Category Archives: People

Thoughts and Ramblings: Beaumont’s wasn’t just whistling Dixie, Podcasts, KOLE 1340, Gordon Baxter, the Rainbow Family, Hoarding with my friend Bitsy, and Sibbie Van Wormer Holmes Kelley Mills.

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This week I’ve had some fascinating conversations on a potpourri of Beaumont history; some are even printable. From a speakeasy across the street from the courthouse to the Dixie Hotel, which wasn’t the only, umm, working hotel downtown. Hopefully, this information will be shared on a Sunday rambling soon. Someone mentioned that we should do a podcast of our exciting discussions, and I agree, but with a face for radio and a voice for silent film, I don’t see it happening anytime soon. Southeast Texas had a few good podcasts, but it takes a lot of time and money to produce a quality program. Shout-out to Tyler Troutman for creating the Tyler Knows Everything podcast for a couple of years. Of course, the “Knows” was crossed out because he wanted to learn more. The content was excellent.

For those who have never heard of a podcast, it’s an on-demand radio show or video. I mostly listen to audio podcasts when working, but I also watch a few. Growing up, I listened to the radio constantly, whether it was music, sports, or the hunting/fishing programs. I will say that I don’t hunt and haven’t fished in 35 years, but I listened. I remember listening to KOLE 1340 AM sports on Friday nights or Saturday mornings. They would broadcast the Lincoln High School games. This was after Little Joe Washington showed us his greatness, then showed the world. In the 1990s, the team wasn’t doing well. I always counted on Trudy and Sharon to tell it like it was. Unfortunately, this Saturday morning wasn’t going well for the team, and the professional team within a 500-mile perimeter, named the West Orange-Stark Mustangs, was in town doing what those teams do—run up the score. They even went for two after their touchdown before the half to make it 50-0. The team lost 84-0, but Trudy and Sharon had different views on the game. Trudy was trying to make sense of what was going on and optimistically thought that at 21-0 in the first quarter they could come back, but Sharon always told it like it was. “Nope, they just don’t have their head in it.” I loved these two! This is why I listened. I don’t know where they are today, but they will always be my favorite sports commentators.

Gordon Baxter. Photo credit Portal to Texas

I also remember listening to Gordon Baxter’s radio show after an event that happened on what I think was a recorded segment on one of the local channels. It could have been live, and that would have made more sense in terms of the mistake they made. I can’t remember if it was on KJAC, KFDM, or KBMT, but one of the news sources reported on the Rainbow Family gathering up at the lakes. The reporter was interviewing a member of the family, showing them only from the chest up. But the cameraman forgot to notice the nudist guy in the background behind the reporter. I saw this live on the news, but hearing about it on Gordon’s show was priceless.

I’m finally making headway organizing and digitizing all those files that are destined for greatness someday. If I don’t, my family will probably throw them out because they’re not so gung-ho for history, and being a researcher involves a pack rat level of hoarding. We are a different breed. Just ask Beaumont History Bits, or Bitsy, as I refer to BHB.

We’ve presented some of the stories of Magnolia Cemetery many times, but I’ve never put to pen Sibbie Van Wormer Holmes Kelley Mills. She was born in 1869 to Jacob and Catherine Van Wormer. Compared to many other women of her time, Sibbie was strong-willed and independent.

In 1884, at the age of 15, Sibbie married John W. Holmes, who was 28. Together they had three children: Archie, Sadie, and Max. We don’t know what happened to Sibbie’s husband; I can’t find any record of his death. We do know that Sibbie was married to Samuel P. Kelley by 1910.

Sam P. Kelley

Samuel worked as a grain broker/buyer in Beaumont after moving here from Galveston. Later, he became head of the Standard Warehouse Company. Unfortunately, in February 1917, Samuel took his life with a shotgun. The obituary from the Beaumont Enterprise stated that he had been “feeling badly” before the incident, but no more details surfaced in the following days as to the possible reasons for the suicide.

