Category Archives: History

Thoughts and Ramblings: A Milestone; the American Plague; Tall Ships Festival; Yukari Says Hi

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I hit a milestone of sorts. This week is the first anniversary of “Thoughts and Ramblings” and my return from a two-year hiatus. I am genuinely amazed at this milestone—not because of the content (we all know some of it was a bit thin on occasion), but because I made it through a whole year without missing a week. This is how the blog was supposed to be when it began. However, back then, it was hard to stick to this routine because I wanted to do thorough research on each subject, and there is not a snowball’s chance in hell that can happen in a week. The houses and events that I covered fit into this type of schedule, but they also took time away from research. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed most of the events, but there is a reason I’m on the historical commission and not in a historical society: I am not social! But covering those things was fun.

Vuylsteke House

In the blog’s early years, I wanted to promote our area’s historic homes and museums. I felt that there was not much promotion out there for the smaller venues, and people in our area would rather travel 500 miles to look at a giant ball of string than walk across the street to one of our local museums. And let’s be honest, who has heard of the Vuylsteke House? I grew up in Port Arthur and never heard of it because nobody promoted it. Luckily, Sydalise Fredeman saved the Pompeiian Villa, which I eventually toured in second grade. It was another forty years until I visited it again. During that visit, the docent mentioned that I should also tour the Vuylsteke House. There was not a lot of promotion back then. Some kind of information should’ve been out there, but it wasn’t in 2012. In 2023, there is a lot more promotion of these houses and museums, and I’m happy that people are getting the word out. It’s not perfect, but they are learning.

Although not weekly, I did post some finished and ongoing stories throughout the years. I enjoyed every bit of the hours and money spent learning and uncovering the history and lore of our SETX. A few topics that triggered me at the time (and still do) are the interurban train, the Sabine Lighthouse, the Rowleys, the Chambers House Museum, Florence Stratton (of course), Hugo DeBretagne, Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 931 (VMSB-931), Magnolia Cemetery, Jeanette Catherina Stengele, Miss Jack McDonough, Wong Shu, and two people for whom I have the utmost respect: Kichimatsu Kishi (the Kishi colony) and William D. Quick, a researcher whom I never met. All their stories can be found on my blog: www.rediscoveringsetx.com.

On April 11, 2022, I posted my first “Thoughts and Ramblings.” It was basically a memorial to Florence, Bill Quick, and Jerry Burnett. Jerry was my insurance agent/go-to interurban train person. We would spend hours talking about trains and Port Arthur’s history. He died in October of 2021, and I still miss him.

From that post onward, the blog changed to a much easier format that talks about what I’m researching and what was happening at the time. This allowed me to post some weekly interesting stories and give updates on ongoing projects. I could also ramble on and mention some of my beloved nonsense, including Tankery, anime, and the Mari Lwyd. Do not be mistaken, they were strategically placed six to eight months in advance because 秋山 優花里 Akiyama Yukari, 紺野木綿季 Yuuki Konno, and the Mari Lwyd are dear to me. I will admit that Yukari is one of my spirit animals. I have four. The other three are Oscar the Grouch, Margaret Hamilton, and Bunny Rabbit from the Captain Kangaroo show. As a kid growing up without a Leave It to Beaver family, my inspiration came from the first three, but Yukari triggered my triggerness. “Panzer Vor!”

I finished the book about the history of yellow fever that was recommended to me by two friends. With all these GPR surveys lately, I thought I should get up to date on this disease. It is an excellent read if you are into this type of history. Still, if you have a weak stomach, you might want to skip this read because it describes exactly what happened to all the victims and the brave doctors, scientists, and volunteers who dealt with this epidemic. The only happy ending is that they found what spread the disease, and thanks to their sacrifice, you aren’t dying of yellow fever in 2023. This was a different epidemic compared to the Spanish flu or COVID-19. The book is The American Plague by Molly Caldwell Crosby. Again, this is a must-read if you are into this type of history. Also, for those who have read it, we know—the band Toto was wrong. We don’t miss the rains down in Africa because that’s how it all started!

Well, the Tall Ships Galveston Festival took place this weekend, and I was there on Saturday. I may have an evening edition on that today. It depends on whether I have one of those Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza slumbers while I wait for the ferry. Shout-out to Mama Teresa. That is my go-to place while waiting to board the ferry. Hurricane Ike destroyed the restaurant at Crystal Beach, but Mama Teresa’s pizza is still flying in Galveston!

Speaking of Galveston, we are three weeks away from the 49th Annual Historic Homes Tour, and I will be putting out a list of what not to do on the tour. It’s for Wanda only because she seems to always get this wrong. No high heels—there will be booties—and remember the long lines in the sun! Everyone else knows this, but she always seems to forget.

Until next week, さようなら Sayōnara. Yukari says hi!

Vuylsteke House:

Vuylsteke House

Pompeiian Villa:

Pompeiian Villa

秋山 優花里 Akiyama Yukari:

Tankery explained:

American Plague:  

Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza:

https://www.galveston.com/cuisine/find-a-restaurant/mamateresa/

Thoughts and Ramblings: The Rowleys; No Word on the GPR Survey; Hoppy Easter; So Says Susie

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Johnny Horton with the Rowley Trio

The Rowleys are trending again. I don’t often check my stats, but when I do, it’s either “The Legend of Sarah Jane Road” or “The Legend of Bragg Road.” The people who share my articles are into ghost legends, growing up in Port Arthur, or the restaurants they would eat at. I guess it’s food for thought. But I usually also see interest in the Rowley family articles—to me, they are a part of history that needs to be told. Yes, most of the hits come from the family itself, but the historical aspect inspired me to search for answers in order to tell the correct story of what happened to each member of this family. I often think about Gene, Dido, Jerry, Rex Jr., and their father, Rex. I have a photo of the Rowley Trio with Johnny Horton in my office. I nicked it from a YouTube video; since then, I offered it to the interweb and the family. I’ll leave a link to the Rowley Trio and their amazing story below.

