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February
2005
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Baker
Hotel, Mineral Wells
I
saw the articles on the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells on your site about a month
ago when a friend mentioned that he would like to go see the town. I have always
been interested in grand old buildings and so I brought along my camera to take
some pics.
I was able to get a pic of what the lobby looks like today
by adjusting my camera settings and holding it right up to the glass on the front
doors. It is easy to imagine what it looked like in its heyday (which makes its
current state all the more poignant). I also took a picture of what used to be
the hotel's garage across the street. As you can see, the "B" is clearly visible
over the doors.
I hope that the town decides to do something with it as
it is a beautiful building. Unfortunately, from the current state of the rest
of the town, that may not be an option. Thanks, - Paul Cox, Dallas, TX, February
26, 2005
Roads
of Destiny - O Henry
We really enjoy your site. Some of O Henrys' short stories might be something
your readers would appreciate. One of my favorites is The Departmental Case from
the Roads of Destiny collection --truly Texan. - Ralph Hopkins Jeddo, February
24, 2005
"Dancer
Texas"
I enjoyed your website -- very informative.
I have a comment about the
Oasis Gas Station.
I have been to this spot several times. It is just as remote as it looks in the
opening scene of "Dancer, Texas: Population 81". It is unfortunate that Ann Cook
said you "didn't miss much" when referring to the movie, "Dancer, Texas, Population
81." To be honest, we would do well to have more movies like it. When was the
last time you watched a movie that did not contain sex, violence, foul language
-- but also held your interest for a couple of hours? Dancer, Texas: Population
81 is that kind of a movie -- I would recommend viewing it before saying "if you
haven't seen it, you haven't missed much." Thanks for your website, enjoyed it
lots - Marilyn McGhee, Fort Davis (aka Dancer), Texas, February 22, 2005
Toyah, Texas
Toyah now has two tire shops, a Grill & Saloon, Truck Stop and an RV Park. We
also have two grants for houses. We should start building 14 new homes this Summer.
Thanks for you site. - Sandra Terry, Mayor City of Toyah, February 22, 2005
Draw,
Texas
Thank
you for adding my "history" to the Draw page. Kudos to you for this website. I
find it especially moving that you would devote time and effort to such an obscure
(and mostly vanished) little burg as Draw, and I express gratitude on behalf of
all of us who once lived in or even passed through that little hamlet and now
years later find it embedded in our fond memories.- Cordially, Nolan Porterfield,
February 20, 2005
Thank
you for the work you're doing!
What you are doing might not be interesting to the generation under 40, but those
of us who have traveled the state appreciate the time, exposure, and excellent
way you go about your task. And, those under 40 will someday be grateful for what
you are doing. We dare not live in the past, but must allow the past to live in
us. And you are helping. - Henry Adrion III, February 17, 2005
Once
again, thank you for a very good web site.
I especially enjoy reading Peary
Perry's items. Please let him know he has at least one fan. - Bret, February
17, 2005
Tyler,
Texas
The
Blackstone Building houses the Tyler Chamber of Commerce, as well as several businesses.
The Blackstone Hotel
stood immediately to the south of the Blackstone Building and was imploded in
1985. The old hotel site has been a parking lot ever since that time.
The Blackstone Building was constructed after the hotel was built, and though
owned by the same people, it always was strictly an office building. Furthermore,
although next door to the hotel, the Blackstone Building was a free-standing,
self-contained structure.
You can see images of the Blackstone Hotel in
the postcard section of my website Past Glimpses of Tyler, Texas, which can be
found at URL http://home.sprynet.com/~tylertexas/ . - Robert Reed, Past Glimpses
of Tyler, Texas, February 17, 2005
Chapman Ranch, Texas
My
father Wayne Carroll and mother Geneva Carroll, origionally from Waxahachie, TX,
moved to the Ranch in November 1949. My father was a farmer farming Mrs. Berta
C Cunningham's land. Many of the farmers came from the north Texas areas where
the Chapman's already owned land. E. H. Kirkpatrick was one of the earliest farmers
to the ranch, along with the Rackley's. More from the north Texas area were Roland
Barns and Winston Johnston, Euel Prince, Max Gattling, and the Flyin' Dutchman
Dutch Kirkpatrick. One of the Post Masters for the Ranch was Mrs. Brown back in
the 50's. Mrs. Cunningham was the daughter of Mr. Chapman. Mrs. Cunningham had
one child Leita May Hight which in turn had two children Roger Hight and Roxanna
Hight. Most of the old timers are now gone. We lost Mr. Kirkpatrick is December
2004 and Harry Lee White in February 2005.
