Category Archives: People

Thoughts and Ramblings: 100 Things to Do in Beaumont? Is the USS Texas Homeless? A Drive down Memory Lane

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Someone wrote a book called 100 Things to Do in Beaumont Before You Die. My first thought was, “That’s nice,” but I can get this kind of information at most museums and attractions in our area. The Beaumont Conventions & Visitors Bureau has a website that offers this information for free. So, why the book? Who is the audience? And who wrote it?

I learned a lot about people’s thoughts about Beaumont from my covert operations regarding the USS Texas. At the time, they were looking at which city should host it. Everyone dismissed Beaumont as a drive-through city and wasn’t cordial about it. I have the audio! I believe 秋山 優花里 Akiyama Yukari would have been proud of me and my shenanigans, but I digress! We know many visitors frequent both the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur and Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum in Beaumont. Some of them are international. Not the numbers that the USS Texas needs to stay afloat, but the numbers are good (but not that good to vacation here unless you fish).

The book’s author is Lauren Monitz, a freelance journalist who has moved to Beaumont. She’s written other books like this one and has a travel blog called The Down Lo. Let’s just say that her travels are global, as is her following. Her Instagram rocks about 101,000 followers (and I didn’t even see one cat video). It’s obvious that she wrote the book because she saw a lot of good things in this area and wanted to spread the word. Kudos to her for this. I’ll leave a link to her blog below.

Regarding the USS Texas, there is no certainty that the foundation will moor it to Pier 21 in Galveston next to the Elissa. Is Tilman Fertitta getting cold feet? Probably not. The problem may be similar to that of Beaumont hosting it. There are restrictions in the waterways that may have to get Congress involved, and we already have too much incompetence in politics. I know the ship needs 250,000 paid visitors a year to break even, so the foundation wanted it in Galveston. If not Galveston, then where? Corpus Christi is not in the mix, and that is interesting because they know how to take care of museum ships. I’m sure it will end up somewhere on Galveston Island, but I wonder about the repairs needed in 30 years due to the salt water. The state of Texas has given the foundation 35 million dollars to go away. Hopefully, there will be some sort of GoFundMe page in 2053 to crowdfund the repairs.

Last Sunday, I took a drive down memory lane. I wanted to check Eddingston Court on Procter Street in Port Arthur. The site is privately owned now and fenced in, so I knew it would only be a drive-by. The structures haven’t changed much since the sale, but at least the grass is mowed, and Dionicio’s conch shell wall is intact behind a chain-link fence. This was a sight to see when it was built in 1929 by tugboat captain and businessman Ambrose Eddingston. One can only hope something will come of this property so that it can shine again.

I also noticed new construction next door at the old Pond Estate, at least along the road, but the land goes back to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The Ponds owned Greenlawn Cemetery in Groves before selling it to the corporate entity known as Dignity Memorial, which is not question friendly unless you have your checkbook out. This is really sad because most of my family is buried there. Last year, as part of the Texas Historical Commission’s cemetery inventory project, I tried to get in touch with someone of substance at this Dignified Dog and Pony show. I needed to know if Johnson Cemetery is separate from Greenlawn. I know it used to be separate, but the goal of the inventory project was to answer questions about how many cemeteries were in a county. I still haven’t heard back from them. I will also add that the same company owns Forest Lawn in Beaumont. I asked them a similar question, and I did get an answer. The person on the other end of the phone wasn’t happy to talk to me, but at least I got an answer. I’ll just leave it there.

The old interurban office on Austin Avenue and the Adams Building were my next drive-bys down memory lane. I really hope they do this building proud! Kudos to Motiva!

Whenever I drive through Port Arthur, I am drawn to Ninth Avenue and the good memories of the area, but before reaching the memories, we stop at Saigon Market for sweet bread. Yes, I do miss Howard’s Grocery and JPOTS (Just Part of the Store), but I miss Alston’s Nursery even more. If you grew up in Port Arthur, and depending on how old you are, you will know this nursery by different names. Back in the day, it was Eagleson Nursery, then Norman Alston purchased it and spent many years selling the regular stuff, but you could always go in and purchase just one vegetable plant instead of a pack of six. Corporate Walmart failed in this case.

I had a good relationship with Norman. He was full of knowledge of the industry and had common sense. At the time, my neighbor Roy was also a frequent shopper at the nursery, and there was a certain rivalry between them concerning who could grow the biggest cabbage. Of course, Roy, who was born in Leesville, Louisiana, was to me the ultimate farmer. He educated me on many things, from growing red potatoes to changing all the gas lines in the house. Usually, they would compare produce, and the winner would usually be Norman. I did a write-up on Roy; I’ll leave the link at the bottom of this blog.

Of course, as I was surrounded by nurses during my life, I have to mention St. Mary’s Hospital. It’s now an empty lot, but the flagpole and a plaque memorializing its existence are still there. It’s sad for those who worked there and remember the place; the original building was mutilated by redevelopment and expansion. Even if they had wanted to, they could never have saved the original structure. I have a few photos of the front of the original building with the name on it.

Across the street from St. Mary’s Hospital, there was an apartment complex that was moved to the beach as rentals. The ’70s maybe? I have no idea if they are still standing. St. James Catholic Church and School was south of the hospital. I remember the five-story addition of the hospital being built in the ’70s. I also remember the cement circle where a few nuns would exercise by taking walks along it. Someone told me there was a building in the middle, but I didn’t follow up on this. And even after all this talk, penguins were not referenced.

I’ve previously mentioned on the blog why Ninth Avenue gets all curvy near the Bob Hope School, which was once the Hughen School. The interurban depot stood in the middle of two dead-end roads. After 1932, I guess people figured out that this spot would make a good shortcut over the tracks, or it’s possible that the shortcut began during the war in the ’40s because almost no one had a car in this area in the ’30s. I know that the interurban tracks were removed and used for the war effort.

I didn’t mention Calvery Cemetery, where I also have family, nor my frequent visits to TG&Y across the street from the cemetery. I also didn’t mention Ace Hobby Shop on Twenty-Fifth Street, where I usually purchased World War II carrier models, and Gerald Schnieder’s store. Good times.

Occasionally, I like to drive through the old neighborhood on Nineteenth and Twentieth Streets, but things have changed. Some of my old neighbors and friends have gone, including the Tremonts, Myers, Duhons, Domacs, Fontenots, Romeros, Belangers, Les, Trans, Garcias, Broussards, and Boones. All good people. Some have moved on; others have moved up. I’ll end it here, but I do want to say that five-year-old me ate the perfect crabcake thanks to Mrs. Domac.