My first association with the Rowleys was at Greenlawn Cemetery in Groves while I was visiting the plot initially reserved for World War I veterans and their families. Walking through the rows, I noticed a headstone with a photo of a young girl and a poem under it. The poem was odd and depressing, so I wanted to know her story.

Virginia Lee Rowley

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.

When I first saw the headstone, I immediately began to research its story. I found that someone from Port Arthur had made a twelve-minute movie about the girl’s presumed life. I won’t get into the crap that this jackass put out because he was wrong for doing this. Virginia “Gene” Rowley died in San Antonio in a car accident. She was there working as a radio operator at Kelly Field.

Her mother probably added the poem to the headstone because Gene was a poet and had won awards for her writing. She may have also been saddened by her father’s suicide in 1934. Rex was in the Great War, but I have no information on how and where he served. According to the newspaper articles, he was upset that he couldn’t find a job. Remember, this was during the Great Depression. Although our SETX area did not suffer as much as most of the country, some of its residents did. Both Rex and Gene are buried in the World War I plot. They are not side by side but giving their backs to each other. Although they are facing away from one another, I have a feeling they are looking at each other eye to eye. In the end, we can only guess how it is.

Jeanna Clare and Don Mahoney

There is a lot of tragedy here. Fortunately, a descendant sent me some information on Vera (Dido) and Jerry, who had a different life. The story of the Rowley Trio is amazing. They played with some big names at the time. One was Johnny Horton. They even played on the Louisiana Hayride radio show, which launched many careers during that era, including Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, and Jim Reeves. The Rowley Trio didn’t rise to that level of stardom, but Dido continued her career in show business. Some of you here and in Houston who grew up in the 1960s might remember the name of Don Mahoney if you watched KPRC on Saturdays. Don Mahoney had a local television show called Don Mahoney and Jeanna Clare and Their Kiddie Troupers. It was a talent show for kids, but the two hosts emulated Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Yes, Dido was Jeanna Clare!

Between the tragedy and the triumph, there is a lot here that the family can be proud of. They are not the Kennedys, which is a positive thing, and I see their part in SETX history as a source of great inspiration. And yes, I wanted to tell their story correctly. They deserved as much. Well, Nederland, you have other celebrities in the world of entertainment. Move over, Tex Ritter, and let the Rowley Trio and Jeanna Clare join you on the pedestal of entertainers from Nederland, Texas. I know you would Welkom that because it’s on your Boston Avenue sign!

As I write, I still haven’t heard anything back from the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey. It may take a few weeks, but hopefully there will be something of substance that we can use as proof of where the yellow fever victims are buried. I’m crossing my fingers but not holding my breath. The GPR machine can penetrate concrete but has trouble with the clay soil of Sabine Pass. The more sand in the soil the better it works. Those thinking of using something like this tool should keep this issue in mind.

Well, it’s Easter Sunday, and I’m working because there is no rest for the wicked. So, I’ll bid you farewell and let Susie Spindletop take over for some Weekly Letter “hoppy” memories.

Dear Della:

I am like Tom Heflin, Easter makes me sick. The Alabama senator has been egged so often during his speaking tours that I hear he dodges every time any one mentions Easter to him.

Easter makes me sick, however, for an entirely different reason. According to my way of thinking Easter is divided into three classes:

Too cold for Easter hats.

Too wet for Easter hats.

No Easter hats.

I have never known any other kind of Easter Sunday. Therefore Easter makes me sick.

                                         *                         *                         *

It is intriguing to delve into the beginnings of a festival such as Easter, isn’t it? So many whimsical customs come to light which account for many of our modern observances of the day.

Frinstance, Della, where did the custom of the Easter bonnet originate? An old superstition to the effect that a new bonnet worn on Easter Sunday would insure love and happiness in the ensuing year is back of it.

                                          *                          *                         *

And how come the Easter egg? Many hundreds of years ago the egg stood as a symbol of a new life, I read, and played an important part in the religious ceremonies of the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Gauls, and Romans. Later, the Christians took an egg as an emblem of the resurrection.

                                         *                             *                       *

About egg rolling?

Well as far as I can find out, egg rolling had its inception in England.

It seems in ancient days it took a most astonishing form. People themselves were accustomed to roll down Greenwich Hill, supposedly for the purpose of expressing the ecstasy which the return of spring incited. This custom was abandoned and in its place came the charming practice of egg rolling.

It is related that in olden times, poor children would wander through the streets singing. For reward people would give them colored Easter eggs which they would take up to the same hill. Arrived at the hill they would roll their eggs down and the child who succeeded in rolling his so that they reached the bottom intact would be proclaimed the winner.

                                    *                             *                           *

Della, from England, too, I notice, came the quaint superstition that the sun danced on Easter morning—a superstition which to this day is solemnly believed and celebrated in parts of Ireland. In order to see the “sun dance” the people would arise at dawn and go forth in masses. I’ll take their word for it. How about you?

So wrote Susie,

Easter Sunday, March 31, 1929

Don Mahoney and Jeanna Clare with Their Kiddie Troupers | Segment (1970)

https://texasarchive.org/2016_04235

The Rowley Trio:

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2017/04/11/the-rowley-trio/

Virginia Lee Rowley:

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2015/12/29/tales-from-hallowed-ground-virginia-lee-rowley/

Louisiana Hayride: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Hayride

Dido Rowley And The Troupers – When The Chips Are Down (Enterprise GS-1206) [1957 country bopper]

Thoughts and Ramblings: Historic Homes Tour 2023; Gilham Park Had a Rocket Slide; South Texas State Fair; Back in Sabine Pass

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The rocket slide is on the right of the water tower

The Galveston Historical Foundation has released the list of this year’s Historic Homes Tour, and I’m excited to see that a restoration that has been in progress for a few years has been added to the list. Is it fully restored? We will see on May 6! I have also seen the house where I’ll be volunteering, and it is small, but they have recently finished restoring/updating it. I was getting kind of nervous because, based on the Google Maps photo from 2019, I thought I would have to bring my hedge trimmer and paintbrush to get it up to shape. Thankfully, someone did an excellent job restoring it, and it looks terrific.

