Category Archives: Florence Stratton

Thoughts and Ramblings: Gladys City, Blind Willie flying through Interstellar Space, Ye Olde Block Farm, Friendliest City by a Lake, and a Bridge that Beaumont Hates. Happy Father’s Day.

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Has anyone been to Gladys City lately? There is sure a lot of restoration going on. The old wildcatter city is getting a facelift, and it’s been long overdue. Gladys City was built as a Bicentennial project of the Lucas Gusher Monument Commission for the 75th anniversary of the Spindletop. Lamar University dedicated it in 1976. It was intended to be a temporary structure, but they are still holding their own. I will give a massive shout-out to Troy Gray for doing a fantastic job of keeping this gem running.

It reminds me of a book signing I went to at the McFaddin-Ward visitors center during which Jo Ann Stiles talked about her chapter in the book Just Between Us. In it, Stiles talks about her interview with Miss Alice, who lived in the real Glady’s City as a child. Miss Alice reveals both the good and the bad of how things were. This is what you want as a researcher, but the lore and Hollywood often get in the way of historical reality. It is a great book, and there’s a link to it at the bottom of the page.

Big Thicket Outlaws

As I mention Gladys City, I also need to say that the Big Thicket Outlaws have been entertaining folks for years at events in Gladys City and other places. The Big Thicket Outlaws have taken several losses during the past few years. The latest was Earl Keith (Tejano). He passed away in September 2021. He was a treasure that everyone will miss. The Outlaws have done a great job of bringing history to young folks and to us not-so-young folk. Below I’ve added links to past events that the Big Thicket Outlaws participated in at Glady’s City, which I photographed.

Blind Willie Johnson

Straight from the NASA files and Voyager 2, all is well, but the computers in Voyager 1 are troubled by a mysterious glitch. I guess that’s what you get with 1970s technology that’s lasted for 45 years. One thing to add is that both space probes are still working and traveling in interstellar space. To me, this means Blind Willie Johnson’s music has made it out of the solar system and is currently in uncharted territory, along with Beethoven, Bach, and Stravinsky. I’d say this is still a big deal. Blind Willie was a Beaumont preacher who had a music contract with a major label, Columbia Records. Yet he died poor. I have his story below.

Martin Block homestead

Things here on Ye Olde Block Farm are going well after the F-0 tornado decided to attack a few businesses on Nederland Avenue, then move into our area, a few weeks back. It sure seemed to hate water Oaks and some roofs, but it didn’t last long unless you were in its path, in which case it was Hurricane Rita all over again. I’m sure this isn’t the first time this has happened. Martin Block owned and cultivated this old farmland from the 1900s to the 1940s. You might recognize the last name. He was W. T. Block’s uncle. I have a couple of articles from the Beaumont Enterprise from 1927 and 1930 where journalist Dean Tevis spotlighted him in his weekly articles. Back then, old Dean wrote about these farmers like rock stars. It is fascinating to go back and read what things were like in the 1920s and 30s. Those Boll weevils caused many headaches. Dean wrote that Martin had the first truck in Port Neches to deliver his goods to Beaumont. He also had a sugar mill about a block away from his home.

I know that the live oaks were planted by the Block family before 1908, and they are my treasures. On Google Earth, there is a history tab that you can click on to get an aerial view of Jefferson County from 1938. I can see my trees in their blurry magnificence all those years ago. An added tidbit is that the Rowleys also lived not too far from here.

Something that’s been irking me for years involves only Port Arthurans. Why has Port Arthur been known as the friendliest city by the sea for years? You’re next to a lake. I won’t even mention when some committee gave the go-ahead to paint waves on the concrete barrier in the middle of Highway 69, 96, 287, leading into the heart of Port Arthur, then painted over them a few months later because TxDOT can’t even paint waves properly. Oh well, we’re not perfect, but at least some of us know the difference between a lake and a sea. Rant done! I guess we can go back to being friendly unless the powers over that project see this, then my work is done.

