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June
2004
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- West
Texas
I happened to stumble across your web site today, and was truely
impressed. I grew up in west Texas (Val Verde Co, and Presidio
Co), and know that there is not much there for the "passer-by".
Just wanted to say thank you for helping to let others know that
there is more to Texas than meets the eye. - Deena Smith, June
30, 2004
- Quanah,
Goodlett Texas
My Montgomery great grandparents lived in the Quanah area. My
dad was born in Goodlett. I have some old photos that were in
my grandmother's papers. Some have names and some do not. I'd
like to have a place online that serves the Quanah area to post
the names and possibly the photos or links to the photos. I will
gladly give the photos to families related to the people in the
photos or a local museum or other interested parties. My great
grandparents were Henry Franklin and Nancy Louellen Montgomery.
- Mrs. Beth Pearce in Oklahoma, June 30, 2004
- Valentine
Texas
I was born in Valentine on December 18, 1973. After I was born,
my family and I moved north to Maple Texas where I started school.
We moved back to Valentine on the summer just before my second
grade year and lived there to finish my sixth grade year.
As a small child, Valentine was so much fun. My friends and I
would ride bikes for entertainment. We would get so many flats
and my father would get tired of repairing my tubes so he installed
a rubber hose, the same size as a regular tube and we rode forever.
We would play cowboys and indians through the mesquite fields,
heck, we couldn't get flats anymore... we rode worry free... School
was so much fun. Well, it was for me. It was a very small school,
everyone knew everyone. What is interesting to me now, as I look
back, was how we walked to school every morning. We didn't have
a cafeteria, so if you didn't bring a lunch, you walked home to
eat and then walked back to school. There were times that the
busses would run... hahahaha, or should I say "the bus" would
run. On the north side of the railroad tracks, which is the same
side as the school was, I remember the bus actually traveled through
a couple of roads but on the south side, there was one major street.
The bus would stay on that main street and everone walked to it.
I've gone back to visit Valentine not too long ago, a couple of
years ago, and boy is it scary. The house that we lived in is
right off the main highway. Across the street, there was a restaurant
called "Tino's" back then. It changed names a few times while
I lived there and I heard that it was a church last. I do think
back and wonder what it would be like if I had stayed in Valentine.
What would I be doing now? Where would I have gone to college?
Would I have had the opportunity to travel all over the United
States like I have done now? I just wonder. - Ray Guillen, Lubbock,
Texas, June 29, 2004
- Photos
I have sent some pictures for your consideration... I finally
made it to Big Bend; a place that I have wanted to go to for quite
some time. The very dark picture of an actual Marfa
Light; I thought the whole thing was a hoax, but I can't explain
what showed up in the picture...maybe you can. The cemetery is
a small one on the Texas side of the Rio Grande near the town
of Redford and the other photo was taken in Big
Bend National Park. ... Thanks. - Julie McConnell, June 27,
2004
- Menard
Hi, I'm (James) Coe Linn, and I was born in 1937 in Menard and
was raised there. I noted the great photos on your website.
The old drive-in theater was the Mission Drive-In as was
the old theater downtown... the Mission Theater owned and
operated by Henry Reeve. I went to the Saturday matinees at the
downtown theater as a child and then to the drive-in while in
junior high and high school.
The crossing on the San Saba was called the Stock Pen Crossing.
There was a swimming hole just a few yards east of the
crossing that we called "High Banks." We had a very long rope
in a big pecan tree and could swing almost to the other side of
the river. Many happy memories swimming there.
A short distance to the west of the Stock Pen Crossing was the
Baptist Encampment, and open-air revival facility with
cabins and camping facilities.
I really enjoyed your website. Please check out http://www.menardroots.com/.
I graduated in 1954 from Menard High School. The section on MHS
Annuals is a great compilation of many of the High School yearbooks.
