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TEXAS FORUM • TRAVEL FORUM
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March
2006
Goldsmith,
Texas 3-31-06
You
already have a page on Goldsmith but with no pictures. I found the old
city jail. You also have a page on Notrees
that covers the subject quite nicely. - Barclay Gibson, New Mexico, March 30,
2006
Tyler Azalea Trails
3-31-06
We drove down to Tyler Texas Sunday to see
the homes and yards along the Tyler Azalea Trails. The trails wind through old
neighborhoods south of downtown. The homes and yards are beautiful. They also
had young ladies, dressed in Victorian period attire, greeting passersby. -
Sam Fenstermacher, March 29, 2006
Floydada,
Texas 3-31-06
In 1957 or 1958 my family had
a cafe named Lopez in Floydada. [If anyone has] any pictures or information on
this, it would be greatly appreciated. I can be emailed at work. Thank you so
much. - ahernandez@chckc.org.
- March 05, 2006
Dido, Texas
3-30-06
Subject:
A Dido Correction
On
your website, you state that: "In 1887, land was donated for a school, church
and cemetery. Additional land was donated in 1894 by Confederate veteran Dr. Isaac
L. Van Zandt - the namesake of Van Zandt County."
It's a common error,
one that started decades ago and is still being repeated. The first problem is
the Van Zandts - there are three prominent members of the family; Isaac Van Zandt,
the father of Dr. Isaac Van Zandt and Major K.M. Van Zandt. It was the elder Van
Zandt for whom Van Zandt County, Texas was named. He also helped frame the Texas
Constitution and served in Washington representing Texas. It was his son, the
Doctor, who lived in Dido. His brother, K.M. Van Zandt was prominent in early
Fort Worth (1865) and also had land and a home in Saginaw. Even the family gets
them confused. I'm trying to get this thing untangled - one piece at a time. Thanks,
Art Jones, Lake Worth, Texas, March 28, 2006
Candelaria,
West Texas Ghost Town
3-28-06
I thank
you for your invitation to write on Candelaria, Texas. However, I just couldn't
be brief enough to suit you I'm afraid. I loved the placed. To me, there was no
border. When we would go there, I could think of nothing else other than to saddle
a horse as fast as possible and ride as much as possible for as long as possible,
be it, five days, a week or two weeks. To me, it was magical, it was freedom.
I would cross the river at will, going to wonder and marvel at that store that
Nellie and Mariana operated, buying ice cream, or fulfilling an errand by buying
something only they had. The hot springs in the foothills on the Mexican side
was also a favorite, the slow flowing water would drop from a small waterfall
into a swimming hole. There were wild honey bees, from whose hives would ooze
honey! Night skies with bright, infinite stars. Well, it was all great stuff there
in Candelaria and San Antonio El Bravo, before people starting talking border,
immigration, and security. Those intangibles that stifle the spirit and choke
freedom. - Joe Solis, El Paso, Texas for far too many years! March 27, 2006
Turnstiles
on Courthouse Grounds, Jeff Davis County, Ft. Davis
3-28-06
Around 1993 when I had taken a group to
the Big Bend and we stayed at the Prue Ranch, I asked one of the local citizens
about the turnstiles on the Jeff Davis Court House grounds. She informed me that
they were placed there to keep the burros out. Originally, trade between the US
and Mexico was conducted by traders using the burros as pack animals to carry
the trade goods. When the burros were replaced by wagons, the traders let the
burros run loose. The burros made the court house grounds part of their home.
They became such a nuisance that the locals built the fence and the four turnstiles
around the court house to keep them out. - John Gibbs, March 25, 2006
Rowena,
Texas 3-28-06
I wanted to share a little information about Rowena, TX that I have aquired over
my 24 years of life. I lived in Rowena for the first 18 years of my life and my
mother was born and raised in Rowena. She was born in 1949 and attended the school
of which you have posted a picture. So the info about the school closing in late
40's is not correct. To my mother's memory it was mid 60's when the school closed.