1901 James and Mary Prindiville House

I always volunteer with the Candy Lady. Anyone who has taken the tour for several years or is from Liberty County or Galveston knows who this precious being is on the first week of the tour, and this year is no different. The only thing different is that this house is not the cover house. It is a smaller house and we will do the best we can to get you in as soon as possible, but there will be lines and possibly booties involved, so stay tuned. I am the gatekeeper, and I’ll have a clipboard; but don’t worry, I never wave it around and say that I’m in charge. I leave that to the paid employees of a historical foundation. I know your struggle, and it is my struggle.

I love being a gatekeeper, although I don’t know who is the key master, and I also don’t know who to call if someone in the line asks if the house is haunted because that’s not discussed on the tour. I’m the person who lets you through the gate. Depending on the size of the house, there is a limit to how many people can enter at a time. Last year, I sent 700 people into the cover house in five hours. That was a record for me, but I doubt it will be reached this year, and that’s okay. We will enjoy this tour. I wanted to discuss other known gatekeepers, such as dream expert Fredrick Von Krueger, but he never returned my calls. His loss.

Breaking news!

Well, at least for me. Someone researching rocket slides (who knew this was a thing) emailed me about a photo from Gilham Park from the 1960s, and I’ve been ecstatic ever since. No, it wasn’t Rose Hill Park; it was Port Arthur, and I know the kids around Gilham Circle enjoyed the hell out of this rocket slide. It’s an aerial view of the water tower, and you can see the rocket slide nearby. I’m sure I speak for those who grew up here when I say that we love this photo because we all know this was ours; that park witnessed many dreams and wishful plans to make our adult years great. Thank you to those in charge of the parks who brought a lot of happiness to us kids. Whether it was Rose Hill or Gilham, we are grateful to you.

Sometimes, I get random texts about SETX history, and this week was no different. I got a text about the name of the South Texas State Fair. Luckily, a friend of mine, who is a research genius, did a report on the fair, so I replied with her work because I’m not a genius and she is thorough in her research. Everything is flowers and unicorns currently, but this is something few people know: Why “South” and not “Southeast”? Well, according to my friend’s report, they had random small fairs in SETX until 1906 when the Beaumont Horse Show and Race Meet gave the area its first taste of carnival flair.

In the next two years, they would have the Jefferson County Trucker’s Fair in 1907 and the Southeast Texas Fair and Pure Food Show in 1908. Between 1909 and 1914, the latter was called Southeast Texas Fair. It wasn’t until 1915 that they changed the name to South Texas State Fair. It is still unknown why they went with “South” instead of “Southeast.” It could be just some random name that they thought was appropriate at the time.

We were back in Sabine Pass yesterday. That makes three straight Saturdays I was out in Sabine Pass Cemetery. Will there be a fourth? I have no idea. Two weeks ago, the saturated grounds hampered our efforts; hopefully, we will have better luck when the data comes back later this week. Fingers crossed, we’ll have positive results.

Until next week, enjoy your fried fair delicacies and eat a corndog for me because I’m not getting onto that mess known as I-10. For those who do, good luck and Godspeed.

Thoughts and Ramblings The Evening Edition: Sabine Pass Cemetery, Beaumont Municipal Airport Fly-In, I-10, and TxDOT is the Devil

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Page Cemetery

Yesterday, I returned to Sabine Pass Cemetery to visit ol’ Kate and get a few more photos of the bluebonnets engulfing Page Cemetery and a couple of other plots. The temperature was 74 degrees, and the weather was perfect, unlike last week, when temperatures topped out at 54 degrees and a cold wind and drizzle affected the survey. What a difference a week makes in SETX. I was also there to photograph the Page Cemetery stone to send to the Historical Commission to verify that it is “Page” and not “Pace,” as stated in the records. I guess Google needs to update its maps as well. It’s “Cemetery Road,” not “Pace Cemetery Road.”

Driving to Sabine Pass

Speaking of roads, I don’t think I’ve mentioned anything about the new road that heads to Sabine Pass. They built it further inland and away from the ship channel. While it’s very nice, I must say it has a few dips, and I was airborne a few times—but I digress.

After my trip to Sabine Pass, I high-tailed it to Beaumont for the Beaumont Municipal Airport Fly-In. I thought it was an excellent event and will certainly be back there for other events. A couple of things caught my eye. The first was the Vultee “Valiant” BT-13. There are few of these trainers left because most were sold for parts for crop dusters. It’s a beautiful plane, and the pilot/owner was a wealth of knowledge about the history of his Valiant. I’m glad he decided to fly in, as he said that he wasn’t really planning to be there but changed his mind when he saw his plane in the Fly-In advertisement. “I guess that if they make you Miss March on the cover, you ought to show up.” 

Another gem at the Fly-In was the Nanchang CJ-6A Chinese trainer. I’ve never seen anything like it. Sorry to geek out with World War II aviation talk, but it looked like someone took a fuselage from a Nakajima B5N2 “Kate” and the wings of a Vought F4U Corsair and put them on a three-wheel cart. It’s gorgeous, and the pilot/owner loves every minute of flying it. Another odd thing I had never seen before was the three pegs sticking out from the top of the wings and in front of the plane near the nose. These were used to tell the pilot and trainee that the wheels were down. In the air, when the wheels were retracted, the pegs slide into the wings and fuselage to show the crew that they were up.

