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East Texas History & Cane River Ride Route Plan |
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East Texas History & Natchitoches, La. Cane River Ride
The Ride: A ride of 1024 miles through the beautiful East Texas countryside and along the Cane River in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The route covered scenic wildflower loops around Henderson and the remote forests of Deep East Texas, including East Texas roads FM 323, 782, 1798, 87, 149, 21 (Camino Real), LA 6, and the Cane River Road in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The routes included visits to the Peanut Butter Emporium in Overton, the historic Daisy Bradford # 3 Discovery Oil Well near Joinerville, the Lazy M Biker Cafe in Laneville, the C.E. Rogers General Store in Stewart Community; and, the London Museum and Cenotaph, the historic and moving site honoring the 311 children & teachers who died in the 1937 London, Texas school explosion. The museum includes an eerie display of a 1937 letter of condolence from German Chancellor Adolph Hitler. The ride included a visit to Center, Texas (my hometown) to see the Shelby County Courthouse, the only remaining Irish Castle Style Courthouse in the United States, and visits to Carthage, Shelbyville, San Augustine, Geneva and Milam, including a visit to McMahan's Chapel, the oldest Methodist Church in Texas. Other stops included C.A. Nethery's General Store in Milam and a leisurely ride along the Cane River in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a visit to the historic Melrose Plantation. A special stop included a visit to the Shelbyville Cemetery to see the historic gravesites of Moses Fisk Roberts, my great, great, great, great grandfather, and his daughter Lecy Persia Roberts (Miller), my great, great, great grandmother. Moses was the father-in-law of Frederick Hardin Miller, my great, great, great grandfather. Moses served as a Lieutenant in the Republic of Texas Army and as a Congressman in the Republic of Texas. Note Of Interest: Moses F. Roberts and a small company of Tennessee volunteers arrived in Texas on the 19th of February, 1836, with plans to join up with Davy Crockett in San Augustine, but was too late. Crockett and his men were already at the Alamo. They joined the Jasper Volunteers instead. Roberts was elected 2nd Lieutenant on March 23, 1836. Day 1: From Austin to Palestine, Davey Dogwood Park, Tyler, Henderson; 261 mi., 7 – 7 ½ hrs Hwy 79 to Palestine POI: Davey Dogwood Park FM 315 North to Chandler (Dogwood Trail) Right on 31 to Tyler Hwy 64 to Henderson Henderson POI: Rusk County Courthouse POI: Depot Museum, 512 North High St. POI: Downtown Historic District Lodging: Holiday Inn Express Day 2:East Texas Countryside Loops From Henderson Loop # 1: Henderson Southwest Loop; 64 mi. 2 ½ - 3 hrs From the Downtown Star, take 840, 2867 to Pine Hill Right on 1798 to Minden Left on 95 to Concord Right on CR 3198 Left on 84 Right on 259 north Left on 1798 to Laneville (Great Road) POI: Lazy M Biker Cafe, Laneville Right on 225 North Henderson Better Scenic Option: From Laneville, continue 1798 West to Hwy 79 To Henderson Henderson Northwest Loop; 46 mi., 2 - 2 ½ hrs From the Star, take Hwy 64 BR to 323 toward New London Left on CR 4136 POI: Daisy Bradford # 3 Discovery Well Left on CR 4105 Right on Hwy 64 Joinerville POI: Roughneck Monument POI: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church POI: Pleasant Hill Cemetery (171 markers with same DOD) Right on 42 New London POI: London Cenotaph POI: London Museum Continue on 42 Left on 850 Overton POI: Peanut Butter Emporium Continue on 135 NE toward Pitner Junction Right on 259 to Henderson Henderson Northeast Loop; 49 mi., 2 – 2 ½ hrs From the Star, Hwy 64 West to 782 Right on 782 POI: C.E. Rogers and Son General Store Right on 1797 Tatum Right on 43 Left on 1251 Left on 2658 Right on 3231 to County Line Road Right on 1251 Left on 43 to Henderson POI: Side Trip; Kilgore East Texas Oil Museum From Henderson to Center for Lodging Day 3: Center; Shelby County Courthouse & Historic Cemeteries; Hwy 87; Milam; Geneva; McMahan’s Chapel; Cane River, Natchitoches, La; Melrose Plantation; 228 mi., 7 – 8 hrs. From Center POI: Shelby County Courthouse Take Hwy 87 SE to Shelbyville POI: Shelbyville Historic Cemetery POI: Gravesite of Moses Fisk Roberts, Easyglide's GGGG Grandfather Continue 87 Bear Right on 147 to San Augustine Right on 21 East Detour if 147 road work still in progress From 147, go right on 1279 to Hwy 96; left to San Augustine San Augustine Left on 21 East Right on 35 Spur (McMahan’s Chapel Rd) POI: McMahan’s Chapel Backtrack to 21; take right Geneva Milam POI: C.A. Nethery's Store Continue on 21 to Many POI: Pendleton Bridge, Toledo Bend Reservoir Hwy 21 becomes LA 6 at state line POI: Fort Jesup Continue to Natchitoches Natchitoches POI: Pioneer Pub POI: Cain River; Historic District Get on LA 494 (Cain River Rd) Southeast Left on 484 Left on 493/119 to Melrose Plantation POI: Melrose Plantation Backtrack to 493 Continue on 493 to LA 1; take right to Natchitoches Left on LA 6 to TX 21 West Right on 87 to Center Day 4 : Center to Austin; 272 mi., 7 – 7 ½ hrs Hwy 7 West to Nacogdoches Hwy 21 (Camino Real) to Austin |
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