As a mother, Sibbie seemed to be very protective of her children. According to one story from her descendant Mary Oxford Englander, which is found in the 1991 Texas Gulf Historical & Biographical Record, when Max joined the US Army, his first detail was along the Texas-Mexico border, “fighting Pancho Villa.” Of course, Sibbie did what any other mother would do—she “rented a room in a hotel at the border for the duration of the conflict.” I’ve found a few articles that mention a lady on the border feeding information to reporters covering the conflict, but helicopter moms will do what helicopter moms do.

With the United States’ involvement in World War I, Max was inevitably sent to France. Away from his mother’s protection, he became ill (possibly with Spanish flu) and died in St. Nazaire, France. His remains were brought back to Beaumont by his mother and laid to rest at Magnolia Cemetery.

Eventually, Sibbie married a third time to John B. Mills. He would die of a heart attack in 1931. He is also buried in the Kelley plot, along with Sibbie, who passed away in 1937.

Well, that’s it for this week. Until next time, if any of you know Trudy and Sharon, tell them they are appreciated. Ciao

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

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

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

Big Thicket Outlaws

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

Blind Willie Johnson

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

Martin Block homestead

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here lyeth the body of WILLIAM STRATTON

buried May 18, 1734

Age 97

Who had by his first wife 28 children

By his second, 17

Own father to 45,

Grandfather to 86,

Great-grandfather to 97,

great great- grandfather to 23…in all 251

***

Happy Fathers Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thoughts and Ramblings: Too fat to put on booties, Pie Face, Seven Oaks, Berthe DeBretagne, Old Sparks Cemetery, moved in the 50s, and thanks to Albert.

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Well, I’ve been dieting again. The main reason is that I couldn’t bend down and put on the booties during the Historic Homes Tour in Galveston. Actually, this makes me think of all the food I grew up eating. There were many good places in Port Arthur, but I stand by my Hartmans, Monceauxs, and Fish Net picks. I also want to mention Pie Face. Her jambalaya was not of this world in the 1990s. This was when she was cooking in the Jefferson City Shopping Center. It was the old Ted’s Record Shop. I know that she was previously located near Church’s Chicken on Bluebonnet. Pork Jambalaya that only an angel from Heaven could have cooked, and sweet tea for $5.

As a kid, my family didn’t travel much. As I stated a few weeks ago, we were the poor sods who ate sandy hotdogs on McFaddin Beach, so I don’t know the appetite of North Jefferson County or even the other counties in SETX. Except for Tyler County, we all know that your Pickett House is almost a religious experience. Our Boondocks was too. What was your favorite dining spot in the counties that make up SETX, and is it still around?

When traveling along Twin-city Hwy, just before the point where Hwy 366 connects to it, you will see seven Oak trees planted back in the 1980s in a circle near the train bridge. TxDOT did not do this landscaping. The tribute to the seven astronauts who perished in the Challenger explosion in January 1986 was made by the Nederland Historical Society. I’ll give a shout-out to William D. Quick for this. When I first heard about the disaster, I was on the same porch where I saw a formation of T-6 Texans all dressed up to look like Mitsubishi A6M Zeros for the Tora, Tora, Tora airshow at the Jefferson County Airport. I also saw Air Force One in 1980. The president was here doing what politicians do. I’m still in awe of the planes but don’t care for politicians unless it’s Winston Churchill. I will go on record to say that I’m pro-peanuts, though.

Last weekend I used my time wisely. It had been a while since I updated my files–what a weekend of filing! Nine months of files uploaded and sent to the database for humanity. You’re welcome. There were many interesting things waiting to be uploaded, such as several Port Arthur News clips of Mrs. Hugo DeBretagne. She was quite a patriot, I believe. If you have followed this blog, you’ve seen me mention Hugo J. DeBretagne. She was his mother. Although I haven’t done an in-depth article on H.J., it remains an ongoing project. Below I offer a storyline for this family and hope to expand it in the future.

The father, Hugo S. DeBretagne, fought in WWI and found a bride in Belgium, named Berthe. After the war, they lived in Port Arthur and had two sons, Hugo J. and James. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, there are many mentions of Berthe DeBretagne giving public speeches or heading the Women’s Auxiliary. Since she was mentioned more than her children and husband, I can only assume that she was a go-getter.