This week, the Saharan dust was a sight over the Rainbow Bridge. It was almost like fog. I know this bridge caused a lot of hell before it was built. Beaumont fought hard for this bridge not to be built because that would mean the people traveling from Port Arthur/Groves wouldn’t have to drive thru Beaumont to Orange County. There was a ferry before the bridge, but there were long waits. Beaumont lost and the bridge was built, making all of Mid and South County happy. I should do an in-depth research project on how much mud-slinging went on. I guess it’s water under the bridge. Of course, it is because it’s too darn high. A shout-out to everyone who took their driver’s ed road test over this rainbow because you deserved that license. Also, to the truckers who slapped rearview mirrors when it was a two-way bridge.

I just noticed it’s Father’s Day, so I’ll leave you a Susie Spindletop Weekly Letter entry from June 16, 1929.

MARY AUTRY HIGGINS came along with the epitaph she found somewhere:

Here lyeth the body of WILLIAM STRATTON

buried May 18, 1734

Age 97

Who had by his first wife 28 children

By his second, 17

Own father to 45,

Grandfather to 86,

Great-grandfather to 97,

great great- grandfather to 23…in all 251

***

Happy Fathers Day

Just Between Us : https://www.amazon.com/Just-Between-Us-Stories-Memories/dp/1936205785

Big Thicket Outlaws: https://www.flickr.com/photos/25032584@N05/albums/72157635129081778#:~:text=https%3A//flic.kr/s/aHsjHA9m2G

https://www.flickr.com/photos/25032584@N05/albums/72157639674774734#:~:text=https%3A//flic.kr/s/aHsjQvQdbb

https://www.flickr.com/photos/25032584@N05/albums/72157678910933385#:~:text=https%3A//flic.kr/s/aHskShZMba

https://www.flickr.com/photos/25032584@N05/albums/72157692218171835#:~:text=https%3A//flic.kr/s/aHsmdyURxR

Blind Willie Johnson: https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2012/08/23/blind-willie-johnson/

Thoughts and Ramblings

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It’s been ten years since I began my research journey into learning about some of SETX’s history, and boy, have I been down many rabbit holes! I’ve met many interesting people and seen many interesting things. I’ve cherished the opportunity to visit so many houses and museums and to witness people open up about their own reflections on the past. Joining the Jefferson County Historical Commission (JCHC) and visiting the other county historical commissions has also provided me with a wealth of knowledge. In fact, if you enjoyed the past cemetery tours at Magnolia, you can thank the Liberty County Historical Commission for being the inspiration for them. The two cemetery tours they performed were nothing short of brilliant. I really hope that they’ll one day bring back Whispers from the Past.
I’ve always enjoyed volunteering. Taking photographs for the Beaumont Heritage Society was invariably interesting, especially when they started running the Heritage Happy Hour event. There were a lot of lovely places, but I always preferred the Chambers House Museum events. Why? Because it was like visiting your grandma’s house. (Well, unless your grandma had millions of dollars—then maybe it wouldn’t be up to standards. But Papa Homer was thrifty and taught his girls well.) Truth be told, my grandmother lived in a single-story, two-bedroom house in Port Arthur with a husband, five sons, and one daughter, and I believe she wouldn’t have been happy living at the Chambers House simply because it wasn’t within one mile of her church. I can’t comment on the rest of the occupants would have felt.
Speaking of the Chambers House Museum, I’d like to give a special mention to Virginia Bowman who worked at museum. It was Ginny who set me off on my journey to research Florence Stratton, and after ten years of studying Florence’s life, I’m indebted to her. Much of my time has been spent on researching Florence, as it should be. I don’t know if I’ll be the one to write her autobiography, but at least the facts of her life and shenanigans have been discovered and are available in my archives (and I have a lot of them!).
Getting back to the topic of volunteering, it’s no secret that I love the Historic Homes Tour in Galveston. I’ve taken the tour for years, and it’s an annual part of this blog. I love taking the tour on the first Saturday, but I also love volunteering with Bev Davis, a member of the Liberty County Historical Commission. She’s the reason I check you through the gate into the cover house on Sunday.
Other subjects I’ve researched have taken up much of my time. One of them is the Interurban. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, this was the pinnacle of the conversations I had with Jerry Burnett. Something about an electric train running from Port Arthur to Beaumont from 1913 to 1932 seemed unique to me.
Another topic was Catherina Stengele. After hearing the story of a lowly seamstress who saved her money solely to buy a mausoleum, I knew it was something I had to look into. As usual, the facts were much more fascinating than the story. Much like my research on Florence researching Catherina is still ongoing.
What was probably one of my most incredible rabbit hole moments happened in Greenlawn Cemetery, where I saw a porcelain photo of a young girl attached to a flat headstone with this poem beneath:
If I must die then die I must and when the coffin round me rusts my bones will go whence they came and all that’s left is my name. To shield that name I’ll do my best; that’s all that’s left when I’m at rest. I’ll do no harm and bring no shame upon my dad and mother’s name.


