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May
2006
Subject:
USS
Nevada 5-29-06
I am President of a local History and Heritage Society in Benton, Arkansas. We
received a diary written by Horace Call who served on the Nevada from early 1944
until after WWII. Apparently he went aboard after it was repaired from damages
during Pearl Harbor Attack. This diary is a day by day account of all activities.
He mentions the hot weather on Litchi, Shelling Iwo Jima, Mog Mog, Mr. Best, Clayton
McClintock, getting hit by Japanese “Zeke”, Okinawa, Suicide planes attack, Sipan,
etc. - Art Wilson, May 29, 2006
Midland,
Texas 5-29-06
"You don't need to put bars
on your windows - I'm from Vermont"
Hi Folks, Came across your web site
and found it very interesting. I'm a native of Hoosick Falls, NY now living in
Schenectady, NY. I lived in Midland, Texas for 4 years from 1995 to 1980 and loved
every minute of it. If I could I would go back there to live. I think the people
of Texas are the nicest people I have ever met. Moved to Midland from New York
State and when I first met my neighbor she thought about putting bars on her windows.
But she quickly changed her mind. From then on I told people I was from Vermont.
As a matter of fact, Barbara Bush, Sr. and I had the same pediatrician, Dr. Dorothy
Wyvell. Many friends were made in Texas along with wonderful memories I will cherish
forever. Now I'm going to sit here and remember for awhile. Regards, Eileen
Jones, Schenectady, NY, May 29, 2006
Sweetwater,
Texas 5-29-06
Enclosed is picture
of Sweetwater as it looked as I was growing up. I graduated in 1955 from Newman
High. It was a very nice town for a person to grow up in with the pride of the
times and the size of the town. I was taught to respect the Texas Flag and the
US Flag and other people. As a child I worked for the Sweetwater Reporter, Homer
Baxter as a delivery boy. Anybody that has lived in the area for any amount of
time knew Homer. History includes The Sweetwater Swatters (baseball team), the
old court house and the square, the overpass on the West side of town, Starr's
Drive Inn, Sweetwater Lake, flying kites down by the ball park, drug stores and
their banana splits and sundaes, Newman High School, Sweetwater Mustangs and of
course the Texas Movie House, Avenger Field and the WASPS plus the churches in
the area. - Donnie Fort, May 29, 2006
Kosciusko,
Texas 5-29-06
There are two towns in the US named after this Polish hero of the American Revolution.
One is in Mississippi, one is in Texas. In Mississippi it's pronounced Kah-zee-OOS-ko.
In Texas it's pronounced KuhSHUskuh, which is apparently close to the correct
Polish pronunciation. I've been told if you pronounce it and someone says either
'Gesundheit' or 'God bless you,' you pronounced it correctly. - C. F. Eckhardt,
May 28, 2006
Sipe
Springs 5-29-06
Your article brought back a lot of memories for me of my Great Grandparents who
moved to Sipe Springs in 1892 from Arkansas. I used to visit and stay with them
a week at a time as they only lived 17 miles from us at De Leon, Texas. Great
Grandpa Francis Ella “Frank” Barnes and I would go to town every afternoon to
Sipe Springs in the buggy with “Old Joe” the gray horse hitched up and spend the
after noon. Great Grandmother Margaret Ellen “Maggie” would take her nap while
we were gone. It was especially a fun time when my brother R.C. Henderson and
Helen, Bobby, Genevieve and Peggy Barnes, children of Edwin Barnes some times
would be there and we had many a good time at that old farm. We rode an old buggy
frame down the hill to the bottom to the bridge, played in the wheat barn, and
drove the old Case Car miles and miles while it was setting in the barn. Ole Joe
the horse, would go to the back of the pasture and we would chase him many a mile
until we caught himh, so we could all ride him.
My grandfather James
Calvin Marvin Barnes and great grandfather would sit out on the porch and Great
Grandfather would talk and talk and tell of his days in the Mexican War and Civil
War, but I was at that time too busy playing and did not listen to them. Oh, how
I wish now that I had.
Great Grandfather Barnes was Justice of the Peace
there for years. I remember one time a couple came to get married on a Saturday
night. We kids were all told to go out side. We did, but were peeping in a window
and watched the wedding. We would read the Justice of Peace book, Great Grandma
would let us know when Great Grandpa was coming and we would scatter quick.
