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August
2004
Texas Forum | Travel Forum
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- Mozelle
School, Coleman County, Texas
So happy to see your site! I graduated from Mozelle High School
in 1961. It was a great place to go to school. We went all through
school with almost the same classmates, so we were all good friends
and many of us relatives. We had great teachers and small classes,
so I do believe that we had a good education. Ed Burnan, Virginia
Jameson, Audrey Holt, Miss Essie (McGregor). Patsy Lee, Eugenia
Pittard were special teachers that I remember. There were eight
students that graduated in 1961. All but one started 1st grade
together with Aubrey Holt as teacher. With any activity, everyone
had to be involved, or there would not be enough. Everybody was
in almost everything. We went on long cold bus rides to other
small schools to play basketball or football. We had a 6 man football
team. We didn't have a band, so we would play a record over the
intercom and the girls would have a dance routine during half-time.
Purple and White--dynamite - Casey McClure, August 31, 2004
- Draw-Redwine
Memorial
I am a grandson of Truett and Ethel Mae Giles, who are Draw/Redwine
natives (my Grandmother's maiden name is Crawford). My Grandmother
recently attended the dedication service for the new Draw-Redwine
Memorial and returned with some pictures of the new memorial.
She, along with her brother, were hoping to get a picture of the
memorial loaded onto your Draw, Texas page. - Attached is the
image of the memorial. - Ryan McIntyre, August 18 & 30,
2004
- McMahan
Chapel
My husband and I are caretakers for McMahan Chapel near San Augustine
and as a writer myself, I was delighted to find Mr. McDonald's
article on the chapel included in your website. There are a couple
of inaccuracies, though, that I feel need to be corrected.
The first is that Rev. Littleton Fowler is not buried in the cemetery
at McMahan Chapel as the article states. Instead, he was buried
at own request under the pulpit inside the chapel and has remained
there since his death despite the construction of several buildings
that replaced the original. The second error is on the brick building
which was actually dedicated in 1949, not 1959 as the article
states.
I enjoyed Mr.
McDonald's stories very much and just wanted to take a moment
to correct these errors. Sincerely, Patti Murr, August 28,
2004
- Mentone,
Texas
My Father worked for Pasotex Pipeline very near Mentone, Texas.
I went to the school in Mentone. The year I started to school
there were about 4-5 seniors that graduated from there. I went
to the first, second and part of the third grade there. Then,
we had to go to Pecos, Texas for the rest of my school. I graduated
from Pecos, Texas in 1959. So, I know the school closed long before
the 1970's. From Mentone, Texas, we moved down the road to Orla,
Texas. We lived at the Standard Oil Pump Station called, Orla
Station. Orla had a grocery with a post office in it and a cafe
next door. There was a "motel" but people lived there. There was
also a church. My Father helped get a school bus started from
Pecos for all the Oil company children and ranchers children.
When we first started there were my sister and myself and two
other girls that were sisters. Their Father also worked for an
oil company. When I graduated, there was the biggest bus that
they made. I don't remember how many children were on the bus
but it was full. - Rita Ann (Lee) Wagner, August 28, 2004
- Sanderson,
Texas
Enjoyed your weibsite. One correction -
Text: Sanderson started life under the name
of Strawbridge, but was renamed after the man who built the railroad's
roundhouse, Thomas P. Sanderson, a construction engineer.
The name was originally Strobridge as described below:
Reflecting its importance to the railroad, the future town was
first called Strobridge after the president of the transcontinental
railroad construction company. Originally slated to be the midway
site where the rail building efforts from San Antonio and El Paso
would join, work fell behind in the canyon country and the golden
spike joining the two was driven far east of Sanderson. Strobridge
was later named Sanderson after railroad Engineer Joseph P. Sanderson.
- David Hitchcock, AICP, MRCP, The Woodlands, TX, August 27,
2004
- Water
Valley, Texas
This is the Walnut Schoolhouse that was once a thriving little
schoolhouse on the banks of Little Walnut Creek in Coke, Co, TX.
