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TEXAS FORUM • TRAVEL FORUM
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October 2005
Pandale
Texas
My dear mother, Lorene Earwood (Gilmore), spent her young years
with her then husband, Floyd Earwood on a ranch near Pandale, Texas. Their marriage
would've been 1918-1927 She later lived with her Aunt Ida and Guenard Stephenson
on another large ranch near Pandale.
She told me many times of how a lady
rode horseback across the Pecos River Railroad Bridge to collect her mail!!!!
I think that the time frame [was] 1915-17.
I cannot imagine anyone in
this era doing the same. Do you or any of your readers have any information about
this brave woman?
I am sure the Earwood Family(at least some of them)
still live the Del Rio, Uvalde and maybe even Pandale area. I know the Stephenson
family were prominent ranch family and they lived in Sonora. Mother and Mr. Earwood
divorced in 1928-29 . Mother and Mr. Earwood had a five-year-old son named Norman
who was dragged to death on the Pandale ranch. He is buried in Del Rio.
I wish I could tell you more. Mother repeated this story all my life. I wish I
had listened and ask more questions! Thank You - Colleen Gilmore Collier,
October 31, 2005
Jasper
and Newton
I
came across your item on Jasper and Newton Counties and the guys after whom they
are named while I was searching for similar information about Jasper and Newton
Counties in Mississippi and the frequent pairing of the two names elsewhere. You
imply that there is a Newton County in Iowa, which there is not. The city of Newton,
where I taught for seven years, is the seat of Jasper County. The same holds true
in Illinois.
People in Newton, Iowa, suffer from an urban legend about
the names. I was told, and for several years I repeated, that Jasper and Newton
were a pair of surveyors who named places after themselves across the Midwest.
I got suspicious only when I passed through Newton and Jasper Counties in Mississippi
recently (while on Katrina duty with the Red Cross). Surely the same guys whose
names are plastered across Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa did not also survey Mississippi.
Your site gave me the story of the Revolutionary soldiers, which I confirmed at
other sites including a history of Jasper County, Iowa.
I am trained as
a historian of science. My colleagues in that discipline naturally think first
of Sir Isaac when they hear of my association with Newton. Until now, I have been
giving them one misconception to replace another. I haven't yet learned where
the surveyor story came from, but I'm trying. - Richard C. Sawyer, Keomah Village
(not in Jasper County), Iowa, October 25, 2005
Crane
Texas
In
surfing the web, I came across your excellent web site about the city of Crane
in West Texas. I was fascinated since you have a picture of the red fire truck
I took in 1949, as a Volunteer Fireman, to the gas station to fill up with gas
and … more
I
hope this information might put me in contact with others who remember me and
my wife, Karin, who married me during my days in Crane.- Jack CO. Ramsay, Former
pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Crane, October 25, 2005
Phillips
Texas
On your website you state that Phillips, Texas continues to
stand as a community. THis is COMPLETELY false. Phillips 66 oil company made everyone
move after that big explosion. There is nothing there but the old high school
adn the refinery. The churches were leveled, the homes that were not moved out
were leveled. It was one of the most tragic stories of small town life being overtaken
by businesss. People lost everything. No one has a hometown to go back to....it's
all leveled and you can't even drive in to look at your old school....armed security
guards come after you. - [Name withheld by request], October 24, 2005
Bolivar
Point Lighthouse
I have seen many photos of the historic Bolivar Point Lighthouse. But here is
an unique black and white infrared photograph. I shot this in late September of
2005, just 2 days before hurricane Rita stuck the texas coast. - Robert Vahle,
October 22, 2005
Desdemona
Texas
I've enjoyed reading about Desdemona on the TexasEscapes website.
My Great-Great-Grandfather, Christian Bowman (originally Bohrman or Borman) was
one of the 42 Army Dragoons that Captain Ripley Arnold brought to the Clear Fork
of the Trinity in 1849 to build the fort that later became the City of Fort Worth.
Christian pre-empted land in Denton County after leaving the Army and settled
his family in Little Elm. In about 1865, Christian was killed in an explosion
near Desdemona, referred to as Hogtown in our family, while digging a well. We
have no documentation of the date or the event, but it has been passed down as
fact by several of his children. How would I research this? Would there have been
a newspaper publishing in any of the nearby towns? Or any surviving records from
the town? - Thank you, Linda Culbertson, StormCnter@aol.com , Pound Colleyville,
Texas, October 21, 2005
Lockhart
& Caldwell County
My father was County Judge of Caldwell County from
1974 until early 1987 when he retired and then died of cancer in November of 1987.
