Historical Commission to dedicate marker at Holly Springs

Submitted by Canton1 on

Holly Springs United Methodist Church, along with the Van Zandt County Historical Commission, will host a state historical marker dedication ceremony for Holly Springs United Methodist Church at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, May 17, at the church located 10 miles southeast of Canton. 

The white, wooden church house sits among 100-year-old oak trees at the corner of FM 1653 and CR 4403, approximately 4 miles south of Hwy. 64, near the Martins Mill community.  

The public is invited, organizers said.

State and local dignitaries are expected to attend and honor the historic church for its significant contribution to the history of Van Zandt County and early settlement of the region.  

Holly Springs Church has continuously served the surrounding area for more than 160 years. 

According to information from the historical society, early settlers chose the name Holly Springs for their community because of the abundance of native holly trees and fresh water springs near where the church was originally established.  The settlers built cabins near the springs, cleared the land and planted crops in the fertile soil producing record harvests of cotton, corn, potatoes, yams, sugar cane and orchard fruits.   

Churches, a school and businesses were established to meet the growing needs of the community. 

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