I would love to share as much info. about this fantastic town, just let me know
what you want to know about this town. Thanks - Sonia, March 25, 2006
Littlefield,
Texas 3-27-06
[Aerial photos] taken
in late '30's, before the "new" post office was built. Taken either by my father
or my uncle. - Joe, March 21, 2006
Jeddo,
Texas 3-26-06
I just want to say thank
you for the information and picture of the tombstone of James Bownds (Lost
graves of Jeddo). James was a brother of two of my great-grandmothers, Eliza
Jane Bownds Ponton and Mary Ann Bownds Offield. Thanks for taking the time to
share information with others, who would never know it was there. - Nora Tyler,
March 24, 2006
Bandera,
Texas 3-24-06
Subject: Photos from 1907
My Uncle Del Chipman passed away
and have a few old photos of Ezra Alpheas Chipman (age 80) dated 1907 and family
from Bandera Texas. These photos are of the family only and probably would have
no significance unless they were noteworthy people of the community. Please let
me know if you are interested. Thank you, Lois Williams, March 12, 2006
Photo submitted
by the family of Delson and Una Chipman. - Lois Williams, Port McNeill, B.C.
Canada, March 22, 2006
Beveridge Bridge
3-23-06
Attached is a brief article on the Beveridge
Bridge and photos of the plaque atop the bridge and a general view of it. The
TxDOT has a project to rehab and restore 10 bridges throughout the state. Thanks
for publishing the Wedding Oak - from the other side. - Judy McBride
Pear
Valley, Texas - Photo 3-23-06
The store and
school was very interesting. I was raised in Pear Valley and my Dad had a garage
there after WWII. I went to school there from 1941 thru 1948. Went to school in
Lohn the year of 1948-49 and we moved to Melvin where I went to high school. Can
tell you many stories of happenings around Pear Valley. My mom ran the switchboard
in Pear Valley some during the war. My Moms folks had a farm 1/2 mile north of
Pear Valley. His name was Leon Browning. My Grandma would fry chicken for the
visiting Baptist preacher nearly every Sunday. Mr White owned the store and he
was the finest man you would ever meet. My Dad drove a fuel truck during the late
1930's. I have a picture of his old truck with him and me standing beside it.
We hauled fuel from the refinery in Coleman to the farmers in the Pear Valley
community. - Johnye Slaughter, March 02, 2006
Jellico,
Texas 3-22-06
Subject: First House in Tarrant County?
I was born in an old house where Jellico, Texas used to be. The house was called
the old Thompson place, because my mother said it was built by the Sal Thompson
family, before my grandmother Nellie Page, bought it. One room of the house was
an original log cabin. My mother said that someone had come out before I was born
(1934) to take a stone from the old house to be put in the cornerstone of the
new post office being built in Ft. Worth. They said it was the first house built
in Tarrant County, though I cannot confirm that with the historical society. I
can not trace this story, and I once visited the post office but the historical
people there said they had no record of that.
I wish they had taken a
picture of the old log house, but I guess it wasn't considered very fancy at the
time. All I have is a photo [see Jellico]
of me soon after I was born. I am being held by my mother, Florence Page McCarty,
next to what must have been the chimney of the old house. I was born in November
of 1934. I was always sorry I wasn't born in the log room, instead of the "better"
one next to it. I remember being in the house but not much about it. My grandmother
later tore the old house down and built another.
It seems to be part
of a park now, and the sign there says "Big Bear Creek Greenbelt". I was born
right across the street from that park area, where the creek crosses the road.
If anyone has any information about the post office cornerstone, the house, or
other residents of Jellico, I would appreciate them contacting me at: akloski@direcway.com
Thank you. - Anelle McCarty Kloski, Forest Ranch, California, March 21,
2006
Pittsburg,
Texas
I
want to say I had the honor of visiting Pittsburg in 1991! My father was Milton
Cheney and we (my seven siblings and I) had never met our fathers family. He was
born in Oregon as all of us were. After some searching I found Sam and Earline
Jones. Earline is my Dad's sister. It was very exciting to visit the town where
a lot of our roots were from. I must say I loved Pittsburg! I also loved all the
Cheneys I met. I truly want to visit again some day. Sincerely, Dixie Nunn,
Lebanon, Oregon, March 20, 2006
Nazareth,
Texas
My
grandma, Rose Decker Birkenfeld was born in 1909 at Rhineland, Texas. She raised
8 children (Alber Leslie, Bryan, Clarence, Joe Lynn, John Ronald, Carol, Stephane,
Vernie) When she was 60 years old, after the loss of one of her sons and husband
she took in 2 grandkids (Kirsten and Bridget) to raise them as her own. She quilted
and painted some, but her heart was in cooking. She lived in her Nazareth home
until the ripe age of 95 1/2. She then moved into a nursing home. In 1997 she
became the oldest resident of Nazareth. Being 97 is no shock to the Decker family.
