There has been much talk about the Tyrrell Park Community Building and the dire need to save this structure from demolition. In fact, this talk goes all the way back to 2005, after Hurricane Rita. The building is in a state of major decay. The roof has collapsed in three different places, and the plywood that was intended as a temporary fix in 2005 and 2008 (after Hurricanes Rita and Ike, respectively) has added considerable weight to what is left of the existing roof, adding to its demise.

Built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Tyrrell Park Community Building was converted into a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. The camp housed around 200 soldiers who worked in the rice fields until the end of the war. Later the building was used as a popular site for gatherings, such as weddings, parties, and other community get-togethers. It has been vacant since 2004.

In 2008, $90,000 was spent drawing up plans for the full restoration of the building as well as the surrounding grounds. The budgeted cost at the time was $2.5 million, but the Beaumont City Council did not move forward with the restoration. (It must be noted that a simple roof, even after Hurricane Ike, would not have cost near $2.5 million.) Five years later, there has still not been a shred of restoration activity, let alone an attempt to fix the roof.

As of the time of this posting, the 2014 budget for the Capital Program has been submitted, and it is clear that there will be no progress in this matter. To the Council’s credit, they have maintained the Jefferson and Julie Rogers Theaters, renovated the old Whitehouse and J.C. Penny’s department stores, and built a community center at Alice Keith Park. Furthermore, there is extensive provision in the new budget for street improvements, which I can understand. Roads and the upkeep of city services are an obvious priority.

What I don’t understand is how over $10 million can be spent on a brand new event center, which, in my opinion, is nice but will not make any money. Indeed, Beaumont politics is renowned for building unprofitable centers. (How’s Ford Park doing?)

Some of you may have seen a story in the news about drilling in Tyrrell Park. The gas well was to bring in millions in revenue to the Park, but as of this posting, just under $500k has found its way there. Again, a mere roof for the building will not cost millions.

Ultimately the resolution of this issue rests in the hands of the residents and voters of Beaumont. I am not a Beaumont resident, nor do I have a say in any of Beaumont’s internal affairs. However, as a U.S. citizen, I have vested interest in the restoration of our public buildings and the preservation of our heritage. I hope that Beaumont residents will contact their council members regarding this issue and also bear this in mind at election time.

Godspeed, Beaumont. May your roofs be sturdy and sound.

It’s that time of year, and it couldn’t come at a better time. The weather, as many visitors and volunteers noted, was superb. The record low temperatures were a blessing. Truth be told, the temperatures last year were in the 90s, so it was ideal to be able to tour these beautiful houses in May with March weather.

The drive through the peninsula was magnificent. I can tell more and more people are building for which I applaud the residents. Even the ferry was almost on time, and even though there was a little wait, the ride could not have been any better.

My first stop on the tour was the Rosa McDonald Peete House, which was built circa 1886. I couldn’t help but notice just how similar the interior was to the Vulsteke House in Port Arthur. The current owners have done an excellent job with the décor. The pews at the dinner table were an appropriate touch, especially since the house is located on Church Street.

After a brief walk, we entered the Henry and Clara Lang House, which was also built around 1886. A very interesting place indeed. Like most houses constructed this year, it’s small but enticing. The back porch is probably the best I saw while on tour. I definitely could see myself lounging about the place. I’m justifiably envious but also happy that the owners shared their treasure.

Speaking of treasures, I was in a state of bliss as I entered the Peter and Agnes Gengler House, which was constructed at the same time as the previous two. I love this house both inside and out. The current owner is a clocksmith, and he has over 150 clocks displayed throughout the house: a selection that would make any collector drool. I was surprised to see that the house is also up for sale for a mere $641k.

The fourth house on our list was the Mathilda Wehmeyer House and German American Kindergarten School. The landscaping was exquisite, and the white roses were in full bloom. We saw a lot of the front garden because of the long wait to enter. I am used to long lines, but this was different. We eventually found out the reason we were left to admire the garden for so long: the owner required all who enter the house to wear shoe covers, and it was therefore taking more time than usual to start the tours.

Huh? You want to enter your house on a public tour, but you do not want the public to touch your floors? I can understand an owner wanting to protect their precious house, but making people put on slippery shoe covers? (It must be added that I nearly slipped on the stairs.) And did I mention that the shoe covers were recycled back to the front door when the back-door bin was full? So ladies and gents with sandals, you have been warned! Please skip this house if you don’t want to wear other peoples’ shoe covers. Truth be told skip this house. Period. It is a nice but MODERN home.

