Grover C. Garrett Cabin - Cookville, Texas - (Photo BG-0005)
This photo was simply labeled "Gaston's, G.C. Garrett". Mr. Jack Huffman, who grew up in Cookville, recognized this cabin as the one that Grover Cleveland Garrett built immediately north of his residence to house his extensive bottle collection and some antiques.
Grover Cleveland Garrett was engaged in the hardware and furniture business for about 50 years. In the late 1920s, Garrett began the collection for a fair held at Cookville, and built the authentic log cabin to house the antiques. Mr. Garrett died January 15, 1957 at age 73.
In August, 1965, Mr. Garrett's daughters, Mrs. Gordon Box of Tyler, Mrs. Ray Walker of Daingerfield, Mrs. Mary Belle Leonburger of Cookville; his granddaughters, Miss Sara Ann Walker and Miss Mary Lou Walker of Daingerfield; and his grandson 1st Lieutenant George Leonburger, U.S. Army, Ft. Eustace, Virginia donated the bottle collection and spinning wheels, a loom, and many antique items of furniture to the Titus County Historical Survey Committee.
The Titus County Historical Survey Committee, of which Traylor Russell was chairman, planned to add the collection to other items gathered for a museum of the county's history. A full-fledged museum has never materialized, but some of the items are on display in the basement of the Mt. Pleasant Public Library and are shown on their page under the "Museums" topic.
Mr. Huffman thinks the name "Gaston" identified with the photo was C. C. Gaston, the Cotton Belt Railroad depot agent in the 1930s or perhaps earlier. Possibly the photo came from his collection.
We appreciate Mr. Huffman for identifying this photo for us.