100 Thungs to do in Beaumont, TX Before You Die:  https://www.reedypress.com/shop/100-things-to-do-in-beaumont-texas-before-you-die/

Lauren Monitz:  https://www.instagram.com/lmonitz/

The Down Lo:  https://thedownlo.com/

U.S.S. Texas: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/battleship-texas-future-uncertain/285-4dc0930c-a758-48d3-8322-51ad9287e316

Interurban: https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2013/07/10/interurban-railway/

Old Roy:  https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2012/07/24/remembering-roy/St. James School Photos:https://flic.kr/s/aHsjHbBt2P

Thoughts and Ramblings: The Bad, the Good, and the Disgusting; Tales from the Hill

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Photo credit Ryan Pelham
Ogden Tree

Some of us received some needed rain on Sunday after temperatures reached record highs. However, unfortunately, the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum was hit by straight-line winds; the saloon’s roof was ripped off, and a wooden tank from the original site of Spindletop was destroyed. Luckily, there was minimal damage to most of the other buildings, but some of the collections did get spoiled by water.

Although I don’t know many of the details, I do know the people there, and Lamar University has the best person for this kind of situation. Director Rayana Hoeft will fix it. Though she’s not from this area, she is passionate about preserving history and does it well. There is no better person to handle this problem.

Photo Credit: 12 News Now

Good news from Port Arthur. Motiva stated that they are going forward with renovating the Federal Building and the Adams Building in downtown Port Arthur for their offices. The project had been ongoing but was halted because of COVID. It is always a good thing when someone brings a city’s downtown back to life. I look forward to seeing the transformation. The Adams Building—or as some call it, the World Trade Building—has always stood out as a beautiful piece of architecture. I hope it shines again.

After this breaking news, my trip to H-E-B. Finding a new product wasn’t that special. On my daily visit, I noticed that they were pushing a new item. I’m good with new things, but some products at Mr. Butt’s grocery store are kind of dodgy. Lately, I’ve been seeing pallets of a new item from the Central Market branch of H-E-B (this means Austin stuff). Basically, it’s pallets of seaweed roasted with sea salt and other flavors. Yes, I get it, it’s supposed to be a healthy chip without corn or potatoes. Hey, the whole package is only 20 calories! I did purchase one and thought I’d give it a try. My review of the product is as follows. Remember when you were eight years old and you were playing in the surf at McFaddin Beach? Your mom or dad were making hotdogs, but the south wind blew and threw sand on your soon-to-be lunch. While playing with your obnoxious brother, sister, or cousin, you turned around, and a two-foot wave hit you in the face. Of course, you had your mouth open, which wasn’t a pleasant experience. This is what the Central Market seaweed product tastes like (without the tar ball flavor in the waves that we endured growing up on McFaddin Beach). I’ll give it two stars for nostalgia.

Magnolia Cemetery has many stories to tell, and the original plots are no exception. Here is a brief history of its origins.

Back in the 1840s, William McFaddin, Jefferson County pioneer and veteran of the Texas War for Independence, created a private graveyard on his land for his family and friends. The plot overlooked Brakes Bayou and was located on the highest knoll in Beaumont. The first recorded burial on the larger site was in 1847 when John D. Gilbert was laid to rest. The first recorded burial on the McFaddin family’s personal plot was William’s son John Andrew McFaddin, who was killed during the Civil War on September 29, 1863, at the Battle of Fordoche Bayou.

During the 1860s, another burial area, adjacent to the McFaddin’s, was marked for the Odd Fellows Lodge. William McFaddin then saw the need for even more space on the hill to give other Southeast Texans a place to bury their loved ones; so, in 1876, he deeded two and a quarter acres of land next to his private graveyard. Initially, the area was used primarily for Civil War veterans and their families, but many others rest on the hill, including another Texas War for Independence veteran, a Union soldier, a deputy marshal of Beaumont killed in the line of duty on September 25, 1881, and many victims of the 1918 influenza pandemic.

I want to delve deeper into the history and names of Magnolia Cemetery. First, I want to thank Judy Linsely for lending her talent and expertise on its history. She should know, as she is related to at least half the family names here in Magnolia. I also have another friend who is related to the other half, so I believe everyone is covered!

John D. Gilbert is thought to be the first burial, and I believe this to be true. But the first burial of the McFaddin plot might not have been John Andrew McFaddin, as he may not have been brought back from the Battle of Fordoche Bayou, where he died. Not to get too morbid, but putting a body on a wagon or horse and traveling for a couple of weeks wasn’t done back then for obvious reasons. I know that the miniseries Lonesome Dove did some sort of traveling with a body, but this didn’t happen in Louisiana. Heat and humidity are unbearable to the dead as well as the living. I’ll stop here because I don’t want to make a comparison with you returning from evacuating due to Hurricane Rita ten days later and cleaning out your refrigerator—but I digress. It’s quite possible that he was relocated here later, but no records show this, so we believe that his headstone is actually a memorial.

Many prominent family plots are here, and a walk on the hill will do you good. There are so many things to see besides the stories of lives lived. One truly awesome site is the Ogden tree. We know that this tree is not a Woodmen of the World monument; it is something to see. The huge structure stands in front of the Ogden plot with all the headstones in the back resembling cut logs. I assume the correct interpretation is that this is the Ogden tree, and those are its descendants.

Another mystery of sorts is the grave of Jorge Mireles, who rests behind William Patterson. Billy Patterson was the first Beaumont police officer killed in the line of duty. I will not say the name of his murderer because he is one of two people I don’t mention—ever (except if I’m at a cemetery tour in Magnolia, then I’m like a parrot. Let the bad-mouthing begin!). My research shows that Jorge’s family was from San Antonio, but they lived in Beaumont and were the owners of the Tampico Café. The headstone is in Spanish, and pieces of the rectangular plot have markings similar to Dionicio Rodríguez’s work. Dionicio was a sculptor who perfected the process of carving concrete so that it looked like wood. His works in this area include the benches in front of Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital and the Eddingston Court shell wall in Port Arthur. He did a lot more work at the Phelan Mansion, but as far as I know, the benches are the only surviving examples of it.

I doubt that Dionicio made the petrified wood sculptures at Jorge’s grave, but they are certainly copycats of his work. Both the Mireles and Dionicio had ties with San Antonio, so it is still a mystery if there is a connection.

Until next week, I think I’m done trying new H-E-B things. Sorry Charlie (Butt)! I will admit that your Sushiya chicken fried rice is decent, but you may need to add some petroleum oil to your seaweed chips in order to achieve that authentic taste here on the Texas coast.

Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum:

Beaumont Enterprise: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/beaumont-boomtown-museum-damaged-surprise-storm-18334350.php

12 News Now:

https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/spindletop-gladys-city-boomtown-museum-damaged-in-storm/502-b1bd1d6e-f971-490d-aff3-ad56376b66ac

Motiva Downtown Port Arthur Project:  

https://fox4beaumont.com/newsletter-daily/motiva-is-finally-ready-to-move-forward-with-downtown-port-arthur-project

Battle of Bayou Fordoche:

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=94325

William Patterson:

https://www.odmp.org/officer/17671-deputy-city-marshal-william-e-patterson

Dionicio Rodríguez:

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/rodriguez-dionicio

Thoughts and Ramblings: It Didn’t Come Home; Sunken Ship on the Neches; the Ivory Bill; the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission Webinars; Herring Coe

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Coe Plot

Regarding non-SETX news that haunts my interests, the English Lionesses came up short in the Women’s FIFA World Cup Final. They fought to the end and did their country proud, unlike the men’s team, which is made up of wankers (I’ve already told my story of 40 years of pain for the Three Lions). The thing about the US teams is that here the tables are switched. The women’s team is supposed to be better than the men’s one because it won the World Cup in 2019, and it used to be this way, mostly because the female players are underpaid and hungry, but not this year. They looked like they didn’t care, even after multiple losses. Kudos to the men for attempting to be a team, but please send Pulisic to rot in Caney Head or in a part of hell where I will not meet him. OK, that’s now out of my system.

The current heat and severe drought have taken their toll on SETX, especially in terms of freshwater levels. But as a result of this misery, a piece of history was discovered on the Neches River in Jasper County. A local resident found a submerged wooden structure along the banks of the river. From the looks of it, the structure was some kind of boat or ship. A few known wrecks happened along the Neches and Sabine Rivers, and I hope they discover the story of this one. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is now involved in searching for this vessel’s origin.

If you want to cruise the Neches and see and learn about some of the wrecks or sunken barges in Jefferson County and Orange County, you need to book a trip on the Ivory Bill at Neches River Adventures. The ride is excellent and is mostly informative. I’ve taken the tour a few times and written about it before. I’ll leave a link at the bottom of this blog. The history lesson, as well as the wildlife, is something you must experience.

Speaking of the THC, the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission are offering free learning opportunities and webinars, and I will be taking advantage of some of these talks. They start at six in the evening, which is different from anything the THC usually does. Normally, their events start at noon on a weekday because they seem to think that everyone is either retired and has nothing to do or works at a university, where they can disappear and tell the powers that be that they were in a Zoom meeting. This is a problem for me because I don’t work at a computer all day, and I have to plan meetings. But I will be definitely attending the webinar on “The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers: Buffalo Soldiers and Their Service in the 20th Century.” I will leave a link to the webinars below.

I like this type of content because I don’t have to get off early, shower, and look presentable. I just want to hear the speakers. This worked well for me during COVID, and my continuing education classes with AgriLife and the Texas Department of Agriculture were good. The head guy at Jefferson County Extension told me, “Make sure you have pants on because we have had issues.” I didn’t ask about the issues; I just made sure I was dressed. I hoped they would keep doing this, but, sadly, I was at Ford Park in November the day of the McFaddin–Ward lecture and had to deal with the same talks, plus some jackass put the thermostat on 58, and I had no jacket. At least I had a good view of the traffic backed up all morning, and the 18-wheel tanker on fire in the afternoon, but I digress.

Like last week, I wanted to highlight another Magnolia Cemetery resident from past tours. Sculptor Herring Coe has always been a popular figure on the tour, and even though he is not focused on this year, it is worth your while to check out his carved headstones, which he made for himself, his parents, his siblings, and their spouses. The carvings on the blocks represent each person’s unique interests or talents. The stones are a fitting tribute to each life lived. Some of Herring’s other sculptures and carvings include the Dick Dowling monument on the battlefield in Sabine Pass, carvings on the Biology and Geology buildings at Lamar University in Beaumont, carvings on the 1931 Jefferson County Courthouse, and a memorial for the schoolchildren killed in an explosion in New London, Texas, in 1937.

The times and dates of the Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour are as follows:

Thursday, October 19 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Until next week, it’s never coming home, so I guess I’ll go cry in my bucket of Vindaloo! Nah Nah, Nah!

12 News Now Shipwreck:  https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/discovery-shipwreck-neches-river/502-5754f63e-6d22-4600-87e0-483a52ab8981

THC Upcoming Events & Webinars:  https://www.thcfriends.org/#projects

Neches River Adventures:  https://www.nechesriveradventures.org/

Neches River Adventures Tour (2012):  https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2012/10/01/neches-river-adventures-tour/

NRA Tour Photos (2012):  https://flic.kr/s/aHsjCd9Weh

NRA Tour Photos (2014):  https://flic.kr/s/aHsjUEPEHe

Herring Coe:

https://www.lamar.edu/public-art/herring-coe.html

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

Vindaloo:  https://youtu.be/va6nPu-1auE?si=ZBv4o_iWOlPvj2pc

Thoughts and Ramblings: The Origins of the Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour, Oscar “Speedy” Eldridge, and Never Trust Your Neighbors.

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Oscar Newell “Speedy” Eldridge

The Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour will soon be upon us, along with the usual reporter nudging us on and asking us where spooky stories can be found in SETX, given it’s October. I get it, and I also want to know, but our tour is history based. Most folks know this, except for a particular local tourist website that hasn’t updated its “Things to Do” page since 2017. No, we aren’t a ghost tour, but if you are inclined to delve into that realm, we can talk after the tour. Wink wink!

This will be the third annual tour since we brought it back after Hurricane Harvey screwed up everyone’s lives. One of the perks of the recent tours is having people speak who have personally researched their subjects and/or who are related to the individuals in question. I have done a lot of research on the residents of Magnolia Cemetery and have found many interesting stories as well as a significant amount of lost history concerning this area. I’m glad I’m not alone. Most of the presenters show their passion for talking about local history and the stories of lives once lived. I believe you will enjoy listening to our historical tour. And the best thing about it is that it’s free to attend! I’ll give the times and dates at the end of this blog.