In the 1940s, both sons enlisted and were sent to fight in the Pacific. This is where it gets fuzzy for me as a researcher. I do know that James fought at Guadalcanal, but there is no mention of Hugo. The only information I could find is for the Battle of Tarawa. Hugo J. DeBretagne was killed in action on the third and last day of the battle (November 23, 1943). His brother James survived the war. He died in 2008, but I am yet to find his story. Mrs. DeBretagne continued to be in the spotlight with the Women’s Auxiliary in the newspapers, but in 1946 she divorced her husband and went her own way. I will not attempt to explain this decision because I can’t. It is what it is. Berthe eventually remarried an immigrant from Australia named William George Hay. She is buried near her son’s memorial stone in Greenlawn in Groves, Texas. This is one story I will continue to research.

Sparks Cemetery

Another group of files I uploaded was on the Sparks Cemetery and how it was moved in the 1950s. The cemetery was located on Dupont land between Nederland and Beaumont on TwinCity Highway. The McFaddins owned the ground at the time, and both they and Dupont moved all 30 residents of the cemetery to Forest Lawn in Beaumont. I will give the McFaddins and Dupont kudos for actually moving the bodies to their new resting place. There are many accounts of Beaumont cemeteries simply left underneath sites of urban expansion. I will get into that in the future.

Well, that’s it for this week. I’ll mention that I was surprised to make it in the Out and About with Albert section of The Examiner newspaper for the Memorial Service at Magnolia Cemetery. It’s better than the police beat. Au revoir.

Food for Thought in Port Arthur Texas (70s -80s)

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2013/01/23/food-for-thought-in-port-arthur-texas-70s-80s/

Thoughts and Ramblings: Hurakan Season begins, Miss Jack McDonough, Anahuac, Mr. Austin, or Mr. Crowley

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T.J. Chambers House Anahuac Texas

As I mentioned last week, hurricane season officially began on June 1st, sending me to HEB and Market Basket to stock up on several necessities. I currently have ample stocks of Chef Boyardee Spaghetti & Meatballs and Dinty Moore Beef Stew. What’s not well-stocked is the strategic fuel reserve, and I cringe every time I’m at the pump. Hopefully, Jim Cantore and Hurakan will spare us this year.

Around this time, I usually think of Miss Jack McDonough, Postmistress of Sabine Pass (1885–1886). Her memorial is located in Magnolia Cemetery behind the firefighters’ plot. She perished on October 12, 1886, in Sabine Pass. According to family lore, she met her end after refusing to leave the post office until she counted the money and put it in a bag to take with her. Jack’s father, mother, brother, and nephew used a small boat to try to rescue her. As the father and the brother pushed the boat along, it overturned, and Miss Jack, her mother, and nephew were lost to the waves. The bodies of Adalissa (the mother) and Benjamin Foley (the nephew) were recovered, but Jack’s never was. Adalissa and Benjamin are buried in Sabine Pass Cemetery, along with many others who shared the same date. Jack’s father, Benjamin F. McDonough, survived but died two years later in Wallis, Texas. Her brother, Andrew McDonough, also survived; he erected the stone memorial to his beloved sister at Magnolia Cemetery. Their stories are also interesting, but that’s for another time.

It’s been a while since I’ve gone to Anahuac. I’ve passed it on my way to Houston, but to see a few hidden gems, you need to get off the eternal construction zone that the powers that be refer to as Interstate 10. My last trip was around Christmas 2012 when I visited the area with a friend I would call a Texas Historian, Charles Irwin. He has written a few books on Texas history, which I believe are still available for purchase at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur. I have more info about this at the bottom of the page. We visited Heritage Park in Wallisville and had some interesting conversations, then passed the Archie and Effie Middleton House (circa 1906). I would love to tour this house, but it was privately owned at the time. After stopping at a historic cemetery, we visited the Chambers County Historical Commission Museum. More engaging conversations ensued, but the main reason for the visit was the T.J. Chambers House.

