The Upshur-Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation headquarters (shown here in a May 9, 1941 Dallas Morning News photo) was built in 1941 as the rural south began the process of electrification. In the 1930s, only about 10 percent of rural homes and farms had electricity, so there was a growing movement to modernize those households still figuratively and literally "in the dark". The building's exterior has changed somewhat over the years, but the original core elements are still present.
Also known as REA building (Rural Electrification Administration), the URECC building included an auditorium that would host a variety of community functions, including concerts. This January 23rd ad from the Tyler Courier Times Telegraph includes the show and a great early Elvis portrait:
Elvis-historian Francesc Lopez visited the URECC in 2017 and photographed the interior; the stage and floor are original.
In this photograph taken at the January 26th show, Elvis is crouching at the edge of the stage to sign some autographs:
You can easily crouch in that exact spot yourself if you'd like, as long as they don't mind you sliding this flag over:
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