There were a few other vintage planes and two helicopters at the show, but most planes were a hodgepodge of civilian aircraft enticed by the cheap fuel. Some of these could also be called vintage, or they at least looked the part. But the highlight, at least for me, was when the T-6 Texan landed. She is a beauty. As you may have figured out, I love planes of this era, and the Texan is high on my list because it was the last trainer for pilots. After you graduated from flying this gem, your options as a newly certified killer of the skies were endless—that is, until you come across some guy with a clipboard helping his buddies get the good planes, while leaving you in a lottery with all the other new pilots. I base this statement on Ken Thomas’s reflection of his time flying a P-47 Thunderbolt in World War II. His story is told on the Warrior Next Door podcast. If you want to hear a great oral history story, check out the link at the bottom.

Well, that’s about it for this extra edition. I believe that everyone was happy yesterday. Kate with her new bow, me looking at the vintage planes, pilots getting cheap fuel, and Beaumont Municipal Airport enjoying the turnout from the event. I assume that the only ones ticked off were the people on I-10 westbound, as when I passed them, they were backed up in Beaumont; however, when I talked to the Valiant pilot, he said he had flown over I-10, and it was backed up to the Anahuac bridge. I-10 and TxDOT are the devil.

The Warrior Next Door Podcast: https://www.thewarriornextdoor.com/ken-thomas

Thoughts and Ramblings: The Yellow Jack, Kate, and the Two Sarahs; Willie Nelson; the GPR Survey; Olveta Culp; Jackie Cochran; and the Nachthexen

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Last week, I talked about the mass grave of yellow fever victims from 1862; I’ve also mentioned the Yellow Jack before in connection to Kate Dorman lore. So, let’s get into what happened and the history of that time.

In July of 1862, the yellow fever epidemic hit Sabine Pass as a result of a vessel that ran the blockade by the Union navy. At least one thousand people deserted the area, afraid of what was then known as the Yellow Jack. The fever killed a hundred people in Sabine and Beaumont combined, forty of whom were Confederate soldiers. At the time, a woman named Kate Dorman, who owned the Catfish Hotel, saw her tenants fleeing like everyone else in Sabine Pass, but she stood strong. Seeing the sick and dying from the wretched disease, she turned her hotel into a makeshift hospital. With no regard for their health, Kate, Sarah Vosburg, and Sarah Ann King Court cared for the unwell.

Sarah Ann King Court

At this time, Union forces were in the area but were not permitted to take the town because of the yellow fever outbreak. It wasn’t until October that the federals decided to land in Sabine and take out a fort and the calvary barracks. They had a howitzer but needed a horse and a cart to transport it, so they took Kate’s. Only God and the Union navy know what wrath Kate unleashed upon them. After seizing Kate’s horse and cart, the soldier in command went to Kate’s husband and said that they would hang him if he didn’t shut up his wife because hanging a woman in 1862 would not look good for the federals. Also, legend has it that the commander assured Kate they would return both the horse and the cart. And they did. Even in war, ticking off a four-foot-eleven Irish woman is not good.

I don’t know if this is accurate, but according to Willie Nelson, “you can’t hang a man for killin’ a woman who’s tryin’ to steal your horse.” I assume it would be reversed if the woman owned the horse and some guy and his foreign military invader buddies were the thieves. So, I guess Kate would have had to shoot him and go to trial, but it was wartime, and Texas law did not matter when the state was invaded by a foreign power, so I have no idea. Maybe I thought about this too much. I guess I should post this on one of Wanda’s pages so that an argument would ensue. I’m certain that a few of her besties would be in Facebook jail after commenting.

Well, the ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey was not good. The results were not good because of the weather conditions and the ground’s saturation. The GPR only worked up to a meter down, which meant nothing was found. I assume we need to be out there in August’s hot, dry, and drought-like conditions. This is fine with me, and I’m sure the others will agree because it was cold! Currently, with notice, I have no problem volunteering for this project. One thing I wonder about is if it is in the marsh. I don’t know if the GPR is something that could be used. I’m sure there’s something out there, but there are many more intelligent people than me in the mix, so I’ll let them handle it going forward.

Jackie Cochran

Yes, it is Women’s History Month, and I want to bring up Olveta Culp, but I’m pro-Florence Stratton, so I’ll do it like this. William P. Hobby married Willie Cooper in New Orleans in 1915. Florence was best friends with Hobby and Willie, so much so that she lived in the Texas governor’s mansion. There is lore that when Willie died, Florence may have thought that W. P. would marry her, but he married Olveta instead in 1931. Hobby was fifty-three at the time, and Florence was forty-nine, but Olveta was twenty-six. Not knowing anything else other than that, I will leave you with this quote from Jackie Cochran, the head of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), on Olveta, “I will not serve under a woman who doesn’t know her ass from a propeller.”

Jackie with her WASP trainees

Jackie Cochran was a pilot and didn’t have time for political BS like Olveta. She also knew that her gals in WASP could ferry planes from the factories to their destination for the war effort, while their male counterparts were in combat roles. She was the first woman to fly a bomber across the Atlantic and volunteered for a time in England. So, she saw how female pilots were a great resource for the war effort. They were appreciated, unlike the WASP women here in the United States, or the Nachthexen who were flying real sorties against the Germans. I want to get into that in a bit.

It’s amazing how much crap oozes to the surface when people do things that tick off others. What did they do? They did a man’s job and probably did it better. Many men took offense for some damn reason that women were wearing the uniform and getting the job done. The crap that these women had to go through, including the sabotaging of their planes! Really! Some of the pilots died because of this. These jacklegs, who never saw combat, were ticked off because a woman could fly a plane. That is the lowest form of life, and I compare this to the Russians, or should I say the Soviets?

