Monuments & Landmarks
Culbertson Fountain
Crown Jewel of the Downtown Plaza
Culbertson Fountain was a gift to the city by Paris businessman/philanthropist J. J. Culbertson, this Italian marble fountain was meant to commemorate the city's rebirth after the 1916 fire that destroyed most of the city. Designed by St. Louis architect J. L. Wees, it is said that it was inspired by fountains the Culbertson family had seen while in Italy. The fountain took three years to assemble (1924-1927).
Lamar County Courthouse
The March
1916 fire that left downtown Paris
in ruins ravaged Lamar County's massive 1897 Romanesque courthouse and tower, once
thought is was indestructible.
Some Paris
residents requested that the new courthouse be built in the center of its lot
in keeping with the city's plans for wide roads at the town square, but the
court decided that it would be more efficient to build the new structure upon
the same foundation as the old courthouse.
Completed by November 1917, the new courthouse
was built of fireproof concrete covered by rough pink granite salvaged from the
1897 building.
Grand Theatre
The Grand Theater was opened in 1937. It was twinned on December 5, 1980. It is now closed but maintains a tall, unique and colorful vertical sign spelling "Grand" with large white letters in red circles and a blue back ground. The marquee is also intact.
Gibraltar Hotel
The Gibraltar Hotel was once Paris' shining glory, a testament to its growth. Built in 1915 by Richard H. Blyth, Edward Buford Norment and B.P. Bailey, it accommodated passengers on the St. Louis-Dallas rail line - a time when towns had street cars and real train service. Though damaged in the 1916 fire, the owners were optimistic enough to add a seventh story upon restoration. But like most downtown hotels, it fell out of favor with the traveling public, who wanted their lodgings close and convenient to the highways.
Scott Building
Photograph of the 1916-1917 R.F. Scott building as built after the 1916 fire. The architect was J.L. Wees, who had built Mr. Scotts home in 1910. Mr. Wees was called from St. Louis to help rebuild Mr. Scotts' buildings after the fire. Mr. Scott owned this block. The building is in a Neo Gothic style appropriate for a business building.
Babcock Monument
Willet Babcock came to Paris, TX. from Indiana in 1859. He organized the first volunteer fire company in Paris, was an undertaker, owned an opera house and built furniture. He died in 1881.
To some people, his grave marker could look like Jesus in the heeled shoes a cowpuncher would wear, but the issue isn't settled. Nobody knows the art's inspiration, and some locals say the figure is an angel.
Central Fire House
Fire protection in Paris dates to the early 1870s, when a group of businessmen led by Willet Babcock organized a volunteer fire company. Known as Phoenix Fire Company No.1 , the volunteer unit continued nin operation until the city created a paid fire department in 1908. Operating from facilities at this site since 1884, the fire department has exhibited exemplary service in a number of disastrous fires, most notably the great fire of March 21, 1916, which killed three people, destroyed 1,400 buildings, and caused millions of dollars of property damage.Pride of Paris at the time of the 1916 fire was the first piece of motorized firefighting equipment. The Webb Pumping Engine delivery date to Paris was August 1911.
The Cenotaph
The word cenotaph is derived from the Greek kenos taphos, meaning "empty tomb." A cenotaph is a monument, sometimes in the form of a tomb, to a person or group of persons buried elsewhere. A cenotaph is a monument, sometimes in the form of a tomb, to a person or group of persons buried. The Cenotaph located on the corner of Lamar Avenue & Northeast Second Street memorializes Lamar County soldiers who died during World War I. Unveiled on May 30, 1924.
Peristyle in Bywaters Park
