Lavyn Sisco, poses at the door of the Atkins House, in Heritage Park,
as she works on her program for Thursday night's presentation of
Sarah Atkins' life.

 

History Unfolds As
Local Businesswoman's
Life Is Portrayed

 

by: Marynell Bryant

 

A joint meeting of the Hopkins County Historical Society and the Hopkins County Genealogical Society, on Thursday night, August 24th, will feature a first person narrative of the life of pioneer Sulphur Springs businesswoman, Sarah Atkins, presented by Lavyn Sisco.

The public is invited to attend this special presentation which begins at 7:00 p.m., in the Chapel of Heritage Park. Anyone interested in touring the Atkins House, located at Heritage Park, is invited to come early, with tours beginning at 6:30 p.m.

 

Sisco, a retired Sulphur Springs ISD teacher, has entertained kindergarten students, by dressing up as Hopkins County pioneer, Mrs. Hopkins, and telling them about life during the formative years of the county.. Her presentation about Sarah Atkins will be performed in period costume.

 

Sisco admires a portrait of Mrs. Sarah Atkins, pioneer businesswoman of
Sulphur Springs, as she anticipates her Thursday night presentation.

 

Born in Ireland, in 1927, Sarah Hamilton came to Pennsylvania with her parents, as a young child. The family then moved to Hopkins County, prior to the Civil War, and settled northwest of Tarrant. Sarah was one of the first women to take advantage of business opportunities and opened a coffee shop, on the square in Sulphur Springs. She married Joseph Atkins, an Englishman, in 1873.

 

 

The couple owned a successful real estate business and built the famous "star-shaped" house behind, Sarah's coffee shop. The street was later named Atkins Street, in their honor. Sarah witnessed the building of the train depot and saw the arrival of many trains journeying from the eastern U.S., bringing visitors and pioneers relocating west. She also witnessed the building of the Hopkins County Courthouse, in 1895, and the growth of downtown Sulphur Springs.

Following Thursday night's special program presentation, both the Genealogical Society and the Historical Society will conduct their regular monthly business meetings, in separate locations in Heritage Park. Both groups continue to invite visitors to their many activities and solicit those interested in Hopkins County history to join their active organizations.

 

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