The ranch has changed forever
but it's still home even I don't live there any longer. For more history on the
ranch, please visit the Ranch Post Office where many newspaper articles are posted
on the walls of its history and residents. Also contact John Chapman, one of the
heirs of the ranch. - Martha Sue Carroll, February 16, 2005
Star, Texas
I stumbled across your excellent site while looking for information about one
of my favorite childhood memories of time spent on a ranch near Star. Ahhh, the
marvel of the internet. To stir memories of childhood and loves past.
I
lived on a ranch that was run (rather shoddily, no doubt) by my stepfather Ed
Bridges. I do not recall the name of the ranch but it was purchased by Don and
Martha Vincent from the previous owners by the name of Street or perhaps Streeter?
The man the Vincents purchased the place from was in Dairy Queen commercials or
perhaps some of the commercials were filmed on the ranch. This was close to 30
years ago now so my recollections on such details are a bit foggy in spots.
What
I do clearly recall was the freedom a 12 year old boy found in those Texas hills.
Countless hours spent with my faithful dog Ginger exploring the wooded mysteries.
A boy, his dog and a .22 bolt action rifle. Supposedly squirell hunting. More
akin to squirell watching. Hours spent stretched out on a boulder watching lazy
clouds drift by. Finding that awesome swimming hole down at the creek. Even the
time spent on that Massey Fergusen tractor pulling a brush hog or helping build
fence....supposed to be work......was all magic to me. That and of course the
fact that I was madly in love with one of the owners daughters, Nicole, etches
those awkward yet wonderful years in my memory still.
If anyone knows
the name of that ranch based on these clues I'd love to hear from you. I remember
there was a big 2 story house we lived in at the bottom of a long hill.....gravel
road. I crashed my bicycle more than once flying insanely down that long gravel
hill. - Stephen
Mims, February 11, 2005
Elm
Grove, Texas
While
on the computer today, I decided to see if Elm Grove, Texas, happened to have
any computer information. To my surprise - there appeared Elm Grove and Billy
Sellers.
As a Junior at Trinity University I began a two year time as
their pastor. The time was January, 1956. I could wish that every young, beginning
pastor had an Elm Grove. They will be observing their 150th Anniversary on the
weekend of April 9-10 and have sought former pastors to come and share some personal
experiences. I mentioned the stone and the fact that when the church had it's
100 Anniversary I was their pastor - we dedicated the marker, and then buried
a sealed jar with a picture of the members of that day, plus some mementos the
people wished to place in the jar. Billy Sellers - he happens to be one of those
folks who helped us all get to today.
Enjoyed your article very much.
Whoever thought that Elm Grove, Waelder, would be on the computer. That is an
illustration of our world today. And, you all help keep the past alive yet also
in the present. - Henry Adrion III, Hilltop Lakes, Texas, February 10, 2005
Kent,
Texas
My
family lived on the Ikins Ranch in the 1950's. We were so far from school that
we had to drive four miles to the BarC, (Dorn Ranch) to car pool with some of
the children there.
We went to school in Kent. There were two classrooms
and an auditorium. We had an enjoyable time. It was great to get to see the other
children. Although I didn't attend school there very long, I was always fascinated
with the building. At that time the service station, general store, train depot,
and a cafe (not open) were in operation. We had to come into Kent to use the phone
at the service station. Also, there were pens where cattle could be shipped. I
believe the Long X cattle company was the main founder of the town. We also had
dances, and sometimes church services in the old school auditorium. - Kathleen
Carr, February 05, 2005
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