Nachthexen Night Witches

I mentioned the Nachthexen (Ночные ведьмы) earlier. These ladies did see combat and were equally ready to do their part. So much so, in fact, that they flew crop dusters at night on German targets. They had to turn their engines off and glide toward the target as soon as they reached their mark. They dealt with frostbite and carried out multiple bombing runs each night. Their clothes didn’t fit because they were given male uniforms, and they were not seen as proper soldiers. These were the women of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, later known as the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, of the Soviet air force.

This is not really SETX history, but the Nachthexen (Night Witches) and Jackie Cochran hit a nerve with me, as much as old Kate did. Kate would have approved of Jackie Cochran, and if she had had twenty-five Night Witches, she would have dealt with the federals stealing her horse.

Until next week.

W.T. Block Yellow Fever:

http://www.wtblock.com/yellow_fever.htm

Redheaded Stranger:

Jackie Cochran:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Cochran

Oveta Culp Hobby:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oveta_Culp_Hobby

WASPs:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_Airforce_Service_Pilots

Night Witches:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Witches

Thoughts and Ramblings: U.S.S. Texas, Magnolia Sealy, Catherina Jeanette Stengele, and Florence Stratton

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I thought I would start by throwing some shade on certain Galveston family elites while singing the praises of Magnolia Sealy and her part in helping Galvestonians after the great storm of 1900. However, before I get to that, it seems that the Texas Battleship Foundation has decided to take two of the three cities off the list without committing to the third. Baytown and Beaumont now have no chance of hosting the ship. I sort of understand why they made this decision, but I don’t know why the Foundation hasn’t figured out where she is going. Is there an actual plan? I assume there is, but when you throw out legal/political wording in your statement, to me, that means you have no clue what you’re doing.

Let’s get into the facts of this situation, and if someone at the foundation, or dare I say, someone in Austin, calls me out on this, I would love an accurate reply to what the hell is going on. So let’s go.

The Texas Legislature approved $35 million to fix the ship. In my opinion, it wasn’t out of the goodness of their hearts because politicians have no hearts or souls. This was a “Here is $35 million, so go away” moment. Some ask why the U.S.S. Texas wouldn’t go back to San Jacinto. I’ll tell you why: It’s because Texas Parks and Wildlife, which funded the ship, no longer cares where it’s moored, as long as the state of Texas doesn’t have to pay for it. So where are we now?

The U.S.S. Texas will find a new home, but it may not be Galveston. Will Corpus Christi get involved because they seem to know how to care for a ship? I have not heard anything about the U.S.S. Lexington being in disrepair. I also believe that the Texas Battleship Foundation has run out of options. Mooring it in saltwater will probably be their only option. Additionally, in a video made before the U.S.S. Texas was dry docked, someone stated that they receive 80,000–90,000 paid visitors per year at their old mooring in LaPorte, but to be self-sufficient, they would need about 250,000 paid visitors a year. That is a lot of required traffic, to say the least.

Wherever they move her, I’m still ready to help out, just as long as they have competent leadership and a plan. I’ve certainly burned a few bridges with organizations, both local and afar, two of which I’ve heard good things about, but we will see.

Speaking of the Galveston Historical Foundation, I toured the Sealy Mansion in 2013 and learned much about Magnolia Sealy. Although there is much history to the Sealy’s, I want to add that during the Great Storm of 1900, Magnolia opened her doors to 200 people. She gave them food and shelter when others whose houses were still standing did not. And she let them stay there for a couple of months, while other well-to-do individuals turned their backs on Galvestonians. I’m not going to bring up Mattress Mack and a certain megachurch in Houston during Hurricane Harvey, but I’m pro-Magnolia and Mack. I have no opinion on Galveston and mega-church elites.

There are many women in SETX worthy of praise, and I would like to add a few more here. Some are featured on our annual Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour, such as Catherina Jeanette Stengele. I’ve talked about her many times and told of her journey from Holland to Baltimore, Maryland, and then to Beaumont in the 1890s. She was a milliner and also financed at eight percent; this is where she made her money. She was successful in life and made a good living in the 1890s without a husband, and since she was a female and an immigrant, she could not vote during her time. Yet she prospered.

Of course, I must bring up Florence Stratton, whom I spent ten years researching. I am glad to donate what I uncovered to whomever is interested. Florence was an influential and beloved character in Beaumont’s history who contributed much to this city. She documented the “who’s who” of SETX in her weekly letter to the public, which ran from 1926 to 1938, and she started both the Milk and Ice Fund and the Empty Stocking Fund to aid low-income families. She was a charitable person behind the scenes as well, helping out regular people in need. I’m very happy about the increased interest in her life because she deserves it.

Well, this week is done, and I’m tired, so hopefully, we won’t have any more boat talk until they make a clear decision. Until next week. Ahoy!

Thoughts and Ramblings: USS Texas

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Last week was an experience, to say the least. I left my house at five thirty in the morning, and I thought that would give me enough time to make it to the shipyard in Galveston by around seven thirty, but boy, was I wrong. Everything was on time until I was about five minutes away from the ferry, then Wanda happened. And it happened at five miles below the speed limit. I didn’t pass on her because I’ve had great luck with the ferry lately, but this will never happen again. We finally boarded the ferry at around 7:38 a.m., but my tour was at eight, so I was still simmering from the delay—at least we were moving. While on the ferry, I noticed that my weekly Sunday morning post hadn’t appeared on Facebook. Everything was business as usual on WordPress, but Facebook does its own thing. After arriving home, I discovered that the post was scheduled for seven in the evening instead of in the morning. I had scheduled it the night before, and I always have issues with Facebook, so this is the last time I’ll schedule a post on Facebook when I’m sober, but I digress.

I made it to the shipyard by around 8:05 a.m., although it was off to the races on Broadway Avenue and Pelican Island Causeway to make it there. To be honest, that black Ford F-150 in front of me was going at least 70 mph. Not sure what he was late for, but it was most likely dropping someone off at the cruise ship.