Most of it's residents were citizens of Water Valley, TX. Walnut
opened it's doors in 1911 on the Ainslie Turner ranch. - Michelle
Doss Water Valley, TX, August
26, 2004
- A gas
station in Davis Mountains
My Grandparents owned a gas
station at Davis Mt., Texas (see photo). Would you or any
of your readers know the address of this station? I doubt it is
still standing. The photo which was in my grandmother's photo
album belongs to my cousin who was planning a trip out that way
in mid-September and doesn't recall the address or the highway.
She spent some time with our grandparents there when she was a
little girl when they were running the station. Any information
would be appreciated. Thank you. - Alysia (Meyers) Hargus,
August 26, 2004
- Bluebonnets
Even though we are currently out here in St. Lewis, Washington,
our hearts are still at home in Kempner. Just remembering the
field of bluebonnets surrounding the little rock house north of
Marble
Falls. - JL Truitt, August 21, 2004
- Troy,
Freestone County, Texas
I saw your
listing about Troy, Freestone County, Texas. Fairfield Lodge No.
103 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons traces its roots to a masonic
lodge at Troy. As you may already know, Fairfield is the county
seat of Freestone County. - Michael E. Bonner, August 20, 2004
- Best,
Reagan County
BEST WAS THE FIRST PLACE I LIVED AT IN TEXAS. WE MOVED TO BEST
IN 1947 FROM OKLAHOMA. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS JACK CRUCKSHANKS
SERVICE STATION AND THE JONES AND LOFFLAND OILFIELD SUPPLY STORE.
AT ONE TIME BEST HAD AROUND 10,000 POP. SO I'VE BEEN TOLD. WE
BOUGHT OUR GROCERIES AT SANTA RITA FROM FRED BOGGS RED & WHITE
GROCERY. FRANKIE DELLS AND TUFFY HOSTETTER WERE 2 PEOPLE I KNEW
THAT WERE BORN IN BEST. BEST, SANTA RITA AND TEXON
ARE ALL GONE NOW AND SHOULD QUALIFY AS GHOST TOWNS. - FRANK SHATTUCK,
August 20, 2004
- Old
Schoolhouses
You have a great website! I am a photographer in San Antonio working
on a photography project that will need some shots to be taken
that appear to have been taken long ago. Specifically, I need
to do a photograph of a WWl era soldier and his child walking
up to a schoolhouse. The school must look like it was in the 1920's.
Can you help me locate such a school? I would be very grateful.
Many thanks, John, John Dyer Photography, August 19, 2004
- Victoria,
Texas,
sounds like a nice place to live
Dear Editor, I recently received a letter from a woman who lives
in Victoria, Texas. She wanted to buy some geology and earth science
supplies to donate to students and teachers at Vickers Elementary
School science lab. And she referred to herself as an "old granny
rockhound." Now this is not the first time we have had someone
buy earth science supplies to donate to a school. And I am not
even going to suggest the expected, such as, "isn't it a sad day
in America when schools don't have the supplies they need to teach?"
Indeed, sometimes maybe it is a good thing that we don't always
have everything we need. Because we have to stop and think a little
about what is important and then we have to figure out how to
get it. Or it allows us to run into nice people like Evelyn Willmon
who will dig deep not so much into their own pockets (although
that is a part of it, too), as they will dig into their hearts
and give a piece of themselves to their community.
I cannot share Evelyn's correspondence here. But her few words
touched me enough to look up Victoria, Texas, on the internet
and see if it was anywhere near Austin where I graduated from
the the great University of Texas and even worked for the great
State of Texas for awhile. Not too near. But it looks like a beautiful
city. A city with history.
It truly is the many, many individuals like Evelyn who give of
themselves in this way, without fanfare, and without benefit of
an organized charity or volunteer group, that make the difference
in not just our country, but in our world. (That is not meant
as a slight on organized philanthropic organizations who indeed
also help to contribute to the civil and public spheres.) But
the generosity of heart that Evelyn represents is the reason I
was inspired to write.