Her oldest brother lived in Rhineland until he was 106 years. They mentioned at
Rhineland's 100th year anniversary that Joe Decker was older than the town. Rose's
brother Frank lived in Alberqueque until he was 96, her sister, Annie, lived in
Oklahoma until she was 92, and her oldest sister, Mary, lived to be 96. Thank
you. - Bridget Birkenfeld, March 19, 2006
Sunray,
Texas
Subject: Fire at Diamond Shamrock July 29, 1956 - 50 Year
Memorial
There were 19 men killed by fire and explosion with 33 people
injured. Four men who were fatally injured were employees of the refinery, and
thus not included as members of either Dumas or Sunray Volunteer Fire Departments.
At least one man (D.C. Lilley) had his name misspelled [on the monument].
His correctly spelled name is D.C. Lilley. As his son I have quite a lot of info
on this incident. There are monuments in Sunray
and Dumas and a 50 year memorial
is planned for 2006 in Dumas.
The NYC firefighters were all headed upward
on 9-11-01. They are among heroes anywhere. Out of over 5 million people, 343
firefighters died that day. On July 29, 1956, nine men ( 8 firefighters and 1
refinery employee) died among a town with a population of 1,240.
I consider
them all heroes as well as the men who found them and carried them to medical
services. (We don't know who most of them were.) They have my eternal thanks.
The burial of most of these men was at Lane Memorial Cemetery located one mile
N. of Sunray and approx 1/4 mile east on a (now paved) FM road.
Four
of these men were members of the First Baptist Church of Sunray.They were Broxson,
Emmett, D.C. Lilley, and Weir. Funerals were held on July 30 and 31, 1956 with
mourners lining both sides of the road from the church to Lane Memorial Cemetery.
I lived northwest across from the church and watched these funerals.
My father's being the last. All funerals were closed casket from this refinery
fire and explosion.
My biggest regrets are my family not meeting my
father.
Thanks for the article and time you've spent setting up this
website. May God Bless. - Larry Lilley, Retired Fire Dist. Chief of the Lubbock
Fire Department, Active duty: 27 years, 2 months, Lubbock, Texas, March 19, 2006
Hotel
Blazilmar
I grew up in Taylor also and I remember the Blazilmar Hotel very well. I have
a brother that worked across the street at the Blazilmar garage as a mechanic.
I remember coming home from boot camp from San Diego and arriving on a greyhound
bus. - Bennie Mitchell, Amarillo Texas, March 18, 2006
An abandoned zoo
outside of Cisco, Texas
Dear Editor, I don't know if you can help me or not. I am looking for information
for a story I am writing. I am looking for info on an abandoned zoo outside of
Cisco, Texas. It was close to Lake Cisco and the original dam & swimming pool.
I have seen the rock work that was said to be part of the original zoo. My grandmother
said that all the animals ran away. Do you have any information? Could this have
been an operating zoo before the tornado that hit Cisco in 1920? Sincerely,
Holly Huestis Johnson, March 18, 2006
Collin
County Courthouse
Wedding
My husband,
Steve and I were married in the old [Collin County] courthouse in 1973. We eloped
on the last day before our blood tests would have to be redone -- really! We've
made it 33 years in January... there was snow on the ground back then and we spent
our honeymoon iced in on Parker Road in a neat A-frame redwood house that we rented
on the creek across from what is now Collin County Community College Spring Creek
Campus... Plano had about 30,000 people then -- I think they were all on the east
side of Central Exprwy. We bought our rings at Weatherford Jewelers in downtown
Plano and our first Christmas tree at the Wall-Robbins house on Ave. K.
In 1987, I bought a picture of the old courthouse, but it didn't look anything
like when we were married... I learned from your website photos that it was changed
over the years and the painting that I have (a limited editon by John Pototschnik)
is at the turn of the century -- with snow and all -- even more of a treasure!
I now serve on the Plano Heritage Commission and will work my first
Blackland Prairie Festival this year, dressing in the 1890's costume. One daughter
lives in the Schimelpfenig House on 17th, a beautifully restored Victorian and
my other daughter and grandchildren live in Frisco, where my daughter teaches
at CCCC; my son will be returning to Plano this summer after graduation from Texas
Tech, so we are in Collin County for good! The children gave us a surprise 25th
anniversary party and about 80 old friends, new friends and family came to wish
us well. These are some of the most remarkable times of our married lives since
we got married without any gala. I hope to be invited to the grand-reopening of
the old courthouse... it won't be the same without the Justice of the Peace performing
the rites amidst the ringing phone and papers all over the desk!