Those buried there in the Sipe Springs Cemetery that are my folks are: Francis
Ella Barnes & wife Margrette Ellen(Small) Barnes, Minnie (Barnes) & Frank Morrison,
and son Paul Morrison; Myrtle Barnes Richardson, Daisy Barnes Williams & husband
A..Z Williams, Marvin & Annie Nolen Barnes, and son George E. Barnes, Margaret
(McFarland ) Arnold Todd (has no stone); James Nolen, son of Wm. E. & Minerva
Jane (Mauney) Nolen. Carrie (Small) & Eli McGinty, Cora L. McGinty, Katy Small,
Willie May Small (daus of J.W. Small); 2 children of Nelse and Sarah (Adar) Crain
, Nelse and Sarah Adair Crain, So many stories I could tell, but this is already
too long. - Lea Peacock, Roaring Springs, Texas, May 28, 2006
Clarendon
History 5-28-06
I am doing some
genealogical history and am wondering if you have suggestions as to a local person
with whom I might communicate. I am researching a fellow named Rev. Richard Allen
Hall who was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was Presiding
Elder of the Clarendon District for four years in the 1893-1899 period. Supposedly
he helped to found or did found Clarendon College and was on the Board of Trustees.
He married a woman named Alice Texanna Neely from that area in 1881. If you have
any suggestions as to someone who might be familiar with area Methodist preachers
in that period or the founding of Clarendon, I would be very interested in communicating
with them. Thank you. - Kalmin Smith, May 28, 2006, KalminSmith@aol.com
Haunting
in San Antonio
5-28-06
I am seeking
your help in locating information. As a former long-time resident of San Antonio,
I am familiar with many of the local legends about ghosts and the like. I know
all about the "haunted" train tracks, and the optical illusion responsible for
the phenomenon, I remember tales of Midget Mansion (actually hiked up that way
a time or two), and I have heard fascinating, and rather scary, stories of the
ghostly activities in the old Hertzberg Circus Museum. More specifically, I have
heard tales of what occured in the basement, used at least at the time by the
library for storage. The mother of a personal friend of my brother actually worked
in that basement, and had her own stories to tell. Cases of a man in dark/black
clothing, often very threatening, books moving, being "grabbed" by nothing visible,
and more. While looking around online for these old stories, I found many of them,
but can locate nothing on the circus/library building. I did visit the museum
there once, and only once, and was rather uncomfortable, for lack of a better
word, the entire time. I am hoping that you might have some information on this
"haunting". Thank you. - Deborah Fisher, May 25, 2006
Marfa
Lights 5-26-06
I was browsing the forum and found some stuff on the Marfa Lights. My pal John
Tolleson and I had an unusual experience with some 'Marfa Lights' that weren't
THE Marfa Lights in late June, 1991. We'd been to the Western Writers of America's
convention in El Paso and were returning to San Antonio and Seguin. We got caught
in a gullywasher of a thunderstorm between El Paso and Sierra Blanca--water about
8" deep on I-10, all the lights out in Sierra Blanca, winds that were pushing
that old Lincoln all over the road. When we got to Van Horn we were ahead of it,
and we turned south there onto old US 90.
We decided we'd see what we
could see at the Marfa Mystery Lights viewing area--and we saw quite a show. What
we were seeing were brilliant flashes of light out on the flat. Now, I am an experienced
artillery forward observer, so this is pretty accurate estimation. At ranges of
2000 to 4000 meters from the viewing area, we were seeing brilliant flashes of
pure white, pinkish, bluish, and pale orange light. These were from ground level
to upwards of 20 meters in the air, brilliant enough that they lit up patches
of ground some 200 meters in diameter with such intensity that we could distinguish
the shapes of individual bits of brush, even from a mile to 2 1/2 miles away.
We came back convinced we'd seen the Marfa Lights.
I was out
there several years later and mentioned what I'd seen that night in '91. The people
out there said "We've never seen anything like that out there!" I later discovered
that the previous April there had been a minor earthquake in the area. I believe
what we saw may have been produced by aftershocks from that earthquake. - C.
F. Eckhardt, May 26, 2006
Alanreed,
Texas
A
buddy, driving across country stopped at ALANREED to take a picture for me. You
see, my name is ALAN REEDER. ALANREED TEXAS must be a great place. It certainly
is to me and I have yet to visit. I live in Eugene Oregon and Palm Springs California.
Hoping to visit my name sake town before I die, and best wishes to all 50 residents!!
Sincerely, ALANREEDER, May 23, 2006
Bayview Cemetery, Corpus Christi
5-23-06
One of my great-grandfather Addison E. Lane's
brothers and his wife are buried in Bayview Cemetery. The family story says the
several of the brothers were ranching on Padre Island in the 1870s when the place
was attacked by 'Indians.' That's probably a mistake, because Indians weren't
raiding that far south in the 1870s. It could well have been an attack by bandits
out of Mexico. One of the brothers was killed in the attack. His brothers went
into Corpus Christi to get lumber to build a coffin for him. His wife told them
to bring lumber for two coffins, because when they got back she'd be dead, too.