The tour was excellent, and the docent nicely explained the historical background of the last dreadnought. Also, it’s always a good thing when you have someone who knows the work being done and points out the process of how it’s actually done. These tours are held every Sunday from eight in the morning to three in the afternoon. You must sign up for them through the Texas Batteship Foundation’s website, but please don’t do what I did and think that there is only one tour at eight in the morning, because if you do, you may find that Wanda is lurking out there to make you late.

Okay, now let us delve into the history of Old Hoodoo, and my propaganda about why it should come to Beaumont.

The USS Texas is a New York-class battleship that was approved by Congress in 1910, laid down in 1911, launched in 1912, and commissioned in 1914. It was the first ship to have ten 14-inch guns. While it was the most potent weapon in the world at the time, as they say, today’s powerful weapon is tomorrow’s outdated pea shooter. The USS Texas served in World War I and World War II, during which it escorted war convoys across the Atlantic. It shelled the enemy in Normandy on D-day and provided naval gunfire support during the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Serving in two world wars, the ship suffered only one casualty in the line of duty—Christen Christensen, the helmsman on duty on June 25, 1944, in Cherbourg, France. The Texas was firing on German positions in the port when an enemy 24-cm shell skidded over the top of the conning tower and exploded. Eleven seamen were injured in the blast, but Christensen succumbed to his wounds.

The USS Texas was decommissioned in 1948 and was the first permanent battleship memorial museum in the United States. The museum operated under the direction of the Battleship Texas Commission, which the Texas Legislature established to care for the ship’s safe upkeep. In 1983, the ship was turned over to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department due to mismanagement and neglect by the leadership of the Battleship Texas Commission. The Texas was moved to a dry dock for repairs in 1988.

This brings us to the past few years. Over time, the Texas has taken in water. This has been bad—about 1,500 gallons per minute bad. However, two years ago, the foundation that now runs the Texas agreed to put foam in the hull to reduce the leakage. The water intake went from 1,500 to 50 gallons per minute. This is good news for a stationary ship, but if you’ve seen the video of the vessel being moved, you’ll know that there were a lot of nervous people on that day. The Texas could have sunk. Fortunately, the ship made it to dry dock, where it is today.

As far as I know, they are only considering three places to relocate the USS Texas: Beaumont, Baytown, and Galveston. All three have good and bad points. Ultimately, though, the most important thing is what is best for the ship. First and foremost, it will be out of dry dock no later than June 1, 2023. After that, we will not know where the Battleship Texas Foundation plans to dock the vessel until the chosen city can begin construction on its part of the agreement. I am certain that they have a plan, but I find it odd that they hadn’t already made a decision.

So, what are the pros and cons of each proposed site? Certainly, Galveston is the most popular tourist attraction, but it is hard to get to. If the ship was moored along Interstate 10, it would be much easier to reach. That is a plus for Baytown and Beaumont. Another problem is keeping the vessel in salt water. Recently, I was told that this would not be a problem if the maintenance was kept up, but if history repeats itself, I am concerned. Based on my little knowledge of Galveston politics, I do know that they would want a piece of the pie, so to speak. I assume that the money raised by the Battleship Texas Foundation is for the upkeep and maintenance of the ship, and it should stay that way. I do not know if Baytown or Beaumont will be seeking a cut of the profits other than what the tourists would bring in. Finally, I am biased and will state that, in Beaumont, the water, although not pure, is not salty. There is a lot of potential to make this a great place to visit.

In the end, it probably will come down to politics. Still, I hope the powers that be will consider making sure that a Texas treasure is preserved. The ship is the last of its kind, and it needs to be protected.

Until next week

The Texas Battleship Foundation

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Thoughts and Ramblings: Pipkin School, Martha Mack Cemetery, Reverend Pipkin, Martha Mack, and John Q. Public

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Last year, on the second Annual Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour, we added the history of Pipkin School and what we know of Martha Mack Cemetery, which is located on the south end of Magnolia, near the mausoleum. From now on, both will be permanent fixtures of our annual tour because much of their history needs to be told. It’s part of the cemetery. Magnolia’s new addition is on the grounds where the brick building of the Pipkin School once stood.

Here is its history.

For much of the twentieth century, many African American Beaumonters began their education at Pipkin Elementary School on Pine Street. In 1911, when Millard Elementary School for Whites received a new brick structure, its old two-story wooden building was moved to the Pipkin School location on Pine Street. This building was replaced with a brick structure in the 1920s. In 1974, the City of Beaumont acquired the school and the land, eventually demolishing the building in 1981. The property was sold to Magnolia Cemetery in 1999.

Pipkin School was named after Woodson Pipkin, who, along with Charles Pole Charlton, founded the first locally operated Black school in Beaumont. Pipkin was a formerly enslaved person who had received an education and realized the importance of literacy for emancipated African Americans. A Methodist minister, he co-founded an African Methodist Episcopal church, which also served as an education center. Pipkin also made his living as a teamster, clearing roads and hauling goods with his horse and mule teams. He lived in a two-story home on Main Street, near where the Beaumont Police Station is today. Woodson Pipkin died in 1918 and was buried in Martha Mack Cemetery.

An ongoing mystery is whether Reverend Pipkin was moved to Evergreen Cemetery, along with the rest of the residents of Martha Mack. The history is unclear, and further research is needed. The original site of the Martha Mack Cemetery either is (if the graves are still there) or was the first Black cemetery in Beaumont. Again, we can’t go forward until we find out if all the graves were moved. There was also another family cemetery north of Martha Mack. It was called the Happ graveyard. Happ is the name of the family that used to own the property in the past. The Happ site was a cemetery, not a graveyard, because graveyards are only on church grounds. (I don’t make the rules.) There was a church on the corner of Pine and Bayou called Maple Grove Baptist Church, but this was way after the Happs owned this land.

