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May
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June
2005
Keene,
Texas
I just wanted to comment on the remarks by Dwight Young about the
little town of Keene, Texas.
I grew up in that town, and though less time passed before I returned
for visits, I can certainly understand Dwight's dismay at seeing
that the "old Keene" was gone.
The town of Keene is a living thing, and all things living change
and grow to accommodate their own particular needs. We look at Keene
as a place frozen in time, but the reality is that while the memories
belong in our domain, the town does not. I still see the ghosts
of old houses on the lots where they once stood. The tiny house
where I was conceived, the house where we lived when I learned to
ride a bike, the big two story place that I last called home before
I married and moved to Houston, all are gone now. I find myself
wishing I could have bought them all, and preserved them forever.
But parts of Keene are still there for me. My grandmother's house
is still there, the walls covered with the flagstones she mortared
into place so long ago. I can visit my Aunt Rachel, and drive across
town to the Hillsboro addition to see my Uncle Wesley. Their houses
are comfortingly familiar, though they seem a little smaller now.
I guess that's because I'm a little bigger now.
All things grow and change to accommodate life and living. But love
and family ties still bind our hearts, and call us through the time
and miles to "home".
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you. - Sincerely,
Cathy T. Martin, Conroe, Texas, June 30, 2005
The
Endangered Spring Creek Bridge of Ellis County
- Joe Bento, Ellis County Resident, June 30, 2005
Old
Kent County Jail
On the subject of strap-iron jails (I don't know what to call them
but "strap-iron"), you mentioned that Indianola built a building
around their cell. The old Kent County cell at Clairemont is actually
a strap-iron cell about 12x12 feet by about 7 feet high inside the
red sandstone building. Obviously, the jail was either built inside
the building or the building was built around the cell. Probably
the latter. This cell used to be open but the door has now been
welded shut. - Barclay Gibson, June 29, 2005
Peacock,
Texas
My mom and her family grew up in Peacock as children. Of course
my Mom is 70 and I am 51.
As a child we use to travel from Beaumont Texas to Peacock for vacation
and it always amazed me that we lived in a big city and there always
seem to be more to do in Peacock.
My aunt and her husband go to the reunion every year there. The
last time she was there she bought a book about the history of Peacock.
I would like to know if you know where I would be able to get that
book.
My mom always said that Peacock was a "Black and White town" meaning
because it is so old. Thank you - Debbie Brown, Beaumont, Texas,
June 29, 2005
Garden
City, Texas
Ever since I was a little kid [over 50 years ago ] I remember seeing
a large cross on a hill just outside of Garden City. It is on the
north side of 158 just about a mile outside of town and can be seen
from the highway. Recently, I was through there and of course the
first thing I did was see if the old cross was still there; it is
still there. I have always been curious about the origin of it or
the story behind it. Can you shed any light on this. - Tom Millhollon,
June 28, 2005
Coolidge,
Texas
My dad's family are from there. We lived there until I turned 6yrs
old and I can remember walking down main street to the ice house
with my sisters pulling a wagon to get a block of ice to take back
home to make home made ice cream. All the kids in town walked everywhere
that they needed to go. We even had a man that had candy in his
garage that you could buy. It sure was good. We didn't get candy
a lot like you can now adays. I loved staying with my grandma because
i could stay up late and listen to all of the old folk talk about
the old days while they were playing dominoes and eating grandma's
fried pies and tea cakes. Boy I sure do miss those days.
I have a cousin that has written a book on the history of Limestone
county. You can only view it at the McLennan Library and it can
not be checked out. His name is Ray Waters and it is the History
of Limestone County. - Denise (Miles) Krumnow, June 27, 2005
Bledsoe,
Texas
Of course, you will note my last name from my e-mail, and realize
that there is a connection. More than fifteen years ago I completed
the Bledsoe family tree, which by most accounts, traces all Bledsoes
back to George Bledsoe, who migrated from Birmingham, England, to
SW Virginia, in 1655.
From my work I knew of the small town in Texas by the name of Bledsoe.