A year before, I had taken a different street when leaving work and noticed this glorious upper window that both Stephen F. Austin and Aleister Crowley would approve of. It was definitely made in honor of the Lone Star of Texas, but the Thelemic crowd would also look at it in awe. We were fortunate to have the house opened on our visit, and it was a great experience. All the vintage furniture and the Christmas theme were perfect at the time. The story and tragic murder of T.J. Chambers are also worth hearing. This area played an important part in Texas history. It was the site of the first armed confrontation between the Anglo-Texan and Mexican troops in June 1830. The bluff where Fort Anahuac was built and defended was a site where immigrants were required to pay taxes upon arrival! (In Texas, that did not go well).

I will say this about Charles Irwin: he taught me a lot about Texas history. Yes, I knew the basics from school, but I don’t recall learning that Texas had a navy. Yes, they were poor and couldn’t pay their shipyard repair bill in the New Orleans drydocks, but Sam Houston did a pretty good job of getting things in order in the end. Or was that Stephen F. Austin? Both men are well represented in my files of Southeast Texas history, as they should be. Heck, Florence Stratton was even related to SFA by the marriage of a cousin and some fuzzy math that I don’t want to get into right now. Only the Bryan family could explain it, and this is why I need to visit the Bryan Museum in Galveston.

The memorial service at Magnolia Cemetery that we held the Saturday before Memorial Day went well. I was very impressed with all who participated—especially the young scouts and the color guard. It gives me hope for the future. I know from a reliable source that this was the first time that a Memorial Day service was performed in Magnolia Cemetery. Things are looking up, and it won’t be the last one.

We are also planning on identifying all the veterans in the cemetery. This is called the Historic Magnolia Cemetery Veteran Recognition Project. It is a massive undertaking since the cemetery has around 30,000 residents. If you have family in Magnolia and they served, please get in touch with us.

rediscoveringsetx@gmail.com

Well, that’s it for this week. Go visit Anahuac, whether you’re on the SFA bandwagon or in Crowley’s bunch.

Miss Jack McDonough:

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2017/02/21/tales-from-hallowed-ground-miss-jack-mcdonough/

Rediscovering Anahuac/Wallisville:

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2012/12/31/rediscovering-anahuac-wallisville/

Chambers County:

https://wallisvillemuseum.com/

Charles Irwin’s books:

Charles Irwin

Unheralded Texas Heroes ISBN: 9781935377009

The Creed Taylor Story ISBN 978-1-4675-4458-0

Peerless Texas Empresarios ISBN 978-1-4675-4760-4

Benjamin Franklin Highsmith (Alamo Courier 1836) ISBN 978-1-4675-8482-1

https://www.museumofthegulfcoast.org/museumofthegulfcoast

Thoughts and Ramblings: Memorial Day, World War I, Interurban, and Beware of Hurakan

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Memorial Day is tomorrow, and there will be many events in the area marking this solemn holiday. As I mentioned before, I kind of get confused with November 11 because that is the day World War I ended. It is also a day to remember the fallen of the Great War. In the US, we recognize that day to thank our living veterans, while on the last Monday of May we celebrate the veterans who gave everything. I do hope everyone remembers their sacrifice.

There’s an article in the Beaumont Journal dated May 29, 1920, about a monument’s dedication. At the time, the Beaumont Journal raised money to build a memorial in Keith Park in honor of the “Beaumont Boys” who had fallen in the first world war. The monument was later moved and still sits in front of the Beaumont Enterprise building on North Main and Mulberry Street.

There were many monuments/tributes to World War I in this area. One that I recently came across was Memorial Highway, which you may know of as Highway 287, 69, 96. It begins at the seawall in Port Arthur where Highway 69 and 96 split in Lumberton. Another tribute was Berlin Street in Beaumont, renamed Pershing Street after General Pershing, the American Expeditionary Forces commander in the Great War. The street was renamed Foch Street sometime before 1941. I assume this was done was in honor of Ferdinand Foch, the Supreme Allied Commander during World War I. Yet another monument is a 48-star US flag made of cement that is currently in front of the American Legion Post 7 named Rudolph Lambert, after the first soldier from Port Arthur to be killed in France.

