Quitman, small as it is, will catch your eye. With just a little over two thousand inhabitants, it more than qualifies as a small town, yet it is nothing to snooze about. Quitman is well known throughout the state. It is off the beaten path, away from highways and interstates, away from the railroad. And still...
Quitman is a county seat, and at its center you'll find a court house, quaint or imposing, depending on your viewing angle. The Wood County Court House is in full use and forms a proper square, around which traffic snakes in a series of awkward three-way stops. A driver's license office is nearby, but the jail hides behind a row of stores. As is expected with so much legal happenings, the square is flanked by numerous law offices. If you need a lawyer, you will certainly find one here.
Down the road a block, three flags fly in front of the electric company and directly across from there, you'll find Governor Jim Hogg City Park, which once housed a quaint museum of the Hogg family, Governor Hogg, whose lucrative political career began in Quitman in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, the museum closed down a few years ago, leaving only the park, where festivals and fairs are held throughout the year. The Old Settler's Reunion is the most famous of the festivals, an annual event, now held every summer for more than a hundred years.
On a sunny, breezy day, it's not unusual to spot hawks and eagles soaring over Quitman. The eagles nest around area lakes and have recently been removed from the endangered species list. I couldn't count them; there were too many overhead, but I guess I saw around fifty birds today.
Quitman is old oil country, so you might spot a different kind of bird, patiently pecking away at the buried black gold. Some of the old wells are dry now, and the pumps stopped moving. Like scarecrows, they poke into the evening sky.
Drive past the court house, out toward Yantis a few miles on Highway 154 and you'll eventually run into Lake Fork, the reason this little town is so well known. The highway is littered with Marinas, bait shops, RV parks, and boat rental places. This is where city folks come to chase big trophy bass. Several tournaments a year lure fishermen from all over Texas and even from out of state to try their luck in catching the biggest fish. The lake remains well stocked. Trophy hunters catch and release, although, after a while, I'm sure even a bass learns to tell a worm from a lure.
Quitman has an emergency room, a small hospital, only a few years old. If you happen to hook yourself with a fish hook, someone will take care of you, so you can get back to your tournament.
Quitman has no night life, that I'm aware of, but you might find some private parties in camp grounds and marinas. If you follow 154, you'll cross this bridge and you'll eventually end up in Yantis, another speck of dust on the map with nothing else but night life, where you can soak up booze and country music, if that is your thing.
Quitman is small, not small enough that you'll miss it if you blink, but you probably shouldn't close your eyes longer than a couple of seconds. It would be a shame not to look though. Where else can you find such quaintness so nicely displayed?
Governor Hogg was not the only famous Quitmanite. Sissy Spacek called Quitman her home before Hollywood fame claimed her. Unlike her breakout role 'Carrie,' Sissy herself was homecoming queen in Quitman high school.
Quitman Chamber of Commerce
Lake Fork Area Calendar of Events
Governor Jim Hogg
Sissy Spacek
DISCLAIMER:
I write about this town the way I experienced it. This is a subjective account and I make no guarantees about the accuracy of my observations. This blog post is for your enjoyment and entertainment only. For travel information, please contact the local chamber of commerce.
I write about this town the way I experienced it. This is a subjective account and I make no guarantees about the accuracy of my observations. This blog post is for your enjoyment and entertainment only. For travel information, please contact the local chamber of commerce.
