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 This
is one of the highlights of the Summer
Season in Waxahachie Texas. The citizens of Waxahachie graciously open
their historic homes to visitors during the Gingerbread Trail. The
tour began 37 years ago to showcase the unique surviving homes and
public buildings designed and constructed during the era of the ornate
gingerbread style. Before the turn of the Century and well into the 20's, the
town of Waxahachie and Ellis County were among the most wealthy and influential
areas in Texas. Cotton was KING. The rich dark earth of the black land
region of Texas produced tremendous crops of cotton which led to the growth
of all sorts of assorted industry and commerce for the area.
With this newfound wealth, many of the businessmen,
farmers, bankers and industrialists during this time built large beautiful homes
for their families. Many beautiful public buildings
were constructed in the city as well.
The Great Depression dealt Ellis county and the cotton industry
a devastating blow. Many farmers and businesses went
bankrupt. Most people could not accept the fact that the unbelievable
prosperity of the past 50 years had come to an end.
From around 1929 to the 1970's, nothing much changed 
in Waxahachie and
Ellis county. Very little new
industry sprang up. Many believed that PROGRESS had completely passed them
by. The bank robbers, Bonnie and Clyde, had even visited the local bank in the
30's but left
with very little.
During this time in Texas, many towns experienced change
with new growth and new industry. But it also took something away.
That progress erased their past. Many historic structures lost out to the
developers and land speculators. Many towns lost those things which had made
them great. They lost their history and their identity!
Ironically, in Waxahachie, this absent of progress
preserved many of the historic buildings and homes. There were some
unfortunate losses nevertheless and some of
the historic structures were lost. One of the most devastating losses
was the Central Fire Hall in the early 1960s. The Central Fire Station
was built in the 1880s and had 100% horse drawn fire fighting equipment.
This location is now a service station and store!
Primarily because of this absence of progress, Waxahachie
is now world-renowned for possessing an
 enormous area
of surviving examples of early architectural styles, including the
gingerbread style from which the Gingerbread Home Tour takes its name.
Today, one has the opportunity to visit many of these fine elegant homes and
buildings and, for a moment, step back sixty to a hundred years to a time
and place long since past. You can also stroll the beautiful downtown
square and see the jewel of Ellis County and Waxahachie, the Courthouse!.
Completely restored to its original condition, it is really something to see
inside and out.
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Gingerbread Trail 2012
44th Annual Tour of Homes
Arts & Crafts Fair Plein Air Painting "Paint Historic Waxahachie". June
2nd & 3rd, 2012 Waxahachie, Texas Benefitting the Ellis County Museum,
Inc. Changes for the 2012 Gingerbread Trail - Houses will be open Saturday
and Sunday
from 10 AM - 4 PM rather than 10 AM - 6 PM
as in past years. FREE BUS TRANSPORTATION TO TOUR HOMES - DOWNTOWN PICKUP
AT THE ELLIS COUNTY MUSEUM
VISIT WAXAHACHIE AND THE 44TH ANNUAL
GINGERBREAD TRAIL. Victorian, Gingerbread, Gothic Revival, and Queen Anne
are a few architectural styles you'll see in
 Waxahachie.
The 44th Annual Gingerbread Trail celebrates this architecture on
Saturday, June 2nd and Sunday, June 3rd, 10 AM to 4 PM. Tour our special
selection of five private homes. Get the inside scoop on restoration
triumphs and local ghost lore.
Visit historically recognized buildings such as the newly restored Ellis
County Courthouse, the Ellis County Museum, Sims Library, Ellis County Art
Museum and view vintage automobiles parked around the downtown square.
EXPLORE THE ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR IN GETZENDANER PARK. Under cool, towering
oaks, enjoy colorful crafts and artwork from across the state. Artists
present creative gift ideas. There are fun children's activities, live
music, and plenty of refreshments to satisfy your gastronomic adventures.
If you are an arts & crafts vendor and wish to exhibit during the Trail,
the number for applications and information is 972-937-0681 or e-mail
ecmuseum@sbcglobal.net. For an
online application and show information, follow this link, print out the
application, and mail it to: Gingerbread Trail Arts & Crafts Festival, P.
O. Box 706, Waxahachie TX 75168. Food vendors should call 972-938-0940 or
e-mail karymeade@sbcglobal.net.
PAINT HISTORIC WAXAHACHIE! The Ellis County Art Association presents a
PAINT OUT competition from May 25th through June 3rd. Landscape artists
set up their easels and paint "on location" throughout the historic
downtown and along Waxahachie’s "Gingerbread Trail". Special artist
activities include a 90 minute "quick draw" competition on the Square
(Saturday, May 26), live auction, and "wet paint sale" of more than 100
paintings completed during the 10 day event. For more information call
972-937-3414, email ecaa@sbcglobal.net,
or visit www.elliscountyart.net.
COURTHOUSE TOURS. The Ellis County Courthouse is open for public tours
during the Gingerbread Trail. Take this opportunity to view this exquisite
building, ranked in the top twenty architecturally significant structures
in Texas. ??Tours offered from noon - 4 PM on Saturday and 1 PM - 4 PM on
Sunday by Historic Waxahachie, Inc. and the Ellis County Historical
Commission.
CLASSIC WHEELS ON THE SQUARE. The Midlothian Classic Wheels will have a
benefit car show Saturday, June 2nd, 11 AM - 3 PM on the courthouse
square. Visit www.midlothianclassicwheels.com for more information.
LIVE MUSIC AT GETZENDANER PARK.
COVERING WAXAHACHIE IN COLOR. Quilts will be displayed along the Main
Street entrance into Waxahachie. Sponsored by Common Threads Quilt Shop,
the shop (315 S. Rogers Street) will feature a private collection exhibit
of antique quilts along with a sale of select antique and contemporary
quilts.
TREASURE HUNT WAXAHACHIE'S EXCEPTIONAL ANTIQUE AND SPECIALTY SHOPPING
DISTRICT. Primitives, Early American furniture, dolls, pottery, hand
made dresses, award-winning tea rooms, bakeries, and restaurants are all
within a casual stroll. REVISIT THE PAST, PRESERVE THE FUTURE. All
proceeds from the Gingerbread Trail benefit the Ellis County Museum.
Tickets are available at information booths, the Museum, selected
businesses, and tour homes. On the day of the Trail, adult tickets are
$15; children tickets (ages 5-12) $7.
PLACE AN ORDER BEFORE MAY 25th AND GET A $3 DISCOUNT ON ADULT TICKETS AND
A $2 DISCOUNT ON CHILDREN TICKETS. To receive this special offer, mail
payment and order form or call 1-972-937-0681 with Visa/MasterCard. For
information on accommodations, direct calls to the Chamber of Commerce at
metro 972-938-9617 or visit their web site at www.waxahachiechamber.com .
JUST 35 MINUTES FROM DALLAS OR FORT WORTH TAKES YOU BACK 100 YEARS.
Return to yesterday and enjoy the Gingerbread Trail Home Tour and Arts &
Crafts Fair in Waxahachie. It's a living history lesson that promises to
open a doorway to your heart.
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