The Service Barber Shop opened on October 1st, 1945 and was co-operated by Roy Martin and Earl Hampton. Both have a long history of working in and owning barber shops in Commerce, Texas. Martin started working at the Westside Barber Shop in 1925…

On March 6, 1982, a fire started inside 1206 Main Street, the former location of the Palace Theater. The blaze reduced the iconic building, at that time a private club also called “Palace.” The fire leveled two more buildings and caused smoke or…

Movie theaters were a major part of Commerce’s social and cultural life throughout the twentieth century. The history of the city’s more than a dozen theaters gives a glimpse into social changes, technological innovations, and the devastation…