Palestine Herald Press- 1849
Eilenberger’ s Bakery Becomes Thoroughfare
texashistory. unt. edu /
Legacy in Motion
The Businesses That Built Us— And Those Still Shaping Our Future
There is a particular kind of magic in a small town. You feel it when you walk into a shop and the person behind the counter knows your name— or your mama’ s— and remembers what color shoes you bought years ago. In Palestine, legacy isn’ t abstract. It’ s baked into our bread, stitched into our boots, printed in yesterday’ s newspaper, and passed from one business owner to the next like a baton in a relay that never ends. It doesn’ t sit still. It grows, adapts, and moves forward while holding tight to where it began. That is Legacy in Motion.
Photo Courtesy, Stuart Whitaker Founded in 1846, Palestine quickly became a center of commerce and community life. The
“ It doesn’ t sit still. It railroad’ s arrival in the 1870s sparked growth and opportunity, and by the early 1900s brick
grows, adapts, and streets, electric lights, churches, schools, and thriving shops marked a town embracing progress. Through economic shifts and changing industries, Palestine has never stood still moves forward...”
— always moving forward with resilience, faith, and hometown determination.
The Palestine Herald-Press traces its roots to 1849, when it began as The
Since 1898, the smell of fruitcake and fresh bread has filled Palestine’ s historic downtown at the site that once housed Eilenberger’ s Bakery, Texas’ oldest commercial bakery. In 2025, that legacy found new life when the location became ThoroughFare, a bakery and café
Palestine Herald Press- 1849
Palestine Advocate, making it one of the oldest continuously operating newspapers in Texas— predating paved roads, electricity, and even the railroad in East Texas. Through the decades, the paper evolved with the community, navigating name changes, ownership transitions, and the shifting landscape of journalism while remaining a steady local voice. For generations, the Herald-Press has chronicled the life of Palestine— covering government, schools, businesses, faith, and the everyday moments that shape a town. Today, it continues that mission, preserving local stories and documenting the celebrations, challenges, and triumphs that define the community.
Eilenberger’ s Bakery Becomes Thoroughfare
copyright @ palestineheraldpress austinot. com building on more than a century of baking tradition while making its own mark. Each day, artisan bread is baked fresh, deli meats are cured in house, and coffee syrups are crafted from scratch. Handmade copyright @ 2009 stoppingpoints. com pastries, award-winning cookies, breakfast burridoughs™, deli sandwiches, and freshly roasted coffee are among their staple selections. Balancing heritage with innovation, ThoroughFare has quickly become a favorite— proving that in downtown Palestine, great food and great memories still rise daily. courtesy @ palestinepublic library
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Turbyfill’ s Machine Shop began in 1901 as The Village Smithy, a blacksmith shop on the courthouse square founded by H. R. Turbyfill. In the early days, the shop provided horseshoeing, metalwork, and essential repairs that kept wagons rolling and farms operating. As the decades passed and technology evolved, so did the business— adapting from traditional blacksmithing to modern machining and fabrication while preserving its reputation for skilled craftsmanship. Today, fifth-generation owner Barry Bedre, great-great grandson of H. R. Turbyfill, operates the shop on Loop 256. Sparks still fly in a full-service welding and machine shop offering machinery repairs and custom metal fabrication— continuing a legacy of workmanship and service more than a century in the making.