Kurtz In Charge of Texas Restoration

While protected in its new home in the Cyclorama Building, it was not until 1936 that action was taken to restore the engine to its character of the 1850's and 1860's. It was indeed fortunate that the man who had spent so much effort in learning how the engine did appear in those historic times and was skillfully able to transfer this information to canvas with pen and brush, the late Wilbur G. Kurtz, was placed in charge of the restoration. Today, the Texas looks pretty much as it did in 1856 when placed in service on the State Road, the wood burning stack in its place, the headlight on horizontal iron bars has been provided, the cab and its running board replaced, the boiler covered with Russia iron, the cylinders and steam chests encased in brass, bands of the same metal placed around her boiler, a nameplate on each side of the boiler with the name Texas in bold letters, and the overall color dark brown with blue and yellow trimming. Thus the Texas stands in silent tribute to those heroes who manned her on that eventful day in 1862: Bracken, Haney, Fuller, Murphy, Martin, and Cox.

Little imagination is required today as one stands near the old engine to picture those gallant men in the cab and on the tender as they pursued the Andrews Raiders aboard the Texas.

During the Civil War Centennial observance in 1961, after it became known that the Louisville & Nashville RR was refurbishing the locomotive General to run under its own steam again, an effort was made by a wealthy Texan to do the same with the Texas. He did not receive a favorable response and nothing came of the matter.

The Texas on display in the Cyclorama building in 1971, its home since 1927.

On February 15, 1973, the Georgia Historical Commission, recognizing the historical importance and significance of the Texas, forwarded a nomination for the inclusion of the engine in the National Register of Historical Places. On June 19, 1973, the Director of the National Park Service advised that the nomination had been accepted and the Texas had been entered in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Texas remained in the basement of the Cyclorama Building, a place where its preservation had been assured, yet a place which did not afford the viewer an opportunity to really see the old engine because of the lack of space. A small panel did little more than explain why the Texas was saved and placed on display. Plans were made in 1972 to build a new modern structure for the Battle of Atlanta painting, the Cyclorama. These plans included the Texas and more room was planned to display the locomotive and explain its history.

In 1975 no action had been taken to build the new building for the Cyclorama painting. Concerned citizens began expressing their views about the condition of the painting and the need for a new building to house it. Nothing was said about the Texas.

In 1979 with still no action taken to restore and preserve the Cyclorama painting and the Texas, legislation was introduced in the Georgia General Assembly to move both to the Stone Mountain Memorial Park a few miles east of Atlanta. The legislation did not pass.

In 1981 the Cyclorama Building was upgraded and the Texas is now more visible to the public.

Removal of the Texas from the Cyclorama, April 22, 1981.

Removal of the Texas from the Cyclorama, April 22, 1981.

The Texas was removed from the basement of the Cyclorama building on April 22, 1981.

Throttle and Johnson Bar of the restored Texas.

Restored firebox.

Moving the Texas back in September, 1981 after the Cyclorama renovation.

The fully restored Texas has been on display in the Atlanta Cyclorama building at Grant Park since September, 1981.

D Joswick