Thanks
for your work and allowing me to share some good times and history with you! -
Janice Craze Cline, Plano, TX, March 17, 2006
Isom,
Texas 1926
I found an old photo from my grandmothers boxes of Isom, Texas. I can not identify
anyone in the photo but it is in excellent condition. I am from Amarillo but currently
live in Alabama, photo was found in Arkansas. Long story for another email. -
Paul Berg, March 17, 2006
Best,
Texas
As
best I could figure out, Best was located at Hwy 67 and Best Lane, between the
highway and the train tracks located about a block south. Best Lane turns north
off of 67, and is called Lone Wolf Lane south of the highway. Santa Rita Road
runs parallel with and between the highway and tracks, and goes to the Santa Rita
No. 1 well.
The only structures that remain standing are a small blockhouse
and Springston Ranch (see attached images). There were no signs of life at the
ranch house other than an old pickup and a roof-mounted satellite dish. I did
get there before sunrise, but there were no lights burning. After crossing the
tracks, Lone Wolf turns back to the east; I did see what appeared to be the remains
of some type of corrogated tin building across the road from the blockhouse, but
it was totally collapsed. Traffic on the back roads was light, namely a couple
of oil field types checking wells, I reckon. There was an active rig west of Best.
Not much more than that. - George Shaffer, March 17, 2006
Mary,
Mary, Once of Perry
I'd like to thank Toney Urban for his wonderful
writeup on Mary!!! You did a great job, Toney. Just facinating. I wish I'd gotten
to meet her. Do you have any more stories? I'd love to read them. -
Best, Diane, Williamson County, Texas, March 16, 2006
Remembering
Alexander and the "Fattest Kitten" in Erath County
"...Alexander was a wonderful place to grow up. I could roam the whole country,
all I had to do was "watch for snakes" Granny used to say every time I left the
house. The McMillians lived across the northwest pasture and they had lots of
kids. We used to pick up pecans from a tree down in the flat to make money. That
tree must have produced tons of pecans for us kids. We fished and swam under the
old train bridge. Caught my biggest catfish ever. 68 lbs...." more
- Duby Joe Moore, Charleston, South Carolina, March 16, 2006
Brenham,
Texas - Yellow Fever Cemetery aka Masonic Cemetery
My husband and I have worked very hard to get this cemetery into the shape
it is now in. No one has helped us. The City of Brenham, The County of Brenham
and the Masons have not helped us. I do have cousins in Louise Texas who have
come to Brenham and repaired the tombstones of Thomas and Veronica Janica. They
are planning to repair the tombstones of other members of our ancestors who are
buried in this cemetery. We are not destroying what is left of the headstones.
At some time in the past cattle were allowed to graze in this cemetery and did
most of the damage. Not much has been done since the placement of the historical
marker other than what my husband and I have done. Thank you. - Olene Stavena,
March 16, 2006
The
Alamo
Subject:
William Wells Sr - Alamo Defender
I am the ggg grand son of William Wells S r-- We have a cemetery east of Lindale
Texas called Damascus -- His son Willian Jr was buried there in 1882 -- Would
U like pics of the old cemetery? Thanks Bill Wells Lindale Tx, March 15, 2006
New
Zapata County Courthouse
Howdy, I'm sending you a picture of the new
Zapata County courthouse in Zapata, Texas that I photographed yesterday (3/14/2006.)
The 1953 courthouse was demolished. The current brick and concrete courthouse
was completed in 2005. Architect: Morgan Spear Associates, Inc. Contractor: Satterfield
& Pontikes Construction, Inc. - Terry Jeanson, San Antonio, TX, March 15, 2006
Updated
Wharton County Courthouse photo
- George Shaffer, March 13, 2006
Dime
Box water tower
- George Shaffer, March 13, 2006
Winedale
Schoolhouse Picture
I was out and about several weeks ago, and stumbled
across Winedale (the University of Texas has a historical center there), near
the bustling metropolis of Round Top. And, after scoping out your website in search
of West Texas ghost towns,
found that there wasn't a picture of the Windale schoolhouse (attached).