For weeks, I researched the origins of Virginia Lee “Gene” Rowley’s poem and her short life. What I found went beyond her life and told the story of a family filled with both tragedy and impressive accomplishments. After my original research hit a dead end, I was still unaware of what had happened to Gene’s siblings Jerry and Vera. But a family member saw my original blogs and introduced me to the Rowley Trio. I spent many late nights going through newspaper archives and even YouTube videos of their musical journeys.
The Rowley Trio was KFDM radio’s backup band and was also a part of the Louisiana Hayride circuit. They even got a mention in George Jones’ autobiography. Apparently, George didn’t like waking up early to perform at 5:30 in the morning.
In my office, I have a photo of the Rowley Trio—Jerry, Vera (Dido), and Evelyn (Jerry’s wife)—with Johnny Horton. It’s an excellent conversation starter and a reminder that there are more stories like this.
Another story I’d like to know more about is that of Hugo J. DeBretagne. Hugo was killed on the 3rd day of the Battle of Tarawa and buried at sea. A memorial stone was placed in Greenlawn Cemetery with the following inscription:
In memory of Hugo J. DeBretagne, CO D 1st Bat. 2nd Marines Killed at Tarawa Buried at sea.  Oct. 13, 1923 – Nov. 23, 1943

World War II—and especially the Pacific War—has been my greatest research project. You could say that the movie Tora Tora Tora has a lot to do with that. Still, there’re no words to describe the feeling of being a kid and seeing a formation of T-6 Texans modified to look like Japanese Zeros flying over Nederland, Texas, headed for Jefferson County Airport to participate in the Confederate Airshow.

Until next week, keep looking back.
Sayonara さようなら

A brief History of Florence Stratton part2

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In 1920, the Beaumont Enterprise, which was owned by longtime friend, W.P. Hobby, bought out its rival newspaper, the Beaumont Journal. Florence then would move onto the Enterprise’s pages as a reporter and society editor. She would find even more opportunities there as a writer and a journalist.

Florence’s first foray into book writing and publication did not involve her own work. It was, in fact, a compilation of articles written by the popular short story writer William Sydney Porter, who used the pen name O. Henry. O. Henry’s writings was from his time at the Houston Post, from October 1895 to June of 1896. She compiled his work, wrote the foreword, and published “Postscripts by O. Henry.” O. Henry’s popularity still appeared to be intact among Americans even 13 years after his death. This 1923 publication was a monetary success for Florence. Another book would be released the same year called, “Favorite Recipes of Famous Women.” Again, the content was compiled by Florence, but this time with the help of her best friend Willie Cooper. The book of recipes was actually compiled during Willie’s time as first lady in the governor’s mansion.

Florence’s first literary work would be published in 1925. “The Story of Beaumont” was, as its name implied, an early history of Beaumont. The book was a popular success among the locals. Below is the foreword written by M.E. Moore, Beaumont’s superintendent of schools.

   In “The Story of Beaumont,” Beaumont has an achievement which few cities and their schools can enjoy. Its possession certainly places our schools in a restricted class so far as local historical material is concerned.