This tour has gone from two people sharing stories with the docents of the McFaddin-Ward House to a few more speakers on a couple of Heritage Happy Hours with the Heritage Society (which went really well!) to an organized tour for Magnolia Cemetery. I want to thank the volunteers of the past two tours for rediscovering some forgotten stories that are relevant to our history. One story that I especially enjoyed was from the research collection of Don Smart. On the first tour (2021), he presented Oscar “Speedy” Eldridge. Here is Don’s blurb on Speedy:

Oscar Newell “Speedy” Eldridge was born in 1878 in Illinois. By 1900, Eldridge was living in Brenham, Texas, with his sister and brother-in-law, working as a carpenter.

In November 1900, he took a job with the Beaumont Fire Department at the central fire station, where he actually lived. Over the years that he worked for the fire department, his duties included, but were not limited to, driver (1903), driver of hook and ladder (1910–11), pipe man (1914), truckman (1916), and captain at fire station no. 5 (1924). He also served as a constable for a few terms. Eldridge served the Beaumont Fire Department from November 1900 to December 1944; that is, 44 years and one month.

Eldridge engaged in a pastime that many Beaumonters enjoy, which is often called “America’s favorite pastime.” He played baseball for the Beaumont Athletic Club in several leagues: Rice and Lumber League (1901), Sunset League (1902), and South Texas League (1903) to name a few. Eldridge earned his nickname “Speedy” not because of his running ability but because of his pitching.

“Speedy” Eldridge married Daisy Long in July 1918. They were married for 26 years, but the federal census never listed any children.

Oscar Newell “Speedy” Eldridge died in February 1945, just two months after retiring from the Beaumont Fire Department.

In addition to that awesome photo of Speedy galloping down a Beaumont street in a horse-drawn wagon, what I love about this story is that he was also a fireman and a baseball player. That hits close to home in a good way because my father was a fireman in the late 1950s and early ’60s in Port Arthur. While visiting the Museum of the Gulf Coast with my sister, we found his photo on display in one of the exhibits. He was also a pretty good baseball player for Lamar State College. To be fair to Speedy, though, my father never rode in a horse-drawn wagon looking that cool.

I have some stories from the Port Arthur Fire Department, but a few are not that good. The main one I remember concerns some firefighters who were training at an “abandoned” house. Back in the day, the fire department would set fire to abandoned houses and then put out the fire. They did this multiple times in a day, with the neighbors sometimes watching. Well, on that particular day, the owner of the house came home to find his property burned multiple times and ruined. The neighbors had said nothing; they had just watched the actions of the fire department all day. Based on this story, I’ll just say that your neighbors are not your friends. Never trust the *%^*%^.

I will end this blog early with this epiphany because the Third Annual Magnolia Cemetery Tour is being planned, not because the English Lionesses are in the FIFA World Cup Final. No one wakes up for that at five o’clock in the morning on their day off. No one! But it is coming home!

The Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour will be part of the Museum Madness Weekend. The times are as follows:

Thursday, October 19, 4:00–6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 21, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

12 News Now Story on the Cemetery Tour from 2022 :

 https://youtu.be/RoCpn9zV6wk

Thoughts and Ramblings: Rediscovering Florence Stratton

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A fellow researcher texted me last week to see if I had a couple of articles on Florence Stratton, one from 1975 and the other from 1980. I looked, and I found that I did have the one from 1975, but not the other. Unfortunately, the Beaumont Enterprise issues after 1940 are not available on Genealogybank.com. I believe you can search the Beaumont Journal up to the 1970s, but there are only a few mentions of her there. I don’t know if any other newspaper archive has the Beaumont Enterprise digitized, but if you see one, hit me up! Rediscoveringsetx@gmail.com

Laura Young wrote the article from 1980, which has some good crumbs from the past in it, although it states that the town of Florence in Williamson County, Texas, was named after Florence Stratton. Of course, this isn’t true because the town was founded in 1858, twenty-three years before Florence was born. At the time, I dismissed this and thought that Eunice might have been wrong; but as I reread the article, I developed a different view of what might have happened. The reporter most likely put two and two together and came up with a fractional number because that sometimes happens when you interview someone. I’ve done a few interviews, and occasionally, when you tell them “this, that, and the other thing,” they’ll only use “that” and forget about “this and the other thing.” I do get that there’s a deadline, but get the story right. I will also state that some researchers have also been guilty of this in the past. So, as Bill Quick would often say, you need at least three sources, not one. I’m not perfect, but this is the rule I follow.

As I said, the 1980 article does have some spot-on facts and some nuggets of oral history that researchers and historians can use. The people interviewed knew Florence, so they can give us a behind-the-scenes account of who she was—a phrase she would say, how she wore her hat, or how people reacted to her. This is all of great importance when researching someone who was not in the limelight. I began my journey researching Florence in 2012, and I have a decent database on her life, which allows me to say that she never put herself on a pedestal. Florence made others feel like they were the talk of the town. I guess this is why, initially, I had so much trouble finding anything about her.

Col. R.C. Duff Drives Gold Spike July 1907

The article from 1975 was written by Susan Gilbert, and it has a lot of the same information on Florence’s life as the other article. It has Eunice, her niece, along with others who knew her, telling stories. One thing this article has that the 1980 one doesn’t is that it mentions the railroad station/town (there is even the same photo) but not Williamson County. There is no mention of a location. But we know now, and we have a map to back up this information. I’m not patting myself on the back for finding the map; I’m just saying this out loud to get Mr. Quick’s approval, as I put him on the research pedestal. I only know him through his research and from stories told at the Historical Commission. I guess it’s just a coincidence that my first meeting as part of the commission was a year to the day after he passed away. I didn’t know him personally, but we share some of the same goals for how SETX historical preservation should be done. Everything happens for a reason, and I will fly this flag! (I keep it right beside my Queen’s Park Rangers pennant, even though they lost to Watford 4-0 on opening day. Sigh.)

Visitors in Mrs. Stephens Garden (Lake Carles?) Florence Stratton and Watson Neyland

My research journey began in 2012, and it’s been hard to find details on Florence’s personal life. It took me fifteen months to figure out her birthday, and what about her birth year? It took one mention in the 1900 census and a letter donated to the Tyrrell Historical Library penned by the ten-year-old Emily Stratton, Florence’s older sister, and addressed to her father, Asa, in February 1883. (Asa E. Stratton Jr. was a Texas senator from 1883 to 1884.) At the end of this letter, Emily writes that Florence can say her name. If you read all the earlier research, it states that Florence was born in 1883. I have no idea where that information came from (maybe Eunice, her niece?). I have no idea, but I also have six mentions in Susie Spindletop’s Weekly Letter that her birthday was on the spring equinox, and two mentions when her article came out on March 21 saying that this was her birthday.