I'll
be heading west in about three days, in search of Dixieland
(and whatever else I run across)... - Dave Shaffer, Austin, March
12, 2006
Rosebud,
Texas
I
noticed Ms. Cullison's October, 2004, letter posted to the ROSEBUD, TX, page regarding
her great-grandfather, G. L. Mayer, who operated a bottling works in Rosebud,
1904-1926. I would like to contact Ms. Cullison. Is it possible to forward my
message? I'm in San Marcos, TX. - Jim Cullen, March 12, 2006 |
| | Waterloo,
Texas photo?
Could you please tell me if this is Waterloo
Texas? Statue of the soldier [reads]1846-1848. Thanks - Mike Wallraff,
March 03, 2006
Our
guess would be Waterloo, Iowa. The town pictured is too developed for the Waterloo
in Williamson County - and Austin stopped using the name Waterloo very early in
its history. We know of no monuments for the Mexican War in Texas. - Editor |
Riviera,
Texas (Lost
& Found Email)
My Grandfather was born in Riviera (he pronounces
it Rivera as well) in 1913 because his mother and father had moved there in 1912
due to the efforts of a land promoter, most likely Mr. Koch. They did not stay
however and moved on to land between Taft and Gregory, as Riviera was not economically
viable as per my greatgrandparents' recollections. They ultimately relocated to
Corpus Christi in the 1960s. - Jon Todd Koenig, September 25, 2005
Penitas,
Texas (Lost
& Found Email)
I spent my childhood in the mesquite thickets and
pastures about a mile or two west of Penitas. I always knew it had been one the
earliest European settlements in America, and I was also told that the name meant
"pebbles," or "little stones." Growing up in this area just north of the Rio Grande
during the sixties was a Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn type of life - South Texas
style. Most of the time the wind blew from the southeast, but occasionally we
got a "norther" during the so-called winter. BRRRR. I remember flying a kite once
during a "norther." My string broke and my kite went to Mexico. - Jerome Ellard,
February 17, 2006
Cranfill's
Gap, Texas (Lost & Found Email)
Subject:
Louise Cranfill, Daughter of George Eaton Cranfill
My husband's greatgrandmother,
Louise Cranfill, was born in Cranfill's Gap, daughter of George Eaton Cranfill.
Do you have any pictures of George Eaton Cranfill's family? Louise married James
Henry Woodman. My husband's grandmother was Ida May Woodman Roberts. She died
at age 28. We know of no existing pictures of her. If you have any of the early
pictures of Cranfill's Gap, we would be so appreciative to have copies. Thanks
for any pictures, stories, history, articles from old newspapers or a source for
these items. - Barbara A. Roberts, February 17, 2006
Gladewater,
Texas
Subject: Was there a military academy near Gladewater?
My father (Robert Bruce Kerr, b. 1913) often told me he attended a military academy
near Gladewater. This most likely would have been in the 20s, definitely before
the Crash of 1929. His father, Lewis Arvel Kerr, was a photographer in Ft. Worth,
and possibly took the attached photo (see Gladewater).
My father is the shorter of the two boys in the school's uniform. Last week I
was in Gladewater, and asked at the C of C and the local history museum about
the school. No one had heard of it. - Barbara Kerr Scott, Chickasha, Ok, March
12, 2006
Star,
Texas / George
Thomas Lovelace
A couple of weeks ago I finally drove through Star, TX
on my way from Llano, TX area to Grand Prairie, TX. It is a neat place and I plan
to return to the Star Historical Museum when it is open. I was born (1945) in
Brownwood, TX and then moved to Odessa, TX when I was 7 years old (1952). My grandfather
was George Thomas Lovelace (1881 - we think he was born in Hix Community and Cameron,
TX area) and he told me he lived in Star, TX also. He would travel by horse and
wagon to to court my grandmother, Katie Sandol Martin. They were married 29 June
1905 in Indian Creek, TX. g-grandfather was Socrates Martin of Indian Creek, TX.
After my grandparIndian Creek, TXents married they lived at Indian Creek, TX,
Buffalo, TX (close to Bangs, TX), Zephyr, TX, and Brownwood, TX. My g-grandfather
was William Henry Lovelace, born in Alabama on their way from Georgia to Texas.
