| |
TEXAS FORUM • TRAVEL FORUM
For the
exchange and sharing of Travel/Texas information.
Anyone wishing to add to
Texas Forum, please send your message to editor.
We reserve the right to edit your message.
Only messages suitable for publishing
would be posted here. Thank you.
Forum
> New Entries |
September
2006
Dilley,
Texas 9-29-06
Subject: Enjoyed Dilley, Texas
website
I had to locate Dilley in association with my job duties and was
very impressed with your Dilley, Texas website. I look forward to visiting with
my family someday to say we've been to Dilley. Thanks for the smiles this morning.
- Renee Zeller, Katy, TX, September 29, 2006
Robert
E. Lee House 9-29-06
Subject: Playing Hooky
at Fort Ringgold
Hello I was just surfing around the web and wanted to
check and see what had happened to the Robert E. Lee house that is located at
the Fort Ringgold Campus in Rio Grande City..... I just want to say that I was
raised in Rio Grande City and went to school there since headstart and graduated
in 1990. When I was in the 6th grade I remember that my girlfriend and I would
skip school and go to the Robert E Lee house. I moved out from Rio Grande City
in July of 97 and have lived in MN since. At the place I work I was telling some
co-workers about the stuff that I used to do and some of them don't believe me,
I was asked to bring them pictures of the house but I told them that the only
pictures I knew about were the ones here on your site. I sure am glad to see that
the house has been redone. I hope to be back in my hometown soon. I miss it. -
Nancy Guerrero (Perez), September 28, 2006
Glazier,
Texas 9-25-06
Hello,
Editor! Today I am writing about April 9, 1947 in Glazier,Texas. I am the grandson
of a victim of the 1947 tornado there. My grandfather was in Amarillo that day
and when he went back home April 10, 1947 at 10:30 AM he said he found his home
totally destroyed. He told me only one damaged structure remained standing. All
his cows were gone or dead on the floor with other animals. His diner was completely
wiped out and only ripped clothes and mud was left in the entire home village.
- Sebastian Lara Velazco-Weiss, September 24, 2006
London,
Texas 9-25-06
Photos 2 was 3 buildings made into one. First one was an old hotel, I played
in this hotel in the middle 60's. The middle building was an old dance hall....
more - - Judy Kimmell,
September 18, 2006
White
Flat, Texas
9-25-06
My grandfather, William W. Pierce, rented a
farm near White Flat sometime between 1918 and 1925. He and his older sons, my
uncles, raised cotton until a barn fire destroyed the harvest they were storing
there, waiting for better prices. They later moved to Floydada, where my mother
met my father in 1929. My aunt, Mae (Pierce) Griggs, who died in January of 2005
at the age of 97, told me three things about [those] time[s] at White Flat:
1. The school hired some local boys to drive to the surrounding farms in a covered
wagon to bring the children to school.
2. The school did not have a storm
shelter. Instead there was a large ditch next to the building. If a tornado was
sighted the students and teachers would lie down in the ditch.
3. Airplanes
were extremely rare in this region at the time. One day one flew over the school.
The teachers allowed all the students to run outside to see it. - Thomas Maddux,
September 23, 2006
Golden,
Texas 9-25-05
Dear TE: My name is Tommy Wayne
Bullard and I was born in Golden, on September 11, 1943. My Grandmother was Mollie
Branum, later Mollie Benthul. She is buried in the Golden Cemetery. My Dad farmed
and performed mechanical work in Golden. We moved to Vidor Tx about 1945 but returned
to Golden three or four times a year as long as my Grandmother was there. I have
a Cousin in Mineola, that was also raised there. He might be able to tell you
more about Golden. I have only good memories about that nice little town. Thanks.
Tom Bullard, Vidor, Texas, September 23, 2006
Hale
Center, Texas
9-19-06
Subject: another displaced Hale Centerite
Hello out there in West Texas, I Just read Madrid's letter from Arizona
that was born in Hale Center. I grew up on a farm and ranch 5 miles south and
2-3 miles west on the Cotton Center road (old Iowa Avenue). I was a McKnight born
in 1934. Have great memories, but am now trying to find the history of the place
I was born on. I even have an oil painting of the house.... more
- Marita June McKnight Wood Barnett, Hanford Ca, September 17, 2006
Subject:
Lost Photos of Starr
County 9-17-06
Der TE, Good morning! I love these
photos! ... In your grouping of Military Buildings, you have a house identified
as: A residence in Rio Grande City. The house is on present-day US Hwy 83 West
Bound otherwise known as 2nd Street, and I believe the cross-street is N. East
Street.