After reviewing my database on Florence, I realized that I need to look into her father’s history more. I believe this will explain her friendship with Willie Cooper, the daughter of Sam Cooper. Both Asa and Sam served in the Texas Senate in 1883 and 1884, but Asa Stratton resigned in the latter year. Sam Bronson Cooper was from Woodville, and Asa Stratton was from Brazoria County; their daughters were best friends in their adult years. We can also add William P. Hobby (from Woodville) to this mix because all three were together in the early days. There is a lot of history to uncover here, but since this is the eleventh year of my research, it may take a while.

Speaking of taking a while, Florence penned or played a part in publishing five books. The Story of Beaumont (1923) was her baby and her most popular volume here in SETX, but republishing O. Henry’s articles in book form in 1923 made her at least $10,000 thanks to W. P. Hobby, who owned the Houston Post at the time O. Henry (a.k.a. William Sidney Porter) wrote his columns.

To me, Favorite Recipes of Famous Women, published in 1925, has the best foreword. Florence was mad because some man had published a book called Famous Recipes of Famous Men, and she was determined to set the record straight about the recipes in his book—even at the expense of her dog. But she did give it a military funeral! I always thought that Willie Cooper, Hobby’s first wife, collected the recipes for this book when she lived in the governor’s mansion in Austin. I guess being a first lady has its advantages. Willie was a socialite, and as the daughter of Sam Bronson Cooper, she was pretty good at schmoozing with the elite. I believe most of the recipes were from Willie. However, in the 1975 article, Eunice said that Florence “wrote to persons asking for recipes even though she had never met them.” I guess this is why there are a lot of “motion picture stars” in the book, such as Gloria Swanson and Mary Pickford. But let us give a big shout-out to Mrs. Thomas Edison for her cheese soufflé in ramekins and, of course, to a former congresswoman from Oklahoma for her recipe for boiled potatoes.

Florence Stratton’s next book, The White Plume, was published in 1931 but copyrighted in 1928. I thought this was odd until I found out the reason. The book was cowritten by Vincent Burke, sports editor at the Beaumont Enterprise, and was first published in the July 1928 issue of Bunker’s Monthly. This magazine only lasted about two years. I paid more for it than the original price of five cents, but it answered a big question in Florence’s story.

When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends was published in 1936; it was used as a textbook in this area for years. Florence’s friend Bessie Reid wrote the book, and Florence contributed the foreword. Most know Bessie as the author of the story of Kisselpoo, which was published in the Port Arthur News on July 1, 1923.

It’s amazing just how much you can get out of two articles based on oral history along with eleven years of research. It’s not perfect, but we are getting there. I believe that everyone I mentioned should be researched more, but doing so takes time, money, and the drive to delve into history. I’ll continue to do this, but can I actually get a solid team that doesn’t lose to Watford 4-0 on opening day?

Until next week, Della.

Thoughts and Ramblings: The Blue Moon; Bob West; The Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour, and Catherina Stengele’s Tile

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February 2016

For those who like to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight in your bat cowl or are just camera enthusiasts, you will be extra exuberant this month. August will have not one but two full moons. I’ll admit I’ve been slacking in my photography lately, and it showed its ugly head during the last lunar eclipse, but there’s often not enough time in the week for hobbies. Work life pays for research and camera life, so here we are. If you are interested, the Sturgeon Moon was observed August 1, and the Blue Moon will be visible on August 30. It is also a supermoon, meaning that the moon is closer to Earth than normal. Supermoons happen every three years or so, so it’s only special when the news media, or niche regional blogs point it out, but they are still worth seeing. My problem with photographing the rising moon is that the photos tend to be blurry because of the pollution in the atmosphere. Shout out to Arizona and Colorado for having clean air!

Last week, we lost an iconic sportswriter from our area. I read Bob West’s column in the Port Arthur News weekly, and although I am not into golf, as he was, he did write about and promote high school sports and the players. He also organized the Homecoming Roast’s and raised $700k for the Museum of the Gulf Coast. I remember him as someone who talked sports on the radio on Thursday evenings, but I forget at what restaurant. Boudain Hut? All I remember is that he gave away dinners at the end of the show if you answered a question. The usual listeners won the dinners, but he did an excellent job in his reporting, and he promoted many local athletes nationally. Tom Halliburton was another reporter, who was also on these radio shows that I enjoyed. It is odd that these memories don’t come back until someone passes. And then they flood in. I will end this with a joke from the Jimmy Johnson roast from Bob. 75th Street was renamed Jimmy Johnson Blvd around the time Jimmy was inducted into the Museum of the Gulf Coast, Sports Hall of Fame. At Jimmy’s roast, he stated that the road is rightfully named after him because some parts are kind of curvy, but they straighten out, and  when the road “gets going good, it runs out on you.” At a stop sign on a feeder road of Highway 287 69 96. We won’t get into Dallas Cowboys’ history post-Jimmy.

I listened to a lot of AM radio back then, and if it wasn’t Rudy T and Sharon doing the Lincoln High School football games, it was Bob doing his weekly thing. Also, shout out to Chester Moore because he has always been putting out a great show on KLVI-560 (unless there’s a high school football game on). For some reason, I’ve been hooked on hunting and fishing radio shows, yet I don’t hunt and haven’t fished or crabbed in 30 years. Chester Moore’s show is a bit different, so I listen. He is still doing it even today. I’ll leave a link at the bottom of the blog.

The planning of the 3rd Annual Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour is in full swing, and I learned something important on the tour last year that only leads to more questions. Catherina Jeanette Stengele was a milliner who came to Beaumont in the 1880s. She was Dutch and made her home even before Spindletop. She made her fortune as a hat maker and financer. As for my research into her history, she made more than a good living. Along Highway 105, she once owned land and used to rent it out to rice farmers. The only reason I know the exact whereabouts of the farm is because there was a lawsuit from 1906 against the renter of her property that did not get finalized until 1910, a year after her death. The basis of this lawsuit was that a pump and boiler blew up on the property, and the renter was trying to sue another over this mishap. I will also say that at the time, the rice industry was at rock bottom, and many were going bankrupt in this field, including the Kishi’s in Orange County.

I’ve given a good history on this blog, and on our cemetery tours of Stengele, but last year, after talking to Terry, the cemetery manager, he told me that the tile surrounding the mausoleum of Catherina Stengele was added in the 80s. Well, for me, that puts into perspective the $120k left in 1909 to the three lawyers of her estate. It is quite possible that a trust was set up for the mausoleum. As far as I know, there are no records of it, but someone paid for this tile to span over twelve plots. And I usually mention on the tour that she bought twelve plots because she didn’t want neighbors—but I digress.