My g-g-grandfather is buried (lost grave) at Hix Community close to Caldwell,
TX. Would like to learn more about my grandfather living in Star, TX. Relatives
are bured at Indian Creek Cemetery and Ebony Cemetery. If anyone can help me please
e-mail me at georgia.park@lmco.com. As a young girl in the 1950s, my parents and
grandpartents would drive to someplace close to Goldthwaite, TX and we would lay
down in the Uranium beds and they would cover you up with Uranium. They said it
helped joint pain. That was an experience I have never forgotten. I can hardly
wait to come visit the museum and drive around Star, TX again. - Sincerely,
Georgia Park, Grand Prairie, March 11, 2006 |
Impact,
Texas
Your
article on Impact, Texas is excellant. I wish to tell you about a recent development
in the continuing saga of Impact.
Mr. Dallas Perkins, the founder of
Impact, lost his wife a few years back and eventually went to live in a retirement
center. A long lime resident of the "greater Impact area" named Jack Sharp has
purchased a ten acre track from Mr Perkins which includes the main street, and
the buildings on either side of Impact Drive. Sharp, pastors a church which meets
in the former city hall building and he lives in the former residence of the Impact
police officer. The congregation is refurbishing the old Pinkey's location which
will eventually house the church.
Well, there you have it, the latest
from the heart of Impact! - Sincerely, Verl Hart, Mc Murry grad and curent
resident of Graham, Texas, Friday, March 10, 2006
Livingston,
Texas
Subject: Livingston Texas Election Night
Back in the early 50s' when I was quite young, I remember going to the courthouse
on election day, and watching them put the election results on a large tote board.
The reason for this was that not everyone had access to a television back then
- especially poorer people. Election day (any election - local, state, or national)
was a big thing then. It seemed everyone in the entire county was there discussing
this and that about their favorite candidate, and some would get in fairly heated
arguments. The merchants there in town loved it, as it was a time when the men
would bring their wives, and they would shop in the stores there in downtown Livingston.
During National elections, people would stay around the courthouse 'til quite
late - waiting to find out who won the election. Respectfully, Thomas R. McIntyre,
March 10, 2006
Scottsville, Texas
Sirs, In the article (which was by the
way very nice!) on the cemetery in Scottsville, the author mistakenly refers to
Jefferson Davis's Biloxi home as "Bellerieve" . In truth, the name of his Biloxi
home is "Beauvoir". I know because I just came back from Biloxi and took photos
of its damage from Katrina. Attached is a photo with the correct spelling. It's
a small thing, spelling, but history buffs will notice! - Kathy L. Baumgarten,
March 09, 2006
Bishop,
Texas
Subject: Old photos of Bishop
Found these pictures you might like to add to your article. - Betty Sue Creech-Perry,
March 09, 2006
Weeping
Angels
Subject: Dallas Texas
There is a Fourth angel---In the Grove Hill Cemetery off of Samuell Blvd, 5 miles
east of downtown. She is perfect and her hand is still intact. You should visit
her. - Amy DeWitt, March 09, 2006
Kent,
Texas
Subject: School Ruins
A couple of months
ago I was returning from a trip I took in my Volkswagen Bus and stopped for gas
and stumbled upon the ruins of the Kent Public School building and being one who
loves old architecture I took a couple of pictures, some didn't come out but I
do have a couple that you might be able to use. - Brian Brown, March 09,
2006
Red
Rock, Texas
Howdy!
I was raised in Red Rock Texas. Just this weekend I was reminiscing about the
old folks' stories about the town. I spent about three hours a day for years with
the town elders downtown while I waited for my parents to pick me up after the
school bus dropped me off. I got an ear full of old stories. I was wondering if
anyone else had old stories to swap, such as what was the year of the fire that
wiped out the town? I remember stories about the movie theatre and the sandhills.
I think that the stories of the naming of the town that I have found on the
internet are goofy at best. It is obvious if you have been out and about in the
area that there is a very high iron content to the rocks and soil. When we were
kids and we would play and get muddy and dirty it was always a red dust film and
we would get in trouble because the red mud (in which we were invariably covered)
was red. The red pigment from the mud would stain our clothes as well as our skin
and we probably looked like wild Indians. Our parents cars had that unmistakable
red film of dust, distinctive to our little niche, covering their cars from driving
down those old red dirt roads made from local clay- slicker than snot when wet,
everyone kept a tow rope in the trunk. There is even a cutout in the road out
in the sandhills of red rock of which the sides of the walls which you drive through
are deep orange red. Hmm...