My grandfather who was from Kentucky was stationed at Fort Ringgold
and married my grandmother (a local) there. Both my aunt and my mother were born
on Fort Ringgold. We were all raised in Rio Grande City... Thank you - DeAnn
Peterson Cohrs, September 16, 2006
Subject:
Mozelle High School, Mozelle Texas
9-17-06
Dear TE, As far as I know, Mozelle town as
you refer to it, actually never existed as such. After attending Los Creek grade
school, (five miles south of Coleman) through the second grade, from 1947 to 1948,
Los Creek school was closed and students were transfered to other schools, some
to Coleman, and some to Mozelle, depending on where in the county of Coleman you
lived. I attended grade school at Mozelle, from the third grade thru the ninth
grade, from 1949 to 1956... more
- Thomas W. Dickinson, Bangkok, Thailand, September 17, 2006
Fort
Ringgold (Rio Grande City), Texas
9-16-06
My Family was one of the few families that lived
in Fort Ringgold in the 1960s. We actually lived in the Lee House (Robert E. Lee).
... My family and I do have several pictures
of the Lee House....more
- George Benoit, Norfolk VA.June 15, 2006
Subject:
Rio
Frio Oak Tree
9-15-06
I thought you might like to have pictures of
The Rio Frio Oak Tree. These were made this week while we were in the area. The
boy in the picture is Luke Wines, son of Bob & Ronda. Sincerely, Don Eichler,
Center Point, Texas, September 04, 2006
Paducah,
Texas 9-15-06
Dear TE, I am looking for information
on my biological father's family. His name was Julian Homer Magee, born May 4,
1919. His Father was Wynn Magee, and his mother Mother: Elvie Lou Baker. I would
appreciate any information on this family, especially medical history. Wynn &
Elvie lived in Paducah when my Mom met them in 1944. Julian Homer Magee was born
in Childress Texas in May 1919. Our granddaughter was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis
which is a genetic condition. Both parents have to have the C.F. gene. - Connie
Hubka, e-mail: cdhubka@telus.net , Claresholm, Alberta, Canada, , September
15, 2006
Juno,
Texas
9-15-06
I happen to buy this painting at a garage sale
several months ago near my home in Austin and through a friend stumbled upon your
site. The painting is of
the OLD EE Stricklen Ranch Juno Texas and was painted 11-10-1971 by Carcie B.
Stricklen. This information is printed on the back of the frame. It is a beautiful
landscape painting and I am planning a road trip in the fall to see if I am able
to find it. I hope that you find this information helpful. - Ian
McGill, July 02, 2006
Conway
and Estacado 9-15-06
Town dried up after Interstate
40 routed a half mile north. My distant cousins' family operated the motel, er,
tourist court, there as well as a cafe. Cousin Johnny made spare change at the
filling station running a wrecker service on Route 66. He chargesd rich folks
plenty, but a family in need he didn't charge at all.
I missed Estacado.
It's still there on the Crosby/Lubbock county line, and was once a county seat
for many counties back when. Gin still operating with maybe 5 or 6 homes still
occupied. Once a quaker settlement named Marietta.