They didn't believe her and only brought lumber for one coffin. She was dead when
they got back, probably a suicide with laudanum. Both bodies were transported
to Corpus Christi in the same coffin, a second coffin was built for her there,
and they were buried side by side in Bayview Cemetery, which at the time was the
only cemetery in Corpus Christi. - C. F. Eckhardt, May 21, 2006
Old
Eola School
The old Eola school house is also currently being used as a haunted house to benefit
neighboring Angelo State University groups. This past October, a small fee was
charged, and throngs of people from all around came to see the "haunted Eola school."
Haunted or not, it was quite a burst of life for the quiet community! - Whitney
Straw (avid Texas Escapes reader/visitor) Angelo State University Elementary Education
Major Senior, May 21, 2006
Pearsall,
Texas 5-23-06
I have just spent an enjoyable few minutes surfing your very interesting and informative
website, and I want to send you an old picture of one of the places mentioned
in your story about Pearsall. The attached picture shows the People's State Bank
and, on the second floor, the Laurel Opera House. Unfortunately, I have no information
about the occasion surrounding this gathering of the townsfolk, nor of its date,
although I believe it to be about 1920. In later years a third floor was added
to this building, and it eventually housed the A & C Hardware store. Today (April
2006) it is home to the Cactus Bowl Cafe, which moved from its former location
at the corner of North Oak and Rio Grande streets in 2005 Keep up the good work.
Sincerely, George C. Toalson, April 28, 2006
Former
Fisher County Courthouse in Roby
5-23-06
"A
friend of ours grew up in Roby. Story goes locally that the time came for Fisher
County to build a new courthouse, maybe in the late sixties. What to do with the
old frame two story 1910 courthouse? It was cut apart and sold in two sections
and made into residences. My friend bet me I couldn't find them. I have photo'd
them and he confirmed that they were indeed parts of the old courthouse."
- Barclay Gibson, December 22, 2005
Peacock,
Texas 5-23-06
This is in response to Frances
Gandy-Walsh's (July 01, 2005) request for information about photo - Peacock, Texas
ca 1916. My husband, Carl Emmitt McMahon, was born and raised in Stonewall County.
He and his family lived on a farm about 12 southwest of Peacock.... Carl remembers
the train depot... more
- Jean McMahon, May 21, 2006
TexasEscapes.com
5-23-06
Thanks for a great web site. Anyone doing research
on Texas should find this site to be useful, at least as a starting place. Anyone
interested in Texas ghost stories might find my latest novel, The Ghost of Mount
Chinati entertaining: It should be on the market sometime next month. It is based
in Presidio County in the Big Bend country of Texas and centers around the Marfa
Mystery Lights. I served two years with the Border Patrol in Presidio before being
transferred to El Paso in 1966 and am quite familiar with the mystery lights.
My wife is the former Loretta Cortez of Presidio. I am a native of West Texas
(Brownfield) in 1934 where my father was a share-cropper at the time. - Walter
LeCroy, now divide time between Lubbock and Roswell, NM, May 21, 2006
Texas
Escapes 5-21-06
I discovered your web site quite by accident making me wish Mississippi had one
like this. What a treasure for the state of Texas and America! People who fear
the internet need only visit your site to find the perfect example of the good
it can do. What a great job!!! Thank you, Jerry Grace, Satartia, Mississippi,
May 21, 2006
Cedar
Station, Texas
5-21-06
I saw your page on Cedar Station, Texas. I
used to live at Cedar Station in about 1963-65 I lived in that house shown in
the first picture on the Cedar Station page.