Far sighted and thoughtful school authorities everywhere recommend that a course in local history and civics be given in the upper grades and in the high school, so that children will not grow up un appreciative and ignorant of their home city and its possibilities. David Compayre, a noted French authority on education, has said “Growth comes from realizing possibilities.” Certainly no city can fully realize its possibilities for the future unless it studies its achievements in the past. But it is usually very difficult to obtain local history in a form such that it can be used in the school. This book offers such material.

There is nothing finer or better to promote citizenship, a love of country and a high resolve to serve the community, the state and the nation than to teach such histories in our schools. Beaumont and the schools owe a debt of gratitude to the author of this volume, not only for the facts in the book but for the charm and interest with which each chapter is written and illustrated.

In stating that this book will prove of great worth to the children in the schools, let me add that I would not create the impression that it will not prove of high value and gripping interest to the grown-up as well. He will find the book written in readable, whimsical language, bristling with human interest on every page and filled with information that every person in Beaumont will keenly appreciate.

M.E. Moore,

Superintendent of schools.

In 1926, Beaumonters would get the opportunity to take a closer look at their own lives through the Sunday morning pages of the Beaumont Enterprise. A new feature, Susie Spindletop’s Weekly Letter, began in February 1926 and would run until 1938. The articles would always begin with “Dear Della,” with Della, of course, representing the intrigued Beaumont residents who would sift through the pages of the newspaper looking for local gossip. The “Weekly Letter” wouldn’t turn into a weekly column until the latter part of 1926 and into 1927, and over the years, it grew in popularity.

Throughout her life in Beaumont, Florence seemed to maintain a close relationship with family. From the old directories and census records, it appears that she had always lived with her sister Emily and her brother-in-law. However, in 1929, Florence decided to build a house of her own. The house was constructed using some of the bricks of the old 1893 Jefferson County Courthouse, which was demolished around the same time to pave way for the current 13-story structure that was finished in 1931. The house still stands today across the street from the McFaddin-Ward House.

Another publication released in 1931 was called “The White Plume.” The short story was co-written with Vincent Burke, a sports editor for the Beaumont Enterprise. It was billed a true love story from O. Henry’s past and featured a twist reminiscent of one of his short stories.

Florence’s final publication would be released in 1936. It was titled “When the Storm God Rides; Tejas and Other Indian Legends” and comprised stories that were collected by Bessie M. Reid and retold by Florence Stratton, with illustrations by Berniece Burrough. It went on to be used as a textbook in local schools.

Sadly, Florence’s life would come to an end on January 28, 1938. She had suffered a stroke a few weeks earlier and was to go to New Orleans to try a novel type of surgery (for those times), but she would expire prematurely at the Touro Infirmary from arteriosclerotic heart disease. Her funeral was held at her house at 1929 McFaddin. Over 200 mourners and well-wishers attended the service, with a mile-long funeral procession to Magnolia Cemetery. Her typewriter at the Beaumont Enterprise was covered in flowers in honor of her passing.

A brief History of Florence Stratton part1

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Florence Stratton was born in Brazoria, Texas to Asa Evan Stratton and Louisa Henrietta Waldman on March 21, 1881. Although some references state she was born in 1883, I have confirmed her month, day, and year of birth through the following sources: a 1900 census, at least six mentions in Florence’s Sunday Enterprise weekly letters, and a letter from Florence’s 10-year-old sister, Emily, in February 1883. Little is known of her childhood, but I hope to keep peeling away the layers and find out more of her early life.

One interesting note I found while researching Florence’s early years in Brazoria County is that her grandfather, Major Asa Stratton, owned a sugarcane plantation. On that property sat the second oldest log cabin in Texas, known today as the McCroskey-Stringfellow House. Florence mentioned it several times in her weekly Sunday Enterprise articles, which we will get into next week. Another interesting fact is that Major Stratton’s daughter and Florence’s aunt, Sarah Emily Stratton married Samuel Bryan, son of W. Joel Bryan and nephew of Stephen F. Austin. Does that make Florence related to Stephen F. Austin?

