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Enola Gay Mathews
Sulphur Springs has changed and changed again, many times. We have all seen those grainy photos of our square in horse and wagon days. In the 90s, Sulphur Springs became a Main Street City in a program sponsored by the Texas Historical Commission. Through that project, it saw updated signage at business doors, and trash receptacles painted like Holsteins to promote our dairy heritage. Community pride began to grow.
Later, a much broader plan of improvement was developed with tourism as its goal, and those years and months of change resulted in Sulphur Springs becoming today’s Celebration City. But, it wasn’t easy.
Planning was a lengthy process, and success called for the entire downtown district to agree and get on board with the proposed changes. There were disagreements, but gradually, facades and storefronts showed improvement as owners invested in the change.
People noticed increased community pride. We even uncovered a real spring on Main Street! And, do you remember those final, hot months of the project, where the intensive daily labor by construction crews finalized the most visible changes to the streets, intersections, sidewalks, and traffic patterns of the square? We applauded those guys in 2011 when the Capitol Construction crew was given the Community Pride Award at the Chamber of Commerce Banquet. It took a village working together to bring about today’s Celebration City.
In just a few days, we will experience the biggest celebration our town has ever hosted. If our share of the April 8 Great North American Eclipse brings even a portion of the expected attendance, it will test our city. Can we pool our resources and energies to make the best of the opportunity? I heard it said at a Chamber meeting that the impression our town gives to eclipse visitors is the one they will lastingly keep in mind about Sulphur Springs. We want that to be a positive impression. Can we help make that happen?
Volunteers are needed. Security personnel, extra pairs of eyes, and helping hands are needed. If you know a business owner who plans to be open during the eclipse weekend, why not offer volunteer hours?
At the most recent meeting of the Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance, discussions included the expectation of parking issues, overcrowding in food establishments, a heightened risk of shoplifting and theft for retailers, and accumulation of trash on sidewalks and streets, to name a few anticipated problems.
If you would like to play a servant role during the “Total Eclipse Sulphur Springs” weekend, ask around and see where you can help.
Volunteerism is a symbol of community pride. Rather than letting the event overwhelm us, we can pool our efforts, meet the challenge, and together make the April 8 event a point of pride in the history of Celebration City.