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September
2005
Texas Forum | Travel Forum
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Waldine
Tauch
I read with interest your article on Waldine Tauch and her
father. Thank you for this.
However, I would point out that seven Tauch
pieces are part of our collection, including the original plasters from which
the bronzes were cast for the Texas Ranger, Pippa Passes, Higher Education, and
Buckner Group. Tauch had a special relationship with Panhandle-Plains as she also
left twelve Pompeo Coppini pieces to PPHM as well. You might add Canyon and Burnet
(Buckner Children's Home) to the places one can see her work.
Keep up
the good work about Texas. - Respectfully, Michael R. Grauer, Curator of Art
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Texas, September 23, 2005
Tenaha,
Timpson, Bobo and Blair
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have been trying to think of Tenaha,
Timpson, Bobo and Blair for soooo long. My father, Herschel "Red" Ramsey was born
somewhere in that area and used to tell me so many "rip-roaring" stories about
his younger days; that little jingle used to rattle around in a long lost childhood
memory that I couldn't quite get a-hold of. If anyone remembers him, contact me
at freewheelingX4@hotmail.com
Daddy was such a great man, and I miss him.
He went on to Texas Tech from there and played for the "Red Raiders" (hence the
nickname); then played in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of the Philadelphia Eagles
beginning in 1938. - Carol Ramsey, September 20, 2005
Dance
Hall of Austin County
Hello, I'm sure readers have already mentioned that
the Cat Spring and Bellville Turnvereins or dance halls are twelve sided, not
octagonal. I think there are six such dance halls in Austin County, either octagonal
or twelve sided, that are still in use. Two in the Bellville
area, one in Cat
Spring, one in Sealy, one in Peters
and one in Wallis. Information taken from Dance Halls of Austin County, Copyright
1993. Published by the Austin County Historical Commission in Bellville, TX. Enjoy
the web site. - Sincerely, Marilyn Stellberg, September 20, 2005
Boonville,
Texas
During
the early 1980's we were residents of Houston, Tx. We were amateur treasure hunters
and belonged to a club know as "The Gulf Coast Historical Preservation Society"
In order to enter and hunt an area someone from our club would contact
the owners of said property and arrangements were made for the members to hunt
this site.
Sometime in either 1982-1984 we traveled one Sunday to a fenced
in area which was told to us was the former town of "Boonville". All that was
in this area were several head of cattle and a few horses.
There were
about two dozen of us and we found many artifacts including lead shot (ammo),
gate or perhaps house or barn door hinges, and numerous other metal artifacts.
We were told that the town of Boonville was a thriving community in the
1800's and that when the railroads started criss-crossing the U.S. agents preceded
the laying of the tracks and solicited funds from the townfolk to help pay the
cost. The citizenry of Boonville felt no need for a railroad and voted against
any such outlay of funds.
The tracks were coming nevertheless, and the
R.R. VIP's decided to lay their tracks some distance west of Boonville and bypass
the town. How far this was is anybodie's guess but it was about a mile or so.
After the trains started running, some of the local businessmen built warehouses
near the tracks and made arrangements for pickups and deliveries. Soon afterward
other businesses did the same. This induced the entire town, after a period of
time, to move near the rail line. Thus the birth of what is known today as Bryan,
TX.
Whether the preceding is true or not, it makes a lot of sense and we
enjoyed our day in a ghost town called Boonville. - Charles & Marion Van Tornhout,
Killeen, Tx, September 18, 2005
Port
Isabel &
South Padre
Island
Our family lived in Weslaco, TX in the late 40's. One of my
fondest memories was our family arriving at Port
Isabel with our
beach umbrella, folding chairs, Coca Cola "ice chest" and a picnic lunch. We,
along with others, waited at the dock for the converted Navy boat to take us to
Padre Island, where we climbed into an Army half-track which drove down the beach
delivering the eager beach lovers. As the truck drove down the beach, we would
look for a place to spend the day. To get the truck to stop, you rapped on the
top of its cab and the driver knew to stop so you could unload. The trucks went
up and down the beach all day long delivering and picking up people. - Peter
H. Hamel, Houston, TX, September 17, 2005
Orla,
Texas
I lived in Orla Texas from 1961 through 1968 until I graduated
from Pecos High School. Life in Orla was made to say the least. Our memories were
good for the time we lived there. At that time, there was much activity in the
area with oil and gas, and later about 1967, a sulphur boom came along with several
exploration companies coming in to the area. .. more
-
Michael E. Beckham, September 16, 2005
Channing,
Texas
It's
worth noting that Channing might be the least populated city in Texas to maintain
an independent K-12 school. Channing fields a basketball and track team that always
fares well, it is the highlight of their town! As of 2001 Channing had at least
4-5 businesses. There are at least 3 streets in Channing that Boys Ranch own,
and settle their employees there. - James Feagin, September 15, 2005
Gray
Mule Ghost Town
& Quitaque Canyon Trail
Gray Mule was a thriving community in the 1920's that
included a cotton gin, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop and even a baseball diamond.
We were able to find the only remnants of this community at the Edgin Cemetary,
which is shown on the historical marker (it says "Gray Mule cemetery" but the
actual name is Edgin cemetery). This nature trail is part of an old railroad that
stretched from South Plains, Texas to Estelline, Texas and includes the "Clarity
tunnel" that was constructed / carved out of a mountain in 1927. The tunnel is
about 2.5 miles southwest of the Gray Mule marker and measures about 1/8 mile
in length. It is now home to hundreds of Mexican free-tail bats (completely harmless).
