photos and recollections.
Some of the text and images on this web site were used with the
gracious permission of the Hopkins County Historical Society.
Thank you!
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Last Modified: 08/21/2006 3:23 PM