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September
2004
Texas Forum | Travel Forum
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- Lipscomb,
Texas
I believe that Lipscomb, Texas now has a dance area. People
such as Frankie McWhorter (who is in the Western Swing Hall of Fame) and others
perform there. John Erickson of "Hank the Cowdog" fame often appears in Lipscomb.
- Ray Trosper, September 29, 2004
- Odessa,
Texas
Original
Odessa is NOT in Russia!!!!!!! Original Odessa is a wonderful city on the Black
Sea and belong to the UKRAINE, that is very principal. I would appreciate if you
could change "Russia" on "Ukraine" in historical description of Odessa in Texas.
Thank you in advance. - Yours Faithfully, S Preobrajensky, September 23, 2004
- Crazy
Water Hotel Ghosts
I came across this site while searching for pictures of Mineral Wells, Texas,
in the 1930s and 1940s, and I love all the information I came across.
My family is from Mineral Wells, and my great-grandmother lived there up until
her death in 2002. She was a resident of the Crazy Water Hotel for several years,
and I loved the feeling of the old building. Every time I would visit, there would
always be a bit of playtime downstairs in the enormous lobby, and then a trip
to the roof to explore.
Downstairs, taped to the windows of a room off
the main lobby, are photographs of the "Crazy Gang" and a few celebrities who
had visited the hotel. I loved the old photos, and always spent a few minutes
looking at them. Once or twice, while standing in the area, though on different
occasions, I felt a sudden surge of cold air hit me. I remember feeling as if
something had passed right through me, but brushed the thought aside.
During one trip to the roof, I was looking out a window, down onto the street.
I am not absolutely certain, but as far as I can tell, this area had been the
hotel's ballroom. As I stood at the window, I thought I saw the figure of a woman
in a long red, 1930s style dress. I turned, but the figure was gone. The rest
of my family was outside, on the rooftop terrace at the time, ruling all of them
out as the image I saw. Also, the elevators had not opened since I had been upstairs.
I was certain that my mind was playing tricks on me. But who knows? Perhaps it
was a ghost.
I'm a bit of a skeptic, but with all the excitement that
the Crazy once possessed, why wouldn't the building hold that spirit today? It
seems reasonable. After all the past never fades completely; some how a memory
of it will always linger. Perhaps a few hotel guests are just a part of the fabulous
memory of the Crazy Water Hotel. - September 22, 2004
- Plainview,
Texas - Hilton
Hotel & old memories
I have been told the first hotel Mr. Hilton built with his name on it was in Plainview,
Texas. The last time I was downtown in Plainview, I believe it was still so. A
boyhood friend, Dr. Richard E. Morgan's father had been the manager at that time
when we were still in high school, the mid fifties. Richard is still there you
might check with him. I lived there from 1948 to 1968 and remember those times
with fond memories, it was one of the best places to grow up in !!! Recently went
to my classes 50th reunion, one of my most pleasurable memories, good to see people
you had not seen in so many years. - Jimmy Nowell, class of 1953, Granbury,
Texas, September 18, 2004
- Beaukiss,
Texas
I was born in 1939 and remember
the Beaukiss store at about the age of 6, with everyone playing dominoes around
the wood-burning stove in the winter, and the pickles, crackers, cheese and soda
that were for sale at the store. My family and their families were all farmers
not far from Beaukiss around Adina, Blue, Knobbs and the Yegua. The Yegua would
always flood during rainy seasons. This is the area where all the families grew
up.
In 1911 my father's Uncle Jess (aged 29) was shot over someone's
children damaging the cotton crop while going and coming from school. I wish I
could get the history of Beaukiss during the wild west days. If [anyone] could
give me history in these areas I would be grateful. - Jack Hall, Santa Clarita,
California - September 15, 2004
-
Fulton, Texas
While I was spending time with my grandparents in Fulton, Texas, I remember some
really tall, white structures on the beach that eventually became housing for
Vietmese folks in the 70's or 80's. Then, they were torn down. Do you have any
ideas about what these might have been originally or where I might get further
information about them? Thank you - Jann Bell, September 07, 2004
- Bandera
Hanging Tree
I was reviewing
your information regarding the Bandera Hanging tree. I noticed a contribution
from Jason Sawyer. It seems he and I have an ancestor in common. I am the great
grandson of William Sawyer.