I hope you read this, Evelyn. And hello to all the students at
Vickers Elementary. We are sending some extra crystallized specimens
from a gold mine in Nevada, courtesy of Barrick Gold Corporation
who allows us to recover them for teachers and students like you.
Have fun with your rocks!Best regards - Jane Jones, Geoprime
Minerals, www.geoprime.com Hesperia, California, August 19, 2004
- Roxton,
Texas
Your information regarding the establishment of a fort near Roxton,
Texas, is incorrect. It was established by Jesse Shelton, who
was the father of Eli Shelton -- not Eli Shelton as stated. Jesse
Shelton was my great, great, great grandfather. His son Eli was
just a child when Fort Shelton was established. Thank you. - Lou
Carolyn Rutherford, August 17, 2004
- Matador,
Texas
and Photos
"My great grandfather William Thomas “Billy” Cloyd was sheriff
of Matador, Texas and also worked on the Matador Ranch. His first
wife was Floyd Mary Nelson, from Floydada, and they were married
Dec. 24,1891. They had five children: Willie Gertrude, Sam Bedford,
(my grandfather), Hattie M., Annabelle, and Chester. Floyd Mary
Cloyd died March 16, 1902. His second wife was Ava Martin, from
Motley Co., and they were married July 30,1903. William Cloyd
died six months later in January, 1904.
William Cloyd was a Mason and his last wish was that his children
be placed in the Masonic Orphanage in Fort Worth. Thomas, Floyd
and Ava are in the Matador cemetery side by side.
I have been to the grave sites and also been through the old jail
where they lived. The living quarters were downstairs and the
jail was upstairs. My grandfather had told me about living in
the jail when he was a little boy and watching his dad hang men
from a trap door in the ceiling. Sure enough, when I visited the
jail there was the trap door." - Paul Cloyd, August 15, 2004
- Lamkin
and other towns
Just wanted you to know that I really appreciate the information
you have provided on the small towns in Central
Texas (Lamkin,
Pottsville,
Cranfills
Gap, Fairy,
etc) My father's family--way back --lived in those towns. Daddy
was born in Lamkin in 1918 when there was a railroad three barbers,
a couple of banks, a couple of general stores and schools and
my aunt even played on the high school ladies basketball team!
It was quite a town. Daddy is buried at Toliver cemetery alongside
his grandparents (d.1895) and some of their kids (D.1899 1920)
His family was kin to the Neal family and they were great friends
with the Dalton family who moved to Hamilton.
My maiden name is Clayton and my great-grandparents helped to
establish the Primitive Baptist church in Lamkin. Thanks again
for the hard work you all have done. Even though those towns are
dead or dying, it is nice to have some memories stirred up. l'm
Laura Mosier, August 14, 2004
- Pontotoc,
Texas
I had the chance to drive through Pontotoc last Saturday. I decided
to check your superb website for a taste of what I missed but
could see again this weekend. I was surprised to see "Pontotoc
still has a newspaper (The Enterprise) for its estimated population
of 125" written on the Pontotoc page. I was curious enough to
call the post office to ask if the Enterprise was still being
printed (as there was no phone listing for the paper). The two
ladies I spoke to said Pontotoc didn't have a newspaper (one has
lived in Pontotoc for 50 years). For the record, they wish there
was a newspaper. - Bill Turner, August 12, 2004
- Muldoon,
Texas
I have just been reading your article on the town in Fayette County,
Texas called Muldoon. My name is actually Padraic Muldoon and
I live very close to Co. Cavan in Ireland. My father's name is
Michael Muldoon and his grandfather was also called Michael Muldoon.
I'd be interested to know if Father Michael Muldoon, who the town
was named after, is an ancestor. Thanks - Padraic Muldoon,
August 11, 2004
- Hackberry,
TX
I just found your site and the information and photos you have
of Hackberry, Texas. Hackberry was first settled by my great-great
grandfather L.E. Neuhaus. His son Franz Carl Ludwig Neuhaus (Charley)
built and lived in the house to the right of the store as you
face the front (east?) My husband and I are in the process of
restoring my great-grandfather's house as we speak. I thought
I'd send a "before" picture and an "almost done". Progress continues.