- Cristina Niemann, March 7, 2006
Clara,
Texas
Subject:
Picture from early Clara
Notice the Model T in front of the parsonage. I have no idea what year this was
taken but early 1930’s maybe. The far building is the school house and the next
building is the Parsonage and the Church. I don’t remember the yard being this
small around the church, but do remember the fence, which was to climb on and
over. The bell in the bell tower is being used in our church today and weighs
over 1000 lbs. - Barbara Van Loh Peterson, March 06, 2006
Maryetta,
Texas
From
__?__ until the late 1970's the old schoolhouse was used weekly as a domino hall.
- Scott Gleason, March 06, 2006
Livingston,
Texas
There
is one interesting fact that seldom makes the rounds when people talk of Livingston;
and that is that the first golf coarse for Livingston was on my grand father's
farm which was just north of Livingston, about 2 1/2 miles north on old Hwy. 35.
Such early luminaries of the city of Livingston such as Mr. Gerlac, Mr. H.B. Davis
and various and a sundry other folks would go there to play a round or two of
golf. My father A.J. McIntyre would caddy for them. This was some time in the
mid 1930s. Also if you can get some of the older generation of indians to tell
you about it, my grand father would hire them and pay them what was then a decent
wage to work on his farm. He would send my uncle Thomas to the reservation to
pick them up late on Sunday, and had a place for them to stay the week. He then
would drive them back to the reservation on Friday night. This was a time when
no one would hire an Indian, but he did! - Thomas Mcintyre, March 06, 2006
Friendship,
Texas
1. The land where Allison/Old Friendship was established was
first settled by Elihu Creswell Allison in 1847.(This is from information from
Elihu's great-grandson, Harold Grinstead.)
2. He was not a Czech immigrant
although by the 1940's and 50's there were many Czech immigrants in the area of
Old Friendship and new Friendship.
3. Not all of Allison was destroyed in
the 1921 flood. The school building was not harmed and continued to hold classes
until the new school building in the new Friendship area opened in 1923.(This
information came from Carrie Winningham Robertson, an Allison granddaughter who
lived on the land where the Allison School was built.)
4. The former Friendship
Community holds a reunion every year on the third Saturday of October. - Wayne
Ware, March 06, 2006
Noodle,
Texas
I
just read the article on Noodle, TX and thought it might be of interest to you
to know that the one of the first if not the first postmaster of Noodle TX was
actually a postmistress, Julia Mitchell Vaughan. She was first the postmistress
of Funston, TX following the death of her husband, Wiley Vaughan and then became
the postmistress of Noodle---this would be between 1900 and 1905. Julia Mitchell
Vaughan Bray was my great grandmother. Thank you. - Kathryn Smith Martin North
Chili, NY, March 05, 2006
Plata,
Texas
Since
a friend of mine owns the property across the road from the old section station
on the “Orient” railroad I spend a lot of time there. Prior to WWII there was
a fairly large population along Alamito Creek and considerable truck and subsistence
farming going on. The railroad has now been purchased by the Texas Department
of Transportation and leased to a Mexican consortium, Texas-Pacifico Transportation
Limited. About one short train a week is not running to and from Presidio. The
ruins which are shown in your account have had a protective cover put over them
to, at least slow down deterioration. There is now a historical marker at the
ruins. The house was built by John Davis who arrived no later than 1870. He had
a peach orchard and made peach brandy which made Plata a popular stopping place
on the old Chihuahua Trail. - Gerald G. Raun, Alpine, TX, March 04, 2006
Hackberry,
Texas
I
want to thank you for the info on Hackberry. As it turns out I too am related
to LE Neuhaus through the WT Carter family. As I was reading through our voluminous
family history I read that L.E. Neuhaus came to the US aboard the Talisman in
October 1846 arriving in December of the same year. In 1848 L.E. bought 1,150
acres of land from none other than Steve Austin. It was on this spot that he founded
the town of Hackberry. I was told the reason why Hackberry never grew to size
was that the main line of the railroad passed it by. I would be interested to
know if this bit of information is true. Best regards and thanks again - Chris
Carter, March 04, 2006
Bangs,
Texas
Subject: Traweek Family
I am writing in the hope that you
can help me. My name is John Righton and I live in England. I worked for the Traweek
family, who lived in Bangs, 20 years ago and I am currently trying to trace them.