Regarding Fort McKavett, Theodore Roosevelt’s son, Elliot
Roosevelt, spent time in the Fort McKavett area hunting and relaxing
in the sunshine. Best wishes. - Coe Linn Austin, Texas,
June 24, 2004
- Nueces
River bridge in the Valley Wells Cemetery
When I was a kid, there was a metal sign on the Nueces River Bridge
in Valley Wells. The sign stated that the bridge was built in
1909 by an iron company in Iowa. Someone pried the sign off in
the 60s. The bridge was replaced in 2001. There was talk about
moving the old bridge to the park in Carrizo Springs. I do not
think that the County wanted to pay the cost to transport it that
far and left it in the cemetery. I am going to question your statement
about finding a flowing spring in Valley Wells. The current water
table is 300'. Thanks - Tom Nuckols, Land owner in Big Wells and
Valley Wells, June 23, 2004
- Waco
1) The "Hall of Fame" museum that you mention in the Waco writeup
is the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.
2) The Strecker Museum has been incorporated into the brand new
Mayborn Museum Complex. You can learn more about this new addition
to the Baylor campus at www.maybornmuseum.com
Thank you for your efforts to bring Texas -- and Waco -- into
people's homes. - Best regards, Cheryl Taylor Mayborn Museum,
June 24, 2004
- Belton
Carnegie Library
Editor's note: Anna Thomas' mention of the
Belton Carnegie Library piqued our interest and so we asked if
she'd mind writing about her patronage. Her story follows:
Dear Texas Escapes, As a child growing up in Belton,
my fondest memory of going to the Carnegie Library was sitting
in the rear room to the right. There lying on the table would
be an old fashioned Stereo Photo Viewer. It was wooden and had
a sort of telescopic lens that you could see through and at the
far end was a postcard holder . Being hand held, you could insert
the card and slide it near or far and it was very interesting
. My favorite cards were about history and animals.
I dont recall the name of the lady Librarian, but I do remember
that she was very nice and always so helpful to me. I enjoyed
looking through different books there, and yet I never did have
a library card.
There are many fond memories to share as a child in Belton and
events that I recall - even after so long a time. All the old
landmarks that I knew and loved are all gone now, but each time
I go downtown Belton, I can see each one and remember......each
event.
I encourage other visitors to Texas Escapes to share their stories,
as we all have a story just waiting to be told. Thank You, again,
for allowing me to tell a small part of mine. - Anna Thomas (Anna
Jane Davis) Belton, Texas, June 24, 2004
- Belton
My Grandfather ( Herod G. Dupree), was of Belton, Tx. and he died
in 1920. He owned the corner lot of 201 N. Main St. in Belton,
where he had a Blacksmith Shop for many years. He also owned the
lot directly behind it , where he had a Livery Stable. I use to
make many visits to The Carnegie Library, when I was a child and
I'm sure there are many old horse shoes buried underneath it today.
Thanks for allowing me to share this bit of my family history.
They are all now deceased. - Anna Thomas, Belton, Tx, June 23,
2004
- Wart
Removal
I know the perfect cure for removing warts. It takes only a couple
of minutes and two weeks later with no more thought on the matter
they are gone! I gained this knowledge from an old aunt of mine
who, upon seeing a woman with an wart on her nose offered to help
her rid herself of this unsightly intrusion.
As children, we grew up with this story in the 50's so when my
husband had a wart on his finger for a couple of years I decided
to take my old aunt's remedy seriously and applied, wait for it,
a snail to the area! My husband and I watched, fascinated
and possible repulsed (depending upon how you feel about snails)
as the snail made its way across the wart. Courageously we turned
it around to cover its tracks then decided enough was enough.
A couple of weeks later, miraculously the wart had disappeared.
Now 30 years on, our son started to have warts, first on his finger
then on his chin. For months he tolerated them and at intervals
visited doctors to have them removed which, need I add, did not
work! I did mention my old aunt's cure to him from time to time
until at last he decided what had he got to lose? His reputation
as a serious businessman? His faith in conventional medicine?
No probs there. Be a laughing stock in front of his colleagues
should the snail story leak out? No, of course not! Just the idea
of subjecting oneself to having a slimy creature crawl all over
you! I think it's hilarious and amazing, but who cares if it works?
I hope this helps any readers with wart problems. Please, before
you think of going to the docs to have your wart burned out or
frozen or whatever, try this, it's so simple. Peace be with you.
