First Franchised Motor Bus Line in Texas

The W. E. Nunnelee Bus Lines began passenger service from Tyler to Gladewater and Mt. Pleasant in March 1925; later added buses from Tyler to Henderson and Nacogdoches. Twenty-six vehicles were operated over the 205 miles. These included 7-passenger automobiles and 12-, 15-, 16-, and 19-passenger buses. Fare from Tyler to Gladewater was $1. with stops in Winona, Starrville, Friendship, the 30-mile run took an hour, over roads paved in 1919 and 1923. On Aug. 1, 1927, buses were placed under regulation of the Railroad Commission. This line had franchise No. 1; it was one of 247 companies running 865 public passenger vehicles on 20,348 miles of Texas roads. Many of these "buses" were autos built for private use. Others had "stretched" auto chassis seating 10 or more passengers. Several models had doors that opened along the side. Uncomfortable and hard to drive, they constantly needed new tires and repairs to brakes and valves. Breakdowns were frequent. Overhauls (often made, or necessity, by the roadside) were handled by mechanics lacking suitable tools. Although far different from the airconditioned, safety-engineered bus of today, early buses showed the way to a new era in convenient transportation. (1966)

First Franchised Motor Bus Line in Texas is a historical marker in Gladewater, Gregg County, dedicated in 1966. It is one of 81 historical markers documented in Gregg County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 124 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.5354, -94.9449 near Gladewater. The nearest cataloged historic site is First United Methodist Church of Gladewater (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Shepperd, John Ben, Dr. E. L. and Nannie Lewis Walker House, and Foshee Family.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5183009956. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.