Thanks for an interesting
[magazine]. Keep up the good work. - Benny Poulson, Ralls, Texas, September
12, 2006
Mineral
Wells, Texas
9-14-06
Subject:
Grand Theatre
Here is a photo taken of the Grand Theatre in 1948 just
after it was remodled. I worked there as a teenager and later owned the building
after it had closed. This is one of 4 theatres that were open in the 1940's into
the 1960's in Mineral Wells, Texas. You can add it to your theatre collection
if you like. Sincerely, Don Eichler Center Point, Texas, September 14, 2006
Texas
& Pacific Railroad Depot
in Pecos, Texas
9-14-06
Dear Editor, It has been awhile since I submitted
the circa 1870's photo of a Texas courthouse in Nacogdoches County to your very
informative web site, TexasEscapes.com but have run on to another item from a
different Texas town that I thought may be of interest. This item is an unused
postcard from the early 1900's and depicts the Texas & Pacific Railroad Depot
in Pecos, Texas. ... Please keep up the great work! - Best Regards, Mark Armstrong,
Beaumont, Texas, September 02, 2006
Subject:
Woman Hollering
Creek 9-12-06
At
one time, back in the early '80s, the Highway Department sign at Woman Hollering
Creek actually did read Woman Hollow Creek. It stayed that for about a year until
somebody got through to the folks who put up the signs & told them what the name
of the creek actually was. This was when there was an effort to identify the names
of all the rivers, creeks, & draws in the state & put road signs with the names
on them. There are a lot of 'Five Mile Creek,' 'Fifteen Mile Creek,' & similar
signs, because some of the creeks didn't have actual names. They were called "that
creek you cross five miles out of town on the County Seat road."
Along
State 16 below San Antonio there's Macho Creek. This has nothing to do with the
modern usage of the word 'macho.' 'Macho' is the Spanish word for a gelded mule.
There's a creek in Seguin, tributary to the Guadalupe, that apparently
has never had a name. At any rate, when the state tried to find out the name of
the creek so a sign could be put up, no one--not even the oldest folks in town--could
remember the creek ever having a name. - C. F. Eckhardt, September 06, 2006
Prada
Marfa and
the "Lost Blimp" of Valentine
9-12-06
[Dear TE],
I have had two wierd encounters on highway 90 from Marfa to Van Horn that caused
me to stop, then laugh.
My first encounter was when I was driving Hwy
90 for the first time last December and I noticed the border patrol blimp from
the back-end. It looked like a propeller floating in mid-air - attached to nothing.
The road was so flat and had such little traffic that I was able to watch it and
drive at the same time using my peripheral vision. At one point I actually got
out of the car to study it and try to figure out what it was. It was not until
I got [directly] under it that I could see the entire thing. Then I wondered all
the way to Van Horn who had lost their blimp. I imagined the Texas winds placing
[it] out in the middle of nowwhere. Someone in Van Horn clued me in [as to the
blimp's function and ownership].
This week I was making the same journey
and noticed a small building out in the middle of nowwhere that said something
about Marfa. I had an appointment and couldn't stop at that time. I had evidentally
driven past it the time before but hadn't noticed it as my eyes were directed
up at the blimp. On the way back I had more time so when I passed by the building
again - I turned around to see what it was. Boy was I surprised! It almost makes
you think you might be on Candid Camera. I think [someone] should film the people
that stop to see it. Both incidents made me chuckle and were welcome distractions
on that lonely drive. I hope there is more to come. Thanks for the entertainment!
- Tammie Riley, Van Horn, Texas, September 08, 2006
Gasoline,
Texas
Dear
TE, My Dad, Samuel Willis White Jr., was born in Gasoline, Texas on Nov. 26, 1920.
If anyone out there has stories or photos of Gasoline Texas, please send them
in. - Regards, Gary L. White, Euless, Texas, September 09, 2006
Dallas,
Texas 9-12-06
Dear TE, I have been searching
for years for any thing on the Dallas cotton mill people, I was born in 1930 into
a family of mill people, I was raised there on Wall St. and went to Lamar School.
As I look back, even though it was all I knew - it was still a good life. I remember
the "shotgun" houses, sandy streets, old Fritz Park, the stores and shops on Corinth
St. and Lamar Street with the old Sears building (which even had a farm store...
more - Donald Armitage, Old
Town, Florida, Donnaldd@msn.com , September 9, 2006
Juno,
Texas 9-12-06
Dear TE, First let me just say
that I got so excited when I came across [your magazine] and saw a picture of
the old Juno school house and playground. My mother was actually the last teacher
to teach at that school. My family moved to Juno in 1990 and lived there until
1992, when the school was shut down. I have so many stories to share that I am
not even sure where to begin....more
- Bridget Loza, Juno Common School District Alumni, Dallas, Texas, September
08, 2006
Hudspeth
County 9-12-06
Dear
TE, I just stumbled onto your tour of Hudspeth county. I am enjoying it, but....
you stated that six miles south of Cornudas
was a Standard Oil pumping station. It is in fact an El Paso Natural Gas pumping
station. I believe there is still an E.P.N.G. booster station there. The school
was for First and Second grades only, 3-12 went to Sierra Blanca. As far as I
know there was never a church there. What you may be referring to was the REC.