- Dotti, June 23, 2004
- Wart
Removal
Cut into a potatoe skin and place a small peice over the effected
area. Then wrap both the area and the potatoe skin in duct tape,
keep it on for several days (5 - a week). Continue until warts
have disappeared. - Ward, Alaska, June 22, 2004
- Shelby
I am interested in volunteering at Shelby Cemetery, in Shelby,
Texas, Austin County. I need to find out how and whom I need to
be in contact with. My relation to the site is several German
ancestors are buried there. I visited this past weekend, and noticed
that the place needs some TLC and I want to help. Thanks - Travis
Brown, June 21, 2004
-
Toyah, Texas
It
is with great sadness that I report to you, that the bank building
in Toyah was destroyed by a tornado at 7:00pm on June 17th, 2004.
That building and two trees were the only things damaged in the
whole town. We talked to the man who had bought it and was restoring
it. He was making it into a residence, antique shop and convenience
store. He said he is selling the salvaged materials. In this picture,
you can clearly see the old safe, right behind the cement columns.
My husband is B.G. Johnson, borned and raised in Toyah Tx. His
father is Garland Johnson. His mother is Ruby Cleveland Johnson
Cunningham. Both are deceased. Many may remember her as the woman
with the place to park RV's and trailers for the weary traveler.
We were there this morning, doing some work on his grandfather
and great grandmother's graves. The flood that came through a
few months ago caused a great deal of damage to the cemetery west
of town. The flood caused a lot of damage to many houses in Toyah.
Water was four feet deep in some places. The woman who bought
my mother in law's house, said she woke with a strange feeling,
got out of bed only to hit the water. She told us of going to
unplug appliances and seeing the light on the refridgerator glowing
from under the water. The flooding occurred once before in 1941.
My dear mother in law was always fearful of it happening again.
- Mrs B. G. Johnson, Midland Tx, June 20, 2004
-
Toyah - Toyah Hit by Double Whammy
An article by David J. Lee in the Odessa American reported that
the town’s 100-year old bank building was destroyed by high winds
on June 17th, and that “only a section of the west wall and a
vault were left standing.”
The town had also been flooded on April 4 of 2004 when storms
delivered eight inches of rain in about two hours. A dike built
to protect the town was overwhelmed by the volume of water and
nearly every house in Toyah was flooded as a result.
Toyah did receive some state funds to repair basic infrastructure,
but there won’t be any money forthcoming for the privately-owned
bank building which was sitting vacant at the time of the storm.
It’s not known whether the lot will be cleared, but Toyah has
lost several buildings in the last few years.
Our thanks to Charlene Beauchamp of Kermit and Lexie Nichols of
Monahans for notifying us and forwarding the Odessa American article.
- June 19, 2004
- Maydelle
The caption shown for the picture shown for a hotel in Maydelle
is incorrect. This building was never a hotel. My grandparents
owned this building beginning in the 1940's (Glidden Grocery and
Market) and it is still owned by my cousin. They used the bottom
floor for their grocery store and a kitchen, and the top floor
was their residence. They built out the bedrooms and living room
on the top floor, which originally was just one big room, and
added an inside staircase.
Before that, the bottom floor was occupied by a bank and the vault,
which my grandparents used as a pantry, is still there, with an
inscription written in the vault dated 1919.
The Cushing Hotel sign was put on the building when the movie
"The Long Summer of George Adams" starring James Garner was filmed
there in 1981. The movie was about a town called "Cushing, Oklahoma"
and that is the reason for the sign. Thanks! - Margaret Haney,
June 15, 2004
- The
Kyle Hotel in Temple, Tx
This is an update on the Kyle Hotel in Temple Tx. It was renovated
in 1991 to be used for housing for the elderly, handicapped-disabled,
and low income households. Residents pay 30% of their adjusted
income per month. Each apartment is furnished with a stove and
refrigerator in the kitchen. Central air and heat is supplied.
All bills--utilities, water, sewer, garbage--are included in the
rent. Cable, phone, Internet are the responsibility of each resident,
as desired. There are 64 apartments in the building. They consist
of 1 and 2 bedrooms and efficiency size apartments. These apartments
are unfurnished. I moved in to The Kyle in 1991, moved out for
one year, returned to The Kyle, and have been living here since.