As far as this year’s tour, I believe we have some great people presenting some great people of the past. No spoilers, but my favorite 1920s and 30s social media reporter, Susie, will be back on the tour. Keep an eye out on this blog, the Facebook page, or the Friends of the Jefferson County Historical Commission for the latest news on the tour.

Well, that’s it for this week,

To a friend, in Okinawa, Japan, stay safe. They are experiencing the equivalent of Hurricane Harvey right now.

Blue Moon:

https://www.space.com/15455-blue-moon.html

Bob West:

https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/southeast-texas-sports-legend-bob-west-passes-way/502-e9e6081a-2be6-4f1b-ac85-7a43c95df14e

Tribute:  https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1708496952932961&set=a.119163678532971

Moore Outdoors with Chester Moore:  

Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour:

Thursday evening: https://fb.me/e/KIeXU0MR

Saturday Morning: https://fb.me/e/19DUApkIi

Typhoon Khanun:

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-08-03/typhoon-khanun-damage-military-okinawa-10925817.html

The Stringbean; The Historic Magnolia Cemetery; Researching for a Historical Marker

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After listening to the Bayoulands podcast, I was triggered by just one word: Stringbean. Probably because I’ve been thinking of my late friend Jerry, and he was the one who introduced this Port Arthur/Pleasure Island train history to me. We will get into this supposed death trap of a vehicle in a minute, but I want to add that the safety standards in 1914 were not up-to-date with modern technology. I guess you can look at things like ski lifts in the 70s and 80s, which would be the same thing, I guess. Many people rode the ski lifts to the top of the mountain—even with children on their laps—unharnessed. “Oh, the horror!” In the end, people do what they can, by necessity, and you can’t judge them by the era you live in. But I do judge people on what they put on their toast. (I’m old and don’t care.) You have to see the whole history, not your 2023 observations. But it’s wild all the same.

Looking at the photo, and knowing the history of the trolley, which charged five cents for a ride across the waterway, it seems there were a lot of people who didn’t pay five cents and walked across the small walkway beside the tracks. I’m sure some safety person would be triggered at this photo for a totally different reason than I am, but back in the 1910s, people did what they could. I’m just amazed that they could produce ice in August 1906 in Beaumont. To me, that’s Egyptian-grade history. We don’t have pyramids in Beaumont, but we do have a fire hydrant. Thanks, Disney!

The Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour is a name we’ve been throwing out there for the past two years, but this year, we can actually promote it as a cemetery tour in a historic cemetery. Why? As of this week, the cemetery has been legally acknowledged by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) as a historic cemetery. Up the road a bit, Evergreen Cemetery has had this designation since 2001, and I know that someone is currently in the process of trying to get Pear Orchard Cemetery designated, too. How does a cemetery become a historic cemetery in the eyes of the Texas Historical Commission?  To be honest, hard work and research by some determined people who get it done is usually the recipe. Legitimate research is a must, because hearsay doesn’t cut it.

Historic cemetery designations are generally a lot easier to achieve than designations for places, people, or historic events, which have their own rules and timeframes to go by. This type of research is solely for the passionate, and I don’t suggest that anyone do it unless they are ready to help. I’ve had someone email me about researching an old family name in SETX, wondering where the cemetery was. That part is easy, but they didn’t stop there—they wanted me to research their old families’ histories in the Netherlands. No. I don’t spend my time and money researching West-end Wanda’s kinfolk. No, I can’t blame this on Wanda (unless it was her cousin from Missouri emailing me), but the sentiment is there. I’ll help out, but you’re going to do the work.

Usually, in the summer months, I can’t do as much research as I would like because of work, so my goal for digitizing all the Susie Spindletop Weekly Letters will have to be extended to the winter months, along with my desire to delve into Toodlum’s Port Arthur News articles. Martha “Toodlum” Ferguson was someone I never met, but I found her articles helpful, especially when researching the Interurban. I also find her honest when bringing up Port Arthur’s history. I will add that scanning through a copy of the Port Arthur News, the Beaumont Enterprise, orthe Journal is much easier nowadays than when I started. Expensive, but easier. I spent two and a half years at the Tyrrell Historical Library on a microfiche machine, keeping them in quarters. It was like being in a casino, but with no alcohol, and hitting the jackpot a few times. (The Tyrrell was a Baptist Church before it was a library, so they may have frowned upon drinks.)

Until next time, tot de volgende keer!

Thoughts and Ramblings: SETX History; Pigs in a Blanket Are Not Kolaches; Musician Talk; Whispers from the Past; Magnolia Cemetery Tour; The Stringbean

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Whispers from the Past (2013)
Whispers from the Past (2013) Liberty County Historical Commission

My interest in SETX history is vast, but I do have my favorite topics. Of course, Florence Stratton comes to mind. I’m sure no one is surprised about this since I bring her up during most of my ramblings. I have been researching her and her family since 2012, and I have a good database by now. Truth be told, that database is already in the hands of a few friends should I eat too many Zummo sausages and become an ex-parrot. (Monty Python was the best!) I’ve got to admit that Zummo’s party time links are the best if I can’t get to Billie Joe’s BBQ for their links, which I grew up eating. My doctor, a native of the state of New York, is not so positive about local sausages because she grew up eating those made from the recipes of actual German immigrants, but we have the same view on kolaches. Pigs in a blanket are NOT kolaches. Kolaches are also pastries in the old country. I’ll move on before my cholesterol rises.

Two of my main interests besides Florence are the Sabine Lighthouse and the interurban. I first saw the lighthouse in the 1980s while fishing with friends. I was impressed that we had something like this in our area. Yes, technically, it is in Southwest Louisiana, but we still claim it as part of our history. There is a group trying to preserve this treasure. I will leave the link at the bottom of the page. The interurban is something that I learned about in 2012 when I joined the Jefferson County Historical Commission. My friend Jerry Burnett and I would talk about this regularly instead of doing what I was there for—renewing my insurance. He was a train guy and also loved to reminisce about Port Arthur’s history. I miss him.

On my website, I usually write about people who are not well known. I enjoy diving into the history of those who are not on the social media pages of our area’s museums historical houses. These people still have something to add to our understanding of ourselves. Also, I don’t write about musicians much unless it’s the Rowleys, in which case I’ll fly that flag, because it’s a forgotten story. There is no museum or city propping them up like every other musician, and I get it. What I don’t get is Groves, Texas, adding the name “ZZ Top” on their water tower. ZZ Top was NOT from Groves, Texas. Yes, they played one gig in Groves, but didn’t they also play a high school prom in Little Cypress? They were from Houston! If you want to leave a rebuttal, come with facts.

