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City of Callisburg 59 Campbell Street Callisburg, Texas 76240 Phone & Fax 940-665-9809
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Contact us at callisburg@ntin.net
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History
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Callisburg is eleven miles northeast of Gainesville in eastern Cooke County. The town was near the Butterfield Overland Mail route and on the Mormon Trail. The community was named for blacksmith Samuel Loranzus Callis, the first settler in the area, who drilled a water well for the public. Callis was appointed the settlement's first postmaster in 1873 when a post office was established in Billy Rousseau's dry-goods and grocery store. Then years later, Callisburg reported a population of 300, a school, and some twenty businesses, including a steam gristmill-cotton gin. By 1902, Callisburg's population had declined to about 110, and its post office had closed. At this time, Callisburg experienced a brief boom when residents thought an electric rail line was to be built between Gainesville and Sherman and Callisburg was to be used as the headquarters for this line, but the project never developed and the boom was over by 1905. Photograph of Blacksmith Shop, Callisburg, Texas - Courtesy of Callisburg Community Club
In 1918, Irene Hathaway, a single, traveling saleslady for an encyclopedia company from Kansas City appeared in the county where she learned from a prospective oilman of rumors about tremendous underground reservoirs of petroleum just waiting to be found in northeastern Cooke County. In 1922, she returned with representatives of the Big Indian Oil Company who obtained leases and began drilling on the Bud W. Davis farm near Callisburg. Two years passed with no luck and company officials were preparing to abandon their leases in early November of 1924, but Hathaway persuaded them to continue for a few more months even promising to pay the field workers from her own purse. Just a few days later, on November 9, 1924, Cooke County's first producing oil well came in drilled by C.A. Doudrick's Big Indian Oil Company heralding the beginning of a multi-million dollar industry and a new life style for the surrounding farm community. The discovery well continued to produce until 1970. Photograph of Big Indian Oil Well, Callisburg, Texas - Courtesy of: Morton Museum of Cooke County
Callisburg City Hall is located at 59 Campbell Street, Callisburg, Texas, 76240. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The City Council meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Letters to council members can be mailed to City Hall. E-mails can be sent to callisburg@ntin.net City Council Members Frances West - Mayor Bob Henderson - Mayor Pro-Tem Debby Davis Mike Perryman Sharon McDermott Brent Eugster
The
“Keep Texas Beautiful” movement in the City of Callisburg inspired
citizens to plan for a park in their own community to fulfill a basic
human need for outdoor recreation.
In response to this need, Callisburg community leaders have
accepted the challenge to provide park and open space opportunities to
help nurture the growth and development of their citizenry. Tommy
Parkhill, a former Callisburg resident, made a generous donation of
$25,000 to purchase five acres of land and the City of Callisburg
purchased an additional five acres making a total of 10 acres available
for the park.
The park is located along a creek at the south edge of the
community and is a very attractive location with numerous large pecan
and other native trees.
It has excellent access, being adjacent to a state-maintained
roadway.
In
August of 2003, the City of Callisburg received two grants from the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department totaling more than $80,000 toward
construction of the park.
Tommy Parkhill donated an additional $100,000 and many, many volunteers
contributed their time, labor and materials to help make the dream of a
park a reality for this community. The park pavilion is available for the public's use and enjoyment and can be reserved by making an advance reservation at City Hall or by contacting the City Secretary at 665-9809. A signed reservation form is required as proof of registration on the date of your event. All others may use the pavilion on a first come, first served basis. We ask that you clean up and take with you all trash, cans, etc. after using the pavilion so that others may have a pleasant experience. Have a great time and enjoy the park!
Callisburg Water and Sewer services this area with four water wells and over 110 miles of waterline. City sewer is only available to residents who live inside the city limits. Applications for water service and a list of fees and terms are available at City Hall. Please contact Sam Tuggle - Water/Sewer Operator at 736-9385 if you have questions or to report any problems with water or sewer service. Contact Vanessa Price - City Secretary at 665-9809 if you have administrative or billing questions. Anyone applying for water service where an extension to the City's main line is required, must meet with the City Council at a regularly scheduled meeting and follow the City's specifications for water lines. NOTICE OF WATER RATE INCREASE - Effective January 2008 Billing $15.00 Base Rate $4.50 per thousand 0-10,000 gallons $4.75 per thousand 10,001 gallons and above
Council Meeting 7/14/08 - "Budget Workshop" Council Meeting 8/11/08 - "Public Hearing on Proposed Budget" Council Meeting 9/8/08 - "Public Hearing on Proposed Property Tax Rate"
Callisburg Volunteer Fire Department - 45 Campbell Street, Callisburg, Texas, 76240 - 612-1881 Callisburg Independent School District - 148 Dozier Street, Callisburg, Texas, 76240 - 665-0540 Cooke County Precinct 1 Barn - 1806 Thrasher Road, Callisburg, Texas, 76240 - 665-5674 Businesses: City One Stop - 1772 Thrasher Road, Callisburg, Texas, 76240 - 668-8218 Wildcat Carwash - Northwest corner of McDaniel & Dozier Streets Colorful Measures Paint & Body Shop - 1310 Thrasher Road, Callisburg, Texas, 76240 - 665-2899
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| City of Callisburg website designed and maintained by Vanessa Price, City Secretary - last updated on 06/05/2008 09:40 AM |