The history of Martha Mack the person is also a work in progress. I will say that there are many researchers on her trail. I will explain this as it kind of looks complicated, but if you’re a spiritualist, you may think that there is guidance in a group of people unknowingly researching the same subject.

In the beginning, I heard there was a Black cemetery adjacent to Magnolia named Martha Mack Cemetery. I wanted to learn more about it and who Martha was, but little was known about her except that she worked for the McFaddins as a laundress. Then, documents and census records were found, but these added more questions rather than providing answers. Meanwhile, unknown to me and a few others who had also begun looking into her history, a couple of descendants were also researching Martha. It all came to a climax a few weeks before the cemetery tour when many more court records were found and we started seeing the paper trail of the land as well as Martha’s history. The information we now have is in the hands of her descendants. Following their research, the story of her life will be told through their words. There is much more to uncover, but at least now everyone will benefit because we know each other and can share our findings.

Based on what I know, Martha experienced many hardships during her life, but she was a fighter and took no crap. A few Beaumonters gave her the shaft legally because—I guess—she was romantically involved with a widower, the Englishman H. E. Simpson, and had two daughters, Roxie and Barsheba. We will definitely get into this story when all the facts are in because it needs to be told. It is uncertain who will tell it, but I’m sure Martha will make it clear because sometimes this is how things work.

I once wrote a blog post on the notable women of SETX. Basically, I wrote it because the Houston Chronicle’sarticle on the same topic had too many Playboy centerfolds and musicians. Many local women did great things, and some of those things benefited the area as a whole. There are truly many stories to tell, and I would be happy to tell them in person, but I’ll leave the link at the bottom of this blog. I won’t leave the link to the original Houston Chronicle article because they changed thelist! At the time, my friend Ginny said that I was mad because they didn’t mention Florence Stratton, and she was right. Ginny liked my list and is an advocate of giving women their due. If I ever do another post on this topic, Martha will get the top spot along with her daughters.

I think I need to do an article on what actually went on at this time because I left out John Q. Public. To keep it simple, a person wrote a paper on the Patillo family. He left it at a couple of places, including the Theodore R. Johns Sr. Library. Someone remembered this paper, and this is how a lot of our historical research flourished. The article was excellent, yet the author didn’t add their name. If you read the article, it is by John Q. Public. This is odd, but I will respect the author’s decision. The next odd thing in this story was a researcher who was out and about taking photos of the Patillo house on Avenue F. when someone approached him asking why he was taking pictures. He explained that he was documenting the house with photos for the Jefferson County Historical Commission and then began giving details of the Patillos. It turns out this person was John Q. Public.

There are many twists and turns when you do research, and I’m still trying to figure this one out.

Until next week

Pipkin School / Reverend Woodson Pipkin: 

https://www.sfasu.edu/heritagecenter/9619.asp

Notable Women of SETX:

Notable Women of SETX History

Thoughts and Ramblings: Florence Stratton, New Headers, Derrick Riggs, the Big O, the Grey Ghost, and Fold3

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Last week was the eighty-fifth anniversary of Florence Stratton’s death, and I gave a brief account of her life on Saturday. Unfortunately, I could never tell an accurate story like those around her would have been able to. So, on Sunday’s Thoughts and Ramblings, I published a tribute to the Beaumont Journal/ Beaumont Enterprise journalist. I added no content because I wanted to use actual sources who knew her and worked with her. One thing that was mentioned in a few accounts was that her coworkers used the 30 as a tribute to their fallen comrade. As far as I can tell, the 30 was used to indicate the end of the story or say goodbye. However, as a researcher, I could never use the 30 because in 2012 I began my journey to learn more about Florence and keep her story alive.

After eleven years of research, I am still learning. Yes, Florence’s life ended in January of 1938, but her legacy should be treasured and live on as an inspiration to those who may want to follow in her footsteps. Whether it’s journalism, charity, or just caring about people and trying to make a difference, we need this. Florence cared about everyone and did her best to make things right.

Here at RediscoveringSETX, we have some new headers, and I for one am ecstatic about it. To me, it’s almost like looking at one of those Iron Maiden album covers minus the little devils with pitchforks. You can find all kinds of SETX things in them. Sorry if you don’t know who Derrick Riggs and Iron Maiden are. Actually, I’m sure Steve Harris, the founder of Iron Maiden, probably forgot who Derrick was because he went with someone else, but the fans didn’t forget—I digress. Up the Irons, Eddie! And no, I’m not a West Ham fan. Queen’s Park Rangers all the way!

Speaking of Iron Maiden, a few months ago, I was digging through my box of old Kodak moments for some pictures of airshows from the 1990s and found a few photos from their 1983 visit to Beaumont, with the Scorpions. I had no idea who the Scorpions were, but at the time, they played their hit “Blackout” on the radio every hour. Unlike most people, I hear lyrics differently, and all I heard Klaus Meine singing about was that he had a really big nose, or that’s how I understood the lyrics. I’ve seen the photos, and I agree. I also witnessed him swinging the mic and tossing it into the air, nearly hitting the rafters of the Beaumont Civic Center, or was it the Montagne Center? I’m going to have to ask Mikey Mayhem, a fellow connoisseur of local history who was also there. If you subscribe to any of Facebook’s local history pages, you may know him. I’m going to say that he’s into all sorts of shenanigans. Mikey is researching some forgotten family histories that should probably be turned into a movie. Stay tuned!