Leonard W. Scott was born in Staples, Caldwell county, on April 25th 1914, and
lived there until the 30's. His family moved briefly to Karnes County where he
met my mother, Bonnie Hinkle Scott from the Pawnee community of Bee County. He
returned to Lockhart by 1936 and worked for about $30.00 a month as a gas attendant.
Mostly self-educated and a layman, Leonard became manager of a local tire & appliance
business, served in WWII, became a small farmer and rancher and watched his business
(Goodyear) outsell stores in Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas.
After 35
years with Goodyear he retired and went straight into local politics. He was popular
enough to get elected three times, helped revise the EMS system for the county,
improved fire service, obtained grants for agriculture, and tried in vain to improve
growth for the county.
During all this time this layman held court then
helped establish the first County Court at Law for Caldwell County in 1987. He
also set up the first modern County Fire Marshal for the county.
Leonard
& Bonnie have three sons. Leonard Wayne, a longtime Professor of Law & Mediation
at St. Mary's in San Antonio, Mike, a Pharmacist with a local pharmacy for thirty
years in Lockhart, now living in Grapevine, and Ricke, a retired Police Officer
and the (past) second county fire Marshall for the county.
Scott's roots
in the Caldwell county area go back to about 1859-1866 when his mothers family
moved to Martindale from Mississippi. - Ricke Scott, October 21, 2005
Post
Office Mural
Please try to include a picture of the mural in
the Odessa post office. It's said to be the best of all the p.o. murals. I believe
the name is "stampede". - Larry Gaultney, October 19, 2005
Quihi
Texas
I and my wife, Jane Wood, lived in the parsonage of Bethlehem
Lutheran Church from November 1985 To December 1989. I was the pastor. I was ordained
in the church in Quihi on December 15, 1985. We remember the Nietenhoeffers, Bax
and Katherine Morris, the Reeds, assorted Saadhofs. Elmer Beck was the pastor
of the New Fountain Methodist Church, a couple of miles up the road to Hondo,
at that time.
The meaning of the town's name was always discussed with
no real info available re its origin. Your explanation is as good as any.
We
now live in Green Valley, TX. Both of us are retired and in good healt.. We moved
permanently into this place September 9, 2005. We have moved around so much we
don't receive the Bethlehem Star anymore. Evelyn and O.J. used to put the paper
out. We would love to see it coming in again. - Dave Reid, October 18, 2005
Wharton County Courthouse Restoration
A
current photo of our Wharton County Courthouse.
We are still in the restoration
process. The outside is probably 85 percent finished and now we are on phase 2
which is in interior. Project completion is projected for May or June 2006. -
AC Shelton, Chairperson, Wharton County Historical Commission, October 17,
2005
Aztec Building, San Benito Texas
I remember when the city cut the
"bow" off of this building to extend the road... What a shame! Before that it
really looked like a ship on the water. My parents used to dance on the rooftop.
How cool is that! - Cheryl Hunt, October 17, 2005
Erick
Oklahoma
I am proud to say that I had a part in the awesome history
of Erick, Oklahoma. My dad Bobby D. Pierce, his brothers J.L Pierce, and Dale
Pierce were all raised in Erick where they subsequently graduated. My dads first
job was at Cal's and as a child I grew up loving the town eating at Cal's. The
Martins Ropha Wayne owned the Texaco gas station and all the kids grew up together,
my dad and his brothers with the older generation and me, my cousins and brother
with their children. We went yearly to visit and for the reunions. As I grew up
I met the legendary Roger Miller and at one concert in Tulsa he introduced my
dad and his brother, Dale as those boys from his "hometown." My grandpa Claude
Cotter had a carpentry shop there on main street and I used to go shopping at
the Dixie. We attended the street dances when were there as well. I miss the town
and plan on taking my daughter to walk the now deserted streets that both my dad
and myself grew up loving. - Tammy Lynn Pierce, October 16, 2005
ClaraTexas
More About
Clara, Texas - Barbara Van Loh Peterson, October 14, 2005
Wizard
Wells Texas
My great great aunt was an early settler in Wizard Wells.
She and her husband married early in the 1860's and homesteaded there. Her mother,
Leticia Myers is buried in Wizard Wells Cemetery, but I cannot find any trace
of my aunt, Harriett Myers Brant nor her husband, Archibald G. Brant. If you have
any information on them, I would appreciate hearing from you at PHWMW@Aol.com.