We feel so blessed to have been able to "buy back" the family
property and restore the fine house that holds so much history
for us. Thank you for your coverage of our family's little ghost
town. - Sincerely, Sarah Neuhaus Hastings, August 10, 2004
- Castolon,
Texas
Hi there, Tomorrow is my birthday. On August 10, 1939 I was born
in a house overlooking the Rio Grand in Castolon, Texas. My father
was raising pigs there. I was only about eight weeks old when
there came flash floods and washed all the pigs away and my family
moved to Denver looking for work. I understand the old house is
still there and is a ranger station for the park. Can you let
me know if there are links to more history of Castolon and more
pictures? I always hoped to go there but never had the money or
the time. Thank you. - Phyllis Hodson,
August 10, 2004
-
Exile, Ghost Town
I found out about the town called Exile today while I was at my
mothers house. She lived on the Frio Cielo Ranch which I found
out used to be the town of Exile. I came home and looked on the
internet and found your site.
I saw on your site that TXDoT maps did not identify a cemetery.
There is a cemetary for the town of Exile on the Frio Ceilo Ranch.
One of the other residents of the ranch and I were talking and
he told me about it. I will be going back up on Friday Aug 13
and plan on going to the cemetery and taking pictures. I would
love to share them with you and any other information I uncover.
Thanks - W Heine, August 08, 2004
- Moving
to Texas Hill
Country
- Questions on possible locations
I am strongly considering a move to the Texas Hill Country and
have questions on possible locations for my move. I lived in Plano,
TX until November of last year( 2003 ), and since then have Lived
in the Tampa, Florida area. I really miss Texas, so I have decided
to move back there within the next few months to a year. While
living in Texas I visited the Hill Country a few times and really
enjoyed the beauty and laid-back nature of the area. I want to
be close to Austin for the big-city creature comforts, but not
so close that I have to deal with the hassles on a daily basis.
Here are a few of the things that is important to me: 1. I do
not want to live in a "planned" community with home-owners associations
and all the problems that accompany them. 2. Since I have lived
in suburbs most of my life, I have decided I want to try living
in the city proper of a small town. 3. I will need to buy a small
home, or land/lot to build on in the near future. With the above
items in mind, can any of you suggest a location that will be
all the above and be no further away from Austin than approximately
40 miles? I am considering a visit to the Marble
Falls area, but Fredericksburg
with it's close proximity to San
Antonio is also a possibility. I would appreciate any input.
Thanks - David, August 07, 2004
- Gonzales
I'd just like to thank you for the blurb on the Gonzales
Inquirer. My father, Paul Ziemer, served as Editor of the
paper in 1953-55, and my mother, Margaret Ziemer, was (I believe)
the first female editor in chief of that venerable paper, in 1956.
- Eric Ziemer, August 07, 2004
- Riviera,
Texas
I know little about this place but what I've learned is amazing.
Pronounced "Rivera" by locals, it was a dream of a man blessed
with money but cursed with a location too remote, even by today's
standards. Located on Baffin Bay just south of Loyola Beach, it
once sported a large wooden hotel ( burned in the teens, I believe)
a railroad to Corpus Christi, a bank along with many other buildings
to include sidewalks (still existing) and fire hydrants. A local
restaurant has pictures including one of the hotel. Built to lure
citizens to a "Riviera" type setting, I believe it failed due
to being so remote and possibly due to hurricane strike. I think
it was there from the 1880's until the hotel fire in the early
1900's. - Chip Haymond, August 06, 2004
- Von Ormy,
Texas
I grew up in this small, dusty, "blink and you miss it" town.
It is rich in history due to the castle that continues to stand
in this small town. I'm uncertain of the facts but I do know that
Count Von Ormy lived here. I've been told that the castle has
many underground tunnels for escape and the turrets on top of
the walls used to have cannons (long since gone now). Count Von
Ormy brought in the first flushing indoor toilet in the United
States to his castle - little that it be, it is still a castle.-
Betty JoAnn (McKay) Underwood, August 01, 2004
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