We have Meals-on-Wheels lunches here Monday through Friday. We
enjoy conversation in the lobby, pool and ping-pong, music, cards,
checkers, and dominoes in the "Game Room". We celebrate birthdays
each month with cake and ice cream and have potluck suppers on
special days--holidays. We have "Saturday Morning Brunches" with
coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts and "Movie Night" every other
Wednesday, with popcorn, drinks, and sandwiches. We have fund
raisers several times a year to help defray the costs of parties,
dinners, movies, and other various activities. All in all we are
a Community--made up of many different individuals from many different
backgrounds and customs. But we are in a sense a Family too. We
care about each person that lives in The Kyle by checking on them
if they have not be seen for a day or two. We make sure that each
person has food, clothing, and other necessities. If one of us
is in need of something that someone else cannot or does not have,
we will help that person in need to locate it through an agency
what is needed. I do enjoy living here and will do so as long
as my health holds out. Thank you for including The Kyle Building
in your website. - Karen Lary, The Kyle Hotel Building, Temple,
Texas, June 15 2004
- Richmond
- Rosenberg
While surfing the net gathering info for a newspaper article I'm
writing, I happened upon your website. Though I located one of
the cities my chamber represents, Richmond,
on your site, I noticed that Rosenberg is not described. Can you
let me know what do you need in order to incorporate an additional
community? What sort of photos are you interested in?
I also enjoyed the photos of Victoria
-- My children (now grown) are 6th generation Victorians, and
we have only lived in the Houston area/Fort Bend County for 3
years, so I'll always think of Victoria as "home". My near-80
year old mother still lives there, so thankfully it's a quick
drive! - Gail Parker, President/CEO Rosenberg-Richmond Area Chamber
of Commerce 4120 Avenue H, Rosenberg, TX 77471 281-342-5464, June
14 2004
- The
Madison County Museum
Your reference to the Museum is appreciated. This is Madison County's
Sesquicentennial Year. The Museum opened March 6, 2004. It is
adjacent to the Madisonville Meteor at 201 North Madison. Hours
are 10a.m.-2p.m. Wednesday-Saturday Phone 936-348-5230 Interim
Curator: Nancy Page Mailing Address: P. O Box 61, Madisonville,
TX 77864 Thank you very much. - Nancy Page, June 12, 2004
- Rock
Crusher, Coleman County
Comment "missed chance of the ultimate team name"
There is a community on U.S. Hwy 90 west of San Antonio in Uvalde
Co. named Knippa whose high school teams are called the “Purple
Rock Crushers”. - Jon Young, AFP Vista Shipping, June 11, 2004
- Golinda,
Texas
Ignacio Galindo was a priest yes, however he did not receive a
land grant. He purchased land directly from Sam Houston. This
sale included all the land along the Brazos River including Waco,
McAllen, and Nacogdoches, TX. My family still holds the original
deeds of purchase which we have contemplated giving to a museum
when my uncle is ready to part with these precious documents.
My grandmother met with the United States (d. 1988) government
years ago (with Henry Kissinger) as the good Father Galindo left
his heirs his property. (According to law the family can fight
for the land up to five generations my mother being one member
of that category) The US government believed the descendants to
be in Mexico and thus put the money in trust with the Mexican
government, (who claimed to have no recollection of any monies)
took over our family property and began building, selling and
granting squatters rights to our family land.
It is unfortunate that we did not fall into the land grant category
for if we had, we would have been able to join the class action
suit which enabled many displaced Texas land grant owners monetary
compensation. Instead, we found we were met with a hostile Mexican
government and family members who disappeared while trying to
fight both governments for what is still rightfully ours. - Sincerely,
Anne Michaels A Galindo family descendant, June 08, 2004
Might I add that to date we are not aware of any grants which
we were a part of, perhaps they may exist, however our documented
history on hand makes no mention of same. I appreciate the correction.
- Sincerely, Anne Michaels Galindo family descendant, June 17,
2004
- Salt
Flat, West Texas Ghost Town
Salt Flat Cafe Will Turn 75 years old and being run by Granddaughter
I just wanted to let you know that after the death of my mother,
Isobel Hammack Gilmore, I have started taking care of the Salt
Flat Cafe. It will be 75 years old on November 20, 2004. I don't
plan a great big celebration but would like people to know that
it is still in operation, we still have bus service and are still
cooking good meals. We still offer the same friendly service that
my Grandparents and Parents offered. Come and see us. I am still
working on getting the many many pictures of the history my family
left me. Thanks - Shirley J. Gilmore Richardson, June 08, 2004
- Raven
Hill
The location of the site of Raven Hill is south of Oakhurst about
2.5 miles off the main road. Take Raven Hill Rd. S.W. until it
ends. Take a left (dirt road) go another 100 yds. or so. The marker
is in a cow pasture on the right. - Robert Surguy, June 08, 2004
- Music
I just found your great web site and it has much to explore! I
would like to add a short bit of info. My father was Charles James
Davis, known as "Blackie Davis", in Bell County , TX. ( Belton,
TX). In the 1940's, he had a band called, " Blackie Davis
and the Rhythm Rascals" and they played in Belton on East Central
Ave. As Belton was "wet" in those days. Now the date may be before
the 1940's? He was born May 13, 1890 and was 57yrs. of age when
I was born. He died in 1946 , in Belton. Thanks, for your time.