In the same box, I found some photos of an aircraft carrier being towed through the intercoastal canal in 2006. To give a bit of background, back then I was working on Lakeshore Drive and had no idea that there was a small carrier in the mothball fleet at McFaddin Bend in the Neches River. The USS Oriskany, or the “Big O” as some called it, was put there to be scrapped. The ship was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. It was decommissioned in 1976, sold for scrap in 1995, and then repossessed in 1997. Its fate was finally sealed when, in 2006, the 880-foot carrier was sunk off the Florida coast to create an artificial reef. To my knowledge, it was the largest vessel ever sunk to make a reef, but if you had seen it, you might have wondered how anyone could land a plane on it. Knowing nothing of what I know now, I looked up and saw an aircraft carrier being towed down the intercoastal canal! Yes, this was a wow moment.

The USS Oriskany had a rich history, and its burial at sea was a fitting tribute. I wish they’d done something similar to the Grey Ghost. The USS Enterprise was scrapped with no regard for its history. It’s disgusting that a ship with so much importance was thrown away. A watery grave would have been better, if not a museum! I won’t get into a Yukari Akiyama 秋山 優花里-type rant about ships instead of tanks, but I know that she would back me up on this. I would have loved to see the Grey Ghost docked anywhere instead of becoming a pile of garbage. It was the only carrier that lasted the war, and after the Battle of Midway, it was even, at one time, the only carrier in the Pacific. Admiral Nimitz knew this; fortunately, the Imperial Japanese Navy didn’t. Yes, the Battle of Midway was a great victory, but you can lose your advantage when you’re in the Pacific theater and your commander in chief is not thinking about you and is too busy sending everything to the European theater. Yes, that was a thing.

My Yukari rant is finished for now. Changing the subject a bit, we all know that the USS Texas should be in Beaumont, so if you’re in the know, let’s bring her here. She’s self-sufficient.

A friend of mine has been looking into his father’s history. I’ve known this for a few years. Recently, he asked me if Fold3, a military history website owned by Ancestry.com, would be worth the money. I told him that it was worth it for me because I do significant research on multiple people but that if he just wanted to look at his family history, I could do it for him. Fold3 is a great site for researchers interested in finding someone’s military background. It’s also a great place to find war diaries from WWII, which I use. In 2012, a lot of information was released by the government from this time, which is why I found it on Fold3.

Well, that’s about it for now. Until next week, we don’t #uptheirons or support #WestHam. #WeRQPR #ForeverRs

Scorpions Blackout:

Derrick Riggs: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Riggs

U.S.S. Oriskany:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Oriskany_(CV-34)

U.S.S. Enterprise: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(CV-6)

Fold3: 

https://www.fold3.com/

U.S.S. Texas: 

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“Thoughts and Ramblings: Florence, Willie, and William; Queen of the Elks; Elks Love Nest; JPOTS; World War I Monument.”

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Last week, I mentioned that Florence and Willie Cooper were best friends. Their story goes possibly back to childhood. Florence’s father, Asa E. Stratton, served as a Texas legislator from January 1883 to May 1884. I have no idea why it wasn’t a full term because I haven’t researched this, but it’s another subject that I’d like to pursue. Willie’s father, Sam Bronson Cooper, also served as a Texas legislator at the time (1880–1884). Let’s add William Hobby from Moscow, Texas, into the mix, and we have a threesome of influential SETX individuals from both local and Texas history.

Willie Cooper

It is important to note that all three had ties to Beaumont in the 1900s; slowly, all three would end up here. Florence would take a teaching job in 1903; William Hobby would acquire the Beaumont Enterprise in 1907, and Willie would be elected Queen of the Elks in November 1901, beating Miss Eddie Ogden by 2,216 to 643 votes. However, there may have been shenanigans in the vote count, or at least that’s how the Beaumont Enterprise article tells the story. I don’t really know when the Cooper family first came to Beaumont, but they were a positive force for the city.

Speaking of a positive force and the Elks, I discovered an exciting raffle in the pages of the Beaumont Enterprise of 1926. It was a fantastic giveaway of a newly built home with all the amenities. It even came with a brand-new Chevrolet Coach worth $645. All this could be yours for a one-dollar raffle ticket, and oh, by the way, you needed to be newlyweds because the property was promoted as the “Elks Love Nest.” I remind you of this because it was 1926, and there was no shacking up in the Oaks Addition.

The response was amazing, and many purchased tickets. The Elks even kept the raffle going after the deadline to ensure that some folks who were sailors would be here for the draw. It’s kind of hilarious that they kept putting off the draw because they kept selling more tickets. I don’t know where the money went eventually, but the Elks were masters of promotion. The Elks are still a thing, and if you know one, I wonder if they keep track of their history. P. F. Armstrong ended up winning the love nest in December of 1926, and the house is still there. However, I don’t know the whereabouts of the Chevrolet Coach.

photo credit: Portal of Texas

As I drove to HEB yesterday in an impending rain storm, I could only wish that Howard’s Food Store in Port Arthur was still open. Not because of Just Part of the Store (JPOTS) and their great prepared food, but because Howard Hatfield had a covered parking lot that was a treasure. I have no idea what you Beaumonteers had (probably Piggly Wiggly), but we all went to Howard’s back in the day. And, of course, we would also grab a greasy burger at Judice’s on Seventh Street. I will say that Monceaux’s was the best; Judice’s came in second because I don’t remember them having greasy onion rings. Otherwise, it would have been a tie! Yes, my blood pressure is high, but I do take statins!

I’ve talked before about the World War I monument in Triangle Park, in front of the old Beaumont Enterprise building. There is a movement that wants to relocate it to Magnolia Cemetery. Currently, they are talking to the city authorities and finding the right people to speak to because let’s face it, this monument was forgotten long ago. At the last Magnolia Cemetery tour, we asked those who came out if they knew of the monument, and probably 95 percent didn’t. So, I ask you now: Have you ever heard of it? This is why it needs to be moved somewhere other than an easement on Main Street right across the giant fire hydrant where it stands today. I do not hate Disney’s giant fire hydrant; I want this monument to be in a better place.

Until next week, Tschüss!