The most well-known tribute is the Temple to the Brave, built in 1932. Located at 1350 Pennsylvania in Beaumont, the monument was designed to look like a small English church, and the stained glass is incredible. Today, it functions as a memorial to veterans of all wars. Inside it, there are relics on display that date up to the Gulf War. The monument is only open to the public on Memorial Day, Flag Day (June 14), Patriot Day (September 11), Veteran’s Day (November 11), and Pearl Harbor Day (December 7). It’s worth a visit.

Now that the Historic Homes Tour is over, I can get back to another Historic Tour. The 2nd Annual Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour is scheduled for October (exact dates coming soon). We hope to bring to light stories from Beaumont’s past—some old and some new. There are nearly 30,000 residents in Magnolia Cemetery, and all of them have stories to tell. Most of these people were not famous. They lived their lives the best they could and did remarkable things away from the limelight of most SETX historians. These are the best stories, and we honor them by retelling them.

I had an interesting conversation today about the Interurban. For those who don’t know, Jefferson County had an electric train that ran from Austin Avenue in Port Arthur to Orleans Street in Beaumont between 1913 and 1932. The train made 19 trips per day, starting at 5:45 a.m. and finishing at midnight. Tickets cost 90 cents for a roundtrip and 50 cents one way; they were prorated for the ten stops between the two cities. The stops along the way included South Park, Spindletop, Nederland, Rice Farm, and Griffing/Pear Ridge. No tracks are left today, but you can still see some of the pathways by the high lines. I have a map of the old depot area at Pear Ridge that kind of explains why 9th avenue is all curvy in front of the Bob Hope School. It was two separate roads at the time. I don’t know the year of the map, unfortunately, but it shows 9th avenue as Avenue E north of the school’s current location and Avenue F to the east, with the tracks in the middle. A Sanborn map from 1930 shows this same setup, but the name is already the current one. Sometime after 1932, the roads were combined by either the powers that be or people taking shortcuts. I think it was the latter.

If you want to know more about our electric train, I have a link at the bottom of this page.

I hate to bring this up, but hurricane season begins next week. Back in 2012, I wrote a piece called The Destructive Side of History, and there have been a few times that I’ve wanted to update it, but each time the Storm Gods keep ridin’ into town. So that idea is on a permanent hiatus. If something does develop, I guess I’ll be like the rest of you—glued to meteorologist Donald Jones’s live sessions on the US National Weather Service Lake Charles Louisiana Facebook page. Fingers crossed.

Until next time, stay safe, and if you see Jim Cantore, the storm god Hurakan is not far behind.

Temple to the Brave: http://www.texasescapes.com/WorldWarI/TempleToTheBrave/TempleToTheBrave.htm

Temple to the Brave photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYptPKZ

Interurban Railway:

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

Interurban 100th Anniversary:

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2013/12/15/100th-anniversay-of-the-interurban/

The Destructive Side of History:

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2012/07/12/the-destructive-side-of-history/

When the Storm God Rides by Florence Stratton and Bessie Reid:

https://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/se/wsgr/index.htm

Thoughts and Ramblings: Candy Lady, Whine, Little League, and Memorial Day

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The 48th Annual Galveston Homes Tour is a wrap, and I hope everyone had a chance to visit the beautiful houses. There were more long lines than in some previous years, but it was certainly worth it for some homes. As a gatekeeper, I am the one you usually meet first, and I can say we had one great bunch of people visiting the cover house. You were great because some things went wrong, especially with the technology, but we all soldiered on. One thing to remember for next year is that you MUST keep hydrated during the tour. Free water stations were available in all the houses this year, and I’m sure it will be the same next year, so there is no excuse: hydrate! If you visit the home I volunteer at, you will also find candy for an extra boost. The candy is donated by Beverly Davis (you might know her as the “candy lady” on the tour). Beverly is in charge of our group, and she is incredible. I have volunteered with her for a good many years now, and I’m already looking forward to the next.