HALL. It belonged to E.P.N.G. at Station #2 and was used for dances, pot luck
suppers, and sometimes (when they could get a preacher) maybe church services,
but you would probably have to move the pool table and jukebox.
At Station
#2 there were twelve company houses, four duplexes, the recreation hall, the schoolhouse,
and the teacher's house. About two miles east of Station #2 is Cornudas Station's
five houses. The Cornudas Station comperssor is still there, but all of the houses
have been sold and moved.
You also said you were looking for a Yucca
forest. If you look at a map of Cornudas
you will find FM 2317 goes south then turns hard east. If you you go about a mile
due west of the turn - there used to be a very big collection of Yuccas. That
was back in 1968. 30 years change a lot of things. - Eddie Stephens, September
06, 2006
Middlewater, Texas 9-12-06
Dear TE, Here is a little info about Middlewater, Texas from 1967-1968.I lived
in Middlewater in 1967-1968.
The brick schoolhouse was still standing
and in pretty good condition. The school had consolidated with Channing School
System. Channing was 60 miles one way. There was about 15 kids that was bussed
to Channing. One of the school teachers from Channing moved to Middlewater and
lived in the house that was located behind the school. I believe that at one time
the school probably had one teacher and they must have lived in the house. It
was in pretty good condition but was small. The teacher that moved to Middlewater
was Mr. Dooly he taught Physics and French at the school in Channing. He had a
wife and two children.
There was a US Post Office in Middlewater and it
was run by Mrs. Sylvester "Red" (Babe) Smith. The post office was located right
off the porch in Mrs. Smith's home. It was the house which was located at the
railroad tracks near the water pump. I am not sure when it closed. - Name witheld
by request, September 06, 2006
Rockne
& Martindale, Texas
9-12-06
Dear TE, I am surprised you do not have Rockne,
Bastrop county on your list of towns. Rockne is a gem. Visit any Saturday from
10:00 A M. to > 2:00 P. M. You will not waste your time. A musuem, two log cabins
that > were actually lived in and the Catholic church.
Regarding Martindale:
John Crayton and the Spruill Family arrived in what became Martindale in 1839.
They are all buried in the John Crayton/Crayton-Spruill a cemetery on the same
side of the street as the Martindale City Cemetery only a few yards away. What
is noteworthy about John Crayton and the Spruills is that they remained in Martindale
from their arrival in 1839 until their deaths. City Councilman Lee Harrison has
documentation of this as does Eugene Cox, former City Councilman. - Regards,
Velma Fogle, August 22, 2006
Hedley,
Texas 9-7-06
Dear TE, This is a picture
of the first three brick businesses built along the Hedley Main St. Today they
house the Hedley Senior Citizens and Hedley Lions Club. - B.L. Shaw, September
03, 2006
Wilmer, Texas
9-5-06
Dear TE, I was looking on your page on Wilmer
and was wondering if there is some way of finding out who the 100 people were
that lived in Wilmer at that time? I believe my GG Grandparents, Greenville T.
Little and his wife Elizabeth lived in Wilmer at that time. Greenville T. Little
opened one of the first merchandise stores in Wilmer. My Great Grandparents, Judge
Carson Little and Ella Anderson Little also lived in Wilmer all of their lives...
more
- Jane Little McEndree, September 05, 2006
Tacoma
Calling Abilene 9-5-06
Dear Texas Escapes, I was wondering if anyone remembers the drug store that used
to operate as Cooks Drugs in Abilene.
It was located, I believe, on South 7th close to the intersection with Willis
Street. I would like to know if it still exists although I am sure it's long gone.
I spent many summers in Abilene at my grandparents on the corner of South 6th
and Willis. This was back in the 1960's. Back then we use to go to Cooks to their
soda fountain and had "real" Cherry Cokes. I would love to see a picture of the
existing structure and other structures close by to the Ole Cooks drug store.