My tree, Levi Bledsoe, is the second generation that also saw Anthony
and Isaac move over to Tn. There are many things in Tn. named after
the Bledsoes, including Bledsoe County, Bledsoe State Forest, and
Bledsoe's Salt Lick, just to name a few. The Texas Bledsoes came
out of the Tn. clan, when I do not know. I have spoken with Drew
Bledsoe's(NFL QB) father, and I know that his grandfather is a retired
admiral and lives in Texas. They came out of the Texas Bledsoes.
Now, the surprise that I got on Sat. was when I started reading
a book about the famous Chuck Wagon Gang, and noted in the first
chapter that they spent a lot of time in Bledsoe, Texas. In fact,
most of the children went to school there. I was in Arizona two
years ago visiting in the Sierra Vista area, near the border with
Mexico, and decided to visit a bird sanctuary while there, named
The Ramsey Canyon Preserve. As I read a flyer that I had picked
up regarding the history of the preserve, I noted that the property
had been donated by a Dr. Nelson C. Bledsoe, a prominent Tucson
surgeon, in 1974. Considering that there are only some 25,000 Bledsoes,
the name shows up in lots of places.
Even so, I was totally surprised to see the town of Bledsoe show
up in the history of the Carter family, who made up the Chuck Wagon
Gang that still exist some 70+ years later. I am guessing that with
nine children in that family, that there are descendants still living
in Bledsoe, Texas, probably more Carters than Bledsoes. - Otis
N. Bledsoe, June 26, 2005
Britton,
Texas
Here are two pictures I took recently of the bank in Britton, TX.
It doesn't look like it will be standing much longer without a lot
of love and care. Most banks seem to be on a corner in a town, seeing
this one standing alone is rather unique in my traveling experiences.
I am glad I found this treasure. - Karen Webb, Burleson, TX,
June 23, 2005
Mackay
Photos
Thank you so very much for your work. I open up this site and there
was our family home for some 34 years, from 1916 to 1940. I have
shared your site address with my Hernandez cousins in our Hernandez
Family website so that they too might enjoy the photos and comments
about the place where their ancestors lived and worked and where
some of them were born. Here are more Mackay pictures you may use.
Please continue your "work in progress". - Ruben R. Hernandez,
June 20, 2005
Verhalen,
Texas
Twenty miles south of Highway 17 from Pecos lays the tiny city of
Verhalen. Little is known of Verhalen history other than it is the
namesake of a humble grape-farmer. Verhalen is a one street town,
with no businesses, and six homes on the east side of the highway.
Sandwiched between the homes is the active Verhalen community center,
and remnants of a general store.
Although the 2002 Rand McNally Texas state map lists the population
at 50, the community mailbox adjacent to the community center shows
16 listings. In addition to the homes, there is a variety of rusted
industrial equipment strewn on both sides of Highway 17. The six
residences are comprised of five trailers and a luxurious home on
the south of town surrounded by pine trees. - James Feagin, June
19, 2005
Clarkson
community (Milam County)
Enjoy your site very much. Was pleased to see the picture of the
church and school in Clarkson. Two sets of my great grandparents
were part of that church and community for many years. Ed Mitchell
who was one of the builders, was assisted by my grandfather, who
as a young boy helped carry shingles up for the roof. Thanks for
all your work.(1907 photo attached) - Charlotte A. McKinney,
June 18, 2005
Carter,
Texas
After seeing Carter on your website, I decided to fire up the Harley
and ride out there. These are the only two remaining structures.
The one on the left is now a chicken coop and home to the biggest
damned chicken I've ever seen! - Mike Cooley, Fort Worth, TX,
June 18, 2005
Mackay,
Texas in the 1940's
Hello, glad to see a little about Mackay in the 1940's. My mother
was born in 1928 and her family was part of the Mexicans who work
there. Her father Jesus Vasquez and Mother Solida Melendez were
farm workers. Thanks. - Jane, June 16, 2005
Tragedy
in early Bronte
Greetings: I am responding to your request for stories, etc. about
early Bronte, Texas. I was actually seeking material on this myself,
and that's why i was looking on the web site.
In April of 1932, my uncle Vernon Lee Young, who was 18 or 19 at
the time, was killed in Bronte in a freak accident while playing
baseball there. He was hit in the head by a baseball bat after the
batter threw it aside to run. I don't know if my uncle was actually
playing catcher (as the family says he often did) or was just nearby.