In 1900, Florence graduated as valedictorian from Troy Normal College in Troy, Alabama. She lived there two more years while teaching and then moved to Beaumont in 1903, most likely to live near her sister Emily. Emily and her husband, Walter Stevens, had already been living in Beaumont for at least a year; Walter was working as a clerk in the E. L. Clough Drug Store.

In Beaumont, Florence continued her teaching career by becoming a faculty member at Miss Anne’s private school in 1903, then moving on to Beaumont High to teach grammar. Her salary is unknown to me, but when she resigned in 1905, her successor took on the job at $60 a month.

In 1906, Aurelia Peters Norvell formed the Colonel Moffett Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Many prominent Beaumont women joined this organization, and Florence was no different: She became its charter secretary. Florence’s Revolutionary War ancestor was her great-grandfather Peleg Stratton.

In 1907, Florence began her journalism career at the Beaumont Journal as society editor. She also spent much of the following years, 1908-09, in Washington D.C. with her best friend, Willie Cooper. Together, they rubbed elbows with Washington’s elite, even attending a White House reception in January 1909.

Florence and Willie had spent many early years together, and when Willie finally married her childhood sweetheart, W.P. Hobby, in 1915, little changed in their friendship. In fact, Florence probably spent more time with her, especially after Hobby became governor in 1917. Evidence in Texas newspaper archives dating from 1917 to 1920 put the three together at many events in this time frame.

Florence started two charity funds: the Milk and Ice Fund, which gave underprivileged people milk and ice during the summer months, and the Empty Stocking Fund, which gave toys to the poor children of Beaumont. Unfortunately, I haven’t discovered when the Milk and Ice Fund was founded. Each year, the Beaumont Enterprise rehashes the same article and says it began in 1914. I would agree, but the only proof I have of the fund starting earlier than 1920 is a 1921 article in the Beaumont Journal stating the fund had been running for a few years. The Empty Stocking Fund, which I believe was started in 1920, is run by the Beaumont Enterprise today.

A November 1980 article by Laura Young of the Beaumont Enterprise stated that Florence had written speeches for Governor Hobby. Though not farfetched, I haven’t found proof of it. In fairness, the article was an interview with Eunice Stephens, Florence’s niece. Unfortunately, Eunice is partially to blame for some of the incorrect information out there. Her recollections do not seem to fit the facts. In defense of Eunice, however, all information gathering on Florence using Eunice seemed to happen during the final years of Eunice’s life (1979-1980; she died in January 1982). I do not and will not speculate on Eunice’s ability to remember her aunt’s ventures, but publications that have used her as a source, such as the November 1979 issue of The Texas Gulf Historical & Biographical Record, have contained completely inaccurate information on Florence’s life.