My dad, Jim Smith, leased Cedar
Station and about 600 acres around it. He operated the gas station that is shown
in the 2nd photo. He sold gas, food, drinks, etc., and fixed flat tires. He also
raised sheep and goats and had horses on that land. My mother, my two brothers
and two sisters and I lived in that house along with my dad. There was a small
motel there at one time (the third picture). I believe my grandmother, Dorothy
Alice Smith, once sold decorative rocks out of that building as well. - Randy
Smith, May 20, 2006
Archer
County Courthouse
5-20-06
Here is a recent photo of the Archer County
Courthouse.(Photo taken 4/12/2006.) The interior and exterior restoration of the
Archer County courthouse to its' 1920's condition was completed in 2005. This
oil painting of the Archer County courthouse in its' original condition hangs
in the courthouse today. - Terry Jeanson, San Antonio, Texas, May 19, 2006
Talpa,
Texas 5-20-06
I was raised in Talpa. My parents moved there in 1955. I attended school there
until graduation in 1968. When my family first moved there, there were 3 gasoline
stations, a variety store, two grocery stores, a café, a drug store, a dry cleaners,
the school, and approximately 236 people. Through the years, people either moved
away or died and gradually the population went down. I came back in 1975 and taught
school for five years. Eventually, the school, even though it was part of a consolidated
system, closed. The kids now go to Panther Creek ISD. My mother still lives in
Talpa in the same house that my parents purchased in 1960. -
Phil Decker, May 19, 2006
Fairy,
Texas 5-18-06
Subject: Fairy Fort
I am Charles Allumbaugh. I currently live in Midlothian Texas. Fairy Fort was
my Great Aunt. She was my mothers aunt. Fairy lived with my mother when she was
a young girl. She still has a dress that her Aunt Fairy used to wear. She currently
lives in Grand Prairie Texas and is 91 years old. She talks about her Aunt Fairy
with great fondeness and can tell many stories about growing up with her. I also
have a picture of Fairy in a scrapbook that I am putting together about the Fort
family. - Charles Allumbaugh, May 16, 2006
Jacksboro,
Texas 5-15-06
Fifty years ago, the Owen family lived in Jacksboro. Eddie Owen owned an oil well
servicing company. It was about the time of the celebration of the Jacksboro centennial.
Grace Owen, Eddie's wife was sister of my father Leon Rankin. We lived in Antelope.
My mother Lucille Rankin wrote a column for the Jacksboro newspaper called Pops
Eaten. It was a folksy bit with a lot of actual happenings in the surrounding
area. People never did guess who the actual writer was. The Owens children and
my sister and myself are planning a reunion in Jacksboro in July to recall good
old times of our youth... I do know that where the flower shop is now was a movie
theatre where I saw my first Elvis Presly movie, and my grandfather told me that
the Vines side of the family lived there during the time when the indians would
still raid, and they would have to seek shelter at the nearby fort. - Ann Rankin
Ordonez, May 14, 2006
Lovelady,
Texas - New Watertower 5-13-06
I stumbled upon your website and noticed the photos and story about the old watertower.
I really hate that it is gone, but after 70+ years, it was not aging well. I have
attached a photo of the new water tower that replaced the old one, for several
months they each stood on opposite sides of the railroad tracks - almost poetic!
Thanks, Kevin D. Fritze, Lovelady City Council - Position 4, May 12, 2006
Best,
Texas
5-13-06
My mother, Mary (Vandervort) Hensley, lived
in Best as a girl. Her father worked in the oil fields. Her youngest sister, Rhea,
was born in Best. My mother passed away on April 30 at the age of 91. I visited
Best with my mom a few years ago, and the photos you have online are exactly what
I saw then. I thought Mom told me that the stone structure was the jail. She pointed
out the hill where the town's water tank once sat. My Mom's parents were Bonnie
and Emmett Vandervort. My grandfather died of a heart attack while at work in
the oil fields in the 40's and my grandmother eventually moved to Los Angeles.
I've heard a few stories about the wild town that Best was. There was a newspaper
article about the Wild West town of Best, but I have lost track of it. I've heard
that my grandmother made bootleg alcohol and also ran a small grocery store for
a time. I was hoping to find out more about the history of Best. Some of my mom's
relatives still live in San Angelo and her oldest sister Vanatta was married in
the old Cactus Hotel. Just sharing a few little tidbits that I recall. Thank you.
- Charlene Hensley, May 11, 2006
Toyah,
Texas 5-13-06
Subject: Toyah Architect
[Would anyone know] who the architect was who designed the fine buildings in Toyah
-- the bank, mercantile, etc., complex and the high school? I once had this information
but have lost it. I am working on an historical novel based on a travel diary
my aunt wrote in 1920. Toyah was mentioned in the diary as follows: "The most
important towns we passed through on Monday, July 12, were Toyah and Kent." In
recreating the time and place, I would like to include the name of the architect.
