Savoy, Fannin County, Texas

Fannin County TXGenWeb
Town of Savoy

Handbook of Texas Online - Savoy
incorporated in 1885

Savoy is located on US 82 on the central western edge of Fannin County . Savoy is between Bells in Grayson County & the Fannin County seat in Bonham. There are two historical markers in the Savoy city limits. One is remembering Fort Warren that got this area started. It is located on US 82 going east toward Bonham.
The exact location of the fort itself is still not agreed on. The other marker is at the Methodist Church in town, because ofits age and denomination.
Savoy was named after its first residents, Colonel William Savoy. Col. Savoy brought his family to the area in 1863. Thetown was almost completely destroyed by a tornado in May 28, 1880. Savoy was incorporated in 1885 after it was rebuilt. At
that time, there were...
     four churches
     a mill
     a cotton gin
     a post office
     a hotel
     a population of about 300.
In 1996, Savoy has...
     3 churches (Baptist, Church of Christ, and Pentecostal)
     a post office
     2 stores/gas stations
     the SuperSack Co.
     two nursing homes
     a city hall
     a library
     a volunteer firestation
     2 police officers
     a craft and jewelry shop
     a new barbecue restaurant.
When the town was established, one found the center of the business district located on Main Street.
Today, the business epicenter of Savoy is on US 82. The first business house erected was located at the cornor of Main and Front Streets across from and facing the depot. The depot nolonger stands but the railroad still remains and still use the tracks. The building was built by Hodgeson and Beard and occupied by them with a stock of general merchandise.About the same time another building was erected on the east side of Main Street facing north on Front Street and was occupied by R.T. Best with a saloon, while adjoining him on the east, W.N. Youree opened a general merchandise store.
These were the first business institutions of the town. Entrepeneurs established these businesses
before the railroad was completed into town. Following the completion of the railroad, and the rail extension to Sherman,
there was a building boom, and a considerable number of residences were built, then followed in rapid succession other business houses, with different lines of merchandise. Within a
year, Savoy was a thriving town and a popular trade center for a large territory, Bonham , Sherman, and Denison being thenearest railroad towns. In fact, there were no other towns in this immediate area.
The town of Savoy was almost completly destroyed
on May 28, 1880, at around 10pm at night by a cyclone (called a "tornado" now.) The twister completely wiped out the business district.
It also destroyed all goods, wares, and merchandise. Almost all the residences were demolished, several persons were killed,and many more were maimed and crippled. After the debris was cleared away, Savoy residents rebuilt the town. Business
owners established themselves in a new location
in a framestructure on Water Street. These businesses gradually withdrew from the Water Street frame, to be housed in modern brick buildings. None of the original Water Street businesses remained
on Water Street. They all moved to Hayes Street (US 82). The present city hall is located in the old bank building. The old mercantile store is at times a flea market/craft center.
    This page was created 04 November 1996 by LeAnne Davis
with extensive input from Jane Marshall of Savoy ©
Savoy Families.
Gibson, Randolph

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