Marker Inscription
Started by William Forster in 1880, the "Messenger" was published in Paradise (10 miles southwest) and Alvord (11 miles northwest) before a permanent move to Decatur in 1885. Early editions included poems, love stories, and lists of strayed animals and mail at the dead letter office. N. W. and H. A. Halcomb became the owners in 1894. Two of their staff members, Marvin Smith and R. E. "Dick" Collins, bought the paper in 1907. A correspondent during the Spanish-American War, Collins worked on the staff for 40 years. Mergers with Decatur papers include the "Post" (1890), "News" (1935), and "News Review" (1940). (1981)
About this site
Wise County Messenger is a historical marker in Decatur, Wise County, dedicated in 1981. It is one of 91 historical markers documented in Wise County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 162 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 33.2333, -97.5864 near Decatur. The nearest cataloged historic site is Stone Prison, Old (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Wise County, C.S.A., Terrell, Charles Vernon, and Captain George Stevens.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5497005875. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