I agree that Mr. Sawyer was on furlow or
leave, and was attempting to farm near Georgetown Texas. As I understand it, as
related to me by his grandchildren, Mr. Sawyer was enroute with the other innocent
men to Mexico to attempt to purchase good farm stock, as there was little to be
had in Texas at that time. This is why the men were carrying a large sum of money.
I wonder also what the fate of Major Alexander was ultimately. Did he join
the union army after the war, as did a goodly number of officers? If so, he was
still no more than a common criminal in uniform. How many others suffered at his
hands directly or due to his "complacency"? Certainly, the answers to some questions
as these may never be known, but it sure would be interesting to find some leads
to what has been a cold trail. I would at least like to find Alexander's grave.
Maybe I could plant some goatheads on it. - James Stewart, September 04, 2004
- Pumpville,
Texas
I
just came across your posting about Pumpville and wanted to mention a couple of
things. My family ranched out beyond there from the early 1920s, when my Dad came
to that part of the world to drill water wells. I was born in Del Rio in 1932,
where we lived during the school year, but the family stayed the whole summer
at the ranches. At that time, Pumpville was still a viable little cluster of residents.
The water tanks were still used to refuel the steam engines which still remained
in service. The general store was owned by Pelham Bradford, who also was the postmaster
for the town. That shambles of a building pictured on your page may have been
part of his store or outbuildings, in fact.
I still own one of the ranches
on down the road from Pumpville and we commute back & forth through there on many
visits from Dallas, where I live. There has been some activity lately in Pumpville,
work on the railroad and one of the old houses has been restored.
The
Church does meet regularly on Sunday, drawing attendees who are members of that
regular congregation from ranches scattered around - some as far away from Pumpville
as 50 mi. The preacher also comes from afar. Following the services, all the members
serve a pitch-in dinner in a back room of the church building and it is the highlight
social event and business gathering of the week! Visitors, especially hunters
on the ranches, frequently stop for the services and are graciously invited to
join in the meal afterwards. I believe Langtry has its own little congregation.
I suppose the buildings might be occasionally infested with illegal
immigrants, but frankly, if so - they would have to be very naïve! Ordinarily
they avoid paved or even dirt roads likely to be traveled by ranchers, game wardens
and Border Patrolmen, and take to the canyons & uninhabited remote buildings.
We've been broken into a couple of times when absent, but nothing has been stolen
but food and an occasional digital clock. Attracting attention to themselves is
a very low priority to these folks and violence tends to attract attention. They
usually don't walk hundreds of miles to find a better life with the objective
of creating mayhem. I have never heard of any personal violence being done by
them. My hunch is that the stories of "Railroad Killers" may have been designed
by the tellers to shorten the adventure of the writer. Actually when I saw the
warning paragraph, I fully expected it to be in regard to rattlesnakes, scorpions,
tarantulas and cenipedes, - not two-legged threats! Thank you for your attention.
- Nellieanna Holdeman Hay, September 03, 2004
- Ammannsville
vs Ammansville
Regarding your article on Ammannsville, TX, I would like to point out that the
name of the town is misspelled in your article. You spelled it Ammansville and
the correct spelling is Ammannsville (two n's). Thanks! The founder was my great-great
grandfather. - Sincerely, Mary Ann Ammann Richey, September 03, 2004
- Desdemona,
Texas
I am writing an article about
an event that occurred in May, 1945 in Desdemona where one or perhaps two Japanese
Balloon Bombs landed harmlessly. Thousands of these balloon bombs were launched
from mainland Japan in the closing months of the war as a desperate effort to
achieve victory. Two of them landed in Desdemona or that vicinity. Do you know
about this event and perhaps you could steer me to someone who could. What is
the name of the local newspaper in that area if you know? I would like to place
an ad for people who may have remembered the event. Thanks. - Michael
Phillips, September 02, 2004
- Quihi,
Texas
I
have just spend a long time wandering around in your site and am so impressed.
I live in a quiet little community called Quihi and am putting together a pictorial
history of our small town. I know I am going to enjoy reading your newsletter!
- quihikat aka Katherine Adlong, Quihi, Texas, September 01, 2004
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