Every Monday morning, I drive to a work site through Orange County, which takes around 30 to 40 minutes. Al and the gang on 560 KLVI usually blare on the radio until I get to the site; Sirius XM follows. Why KLVI? Probably because I’m used to a little whine on my daily commute. This Monday I heard that the Cincinnati Reds baseball team pitched a no-hitter. I should be ecstatic because in the 70s that was my team! For all you Astro fans, y’all were the farm team for Cincinnati. I know this because we used to go to the Astrodome every time the Reds were in town for a doubleheader and watch them sweep. (But I will always love Jose Cruz.) They also stole many of your players, but I digress.

The Seagull 1918

I mention this because Cincinnati pitched a no-hitter and lost, which brings me back to when I played in the Bellaire little league for Duraso Pharmacy. We weren’t the most athletic of sorts. There was no name for the team other than the company that sponsored us, so we named ourselves the Dirty Pigs because of the DP on the hat. (Shocking that a group of 10-year-olds would do that.) Our team was involved in a no-hitter, but unlike Cincinnati, we had one pitcher. I don’t remember the strategy, but either our pitcher or the coach, who was usually intoxicated, decided to wear out the other team by walking them. We lost 9-2. I’m really surprised that we managed to score two runs.

Memorial Day is coming up, which usually confuses me. Not the reason, but the date. I’m aware it’s linked to European history and World War I, but for us it goes back to the Civil War. The day was known as Decoration Day because both the North and the South poignantly put flowers on the graves of the fallen. Usually, the women tended to the graves because the men were lying underground. This wasn’t a good scenario for either side. All who were left did what they could. In my opinion, it’s good to look back at history, especially to learn from the past. George Santayana once said, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Magnolia Cemetery has a memorial service on Saturday, May 28. It’s just a way to remember all the veterans who didn’t make it home and thank them for their sacrifice. We also include all the veterans that came back and lived great lives, but have passed. It’s a small service from 11 to 12. I hope you can make it. We are also working on a database of veterans buried at Magnolia Cemetery. This is a big project because the cemetery has about 30,000 residents, and half of them served in some form or another.

Speaking of veterans and Memorial Day, my friend and fantastic finder of things, Don Smart, gave me a 1918 edition of the Seagull. I’ve talked about this before. The Seagull was the high school yearbook of Port Arthur High School. Since this edition is from World War I, I want to delve a little deeper into its pages. I love these old books.

I guess I should up the ante on researching old cemeteries. I do know that the Lewis Cemetery hasn’t been seen since 1932. In Mildred Wright’s cemetery book, it is located between 19th and 23rd streets. To my knowledge, it was never moved, so if you live 200 yards north of the Olive Garden in Beaumont, you may not want to put in a pool. I might also throw in the old Civil War Cemetery under Fire Station One. Apparently, that cemetery was also never moved, and yes, it was haunted.

Until next time, stay hydrated—my old Little League coach did.

Cheers!

Thoughts and Ramblings: Scary Trees, Kishi Colony, Lucian Adams, and a Rant

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I believe we’ve lost a few friends. If you’ve ever traveled down Highway FM 105, west of FM 1442 in Orange County, you might have seen some odd old trees. They looked like they would be perfectly at home on Almira Gulch’s land in Kansas/Oz, ready to grab Dorothy and her little dog “too.” I love Margaret Hamilton. They were Camphor trees planted by Toraichi Kishi, brother of Kichimatsu Kishi, who immigrated from Japan to farm rice. These trees were registered with the Texas Forest Service at some point, and according to the TAMU website, one of them was on the Texas Big Tree Registry. Now, only one colossal tree is left. The others sadly succumbed to the freeze of February 2021. These trees were apparently planted in the 1910s.

Growing up, we had a Camphor tree. When I was 7 years old, the plant was my link to traveling the seas on a boat called the Westwind. Thinking back, I have little knowledge of the TV show, but I do know that my Camphor tree smelled better than that yacht from the 1970s.

Speaking of the Kishis, a few years back, I came across a scrapbook filled with newspaper articles from the 1940s at an estate sale in Port Neches. Its owner, Miss Davis, kept many articles leading up to and during the war. One was a Beaumont Enterprise article about a young man named Taro Kishi, an American born into a family of Japanese descendants (a Nisei). His words in the article spoke of patriotism and wanting to fight against the aggressors of the United States. Still, the U.S. military was not recruiting Japanese Americans at this point. Eventually, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was formed with Japanese Americans and fought in the Italy campaign.