- Anna Pearl Thomas, Belton, TX, June 08, 2004
- Texas
Ghost Towns
I am very surprised on my first visit to your web site to not
find Sabine Town in Sabine County (Piney Woods Region) listed.
You have an article about Sallies
house, and Bob Bowman writes about going to Hemphill in the
60's and how the county seat was moved from Milam, surely he had
to have stumbled across some info on Old Sabine Town or Sabine
Town. Apparently it was a good size town near the banks of
the Sabine River. A bluff overlooking the river there where Palo
Goucho creek flowed into the Sabine was a site where cannons were
stationed during the Civil War (now called Rebel Ridge).
Happened onto your site looking for marriage
vows. I grew up on the El Camino Real about 2 miles from the
state line in Sabine County, graduated high school at Hemphill
in 1969. I will come back to your site, I live in Anderson county
now and found Ghost Towns listed in Cherokee County and Anderson.
- Peanutwhistle, June 07, 2004
-
Cleburne TX
Your page on Cleburne shows a photo of "A railroad car in downtown
Cleburne" but does not show off the building in the background,
which is the {drum roll, please} former Carnegie Library! I visited
today, and have attached a photo of the library (now a museum).
My photo is taken from the east, across the road, and the train
caboose is out of sight on the left side of the Carnegie building.
- Cheers, Scott Murdock, June 06, 2004
- Ghost
Town Clairemont (Former Kent County Seat)
I have another set of images I'd like to send you, it will be
three images this time. They are of the jailhouse, community center
and of another building in Clairmont. I took these images during
the same trip I took the images of the church in Verbena,
on 11-18-03.
I had first thought that the community center was probably built
from the bricks of the old court house after it was razed,
but when you look at the 1939 image you have of the courthouse,
it actually appears that they removed the second floor of the
courthouse and left the first floor intact. You can tell from
pictures that the windows match up perfectly. I did some research
on the net today and from what I found, the courthouse was a victim
of a fire and the second floor was destroyed. I didn't find anything
verifying the date it burnt.
The jailhouse was pretty interesting. From what I could
see, there were five to six cells in the building. There are four
cells built into the walls, each being at one of the four corners.
They were pretty bare inside, each just having a bed frame, a
window and a cell door. In the center of the jail was a large
cage type cell, made entirely of riveted metal slats. I think
it had multiple doors, but I'm not totally sure about that. The
cage in the center was probably seven feet tall. When I peeked
into one of the rear windows, I was really looking across the
top of the cage and it was difficult to make out the internal
details.
When I was reading up on the net about the jail, I did find something
humorous, for a whole $15.18 you can have your very own HO scale
replica of the Jail at http://www.internettrains.com/308-110.html.
I wonder how many HO scale Kent county dioramas are out there,
and if there are any, does the train bypass Clairmont there also?
I don't really have any information on the other building I'm
including, it is across the street from the old courthouse. I
didn't venture into it to see what it might have been. - Erik
Whetstone, June 03, 2004
- Leakey
founders
I am one of many Leakeys in the UK, and stumbled upon your history
of Leakey
in Real County, Texas. I was interested to read that the founders,
John and Nancy Leakey are interred in the Leakey
cemetery and were the last to be killed by Red Indians in
Real County. I wondered if you know anything about the origins
of the founders. Do you know where they came from and can you
direct me to any websites to help? - Chris Leakey, June 03, 2004
- Ben
Ficklin stage coach house
There's a house out there used for the Stage Coach with stone
walls 3 feet thick. Are there any online pictures of that house?
- Kelly A. Allison, June 02, 2004
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