Category Archives: Magnolia Sealy

Thoughts and ramblings: U.S.S. Texas, Sam Bronson Cooper, Mansard House, International Women’s Day

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Photo Credit: Stephen Rivers Battleship Texas Foundation Group Facebook Page

On Tuesday, the USS. Texas was moved from her 18-month refit on a Gulf Copper dry dock in Galveston to a water dock at the same shipyard for interior and deck repairs. One of the most important restorations will be restoring the ship’s pine deck to its original historical specifications. They will also be renovating the interior, such as the restrooms, which would be a plus if you’re going to be a museum ship. I added a few videos of the move on Tuesday, which I was unable to attend because I have a job most of the time, but that morning, I was at the Relaxation Station at Central Mall—because when carpal tunnel and shoulder pain become allies, you need more than Tylenol.

One recurring fodder that the Battleship Texas Foundation keeps regurgitating is that, when the ship is finished, they’ll tell you where it is going to dock. I can tell you exactly where it will be moored. And here’s an overview photo of where it will be placed in all its glory! It will be next to the Elissa at Pier 21. I don’t know why they are doing this. It’s annoying, and it looks like they’re trying to hide something. As far as I know, they plan to reopen to the public in late summer 2025.  I’m going to make the call that it will be spring 2026 before a public opening is allowed. That’s okay with me. Just do things right, and come on, Texas!

Samuel Bronson Cooper was a prominent figure in the political landscape of both Texas and Washington during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Born on May 30, 1850, in Caldwell County, Kentucky, Cooper moved with his family to Woodville, Tyler County, Texas, that same year. By his early 20s, he was establishing himself as a respected lawyer. In 1871, at age 21, he was admitted to the bar, and in 1872, he began private practice. He served as prosecutor for Tyler County from 1876 to 1880, and in 1881, he was elected to the Texas Senate, where he served for four years.

As an aside, the story that interests me the most at this point is that Asa Stratton was also serving in the Texas Senate at the time. If that name rings a bell, as it should, Asa was the father of journalist Florence Stratton. I believe this was the crossroads where Florence and Samuel’s daughter Willie would eventually meet and become friends in their youth. Throw in W. P. Hobby’s living and growing up in Woodville, and we have a history in the making that I’ve spent many hours (years) researching!

In 1885, Cooper was appointed as the collector of internal revenue for the First District of Texas in Galveston by President Grover Cleveland, where he served for three years. He ran for Texas state district judge in 1888 but was unsuccessful. His political prowess wasn’t yet done. Samuel would go on to seek a higher calling.

 In 1893, Samuel B. Cooper was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas’s 2nd Congressional District as a Democrat. During his tenure in Congress, Cooper championed several issues important to Texas, including agriculture, land-use policies, and transportation infrastructure. He played a significant role in securing federal funding for projects such as railroad expansion and the improvement of navigable waterways, which were vital to the state’s economic development. His tenure would end in 1905, when he lost the election to Moses L. Broocks, but his absence was brief. He would be back in the US House of Representatives in 1907 and serve until 1909.  I will mention here that during this time, Sam Bronson Cooper is the reason Beaumont has a deep water port.

Cooper was nominated by President William Howard Taft for a seat on the Board of General Appraisers in May 1910. He was confirmed by the US Senate on May 24, 1910. His service was terminated by his death on August 21, 1918.

Well, those Cordray kids have done a thing and become hoteliers. If you have access to the Discovery App, then you may have seen their restoration of the Mansard House. I only mention this because the Mansard House will be open to the public for tours on March 16 and 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. The cost of the tour is $25 per person. All proceeds will be donated to Restoring Galveston Together—a nonprofit that funds home repairs for local families in need! I’ll be there—how out you!

Speaking of Galveston and families in need, I can’t forget my tour of the Sealy Mansion in 2013. Magnolia Sealy was the wife of George Sealy, an entrepreneur, and she opened up the Sealy mansion during the Great Storm of 1900. Magnolia opened her doors to 200 people, giving them food and shelter when those whose homes were still standing did not. And she let them stay for a few months, while other well-to-do individuals turned their backs on Galvestonians. I put her high on my list of SETX women who made a difference for good. You don’t hear this story very often, but it’s true and it happened.

Magnolia Willis Sealy is pictured. In 1875 Magnolia Willis Sealy married George Sealy. George and his brother John  Sealy were wealthy Galveston businessmen with extensive interests in cotton, banking, and  railroads. It is generally believed that the Magnolia Petroleum Company, owned by John’s son  John Hutchings Sealy, was named for his aunt Magnolia Willis Sealy. That company would later  merge into the Mobil Oil Corporation, and today it is Exxon-Mobil.

Magnolia’s story could have fit into my Friday blog for International Women’s Day, but truth be told, I wanted to go more international, and the stories I chose are actually my favorites. The Nachthexen were laughed at and dismissed by their male counterparts, yet they fought and died, achieving victory on two fronts—victory over the Wehrmacht and their Soviet male comrades.

The Trung sisters fought against Chinese tyranny. Trained by their father in military tactics, they taught peasants to fight with weapons and for their freedom. This is a unique story in the world of combat, witnessing two women instructing others to defend their land.

Boudica had no problem defending her land, especially after the Romans killed her husband. Again, the Romans dismissed her army as minimal, but they paid the ultimate price in the beginning. (Never diss this miss!)

I will also throw out the names of Jane Long (Mother of Texas) and Kate Dorman because there are no others that can size up to these Texans.

Until next week!

U.S.S. Texas—Enjoy!

Samuel Bronson Cooper:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_B._Cooper

Mansard House:

https://www.themansardhouse.com/

Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long:

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

International Women’s Day:

It’s International Women’s Day; Nachthexen; Boudica; The Trung Sisters; Jane Long; Catherine Magill Dorman

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!