Thank you for your help. - Virginia Howard Meterie, Louisiana vhoward@cox.net,
May 10, 2006
Prada
Marfa 5-12-06
As me and my mom were on our way to Eagle Pass we passed the shoestore [Prada
Marfa] and we were not sure if it was what we had seen. We wanted to make a U-turn
and see if it was really there. Well, on our way back it was there. We stopped
and took pictures of it. To us it was a store in the middle of nowhere, but [we]
enjoyed it as well. I told my brother about it and he doesn't belive it's really
there. - Marisa Flores, May 11, 2006
Memories
of my father
5-12-06
I received an e-mail from someone, I just can't
believe what I have received OH! MY! I tried to e-mail this individual back but
the e-mail will not go through. Thank you for adding my letter to your internet
newletter you have no idea what this has done for our family. - Lydia, May
11, 2006
Dora
Please call me or send me your correct e-mail
we need to talk what you have sent me is so amazing! I need to talk to you about
my father and the land and the documents you sent, so many many questions. Thank
you! Thank you! Thank you! so please call me!! My phone number is # 651-224-1104,
Lydia, May 11, 2006
Brownfield,
Texas 5-12-06
When is the Brownfield High School reunion? My maiden name is Neugent. As a family
we moved to Brownfield, from Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1945. The Irland Faught family
moved from Oklahoma in the 30's. My husband went to school in Union,Texas. Billy
went into the Army in 1952, and retired at 24 years of active duty. Billy and
I married in Brownfield in 1957. We have 6 children to our union and 17 grandchildren.
We are now living in a small community named Lexington, Oklahoma.
I
have many memories of the brown clouds forming, which demanded we get the clothes
off the clothesline and tie down any lose things that may be blown away. Walking
home from school with a thin headscarf over our heads to keep the sand out of
our eyes. We weren't allowed to wear blue jeans those day's. So, the sand would
beat against the back of our legs. During very cold days, we were allowed to wear
blue Jeans under our dresses. My, how things have changed. Bill is now 74, I am
68. Thanks - Vera Neugent Faught, May 10, 2006
Texas
Hotels >
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Hardin
shootings at Albuquerque 5-11-06
-
Charley Eckhardt, Seguin, Texas, May 09, 2006
Crash
at Crush 5-11-06
General Passenger Agent William 'Bill' Crush, of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad
-- the Katy -- was the first to stage a collision between locomotives, but far
from the last. For several years prior to the Crash at Crush, Broadway shows had
been simulating railroad crashes on stage, together with sparks, fire, and steam.
A man known as 'Head-on Joe' staged collisions at fairs from a few weeks after
the Crush show until the 1920s. The last deliberately-staged collision of steam
locomotives was filmed for the movie Denver & Rio Grande, when two former
D&RGW narrow-gauge locomotives were crashed on former D&RGW (by then Durango &
Silverton) narrow-gauge tracks in Colorado. One boiler exploded, so it's fortunate
the crash was filmed with telephoto lenses. - C. F. Eckhardt, May 10, 2006
Erick,
Oklahoma 5-11-06
I was also raised in Erick
and knew Roger Miller, Jerry Reed, & Sheb Wooley. I sat in on some playing by
Roger at the original Cal"s Cafe one night in Lefores. I lived in Borger when
it was a REAL rough town. I attended several street dances in Erick. In those
days we had great BBQ's on the Fourth of July, St.Patrick's Day, etc. I recall
one street dance featuring Mac Wiseman. As usual the performers used a flatbed
trailer for a stage. I remember spending several evenings in the city park where
the swimming pool was. My Grandparents (Ed & Ottie Alexander) lived about a block
from there. Any old-timers in [or from] Erick reading this are invited to e-mail
me. By old timers I mean 70+ years of age. - Homer A., brassstetson@webtv.net,
May 09, 2006
Bartlett,
Texas 5-11-06
Subject:
I remember Bartlett
...I remember taking my shoes off, walking near the tracks, and feeling the
exhilaration the excitement of laying out pennies to be squished. When we got
home, my feet were black, and my cheeks were bright red from the heat... more
- Carolyn Ripper, May 07, 2006
San
Perlita, Texas
5-7-06
Subject: Special Memories
My name is Derek Richardson and I'm currently living in Van Buren, Arkansas. San
Perlita holds a lot of special memories for me. My parents both attended and graduated
there from San Perlita High School. My Dads name is Nolan E. Richardson and my
Mothers name is Joyce. Dads parents Mr. & Mrs. Gordon E. Richardson lived there
in San Perlita for many years. My Mothers maiden name was Joyce McCraw and her
parents Mr. & Mrs. Olan McCraw lived out on a farm called the Crane place out
past Wilamar. They later moved to Raymondville but continued to farm the land
and my Grandmother Bertha worked in Raymondville for Kivett Ford for many years.