I’ll also stand behind Blind Willie Johnson’s music because it is currently flying through the outer regions of the solar system on the Voyager spacecraft, along with Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. I think this is impressive, and the backstory is also notable. The blues pioneer signed a contract with a major record label in 1927, but he died penniless and lived his last six months in a half-burned-out house. He influenced many British blues bands. Also, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, and Peter, Paul, and Mary covered his songs.

I like all kinds of music. The music of Harry James’s era is great, and I will say that I enjoyed the Night & Day Orchestra back in 2014, when they played for the Beaumont Heritage Society’s “fundraiser.” I even have a video. It was the first time I photographed an event like that, and I was showing solidarity with my cohort from KFDM News—at least with regard to the khaki clothing. No black tie for us. Also, no alcohol and no food, but that was my decision. And “It Was Five O’Clock Somewhere” when I arrived home.

Back in 2013 and 2014, the Liberty County Historical Commission (LCHC) held a fundraiser of their own called Whispers from the Past. They did a fantastic job of bringing Liberty County’s history to life through a cemetery tour during which the members dressed in period clothing and portrayed their characters perfectly. I wrote about these events and will leave a link to the article, plus links to some photos, at the bottom of the blog.

As I’ve said before, our Magnolia Cemetery tours were born thanks to this event. I give full credit to the LCHC for inspiring us to bring something similar to Magnolia Cemetery. Our first event was a walking tour with the docents of the McFaddin-Ward House. We did a few Heritage Happy Hours with the Beaumont Heritage Society, but we ended the events after Hurricane Harvey. With a new board and management at the cemetery, the tour was brought back in 2021 as the Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour. One thing about these events was bringing Beaumont’s history back to life together with the characters that were part of it.

Today, the tour is similar to what the LCHC did but without the period clothing (although Kate Beavers wore such clothing while presenting Caroline Hinchee). Personally, I refuse to wear Miss Catherina Jeanette Stengele’s period hats or Florence’s attire (not that I could actually fit in her clothes—I digress). But we do have presenters who know their subjects, and that’s a good thing.

Speaking of the Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour, it’s the weekend, and I need to work on the tour preparations. But before I leave, I want to recommend this week’s Bayoulands podcast with Katharine Leister from the Tyrrell Historical Library. They talk about the history of the library and its many resources, as well as Leister’s research on the history of Pleasure Island. They even mention the Stringbean! I hope to dive into the Stringbean Trolley next week.

Until next time.

Ex-parrot:  https://youtu.be/vZw35VUBdzo

Sabine Lighthouse:  https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2012/12/11/sabine-lighthouse/

Cameron Preservation Alliance: https://www.facebook.com/SabinePassLighthouse/

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

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

Voyager Space Probe:  https://sclsnj.org/a-song-for-the-cosmos-blind-willie-johnson-and-the-voyagers-golden-record-by-jan-lower-illustrated-by-gary-kelly/

Day and Night Orchestra (2014):  https://fb.watch/lOXquF6yUG/

https://www.facebook.com/TheNightDayOrchestra

Whispers from the Past (2013):

Article: https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2013/11/06/whispers-from-liberty-county/

Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjLufFaP

Whispers from the Past (2014):

Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk5BkJk1

Bayoulands Talks

Katharine Leister: Tyrrell Historical Library/Pleasure Island History:

https://www.npr.org/podcasts/970687057/bayoulands-t-a-l-k-s

Thoughts and Ramblings: Texas Point, William D. Quick, John McGaffey’s Gold, Legends, and Fireworks

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Last week, when someone mentioned that they had visited Texas Point, where the coastal gun positions were during the Spanish–American War and World War II, I wanted to use a photo of mine dating back to when I last went to the area. I thought the search would be easy—boy, was I wrong. On my Flickr page, which contains more than 8,000 photos, I found many of Sabine Pass, but not of this spot. Then, I checked my photographic database, which is probably three times bigger than the Flickr page, and I still couldn’t find one. So, I ended up searching the blog’s Facebook page, and I finally found what I needed. I also found many more interesting photos that I had forgotten about. Some of these were from the William D. Quick archive. There is one photo of what looks like a saloon with people near the front playing cards; other people are standing outside on the walkway, probably posing for the picture, with nine barrels dumped on the dirty street. Who are these people? What are they doing? Why? These are a few of the questions that came to my mind.

I would assume that the photograph was taken in the 1890s. According to Blanche Morgan’s recollection of early Port Arthur, you could have seen the same scene around 1905. I will also throw in the Catfish Hotel in Sabine from the 1860s. No one went thirsty in those days. Although no one in the photo resembles Dutch Margaret, I doubt that someone was assaulted with a parasol. I’ll leave a link at the bottom of the page for this story. I think Sabine Pass was the Wild West before the Wild West existed. I guess I’d have to talk to Sam Houston about this because he’s one of the folks who founded the city.

One mystery that has intrigued many is the legend of John McGaffey’s gold. According to historian W. T. Block, it’s folklore. However, in the past, many people have searched for the gold booty of the Spanish, which Josiah Carton stated was buried by pirates on a beach in the area. My first thought was the following: If he knew where it was, why didn’t he dig it up? Legends are fun until people start desecrating cemeteries looking for precious metals. “In 1936, one hunt resulted in considerable vandalism to an above-ground brick burial vault in McGaffey Cemetery, so desecrated that bones were left scattered about on the ground.” I’ll leave a link to W. T. Block’s article at the bottom of this blog.

Bragg Road

There are many legends in our area; some are more factual, while others are more speculative. The Bragg Road/Saratoga lights? Maybe. Sarah Jane Road? I’ll leave a photo that shows that Sarah Jane Bridge did not exist in 1938. By the way, there were no trees to hang oneself from on that nonexistent road. If you are interested in reading my 15 minutes of fame, which came with no monetary value, you can check out the links to the “Legend of Sarah Jane” and our antics on Bragg Road. These two are my most popular articles by far. People like spookiness. If you know of any spooky stories here in SETX, then get in touch with me at rediscoveringsetx@gmail.com.

I hope everyone had a happy holiday and an amazing time at your local fireworks show. I know Nederland’s display went off without any incidents. There was no word from Beaumont, but I’m sure that the Beaumont Camera Club was there to document the display’s awesomeness. I’m only bringing this up because in Port Arthur there was a “situation”. No one got hurt, but there may have been a snafu in terms of firework etiquette. It does suck when you are launching fireworks during a drought. Nothing major happened except a grass fire, which was put out with the help of the fire departments of Port Arthur and Bridge City. But that photo by Ricardo Chavez was awesome! Photo Credit: Ricardo Chavez. Story by KBMT 12 News Now.