- Carl Pederson, Tacoma, Washington, September 04, 2006
Ghost
Town of Rhonda, Texas
Dear Texas Escapes, I used to live about one mile from the townsite of Rhonda.
It is actually six miles due south of Harrold, Texas. The only thing left are
several foundations as well as a huge brick- lined cistern about 300 yards south
of the former townsite. I assume this was the source for drinking water for the
town. The site is now on private property. If anyone is interested in Rhonda,
Texas, they can get in touch with me and I can provide additional information.
You may include my e-mail address: Aquanino@aol.com - Glenn Collier, Iowa Park,
Texas, September 03, 2006
McCook,
Texas
9-5-06
Greetings from South Texas.
A bit of information for the small
town of McCook. From what I have gathered, McCook was established by some Polish
folks that moved down from Panna
Maria, Texas. They established a small farming community in south Texas and
built a nice church. The folks in McCook are a fine bunch and right neighborly.
I grew up in Edinburg,
about twenty five miles from McCook. I still remember some the the names of the
Polish students that came from McCook. We had the Kotzurs, the Pavelics, the Pilarziks,
the Pavlickas, the Sekulas and the Kellers to name a few.
The community
is still a small place, there is a corner store and gas station. There are a few
grain silos in the immediate area and oil fields and pipelines just about everywhere.
Most of the folks are into dry farming or ranching with a few of the larger spreads
doing some wildlife management and guide hunting for trophy bucks and exotics.
The
post office is in the the corner general store. If you are ever in the area, you
should drop in and see the place. The locals may even share a story with you about
the latest rattler they ran into or the bobcat that visits their pond in the evenings.
It takes you back, you'll be pleasantly surprised. - Richard Sanchez, August
20, 2006
Pasadena,
Texas
Subject: Pasadena: Late 1950's to 1965
9-5-06
My first
sight of Pasadena had to be (the best I remember) in 1958. My Mom and Dad and
Brother and myself moved from Indiana or Kentucky to Pasadena Texas because my
Mother had family there and since I went to 7 different elementary schools and
my Dad was a house painter, evidently we liked to move from one place to another.
So I ended up going to Golden Acres (a suburb of Pasadena) Elementary
in the 5th grade and then to Pomeroy Elementary for the 6th grade in 1959. I remember
making good enough grades the year I was there that I got to be a street crossing
guard when school let out which got me out of class a few minutes early and also
I got to wear the hat with the badge on it and the white web belt cross thing
that went across your chest and carry the cane fishing pole with the red "Stop"
flag on the end of it.
Then on to Jackson Junior High School for the
7th, 8th and 9th grades. I don't really seem to have a lot of memories of that
time period. I was probably just glad to pass each grade and move on toward graduation.
Finally in 1963 I started the 10th grade at Pasadena High School and
was really struggling to make passing grades. I remember taking Auto Mechanics
for 3 hours a day my last 2 years at PHS and that was just to graduate because
at that time Algebra and any higher math were elective classes and I was having
enough trouble with business math. The night I graduated from Pasadena High, my
family packed up and we moved on to North Louisiana. But Pasadena was at that
time the longest I had ever lived anywhere and it sure seemed like home.
I eventually moved on to the Navy for 4 years then back to North Louisiana and
eventually hired on with South Central Bell and got transferred to South Alabama
where I still live but Pasadena has always held fond memories for me.
I still miss it after all these years. Thanks for letting me share my memories,
- Ron Mason, August 30, 2006
Subject:
Woman Hollering
Creek 9-3-06
The
local story I was told about Woman Hollering Creek dates back to the period of
the Republic. Supposedly a woman from a local settlement--which settlement wasn't
named in the story I heard--was kidnapped by Indians, possibly Comanches. Her
husband and other men from the settlement pursued the Indians, but were outnumbered
and couldn't rescue the woman. She was raped, tortured, and then murdered on the
banks of the creek. The husband and his party could hear her screaming but were
unable to help her. Supposedly her screams can still be heard on occasion. Be
that as it may, on old Republic-period maps the creek now known as "Woman Hollering
Creek" was called "Arroyo de la Llorona." - C. F. Eckhardt, Seguin, September
02, 2006
Subject:
Refinery Fire in
Sunray 9-3-06
I will never forget July 29, 1956. I was five years old. The fire siren in Sunray
blew and we could see the smoke from the refinery north of Dumas. My mother was
very scared because my Dad was a volunteer fireman in Sunray. When the phone rang
later my mother started crying... Dad had been badly burned when one of the tanks
exploded. Later, Dad said he could tell the tank was about to go and he and the
men with him began to run. There was a small berm nearby and Dad was able to get
to it. The flames went over Dad and burned the back of his head and severely burned
his arms... but he survived as did other men from the Sunray volunteer fire department.