My Junior and Senior years of high school growing up in Granbury, Texas were very
special because of the opportunity I had to spend the summers of these two years
in Raymondville working for my Grandfather Olan McCraw. I used to haul all the
cotton and grain to the gin there in San Perlita and usually stopped by the little
store that was there on the left side of the road just on the edge of town to
get me a cold soda. My Dad said that he and his friends talked the school officials
into allowing them to start San Perlitas very first football team. His stepbrother
Utah Dickerson was also on the team as well. It was really neat working there
and everytime I would go to the San Perlita gin I would always run into someone
that knew my Mom and Dad and my Grandparents. I especially enjoyed meeting Andy
Shoemaker and Raymond Rhodes. They were in the gin quite often. Raymondville is
where my brother Rick Richardson was born (6/5/51) and I was born there as well
on 6/2/53. We have lots of ties and some very fond memories of San Perlita, Raymondville,
and lots of fun trips out to Port Mansfield. I hope I can return again some day
very soon. I have an Aunt and Uncle and several cousin who live in Weslaco. We
will have to drop by and see these wonderful places that hold so many memories
the next time we are down that way visiting. Thank You for your web site and I
hope I didn't bore you. - Derek B. Richardson, Van Buren, Arkansas, May 07,
2006
Texas
Hotels >
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
Pardon
Me! A Belton,Texas Story 5-7-06
I alway's enjoy
visiting your web-site and reading all the many stories. I thought I might share
a short family plight with you. My maternal uncle, Willy [Will] Dupree was born
in Belton in 1890 and when he was 26yrs. old, he shot a man on E. Central Ave.
and N. Wall St. It was said to be over a stolen roll of bread, as there was a
boarding house near by. He was sent to the Huntsville State Prison and rec'd.
2yrs. but after serving only one yr. My grandmother, his mother, Ella D. Dupree
who lived at our old home place, 307 N. Wall St. went before the Tx. Gov. [Ma
Fergerson] and appealed to her on Will's behalf. Ella made the Gov. an offer to
give her a grand milk cow, in exchange for an early release for Willy from prison.
And thus, the offer was accepted and Willy came home. Yep! ther's one in almost
every family. - Anna Thomas, Belton, Texas, May 04, 2006
Best,
Texas
5-7-06
I, Brian Ross Jack, was born in Best, Reagan
County, Texas on 29 July 1928, to Marion Hugh & Helen Wanita Hartzell Jack. My
grandfather also lived there: Marion Hale & Lucretia Montgomery Jack. They lived
about 100 yards in front of our house. My father and grandfather both worked in
the oilfields. My father also did welding and mechanics in his garage next to
our house. It is my belief that most of the residents moved to Kermit, Texas.
My mother, sister and I left Texas and moved to live with my grandfather, Elmer
Elsworth & Lulu May Kahler Hartzell in Orting, Pierce County, Washington in 1935.
God Bless. - Sincerely, Brian R. Jack, Fort Worth TX, May 06, 2006
Salt
Gap Texas 5-7-06
I check back every now and then to see if there is anything new listed under Salt
Gap Texas. I have lived here since 1981. The store you show is the store in Doole
Texas, 6 miles to the north on FM 503. The Flag on the door of the shop did
fly over Texas, but it is the 1st National Flag of the Confederacy. The Flag on
the pole is the 3rd National Flag of the Confederacy. Thank you. - Richard,
May 05, 2006
Scottsville
Cemetery 5-7-06
I found your [magazine] and have enjoyed traveling around Texas in it. I did a
Google search for Scottsville Cemetery and found your article. I am interested
in finding out more history of this cemetery and the founding families. I am looking
for early photo history. Could you put me in touch with anyone who might know
about the Scottsville, Texas Cemetery and church? - Wilfred Smith Keithville,
Louisiana, wilfredm@bowie-cass.com, May, 06, 2006
Quanah,
Texas 5-6-06
As I remember my mothers hometown of Quanah, it brings back wonderfull thoughts
of a quiet little west texas town (1966). It was so far away from the bigtown
we were living in, Grand Prairie. My first real long trip, it seemed to take us
all day to get there, I was fortunate to realize even then the trip was a big
part of the adventure. It only got better when we arrived. My mother, Annie D
Butts had three sisters and two brothers. The eldest being Hubert then Marvin,
Emmaloyd, Elizebeth, Bartie, and Annie D the baby. Hubert and Marvin were succesfull
ranchers and farmers. Hubert taught at Texas Tech and had a farm outside of crosbyton.
Marvin stayed in Quanah on his ranch. Elizebeth married Buddy Rollins also of
Quanah, they lived in Houston. Emmaloyd married Glen Rogers and they had a ranch
in southern Kaufman county in the community of Lively just south of Kemp. Bartie
married Homer Walker of Waxachie, lived in Fort worth. Mother married Howard Lee
Stephenson, they lived in Fort Worth. They are all gone except Aunt B (Bartie).