Vernon Young lived in Bronte with his parents, Jay and Mattie Young,
and his brothers J.D. and Raymond Young, who were 14 and 6 at the
time, respectively. He was buried in the cemetery there, I believe
it is called Pioneer Rest. They have no record of his grave, but
I've seen it as late as the 1960s when my father took me there,
and my great-grandfather is buried there, as well as other relatives.
Vernon Young's grave was marked with a sandstone marker with just
his name and year of death etched on it. At any rate, I'm looking
for old clippings, accounts, etc. on this. Thanks for your time.
- Shirley Young Jinkins, June 16, 2005
Texas
Road Trips & Texas
Courthouse History
First of all let me state that your website is absolutely fabulous.
Every time I take a road trip across Texas I always check your website
first to see if there is something, anything, a courthouse
or ghosttown, that
I should visit along the way.
Now my question - regarding this article: Texas
Courthouse History by Bill Morgan Are these excepts from a published
book? If so, I would very much like to purchase it. - Thanks
in advance, Bob Worley, June 15, 2005
Old
Photos of Mackay, Texas
- Ruben R. Hernandez, June 10, 2005
Whiteflat,
Texas
I grew up in Whiteflat and the white building was the parsonage
for the Methodist Church which I attended in the 1950 until it closed
in the 1960.
The old school building was used in the 50's and 60's to hold elections
and I can remember attending a Halloween haunted house there put
on by the Home Demonstration Club.
The Baptist Church was behind the school building. If you go west
on the dirt road, you will come to the Whitflat Cemetery. - S.
Alexander, June 10, 2005
South
Bend, Texas
I was reading your article on South Bend, TX ghost town and saw
that you used my mother’s book “Taking the Waters” as reference.
She passed away not long after the book was published and I just
want to let you know how much it would mean to her to know that
her book made a difference. I read the wonderful description that
you also have posted for her book. Thank you so much for including
this in your website! - Shonda Mace, Austin, Texas, June 07,
2005
Sealy,
Texas
In regard to Texas Theatre...Charles Krampitz was the operator/owner
of the theatre which opened in 1929 in Sealy, Texas. - Judy Oakes,
June 07, 2005
Baird & Belle
Plain, New Jail
I recently reviewed your site and was very interested in the information
about the New Jail in Baird. My mother (Nora A. Reed Bridges) was
born in that jail in 1897. Also, two brothers were born there. My
maternal grandfather, J.M. Reed was the jailer and my grandmother
cooked for the inmates. They moved from there to the Haskell area
where my grandfather was a blacksmith and deputy sheriff. - James
R Bridges, June 04, 2005
Texas
Towns A to Z
I love this site and have spent many hours and years on it. I was
wondering however why we can no longer access the towns that are
in grey.When I first came upon this site you could access every
single town. - Thanx, Andrea, June 4, 2005
Webmaster : When we started out,
Towns A-Z only list the towns we have covered. Texas have over 2000
towns. By today, we have covered 1134 towns, and we add more towns
almost daily. Towns A-Z lists all the 2000 towns in Texas. The towns
in grey are the towns we haven't covered yet. Their town name are
included to show readers that such towns exist, and for readers
with information or photos to send them to us.
Thanx so much for this information. I love this site. I look at
it every day. It lifts my spirits when I'm down and I appreciate
all the wonderful work you guys do. Cheers, Andrea, Corpus Christi,
June 4, 2005
Winchell,
Texas
I have a photo of one of my multi-great uncles (Luther Lindsey)
in front of his store in 1920. I was hoping to try to find more
info on him. Last I heard he was/is buried in Brownwood. He's the
one in the white hat. Just another one of those mysteries of "what
ever happened to..." - John Lindsey, June 04, 2005
Marquez,
Texas
I was born in 1927 and I am a descendent of William Washington Winn,
an early settler in Marquez who had several children and is interred
in the cemetery. My father is also interred there.
I was always told that the cemetery is known as The Winn Cementary.
- Jack D. Winn, June 3, 2005
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May
2005
Thrall,
Texas
I saw the photographs you have on Thrall Texas, I happen to live
in Thrall and that picture from 1913 has a striking similarity to
main street right of highway 79 by the railroad tracks. I also saw
the pictures of Kreig Cheverolet. We actually bought and restored
the house that one of the brothers that owned Kreig Cheverolet owned
in the late 50's. He owned the house till he passed on and gave
it to their daughter who married a minister and moved to Dallas.