- P Womack, El Paso, Texas, October 13, 2005
Route
66 Trip
A friend of mine and I are planning a picture taking trip
across the Texas panhandle on old Route 66. We are starting at Texola, OK and
ending our trip in Genrio, Tx. You website has been very helpful and I've saved
all the information. I have a question, however: are there any "don't do's" or
"places to avoid" along the way? - Jerry Harris, October 10, 2005
La
Vernia Texas
My grandfather Lucio Elizondo settled in La Vernia in
the mid-1890's and is buried in the Concrete Cemetery along with my grandmother
Gertrudes. They had several children also born there - Florentino (my father born
Oct. 16,1903, Stella, Alicia, Maria, and Sarah Elizondo. My cousin Esperanza aka
Hope Elizondo daughter of Paul and Patricia was raped and murdered in approx.
1942. The murderer was sent to the elec. chair. His first name was Jesus.
After my father married in 1926 he moved with his wife Virginia back to La Vernia.
My parents had eight children. My brothers Jesse, Richard and Eddie were raised
there. My father worked for Dr. Martin in the La Vernia Drug Store from 1939 to
about 1943. My brother Jesse tells me that the Harry Schraub Store used to be
Browsie. He went to school with the children of Harry and Burnell Schraub. He
says the Masonic Lodge was first an agricultural Bldg. He went to school with
Allen Kosub from 39 - 41. He says there is currently a stone marker in town which
gives a definition of the name La Vernia. He says Wm Weisman's son Ben was a pilot
during the war.
We would like to know about the sand hills of La Vernia.
Does anyone have any information?
I grew up in San Antonio but made many
visits to La Vernia with my family. My uncle Frutoso Elizondo and his wife raised
their family there. I loved going for hamburgers at Strey's.
I understand
the building where my father worked for Dr. Martin still stands and has been turned
into a museum with all the original furniture. My father had been a soda jerk
and the original soda fountain is featured. What is the name of the current place
of business that holds this museum? Thank you and I hope to hear from [someone]
soon. - Virginia Carroll, October 06, 2005
Wichita
Falls Texas
The
Falls in Wichita Falls Photo - Gaylon White, October 06, 2005
Nazareth
Texas
My name is Jonna Huseman and I live in Lincoln, Nebraska. I
am the only person in my immediate family who was born in Nebraska, however the
majority of my family lives in North West Indiana.
I was told some years
ago that ancestors of mine helped to found Nazareth, Texas with a Roman-Catholic
priest. If it helps, my late grandfather's name was Ira Joseph Huseman and his
wife was Mary. Their parent's names were Anastasia and Paul Semanchuk and Anton
and Marie Huseman. I was wondering if there is another Huseman from Nazareth that
I could share stories with. - Jonna Huseman, October 05, 2005
The
Texas Theater in Sealy
The Texas Theater was owned and operated by
my grandfather, Frank Jacob Krampitz, Sr. Charles Krampitz was his second son,
who recently passed away. The theater was operational until it burned in 1981.
Until that time, my grandfather had the distinction of being the oldest and continuously-operating
independent "showman" in the country. I am not certain, but I believe he began
showing silent films in a tent in Sealy long before 1929. - John B. Krampitz,
Ph.D., October 06, 2005
Dublin
and Stephenville
I
lived in Stephenville during my highschool years, 1959 through 1963, during which
time I met my lifetime-long friend, Kay (McCarty) Rowe. Her father ran the little
cafe right next to the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company; "Buster" McCarty was Kay's
dad. I found out (gossip) that she had dated my boyfriend, Fred, and driving the
14 miles to Dublin "on the warpath" I was certainly going to find her. I did meet-up
with Kay at the local drive-in restaurant and proceeded to beat her up. Can you
imagine two little 13 and 14 year-old girls fighting it out on Highway 377 over
some little boy? I was so notorious in those days, even landing in the old Stephenville
Jail overnight. However, Kay and I became such close friends and kept in touch
until she was laid to rest in Dublin in the late 90's. I miss Kay's friendship,
and have such great memories of those days in Stephenville and Dublin. We burned
up the highways and dirt roads all over Erath County. - Carol Suzanne Ramsey,
Class of '63 (although I did not graduate from HS, I did go on to obtain several
degrees at TCU), October 02, 2005 |
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