Rekindled: The Promise of ‘The Best Cigar’ and the Reality of Its Rise (Part 6)

Nacogdoches’ Growing Tobacco Hype

There was a lot of interest in Nacogdoches and its tobacco prospects all at once. Plans were soon underway for a local cigar factory, in addition to the tobacco-packing house that started a year earlier.

The Nacogdoches Cigar Company’s backers promised the “best five and ten cent smokers ever placed on the market.” A local advertisement in the newspaper tried to lure customers in with this: “Smoke the Mexican Commerce, the best five cent cigar in town -- at the Opera Saloon.”

The Houston Post, with its lovely pessimistic tone, captured the reality of all the attention on Nacogdoches’ tobacco at the time. Everyone really was counting on it living up to the hype it had created for itself. This newspaper, dated January 28, 1905, stated: “If the Nacogdoches cigars are no better than the so-called Havana cigars palmed off on the public by the tobacco trust, we shall be much disappointed.”

A Milestone for Nacogdoches Tobacco

"NACOGDOCHES" BRAND. Anderson Presented with Texas Grown and Made Cigars.

The offices of General Passenger Agent Anderson of the Southern Pacific were the scene of an important presentation yesterday, important because it was a fitting commentary on the rapid development of one of the great resources of Texas, which, until only lately, was not accorded recognition, but which the energy of railroad officials of the State has at last demanded and obtained.

Mr. C. G. Hudgins, recently a cigar manufacturer of Pensacola, Fla., now located in this city, attracted here by the wide renown of Texas tobacco, presented Colonel Anderson, the wide-awake general passenger agent of the Southern Pacific, who has done much toward gaining prominence for Texas tobacco, with a box of Texas grown and Texas made cigars, branded "Nacogdoches".

Colonel Anderson carefully selected one from the contents of the box, sampled its fragrance and replied in the following happy vein,

"The practical significance of this matter is that Texas is to become a producer of fine cigar leaf tobacco and Houston has taken the lead in applying natural conditions to the manufacture of a strictly domestic article, and by domestic I mean Texas. Of course, tobacco has been grown in Texas for a long time and made up into the article for sale also, but I think it is only true to say that it was not until the Southern Pacific saw the great possibilities lying dormant, took the matter up with vim and energy and with the assistance of the press let the whole world know that a very high grade of cigar leaf tobacco could be grown in East Texas, that there was a definite movement to settle the country and engage in the culture of tobacco on a large scale."

"Ever since the Southern Pacific began its propaganda of advertising this office has been flooded with inquiries from all parts of the world from people desirous of engaging in the growing of tobacco in this new field. It is easy to see from this what the future holds for Texas and Houston, for the Nacogdoches district will become one of the important tobacco growing sections of the world, and Houston will become the natural point of manufacture, from where Texas made cigars will be shipped to the four corners of the earth.

It means the investment of factories which will give employment to many laboring people. I regard the possibilities of tobacco culture and manufacture in Texas as one of the most important developments of recent years. Manufacture of cigars from Nacogdoches tobacco for commercial purposes has begun."

A Perfect Blend of Quality and Craftsmanship

A local newspaper described the “Nacogdoches cigar” as a “combination of the long filler and the short smoker. That is to say, it smokes so well it is all too soon over. Thus-wise, the short draw makes a long puff.”

One of my favorite advertisements that I found is the one below. It's to lure people to Nacogdoches to live. It lists tobacco first in the list of principal crops for Nacogdoches County - that's how popular and exciting this time period was, it was an incentive that worked to get people to move into Nacogdoches. This might be my favorite line from the below advertisement though: "The City of Nacogdoches the best town to live in on earth.

A city of cultured, refined people. Fine schools, good churches, beautiful homes, streets and natural parks; abundant water supply, fine natural drainage, a fine system of electric lights, oil mills, compress, ice plant, tobacco warehouses and cigar factory. A PROSPEROUS, HAPPY PEOPLE."

Step Into History at the Cigar Lounge!

Want to experience Nacogdoches’ tobacco legacy firsthand? Visit our local cigar lounge and enjoy a premium cigar made from the very tobacco that put this city on the map.

Walk into the lounge today and savor a piece of history while relaxing in style!