To be continued…

Rediscovering Florence Stratton

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My research on the life of Florence Stratton is now in its fourth year. It’s true that I’ve made multiple discoveries in what would seem, at times, a hopeless endeavor, but there always seems to be an open door at the end of the hallway, so to speak. And I have definitely ventured into many of those long corridors.
In late December 2015, after a visit to the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center to research historian Bill Quick’s papers, I “quickly” (pun intended) became inspired by how organized he was in his research and how he maintained his notes. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Quick when he was alive, I am ever so grateful for his years of documentation of SETX history, especially regarding the Sabine Lighthouse—it appears we shared a mutual love for this structure.
f1So as many do, in January I decided to make a New Year’s resolution. I spent countless hours filing, scanning, and digitizing all my files for future use by persons unknown should the need arise. I believe I am nearly through with this growing inventory of information, except for the Florence Stratton Project as I call it. I have scanned and digitized many related files and documents, but three-plus years of research are not always readily available to scan, such as my small two-page file on the city of Ronald, Texas. Nevertheless, most of the files about Florence and her family are stored as PDFs, along with countless newspaper clippings in JPEG (photo) format. Then there are the “Susie Spindletop’s Weekly Letter” articles written using Florence’s nom de plume, which span February 28, 1926 to January 23, 1938. This collection will be a whole new digitizing endeavor, which will mean many weekly trips to the Sam Houston Region Library and Research Center to obtain clearer images. The initial scans from many of the microfilm collections for the Beaumont Enterprise are quite blurry. DSC02508
I have also realized that field trips are a necessity. Given the timetable, genealogy, and friendships in Florence’s history, I found it important to proactively explore these sites, cities, and research hubs. And it was in Austin that I began my journey over the road. On Monday January 25, I stepped into the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. The center holds many historic treasures—so much so that I could spend months, or even years, sifting through them. Since I only had a day, I decided to focus on W.P. Hobby Sr.’s papers. W.P. Hobby was the Governor of Texas from 1917 to 1921. At the time, he was the youngest governor ever to hold the office in the state. Hobby also had many local ties to Beaumont. He became the manager and part owner of the Beaumont Enterprise in 1907 and married Willie Cooper, the daughter of the U.S. representative Sam Branson Cooper, on May 15, 1915. At various points in Florence’s timeline, I noticed she spent time with Willie Cooper in Washington D.C. (1907–1908) or in the Governor’s Mansion in Austin (1917–1921). Other newspaper articles described her attendance at many functions with the Governor and First Lady, from a Turkey trot in Cuero to the inauguration of the Mexican president Álvaro Obregón.
White House reception attended by Willie Cooper and Florence StrattonIn one of the two boxes I requested, I found a scrapbook that once belonged to Willie. After looking at all the newspaper clippings and other memorabilia, it certainly put what I’d been studying into perspective. Between the clippings and other historical artifacts, I located an invitation addressed to “The Misses Cooper” dated January 9, 1908. It reads as follows:
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt request the pleasure of the company of
The Misses Cooper
At a reception to be held at
The White House
Thursday evening January the ninth
Nineteen hundred and eight
From nine to half after ten o’clock
Holding something like that in your hand can be inspiring to say the least. Both Willie and Florence attended the White House reception in January the following year as well. I know this thanks to an article in the Washington Post dated January 8, 1909.
I made many discoveries that day. Most of the scrapbook concentrated on W.P. Hobby becoming lieutenant governor and eventually governor when James E. Ferguson was removed from office. I also noticed a lot of content on women’s suffrage (women’s right to vote). Unlike others, Hobby saw the benefits of this early. There is one letter to the editor of the Beaumont Enterprise in Willie’s scrapbook. We’ll call him Pete (because that is how he signed his name in the letter). Pete was hell-bent on not giving women the right to vote. He talked of the curse of Jehovah God “by harkening to the voice of women, and giving to the ballot.” He also quoted the Apostle Paul and the like, but it would have been pointless to spend one more iota of time on this jackleg. It is interesting to ponder just what Mr. Pete would have thought when a woman, Miriam Amanda “Ma” Ferguson, was elected Governor of Texas in 1925. A possible coronary, I would imagine.
I assume Willie saved this letter as a reminder of how important this era was for women, and through the newspaper articles, I was also able to get a small glimpse of Florence’s journey. In September 1918, she was listed as one of 31 vice chairpersons for the senatorial districts for the Democratic Party.
My next field trip will be to the place Florence treasured most, her place of birth, Brazoria County. Florence was born on March 21, 1881 at her childhood home in Brazoria, Texas, which in later years she revisited regularly in “Susie Spindletop’s Weekly Letter.” Her popular column was published each Sunday, and in this, she also spoke highly of her grandfather, Major Asa Evan Stratton, who owned a sugarcane plantation.
My other ventures into her past will this month include a visit to Woodville to find any more sources relating to Willie Cooper that may be traceable to Florence, a revisit to Austin to peruse more of W.P. Hobby’s papers, and then the inevitable journey to Troy, Pike County, Alabama. Troy_School
Contrary to most articles about Florence, she graduated from Troy Normal College and not Gray Normal College as W.T. Block noted in his earlier writings. In fact much of Florence’s lore is inaccurate, and I’m still sorting through the mess. This is not to discredit Mr. Block on this subject; he was blissfully unaware that the recollections of his primary source, Florence’s niece, were wholly inaccurate. I personally have no knowledge of the atmosphere or Eunice’s mindset when she was interviewed for the articles published in the Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, but most of the “facts” were just plain wrong.
Graduation Photo editLuckily, with time, Florence’s past is emerging in the form of documented proof on how she spent her life, and how she was a positive resident who was loved by all. Many of my early questions have been answered, but there is still a mountain of research to climb. Some readers have asked what I plan to do with all this research. Well, it is no secret that I intend to submit a marker application to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) in 2017 to celebrate a life that deserves recognition in SETX history. Indeed, Florence’s contributions to Beaumont history, society, and charity cannot be matched.