We have visited the tunnel twice this year and were totally amazed at how the
railroad crews were able to build this huge tunnel......in 1927. It is still in
very good condition. The entrance to the nature trail is located 5 miles South
of Quitaque on FM 1065, then 2 miles west on FM 689. - David Higgins, Lubbock,
Texas, September 13, 2005
Verbena
and Scenic Drive
I visited Verbena [September 2005]. The church is still there although it's completely
surrounded (but visible) by mesquite trees and a fence with a padlocked gate.
The exact location is 4.4 miles North of Hwy 380 on FM 2008. Verbena isn't dead,
as evidenced by 4 nearby ranches: The Rafter M Ranch, Medlock Land & Cattle, The
Birdsong Ranch and Fumagalli Ranch.
The drive is scenic and thus well
worth [an] altered route. Continuing North on 2008 was just as scenic and reminded
me of the Texas Plains Trail on Hwy 70 & 207 from Borger to Dickens. - David
Higgins, Lubbock, Texas, September 13, 2005
Fink,
Texas - A
law passed in the 70's.
I remember working at West Publishing in the
70's up in St. Paul and my editor and I published the Texas Statute laws. We came
across a law that honored the people of your city as a bunch of Finks and it was
hilarious. It brought back to mind that even our law makers have a sense of humor.
Also too, in 1977, Jesse James was the state treasurer. I am in Houston on business
and I remembered these things while reminiscing about your state. - Kathy Sander,
September 14, 2005
Delta
County Courthouse
Its architect was Hoke Smith, not Hook Smith. Not
a pretty building, but useable. - Skipper Steely, September 14, 2005
Oasis
Gas Station is Gone
I recently returned from a September trip
to the Ft Davis area. I was really looking forward to taking photos of the Oasis
Gas Station as a friend had taken some really cool pictures of it a couple of
years ago. I drove out to the site and was disappointed to find it had either
been torn down or destroyed. All that was left was a couple of small adobe pieces
on the ground. I inquired with a few Ft Davis locals as to what had happened and
they were not aware that the structure was gone. One person had driven by it as
recently as back in the spring and said that even though it was crumbling it had
still been standing.
I just found your great website while researching
about the Oasis and wanted to let your readers know it was gone and inquire as
to whether anyone knew what had happened to it. Thanks - Beth Booher, September
11, 2005
Banquete,
Texas
I graduated in 1956 in a class of 12. I have such a fond memory
of high school in Banquete and working at the little grocery store on the corner
of the highway down from the school. I played basketball, volleyball, and softball.
What a wonderful time in a different time and place. I would love hearing from
anyone who remembers me. - Ila Faye COX O'Daniel, September 08, 2005
The
Hobo of Little River Academy
I just read the small story of Noah Weaver
- The Hobo of Little River Academy...does anyone know anything about him? His
age ? When he died ? Parents? Anything at all on him? I am doing my families history.
I have two Noah Weavers that I can not account for. Any kind of help would be
greatly appreciated ! Kindly - Bea Rutherford, September 08, 2005
Rosebud,
Texas
My name is Deborah Meier Carr and my father, Charles Ray Meier,
was born and raised in Rosebud, TX. He died late last year before I was able to
complete my family tree. I have visited the cemetery in Rosebud where many Meiers
are buried and was able to piece some of my tree together. My grandfather was
Erwin Otto Meier, son of Joseph Meier and Maria Schmidt. Rosebud is still the
small town that my father always spoke fondly about. He left when he was 17 to
join the Air Force and never moved back, though we had an interesting visit in
1967. The area is a beautiful farming community and I hope to return and spend
more time researching my family tree in the local courthouse and perhaps buy a
winter residence as I currently live in Maine. If you are a Meier or know of my
family, I would enjoy reading your post. - Deborah Meier Carr, Esq., Monson,
ME 04464, September 07, 2005
Colorado
River Bridge
Pre-1931 photo of Colorado River Bridge at Wharton, Texas
- Freda McCarty, September 05, 2005
Old
Farm House
Here is an infrared black and white, of an old farm workers
house. Just east of Memphis on U.S. 287. I photographed it last summer. June of
2005. - Robert Vahle, September 04, 2005
Vance,
Texas
A historical tid-bit on Vance, Texas: In February 1905, a bank
was held-up in Rio Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina, by two young men, both described
as English-speaking. Mr. Allsop, a patent-medicine salesman in Rio Gallegos, said
his father-in-law had a ranch near Vance, and that some years earlier he (Allsop)
had known one of the bandits, whom he called Brady, at the ranch. He said that
Brady had a sister in nearby Punta Arenas, Chile.
Other writers have identified
the two bandits as Henry Thompson and Lewis Nelson, or William Wilson and Robert
Evans. Wilson, we know from other sources, was born 17 August 1885 in Texas Wilson
and Evans, who were both bandits, were killed in 1911 in a gunfight with the Argentine
Frontier Police.
Source: "Wild Bunch Bank Holdup in Argentina," Daniel
Buck & Anne Meadows, National Outlaw-Lawman History Quarterly, vol. XII, no. 3,
Winter 1988.
I'm passing along this information in the hopes that
perhaps one of our readers might know something additional about Allsop's father-in-law's
Vance ranch, or about Brady himself. - Daniel Buck, September 02, 2005
Sandoval
Store Photos
Walt Downing, San Antonio, Texas, September 01, 2005 |
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