As I mention the history of WWII and the Italy campaign, I have to bring up Lucian Adams from Port Arthur. He was one of twelve siblings: nine boys and three girls. Eight of the boys served during the war, and fortunately, all of them returned home. Lucian carried out many heroic acts. The first one was during the landing at Anzio, where he knocked out an enemy machine-gun position, leading his unit to advance. Lucian earned a Bronze Star for this. During another campaign in France, he knocked out three machine-gun nests all by himself, two using grenades and the other one with his Browning Automatic Rifle. For this, he received the Medal of Honor. There go a couple of tales from my “Greatest Generation file”—because they were our greatest generation!

I’ve volunteered for many organizations and will continue to do so in the future, but I am a bit irked at a few non-profits in our area. In the past, I’ve had a couple of bad experiences with these Wine and Cheese factories that communicate nice messages about supporting “our history” but treat their volunteers like cannon fodder. Admittedly, the organizations I refer to have gotten rid of the people in charge at the time, but I still have no desire to become one of their winos. I will not mention the organizations here, but if you ever see me out on the street, I would love to tell you about the dark side of this history.

My real gripe here is that someone takes time out of their life to help your non-profit, and you, as the organizer, are being well compensated. I do believe these people should be paid, but please treat your (unpaid) volunteers with respect, and know that if it weren’t for them, your organization would cease to exist. Treat us right, and we will come; treat us wrong, and you will die a horrible death.

Well, I had a whole other rant about volunteers being given a 3×5 card of historical information, but low and behold, I was just emailed three pages of facts about the house I’ll be volunteering at. I like whoever is the powers that be currently. Things are looking up. Hope to see you in Galveston this week and next. Even you, Wanda. Just wear comfy shoes. No heels!

Thoughts and Ramblings: Jorge Mireles, Dionisio Rodriguez, Historic Home Tours, and Black-eyed Susans

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Jorge Mireles headstone

There are many fascinating things to discover at Magnolia Cemetery. The architecture, the stained glass of the mausoleums, the memorials, the unique headstones, and the statues are all attractions for many photographers. The tours, of course, focus on all the stories and legends of Beaumont’s past. But there are some wonders that few people notice as they walk on the hillside of the original cemetery.

One example is the grave of Jorge Mireles, which is located behind William Patterson’s resting place. Some of you may know that William Patterson was the first Beaumont police officer killed in the line of duty. His murderer was a 17-year-old Patillo Higgins, but I digress! Jorge—or George, as most people called him—was the son of the owners of Tampico Café on Crockett street. Unfortunately, his life was cut short by tuberculosis. His gravestone mentions that he was originally from San Antonio.

At first glance, the headstone is similar to those of the 1920s, but if you look at the degraded stone’s border, you will see something special. The border is made of cement, but the material is designed to look like petrified wood. At the time, an artist called Dionisio Rodriguez made a living by sculpting faux bois, or fake wood (to us non-French speakers). Dionisio was Mexican-born but his home was in San Antonio. He traveled throughout the US but did a lot of work in Texas; he also spent some time in this area. His local works include the Eddingston Court shell fence (1929) in Port Arthur and the benches at St. Elizabeth Hospital/the Phelan Mansion property in Beaumont.

Although it is apparent that Dionisio was here during the mid to late twenties, I can’t tie him to Jorge’s grave since Jorge died in 1923, but they both had San Antonio roots. It is also possible that someone, seeing Dionisio’s creations, thought that it would be a nice touch for the family. I’m sure this will always remain a mystery, but you never know what you may uncover in the future.

The Galveston Historic Homes Tour is next week, and I’m excited about yet another round of shiplap. Truthfully, I am! The restorers spend a lot of money to make these properties glorious again, especially today. I remember once touring a beautiful house where one of the volunteers knew the person living across the street. They acknowledged that from the outside, the property looked like it had been abandoned for many years; however, the inside was totally redone. Some may wonder why the exterior remodeling had been skimpy. Taxes.