There were 2 brothers, Larry and Dennis. Both would now be in their mid 50's.
They did custom combining working throughout Texas. Their base was their father's
(Ray) farm just outside Bangs. I worked with them for 6 months, over the summer
of 1984 and very much enjoyed the time that I spent in your town (and my visits
to Brownwood lake). If you could help me to trace them in any way I would be very
grateful. Yours sincerely, John Righton, March 03, 2005
Hotel
Herring Memories - Amarillo Texas
HOTEL HERRING
First
and foremost, I am very pleased that this wonderful building is still standing
in downtown Amarillo, Texas!!
When traveling to Amarillo, by car or horse for that matter, people would say
they knew they were getting close to Amarillo because they could see the; "Tall
and alone standing, famous Hotel Herring". It was a definite landscape landmark
in that time.
My fondest memories of this building date back to 1959
thru 1964, when I was just a very young girl. My grandfather, Walter Winstead
Holmes, was an oilman. He lived in Amarillo, along with all the other oilmen drilling
for oil, during the 'Panhandle Oil Boom'. His office was downtown and when my
family and I would drive from Borger to visit him, we would go eat lunch in one
of the restaurants in the hotel. However that was not the most exciting thing
for me. In the lobby area there was a fish pond. It was: THE FISH POND. The best
ever in the whole world! It looked absolutely huge to me. The beautiful fish,
running water and of course a duck or two could be seen in that pond also! Everything
looked so Grand!! That lobby was just heaven. Marble, fixtures, pictures, OH MY!
My grandfather also had a suite, on one of the upper levels, which he
lived in during his later years of life. There was a full kitchen, two bedrooms
(I remember 2, I think), living room with fireplace and one bathroom. Very nice
in that day and time. For Amarillo that was one very fancy and popular hotel.
I was too young to go into the 'dance hall' area but it's my understanding that
it had the most wonderful entertainment and wild parties!
My lunches
and my visits with my most favorite grandfather will always remain close to my
heart. He was the most wonderful, kind and funny grandfather a young girl could
have! - Jackie M Dunlap, City Of Amarillo, March 03, 2006
Lees,
Texas
There is another ghost town you don't have in your list. Known
as Lee's Store or Lees, it is in northern Glasscock County at the intersection
of FM 33 and FM 461. There used to be a little general store and about twenty
houses. Now there is just an oil field service yard and building and few unoccupied
run-down houses. There used to be a sign stating that Lees had been recognized
by Texas Electric for some kind of community award. When I was a little boy growing
up in Glasscock Co, we used to go through there on our way to Big Spring for shopping,
etc. We could always tell when we came through Lees by the rich hydrogen sulphide
smell from the oil field surrounding the area. - Joe Wooten, Minooka, IL, March
3, 2006
Zephyr,
Texas
Subject: Iron Bridge Picnics of Zephyr
My name is Shelly
Smith. I'm from the little town of Zephyr. I graduated from Zephyr High School
in 2005. I would like to say most everything you have on zephyr is correct. there
is one place you forgot to mention. This place is called Iron Bridge Road as my
great grandma (Zephyr grad 1929, still alive) has said that the iron bridge has
been a place of history that is where they used to go and have picnics. Next time
you're in Zephyr, the Iron Bridge would be a good place to take some pictures,
that is where the Class of 2005 took their senior class picture. I just thought
you would be interested in this place. - Shelly Smith, March 02, 2006
Bishop,
Texas
I was interested in your short story about Bishop. We moved
there in 1957 from California (my Dad was in the Navy stationed in Kingsville).
There I lived till 1988 raising my kids in a town where "Everyone Knows Your Name",
and kept a eye on everyone else's children. There is a teacher who made the Guiness
Book of World Records for never missing a day of school. She retired after what
seemed to some students as 100 years only to volunteer at the school. She taught
at least three generations. Bishop produced doctors, lawyers, profession football
and baseball players just to name a few. A small town, with a great school system
- the Proud Bishop Badgers. The High School has a pictorial of all students graduating
from the high school in the lobby for all to see. If you want to know more, the
next time you're in town ask to speak to Dr. Lee (the local dentist or his wife).
Or to talk with some of the "Old Timers" stop by the VFW. - Betty Sue Creech-Perry,
Corpus Christi, Texas, March 01, 2006 |
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