Sadly, others from the small community fire department did not. Even though I
was very young at the time, I remember some of the men who died that day and how
the whole town of Sunray mourned. Yes, they are heros.... from a time and place
where heroism really meant something. - Randy Foshee, Canon City, Colorado,
September 01, 2006
Christoval,
Texas 9-1-06
Dear
Texas Escapes: I hope you can include my old hometown of Christoval. It's on the
Concho River south of San Angelo. Lots of history there with its old Baptist camping
grounds, its ranching history and of course, its six-man football dominence in
the 50's & 60's. Thank you and I do enjoy [Texas Escapes] a lot!! - Doug Roberts,
September 01, 2006
Clint,
Texas
Subject:
Clint, Texas History Book 9-1-06
Dear Texas Escapes,
I was raised in this town (Clint, Texas) and have lived here since 1939. At the
time Clint had the hotel and mercantile, it also had a bank or two. Had a doctor
and a post office all the way to the 1920's or 40's. Then Texas 20 (Alameda Ave.)
came about and the businesses moved there. Some had already closed. If you will
give an address I will send you the first and only history book written about
the town of Clint. I hope to write a second one in the near future. Just waiting
for some "construction" to finish taking place. - Minerva Cheatum, Clint, Texas,
August 30, 2006
Mineral
Well's Baker Hotel 9-1-06
Dear Texas Escapes:
I am trying to contact your contributors Bob Hopkins, Jason Grant, [or anyone]
with information on the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells. The building has become
something of an obsession for me, and I'm planning on making a documentary film.
The problem is- the historical society / chamber of commerce/ city council pretty
much refuse comment on or [provide information] about the hotel. I was told the
owner lives in Arizona and is "tired of dealing with the hotel" so I am hoping
that some of your readers might put me in contact with someone who has access
to the building. The Baker is too important to North Texas history, and too beautiful
to have its doors closed forever. Anyone who can provide information on the hotel,
please contact me at: texas.rambler@yahoo.com, - Jessica Golden, Grapevine,
Texas, September 01, 2006
Wheelock, Texas
9-1-06
Dear Texas Escapes, For years, my wife and I
passed through Wheelock on our way to Franklin
and Hwy 79 from Bryan and Benchly as well. Travelling down 391 towards Hearne
[was] just as you expressed, the scenery and rolling hills on FM 391 can be very
beautiful at certain times of the year. We just admired the drive and wished (dreamed)
we could own some land like that someday.
Then one day recently, my wife
and I answered an ad for property for sale. As it turned out, it was at Wheelock
just North of the cemetery about a mile off FM 391. When the owner gave us a tour
of the 100+ acres, we fell in love with it for the sizes of the cedars and other
trees. In general the landscape itself, since we do trailriding horseback. This
would offer a place to ride nearby without having to travel too far. We made an
offer on the entire acerage, it was accepted and we now ride, cookout (over a
campfire) and enjoy the peacefulness, the stars at night and the tranquility as
we ride through the cedars, yaupon and towering oaks, through the creeks and up
and down the creek bank.
It was interesting reading the brief history
you gave of Wheelock. We somehow from somewhere already were aware that Wheelock
actually narrowly escaped being the capital of Texas, something we are thankful
for. We would love to learn more history of Wheelock and some of the earlier families.
One day, we plan to live there and hope that progress and rural expansion doesn't
overtake the serenity of the town and area before we get there. Thanks for the
write up, - "John" and Cindy Allen, August 27, 2006
more
> |
Texas
Forum >
August 2006 and more
Hotels
> Traveling Texas? Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
|
Recommended
Books
New Handbook
of Texas | |