Florence Stratton Mini Museum Exhibit @ the Jefferson County Courthouse

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Florence Stratton Mini Museum Exhibit

Florence Stratton was born in Brazoria, Texas, in March 1881, to Judge Asa Evan Stratton and Louisa Henrietta Waldman Stratton. Her parents moved to Alabama when she was a child. Educated through the Alabama public school system, she then attended “normal” college in Troy, Alabama, and was valedictorian of her 1900 graduating class.

Florence moved to Beaumont in 1903 and took a job as a member of the faculty of Miss Anne’s private school. She also taught at Central High School in 1904. During this time and throughout most of her early years in Beaumont, she lived with her sister and brother-in-law, Emily and W. H. Stevens.Stratton 1907 1

In 1907 Florence began her journalistic career at the Beaumont Journal. Apart from teaching literature at Belle Austin Instate in 1909, she continued at the Journal as society editor, and by some accounts, even helped with the printing of the newspaper.

In 1914 Florence started the Milk and Ice Fund to help provide poor families during the summer months with needed milk and ice. Six years later, while at the Beaumont Enterprise, she started the Empty Stocking Fund to, again, give relief to the poor but this time with food and monetary donations. This fund is still active today and provides assistance to the poor in Southeast Texas each Christmas.

From 1917 to 1921, Florence spent time with her good friend Willie Cooper at the Governor’s mansion in Austin. Willie was married to W. P. Hobby, who served as Governor of Texas for a five-year term ending in 1921.

In 1920 the Beaumont Enterprise bought the Beaumont Journal, and it was there that Florence enjoyed most of her success as a journalist. Her column, “Susie Spindletop’s Weekly Letter,” which began in 1926, drew more readers than any other column. Her popularity soared, and many relished reading each Sunday morning’s offering over the 12-year period it ran.

It was at the same time that her column started that Florence began, as she called it, “dabbling” in writing books. She compiled all of O. Henry’s articles, which were written while he was employed at the Houston Post, and published them in a book called Postscripts by O. Henry. She would also publish The White Plume in 1931, which was a short biography of O. Henry’s life.

Other books would follow, such as Favorite Recipes of Famous Women (1925),  and her most memorable literary contribution to Southeast Texas history, The Story of Beaumont (1925). This work delved into the early settlement of Beaumont, and to this day, is a reliable reference regarding the region’s past.

Yet another literary work, called When the Storm God Rides, was published in 1936. It was co-written with Bessie M. Reid and disclosed much-needed information about the Indians of East Texas.

Sadly in January of 1938, Florence died at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, a day after she underwent surgery. Her death certificate states the cause of death as “Arterio Sclerotic heart disease.”

After five months of research into Florence Stratton’s life, I have found a lot of misinformation about her. I believe all the dates and other information used in this article to be true. It is amazing how much you can find out in a city directory and censuses. Florence was an amazing individual, and I hope to explore more of her life in the next year. I have also begun work to have a marker dedicated in her honor, possibly at the Beaumont Enterprise.

If anyone reading this has knowledge of Beaumont’s first historian, whether in the form of documents, letters, photos, memories, or any other stories, I would love to hear about them. It is my wish to give Florence the credit she deserves.

Florence Stratton

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Dear Della:

I know it’s been ages since your friend Susie has written to you, and I know she is deeply missed. I never met Susie personally, but I do know of her fondness for you and her knack for always knowing what you and your neighbors were up to. She shared many things with you each Sunday morning, something which I have only recently come to learn.