Another memory I have is of volunteering at a house across the street from the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The neighbor’s cat seemed to crave the attention of everyone lining up to take the tour. This was not a problem until said cat decided to have lunch in the yard in full view of our tourers. I assume doves are a delicacy. We actually talked to the neighbor about his cat, and he replied

Yes, he does what he does. He usually hangs out at the church on Sundays, then likes to lie around at this house.

I also volunteered at a house on the same block the following year, and, yes, he was there. Bon appétit!

The Rowley Trio

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In December 2015, I wrote an article about Virginia Rowley, a young girl whose tragic death is shrouded in mystery, not least because of the poem on her gravestone. Although we never really learned the reason for the poem, we did find out about the many triumphs and tragedies of the Rowley family. I tried to present just the facts without adding speculation to the mix. I figured Virginia, or “Gene” as she was sometimes called, was owed some respect.

About a week before Christmas I received a message from a family member doing genealogical research on the Rowleys. They had found my article, and fortunately my research had helped them in their own quest to find out more about the family. I only mention this because in our correspondence, I also gained some information on the younger siblings. While doing my research, I was not able to find out what became of the younger Rowleys. Since then, I’ve dug a little deeper and found out a bit more about Gene’s younger siblings, Vera and Jerry. I thought it might be poignant to look back at their accomplishments as well.

A search through newspapers such as the Port Arthur News, the now-defunct Port Neches Chronicle, and the Nederland Midcounty Review revealed a few early accounts of the siblings performing at recitals and such, but it wasn’t until 1947 that the Rowley duo—Jerry, who sang and played the fiddle, and Vera (nicknamed Dido), who also sang and played bass and sometimes guitar—became a trio following the marriage of Jerry to Evelyn Jo Deloney that November. Nevertheless, it was only in the early 50s that their talents began to be noticed.

In reading through a few articles and George Jones’s book I Lived to Tell It All, I learned that the Rowley Trio got their start as a backup band at KFDM radio in Beaumont. Jones writes

Shortly before I worked with Dalton I played with the Reily Trio, made up of a brother, his wife, and his sister. That was at KFDM in Beaumont, where we did a live show at 5:30 a.m. That job didn’t last very long because I couldn’t stand getting up that early and because the Reilys left Beaumont to play in the band of Lefty Frizzell, You will get to know more detailed research about setting up the country music legend had big hits on Starday Records.

Although Jones uses a different spelling of the name, I am certain that that the “Reily Trio” and the Rowley Trio were one and the same.

After playing for Lefty Frizzell, the writer of such hits as I Love You a Thousand Ways, and If You Got the Money (I’ve Got the Time), the Rowley Trio backed up another well-known up-and-coming star named Johnny Horton in September 1952. The band performed on the country radio show Louisiana Hayride, which was broadcast from Shreveport, Louisiana. The show ran from 1948 to 1960 and would launch many careers during that time, including the likes of Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, Jim Reeves, and many more. Although the Rowley Trio did not rise to national stardom during their short stint at the show, they did earn the respect of many of their peers.

In late 1953, the Rowleys parted ways with Johnny Horton, but this was not the end of the trio. Johnny Horton’s manager Fabor Robinson, who had left just before the Rowleys, invited them to his recording studio in Malibu, California. Unfortunately, I could not find any recordings from this era but learned from Dido’s bio that she released a single in 1954 called “The Hands of Time.”

I noticed Dido’s name on a few country show billings around the state in the latter part of the 50s, but nothing of the Rowley Trio. It does appear though that Jerry performed locally given that there are multiple mentions of this in various newspapers. What is clear is that all the members of the trio were living back in the Nederland area by 1957, although Dido would later move to Houston and release a few singles, one of which was written by Don Mahoney. Some of you who grew up in the 60s might remember his name if you had 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. If you remember this, then you might also remember Dido. Yes, Jeanna Clare was the stage name Dido/Vera Rowley took while on the show.

I’m sure there is a lot more to these stories, and in time, I may look into them further. Again, you never know where your research journey will take you. There are just so many rabbit holes to explore…

A brief History of Florence Stratton part2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

M.E. Moore,

Superintendent of schools.

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

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

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

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

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