We bought it from her in 2001. Great site - Justin Dilbert, May
30, 2005
Cottle
County Courthouse
To preserve the classic art deco architecture of the courthouse
as well as nearby commercial buildings, the Cottle County courthouse
and surrounding square have recently been placed on the National
Register of Historic Places. - Greg Haviland, May 28, 2005
Motley
County Jail
All the stories I heard as a boy growing up in Matador had it that
no one was actually ever hanged in the Jail. It is true that the
trap door is there. - Earle Price, May 22, 2005
The
Bank Robbery
Searching the web looking for articles about the [Longview] Texas
bank robbery, I arrived at your Texas Escapes web site. The article
by Bob Bowman was interesting but inaccurate as far as the Nite
brothers are concerned. Those boys were born and bred in TEXAS.
They were my grandmother's cousins. She was born in Gonzales. Don't
try to blame those wild Texas cowboys on Oklahoma. They just hid
out there like a lot of other badmen. Thanks for your time. - Willard
Keune, Toledo, Ohio, May 17, 2005
Fulton
grave market in Rockport Cemetery
I've been researching George Ware Fulton and his wife Harriet Gillette
Smith Fulton. I see that you have 2 great pics - one of their granddaughter
Emma's headstone - plus the obelisk of George and Harriet. I was
wondering if you could tell me what the headstones say? Thanks in
advance! - Tom Cadwell, Liverpool, NY, May 15, 2005
Picture
of Roy Orbison
This picture was taken with a polaroid camera around 1960, when
I was about 21 and Roy was around 24 years old, in the Gator Bowl
football stadium. The stadium is now the Alltel Stadium, home of
the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was doing a show that night with a
big group of entertainers. At that time I was playing in a local
band and knew many of the promoters so I was able to get into the
dressing room to meet Roy. A friend of mine snapped the picture
right after Roy took his glasses off and held them behind my back
for the picture. ... This picture is a "treasure" to me and I hope
it can be preserved and enjoyed by others in the future. ... You,
and/or any other interested party, have my permission to use this
photo in any way that would promote Roy Orbison's image in a positive
or favorable manner, without further permission from me. - Sincerely,
David Coffield, Jacksonville, Florida, May 14, 2005
Hamilton
Pool
The Travis County Park fees went up about a year and a half
ago. Your website does not reflect these changes specifically for
Hamilton Pool For all the updated info http://www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/parks/default.asp
- Thanks, Tim Speyrer, May 13, 2005
Goldsmith,
Texas
My family first moved to Goldsmith from Coleman County in 1936.
My grandmother indicated that what is now State Highway 158 from
Midland to Goldsmith was hardly more than a cow trail. She said
it took over four hours to drive the thirty miles... more
- Billy M. Brown, Odessa, Texas, May 10, 2005
Center
City, Texas
From what I understand and also from some notes I have, my gg grandparents
were some of the very first settlers in Center City. My g-grandmother
was born in Center City in 1877. Their last name was Morris and
they were from Indiana. Just thought you might like a little info.
- Patricia Woods, May 09, 2005
Sunshine
Hill, Texas Photos
Kay T. White, May 06, 2005
Photo
- Rice Ranch Community School Children, about 1912-1913
... The Rice Ranch Community was near Dundee. - Thanks, Cheryl
Musick, May 04, 2005
Jot
'Em Down, Texas
I
was reading your story about Jot 'Em Down, Texas. I thought you
would like to know that the radio program was called "Lum and Abner"
instead of the other way around. The characters were Lum Ed'ards
as he called himself and Abner Peabody. I used a voice on radio
inspired by Abner. Many other Disk Jockeys did too. Our whole family
listened to the show every day. The program was second only to "Amos
'N Andy". People told me that if your radio happened to go dead
all you had to do was sit on your front porch and you could hear
the program all up and down the block. We couldn't do that in Spunky
Flat. Our nearest neighbor was a quarter mile away and nobody else
had a radio anyway. - George Lester, May 02, 2005
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