Now when I go to Quanah, I go alone, I find different spots in and around
town, the city park or tolbert's crossing and sit and listen and think of my loved
ones gone. I remember what was talked about here or there, who said what or even
how it was said, happy, sad etc..... I find happines when I can stand in the cold
west texas wind and hear nothing except as it passes my ears. I hope I'm sitt'n
on one of the dirt roads around Quanah when God calls me home. - Don
Stephenson, May 04, 2006
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Peacock,
Texas 5-6-06
Your pictures and stories of
Peacock are most interesting. I was born in 1941 to Aubrey and Lanie McMahon.
Both are now deceased. My Mom passed away in October of last year. She was 102.
She would of been able to identify the building in the picture. I was not raised
in Peacock but on a farm at the foot of the Double Mountains. I graduated from
Peacock High School in 1959. It is always nice to go the Peacock Reunion and visit
with both the old and young people that grew up calling Peacock home. Hopefully
I'll see you there sometime. Wish I could help with the picture. I have a story
I wrote about a visit to Peacock when I was very young. I will send it you might
enjoy it and pick up on the spirit of the time. - Delores Miles, April 18,
2006
Delores Miles' Story:
Memories
of Uncle Bob and a Wooden Box 5-6-06
Holland,
Texas
5-6-06
[Does anyone have] any information about the
Khulman Community Center in Holland ? I remember as a young girl being aware that
there was a nice small walled garden behind the center, that was shrouded in magnolia
trees or something similar. When I drove around Holland in April, I was going
to take a picture of the garden but it was no longer there. I hope that someone
took a picture before it was torn down, and would like to know when the removal
took place. If I remember the stories correctly, the center was once used as an
opera hall, and as recently as 1984 the stage was still in place. The center had
concrete floors, and I think I have heard that it was also occassionally used
for skating parties. - Genevieve Shockley, Round Rock, May
03, 2006
Gasoline,
Texas
5-4-06
I was just sitting at the kitchen table a few minuets ago when I thought of the
name Gasoline, Texas, only reason was I suppose is the fact my Grandmother Molly
Coker lived there or that was her address back in 1910 ( along with her youngest
boy, Roy Coker, my uncle. ) I remember Dad talking about Gasoline, TX. Don't remember
much except that he did and do know by census Record's my Grandmother and uncle
Roy lived there for a time back in that time in history. Was beginning to think
google wasn't going to bring up anything for me about Gasoline, Texas, but glad
they finally did.
Was good reading about the little place back then,
though I am an old gent 73 years old, it brought a tear to my eyes, Thanks. -
William J. Coker, Booneville, Arkansas, May 03, 2006
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Tivoli,
Texas Town Founder
5-4-06
I recently read, with pleasure, your brief history of the town of Tivoli, Texas.
While your story is technically accurate, it lists Preston Rose Austin as the
founder of Tivoli. Actually, Preston R. Austin platted the town of Tivoli which
had been in existence and actually serviced by a U.S. Post Office since the 1890's.
A telegraph station was actually in place (the first in Refugio County) at about
that same time.
It was, in fact, Captain Newton Cannon Gullett who founded
Tivoli, Texas on his ranch of the same name. Gullett erected a cotton gin, store
and a boat landing on the Guadalupe River to export cotton and receive supplies.
He was instrumental in bringing the railroads into that section of Texas, establishing
the Gulf Coast Fair Association, and is reputed to be the first person to use
wire fencing in Texas to close the open ranges. He was a familiar face in Washington
D.C. and a pioneer member of several cattlemen's organizations. In deference to
history, please preface your story of Tivoli, Texas with a mention of its actual
founder, a colorful character, indeed! - Randy Neumann, May 03, 2006
Corn
Hill, Texas
Subject: Ghost Towns
5-4-06
Recently I was given a printout from your article
relating to the Corn Hill area of Central Texas. I am writing today, as after
viewing some of the pictures you provided, it brought back memories of my early
days.
You see, I along with my sisters were reared in that Catholic Community,
attended parochial school there, as well as some of us married in the large Church
that still stands today, as well our Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles as well as
many other members of the family and friends, that now, lie buried in the very
same Cemetery you show in the pictures. I still have one surviving Uncle that
lives to this day, directly across from the large Catholic Church and would be
directly across from the few remaining buildings that you once again featured
in your article.