I know the Port Arthur fireworks display well. I was lucky to have the keys (with permission) to set up on what I call a hill, though it’s actually a wave brake. To translate from engineerspeak, a wave brake is a barrier placed on a property to save its structures from being destroyed during a hurricane. Not to spoil the ending of this episode, but it didn’t work during Hurricane Ike, and it took 10 years for them to rebuild. During that time, I took my first photos of the fireworks show, locked in a property away from the public. Yes, I lost a lot of blood because you don’t use DEET or anything else around lenses. I was new, okay, and I preferred having my blood sucked out of me than ruining a shot with slimy hands. I took some nice pictures. However, in the end, I figured that hanging out in Beaumont to photograph the fireworks was much less blood consuming.

Well, I have many links this time, but some of them are worth a click. This week, Facebook stole all the good parts of Twitter and put them into Threads. I am on it, and the reason I will be putting my blog there is that Instagram doesn’t do links. Also, the only reason I’m on Instagram is that I hate Facebook, which owns Instagram. I digress. Don’t follow me on Instagram unless you are okay with bog witches, World War II, Tankery, and cats. You have been warned.

Until next week.

Flickr photo page: https://www.flickr.com/people/25032584@N05/

Blanche’s Journey:   https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2014/04/16/blanches-journey-an-early-look-at-life-in-port-arthur/

W.T. Block Kate Dorman and Dutch Margaret:  http://www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/catherin.htm

John McGaffey’s Gold by W.T. Block:  https://www.ned.lib.tx.us/john1.htm

Legend of Sarah Jane:  https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2012/10/23/legend-of-sarah-jane-road/

Legend of Bragg Road:  https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2012/10/30/legend-of-bragg-road-saratoga-light/

 12 News Now Port Arthur Fireworks Display:   https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/port-arthur-fireworks-display-ignites-fire/502-86392137-c3fa-4928-a605-6db67babad9d

Flickr Fireworks Port Arthur (2014):   https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZky5Pj

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/paulprosperie/

Threads:  https://www.threads.net/@paulprosperie

Thoughts and Ramblings: World War II, Presidents, Okinawa, Texas Point, and Bayoulands

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First Baptisit Church Nederland

After finishing Crucible of Hell by Saul David, I need a break from books about the Pacific theater in WWII—at least for a while. This time, Madeline Kahn, I’m actually “tired.” Okinawa was the last battle in the Pacific theater, and the one with the highest number of American casualties. Overall, 12,500 American soldiers, 77,000 Japanese soldiers, and 30,000 Okinawan civilians were killed. The Okinawan civilian casualties are an American estimate, and I believe the true number was considerably higher. Not to get into too much historical detail, but many died at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) as well as the Americans, who threw grenades or used flamethrowers in the caves where some people were hiding. I would also blame the IJA for this because its propaganda scared the locals into entering the caves. I think Crucible of Hell is the right title for this book.

Does anyone have any book/audiobook suggestions on lighter topics? Sorry, Eat, Pray, Love suggestions are not inspiring for me. Autobiographies are all right but can be lengthy. I’ve listened to a few biographies of American presidents on Audible, including Teddy Roosevelt, William H. Taft, and Harry S. Truman, and enjoyed them. All three presidents left their mark on this country, but I think that Taft was more useful when he was governor-general of the Philippines. He treated the Filipinos as equals when most actors in the area dismissed them as a subhuman Asian race.

With all his might, Teddy went after the corporations to make them pay their taxes. This to me is hilarious because the powers that be made him vice president to shut down his political career. Unfortunately for them, William McKinley was assassinated, and the bully pulpit was then in full swing. I will add that Teddy charging up San Juan Hill must have been a wonderful sight. I’m sure the buffalo soldiers enjoyed watching the charge after they had already taken the hill, way before Teddy’s Rough Riders showed up—but I digress.

I guess Truman’s fate was similar because he was put in the same situation. Becoming president after the current president dies in office is one thing, but taking over during a two-front war and not being briefed on anything concerning said war is ludicrous. But that was FDR’s way. He was a true politician to the bitter end. As you can probably tell, I’m not a fan of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Truman did what he had to do. And if you’re wondering about the bomb, let us consider what would have happened with Operation Downfall (i.e., the invasion of Japan). If the Allies had invaded Japan, there would have been up to 750,000 American casualties. The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed 129,000 and 226,000 people, respectively. The firebombing of Tokyo alone killed between 80,000 and 130,000 people. We can all speculate more than 80 years later, but this was Truman’s decision, and I would say it was the right one.

I could get into a bit more detail regarding how the Soviets would have invaded Japan’s northern islands, but I’m tired. So, I’ll move on and sift through the Instagram feed of my Japanese friends, who are headed to the beach in Okinawa because it’s summer. Being musicians, they are all playing gigs and have no idea where McFaddin and Crystal Beaches are. I guess it’s the same thing we do, minus the gigs, but most of us in SETX are at the beach this time of the year. I didn’t know this was a thing until someone mentioned that foreigners are amazed that we drive on the beach. It’s always been done here, but not in other places. For it to happen, you need a group of friends with a four-wheel drive that has a good winch. To my English friends: I spelled “winch” correctly. We are not talking about a wench. The only time we do that is in October in Plantersville, Texas. Rest in peace, Ded Bob.

Actually, I’m amazed to hear that someone drove to Texas Point this week. Sure, it is a good place to visit, but the road somewhat resembles the current beach road from Sabine Pass to High Island, which is unpassable. The site held a couple of artillery batteries for coastal defense during both the Spanish-American War and World War II. The only thing left is the circular mount that the gun was attached to. It’s been a few years since I’ve been down there, so I’m glad the area is still accessible.

This week, the Bayoulands podcast series had Judith Linsley on to talk about Lamar University and its first 100 years. Actually, a book about this is coming out in the fall, so stay tuned! I loved the podcast. I am always curious about what the powers that be want Judy to discuss because she constantly makes SETX history sound interesting. Bayoulands also highlights our history with numerous guests, so check it out.

Until next week, have a safe and festive holiday, and don’t get stuck driving on the beach, Wanda!

Crucible of Hell by Saul David:

Battle of Okinawa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa

Operation Downfall:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Downfall

Ded Bob: https://youtu.be/77Bj6t-UA_M

Texas Point Gun Emplacements:

http://www.fortwiki.com/Battery_155_-_Sabine_Pass

Bayoulands Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3zoUJjiwtZWVhoTzEBuaul