The Tyler Chronicle      Winter, 2022      Worldwide Edition

Reilly Springs Old Time Country Music Venue

Ref. The Texas State Historical Association:

REILLY SPRINGS, TEXAS. “Reilly Springs (Reily Springs), a rural community nine miles southeast of Sulphur Springs at the junction of Farm roads 1567 and 2560 in southeastern Hopkins County, was named for James Reily, who in 1841 and 1842 bought up several tracts of land in the county that had been given to soldiers as pay for service in the Texas Revolution. One of the early wagon trails from Shreveport, Louisiana, passed through the land. A camping place at a group of springs grew into a village called Reily Springs.

After the Civil War a number of businesses were established in the area, including two gins, a gristmill, a sawmill, and a brick kiln. In 1867 Steve Tucker built a store and gin, and a tanyard operated in the community for several years. A post office was granted in 1871, but the post office officials mistakenly changed the spelling to Reilly. In 1885 Reilly Springs had two steam gristmills and cotton gins, three churches, and an estimated population of 200.

A school was built the same year on land donated by Col. J. A. Weaver. By the turn of the century the town had three schools, which during the 1905–06 school year had a combined enrollment of 189. At its height during the 1920s Reilly Springs had an estimated population of 300.

The town began to decline in the early 1930s, and by 1939 the population had dwindled to sixty. In 1948 Reilly Springs was the site of a justice court, a voting precinct, two churches, a store, a gin, and a three-teacher school. The town's population continued to decline after World War II, falling to forty in 1952. The school and stores closed, and by the mid-1970s the town had only the Methodist and Baptist churches, a cemetery, and the old school building, which was used as a community center. In the late 1980s Reilly Springs was a dispersed rural community. The population in 1990 was forty-four. The population remained the same in 2000.”

Like many small communities that once flourished across Texas, as this is written, Reilly Springs is a mere ghost of its former self. The old cotton gins and grist mills are long since gone as is the post office and the population.

But on the third Saturday night of each month, the sounds of fiddles, guitars, and local “would-be” singing stars bring new life to the auditorium of the old Rilley Springs schoolhouse as “The Reilly Springs Jamboree” comes to life.  After its closure, the old building became a local community center, and since 1956 has been the home of this locally produced show.

Currently, Enola Gay Matthews, a radio personality from Sulfur Springs radio station KSST emcees the monthly event, which has, in years past featured greats and near-greats such as Johnny Cash and Francell Lawrence. (The history of “The Reilly Springs Jamboree” is a story within itself and will be featured in an upcoming edition of THE TYLER CHRONICLE.)

We learned about the Reilly Springs Jamboree from Tylerite Neil Newsom who is a friend and fishing partner of Jamboree drummer, Bill Langly. We had never heard of Reilly Springs, much  less of “Reilly Springs Jamboree” but the idea of a viable music venue in such an obscure place seemed interesting. The result was our ongoing research into the “Jamboree”, as it was, and as it is.  This is the beginning of our story.  (to be continued)

*Like many other local venues, shows at Reilly Springs are suspended until further notice because of the "virus" threat.

The story of the Reilly Springs Jamboree will be continued...

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"Nobody Sang It Then Like Elvis... Nobody Sings It Now Like Bobby!"

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PUBLIC APPEARANCES ARE CANCELLED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC VIRUS THREAT.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------       The Tyler Chronicle      Spring, 2022      Worldwide Edition                  Chaffer 1-18-2020 KENYA CHAFFER A native of Sulfur Springs, Texas, Kenya began singing at the tender age of three!  And she has been captivating audiences ever since. We first saw and  heard Kenya at a small stage  show in Sulfur Springs Texas recently, and she, along with another great personality on that show immediately  became  candidates for the "Chronicle Hall of Fame". She and her husband, Charles operate a private home school in Sulfur Springs in addition to performing. Kenya writes songs,  and plays, and is hoping to expand into cinema and television. If you have the opportunity to see and hear Kenya perform, be sure to take advantage of it. You won't be disappointed. Chaffer 1-20-2020 CHARLES & KENYA CHAFFER For more than 30 years, drummer, Charles Chaffer has kept the beat for the musical "greats". He is now back in his home state of Texas and recently married to singer Kenya Chaffer. In addition to keeping busy with their educational efforts at "Chaffer's Place" in Sulfur Springs the couple maintains a busy live performance schedule. SEND TO ARCHIVE  1-20-1010    Paul Williams  SEND TO ARCHIVE 1-20-2020   Judith Lynne SEND TO ARCHIVE 1-20-2020 Dustin Stephens  SEND TO ARCHIVE 1-20-2020       Kit Scott SEND TO ARCHIVE 1-20-2020 Cindy Greyson                   SEND TO ARCHIVE 1-20-2020  Bobby Moore  Click Here for Bobby Moore Show Website The Bobby Moore Show at “Your Venue” Your Address can be here! This is a Big, Hour-Long Show featuring Bobby singing hits of the 60s as only he can. Music is live and digitized; door prizes, audience participation... more. Phone 903-707-6258.  Email:  bobbymooresings@thetylerchronicle.com Click here to visit Bobby's website PLEASE NOTE: ALL PUBLIC APPEARANCES ARE CANCELLED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC VIRUS THREAT. ___________________________________