Oh yes, many memories, of the first Grocery Store that
was just off the road, where I watched my first "World Series game between the
Dodgers and Yankees. That would have had to be somewhere around 1950's. I also
remember going to the Church activities as well as annual celebrations just below
the hill at a place called "Moravian Hall". It was a two story structure, with
a stairway leading upstairs to a wooden dance floor. Downstairs was reserved for
Bohemian Taroks, Dominoes as well as refresments and delicious cakes pies kolaches
sauage barbecue beer and much much more. Wonderful times, those ole days, and
miss the greatly. My sisters as well as myslef still make our trips to that erea
as often as we can, as most of our classmates and friends reside either in that
area still, or the Austin, Texas area. My Mother and Father were buried there
on top of the hill under the large oak trees just south of what use to be a ballpark.
I playd ball there when I was in school, but my Father also spoke of the "big
games" they had in a ballfield a bit farther down to the right. The school and
most all, as you mention, are almost all gone, but the memories of the Catholic
Nuns that gave us our early education and Christian way of life, still remains
with us to this day. I will attempt to visit my Uncle within the next couple of
weeks, as he will be celebrating his 103rd or 104th Birthday this year.. He has
great knowledge of that entire area and lives alone, with the help of his Son.
I hope to share some other things, now that I know how to locate you, and
thanks for the great work you are doing to preserve all that is so precious to
all of us, as we age along with everyone else. Oh by the way, my one sister lives
in Temple, Texas, while the other lives in Houston, Texas. Thanks again. - William
(Bill) Knapek, Houston, Texas 77040, Age 63, May 02, 2006
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Sanderson,
Texas High School Photos
5-4-06
The
very nice photos posted on your website of the ornamental castings on the Sanderson
High School are on the current high school building, which dates from the 1930s.
The building in the two bottom photos is the old high school, from about 1890,
which served as the combined elementary and junior high after the new high school
was built. A new elementary was built about 1968 or 1969, and the building in
the photos was torn down. - Jack Bogusch, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, May 02, 2006
Norse
Church 5-2-06
My wife and I went to try to photograph the new church listing at Norse. Your
web site said it was 10 miles west of Norse, near Cranfils Gap That is INCORRECT.
It is at the community of Norse, about 10 miles east of Cranfills Gap - William
L. Early, May 02, 2006
Lost
Buildings Inez, Texas 5-2-06
My father lived
in the home pictured in the story "Lost Buildings of the Macaroni Railroad", when
he was very young. I think his father worked for the railroad for some time. My
father still lives in Inez and would love to have a picture of the home because
someone has torn it down. - Mary Felicia Whitson, April 24, 2006
Haskell
County Courthouse
5-2-06
I photographed this picture of the Haskell County
courthouse which currently hangs in their district courtroom. It is a picture
of the current courthouse before the roof and tower were removed and the east
and west wings were added in 1931. - Terry Jeanson, San Antonio, TX, May 01,
2006
Capitan
and Pasadena Theatres 5-2-06
I
happened on your mention of the Capitan and was amazed. I assumed it was derelict
or torn down by now. I spent most Saturdays of my youth from 1952 on at the Capitan
Saturday Matinee. Three features, a serial, and 7 cartoons. Started up at 11:30
a.m. and we usually got out about 5:00 or 5:15 p.m. Admission $.25 plus $.25 more
for concessions - I supposed it was a bargain for our parents.
The other
theatre mentioned in the article (the one that is now a gun shop) was Long's Theatre.
We went there occasionally but it was by far the less popular back then.
I have lived in South Carolina for the past 30 years and have only gotten back
to Pasadena once or twice. Definitely enjoyed my childhood there but seeing it
as an adult made it lose a lot of its allure. Sincerely, Mark Little, May 01,
2006
Earle's
Chapel 5-1-06
Thanks for the info on Earle’s
Chapel, the church and community west of Jacksonville. I couldn’t help but notice
the varied spellings used throughout your article concerning Earle’s Chapel. The
spelling should always be Earle’s instead of Earl’s. The state of TX had the incorrect
spelling on their highway signs also, but the correct spelling is Earle. Sincerely,
Margaret Ann Mims Moody Liberty, TX, Great-great granddaughter of Elijah Earle,
May 01, 2006
Woman
Hollering Creek
5-1-06
Maps dating from the 1830s give the name 'Arroyo
de la Llorona' to the stream now known as Woman Hollering Creek. - C. F. Eckhardt,
Seguin, April 30, 2006
Toyah,
Texas 5-1-06
I recently married a woman who
was raised in Toyah. She was a student of the last class in the Toyah high school.
Her family were then the Sanchezs' but her mother remarried to Jim Burchard- a
well known rancher from Toyah. I visited her mother over Easter 2006 and attended
the joint churches' Easter celebration there. A very small but welcoming community.
I am British, soon to move to Texas. Toyah was a dustbowl - and one of the most
beautiful places I have visited in the US. - Malcolm Alexander, April 30, 2006
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