Della, I have read some of the open letters that Susie wrote to you over a period of 11 years on the pages of the Beaumont Enterprise. It’s obvious that Susie cared for everyone. But of course she did. You know she created “The Journal Empty Stocking Fund” to help poor people around the time of Christmas each year and “The Journal Milk and Ice Fund” because, as she put it, “even in the summer poor people are still poor.”

Thinking back, I can only imagine how hard it was for people during that time. Poverty was certainly color blind, and “Great” was a word used in sorrow. But you survived. You always will.

Yes I know that the Beaumont Journal is long gone, but the Beaumont Enterprise is still hanging on and its Empty Stocking Fund is still helping out citizens of this fine town, even today. It’s thanks to Susie that the poor are still being helped.

————–

Della, I did find out something about Susie. Did you know she wrote books? Susie published them under the name Florence Stratton. One of her books, The Story of Beaumont, published in 1925, has found a home in my office.

————–

After reading her column and books, I can see why you and your neighbors liked her so. Susie was one of a kind. My only regret in this scenario is that I wasn’t around in 1920s and 1930s Beaumont to talk with her. But I get that way when thinking about all my favorite people of Southeast Texas history. Although I must confess Susie is at the top of my list.

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Guess what Della, I passed by Susie’s beloved house today. I couldn’t help but think that ol’ Susie is still watching out for her little house. And you know what, it’s still secluded behind those tall hedges. Just the way she wanted it.

Paul

 

 

Note: This article has been edited with updated information as of 08/10/2013

Florence Stratton was born in Brazoria, Texas, in 1881. Her parents moved to Montgomery, Alabama, when she was a child. She attended Troy Formal College in Troy, Alabama, and even became valedictorian. (Note: In W. T. Block’s article about Florence, he wrote that she had graduated from Gray Normal College. I found out that Troy Formal College is now Troy University. I did not find any mention of Gray Normal College.)

In 1903, Florence moved to Beaumont, where she lived with her sister, and subsequently became a member of the faculty at Miss Austin’s private school.

In 1907 Florence had begun her journalism career at the Beaumont Journal as society editor. Thirteen years later, she would join the Beaumont Enterprise in the same capacity.

Earlier I mentioned that Florence had published a few books. There were five to be exact. The first was a compilation of O. Henry’s writings when he worked as a news scribe in Houston. She compiled them and wrote the foreword. It was called O. Henry’s Postscripts and was published in 1923.

In 1925, she would publish another compilation book entitled Recipes of Famous Women. The Story of Beaumont would also be published that same year. This book was written from her interviews with early Beaumonters.

Two more books would follow, The White Plume, O. Henry’s own short story, published in 1931, and When the Storm God Rides, published in 1936, compiled by Bessie M. Reid and retold by Florence Stratton.

Florence started her popular column called “Susie Spindletop’s Weekly Letter” in 1926 in which she would write to her fictional friend Della about the happenings in and around Beaumont society.

Note #1: Just as Susie was Florence’s alter ego, Della was a fictitious character representing the people of Beaumont. Susie/Florence always had a way of enticing her readers.

Note #2: After spending a rainy Saturday morning at the Tyrrell Historical Library looking through the archives at Susie/Florence’s writing, I was amazed just how much you can learn about early SETX history through a gossip column.

In 1930, Florence built her home out of the bricks from the old Jefferson County Courthouse at 1929 McFaddin (located across the street from the McFaddin-Ward house). Even today, the hedges are still present just as she had them oh-so-many years ago.

Sadly, on January 28th 1938, Florence died following surgery at a New Orleans hospital. The deat certificate states the cause of death as “Arterio Sclerotic heart disease.”

Florence Stratton was the first real published historian of our area. Her ceaseless energy and desire to bring the news of the day to Beaumonters was always her top priority. Through her work we can see just how life was in the early days. I’m sure Della would agree.

 

Note: I wish to thank the Tyrrell Historical Library and the Beaumont Enterprise for making available their wealth of information about this fine lady. I also wish to thank Ginny from the Chambers House Museum (http://www.chambershouse.org/) for introducing me to the life and times of the wonderful Florence Stratton.