After the great bootie debacle, we were fortunate to enter the 1888 Browning and Sara Crowell House. What a treat! I was ecstatic to be able to walk through this lovely home and hear some of the unfortunate history of Hurricane Ike; unfortunate for most of the other houses near this gem, because according to the docent, this house did not receive the brunt of Ike’s fury since it is located across the street from a park, and the water damned up the rest of the neighborhood. Buying near a park is good advice when purchasing property along the Gulf coast.

After lunch at Shrimp and Stuff, I headed out alone to the Samuel and Matilda Levine House. I must say, the docents of this house, which was built in 1899, were my favorites. Actually, what am I saying? All the docents did a great job in all the houses! I enjoyed this blue house with all its original wood. It’s a must-see.

Another must-see is the Christopher and Anna Schmidt House. Originally built in 1886, it was restored from a fire in 2008, and the owners have done a superb job with the décor. Oh, and when the tour enters the kitchen, say hello to the cat that sits silently on the stool watching the 10-odd people surrounding him. I guess he’s used to tours. Another treat is the dining table, which was created from old Galveston lumber. The craftsman did an outstanding job.

By this stage, time was running out and I was determined to see the last three homes. Luckily, lines become shorter in the latter hours of the tour, so it took no time at all before I was able to see the Joseph and Philomene Magna Cottage. The tour of this 1888 house is short and sweet, but I like what the owner has done. It is a small house, but it’s decorated well. One of its unique points is that, because she was determined to have a proper bath, the owner gave up her closet space in the two bedrooms.

I enjoyed this little house with the large deck in the back. I’m sure the owner will get many years of pleasure out of it.

Next on the list was the restoration-in-progress Samuel A. and Sallie Cook Cottage. The stained glass was excellent. I look forward to seeing this fully restored in a later tour.

Of course, I saved the best for last. As the tour started winding down, I went to see the George and Magnolia Sealy House, Open Gates,” which was built around 1889-1890. This was worth touring, and the stories of the 1900 hurricane were thought-provoking. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) owns this gem, so it’s private and in much demand on the tour. Be prepared to wait in line but that know it’s worth it.

A trip to Galveston wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the cemetery. As usual, the yellow wildflowers were a sight for sore eyes.

Congratulations to the Galveston Historical Foundation on yet another successful tour. I hope to return in the coming week for another round of these fine homes. To the wonderful docents who volunteer their time for this event: you are appreciated!

Growing up in Port Arthur in the 1970s did have its finer points to some degree. As a kid I had no idea what Bernis Sadler (then the mayor) was up to nor did I care. My main concern was whether or not Monceaux Drive In had those delectable and greasy onion rings with my cheeseburger deluxe served in a cardboard pie box. Truth be told, there is nothing that comes close. Similarly, onion rings are unbeatable one ! (Baby Boomers will remember Monceaux’s for the root-beer among other things.)

Over the course of two decades, I have discovered many eateries in my hometown, and there were many. One that comes to mind is a little takeout place called Hartman’s, which was located on Bluebonnet Avenue. If you loved home-style cooking, then this was a gem. I can remember walking in and feeling as if I was in someone’s house, except for the screen door attached to the kitchen from which an elderly man emerged with your plate lunch after you had ordered it from a very nice elderly lady.

These two people were delightful. As far as I could tell, these were the Hartman’s, and one could believe this except for their heavy Cajun accents. One thing that sticks out in my mind is that, when I would call ahead, the lady would ask what I wanted. My answer, of course, was the Étouffée, but there were many things besides the main course. “So what are the sides?”

“Well, we got lima beans, string beans, pinto beans, red beans, white beans, and (it always ended with) black-eyed peas.”

Whatever the sides, this was something to treasure. Speaking of treasure, I also remember a place next to Roy’s Food Center on Lewis Drive called the Brisket Room. The chip beef sandwiches were the best barbeque—or at least they were until I found Billy Joe’s in Port Neches.

Port Arthur seemed to always promote itself as the friendliest city by the sea. Well, Port Arthur is not by the sea, it’s by a lake, but I will give credit to the seafood. There were three restaurants that I enjoyed. The first and foremost was Leo and Willie’s. There was no place better in the 80s—except on Thursdays. On Thursdays I would order a seafood platter from the Texas Fish Net Restaurant. There was no one who had better catfish than the Fish Net!

And let us not forget about the Farm Royale on Memorial. Back in the day, most knew this place to be an upper-class eatery, and they weren’t mistaken. Other eateries offering decent seafood (technically I do not know if they are in Port Arthur, but they are worth mentioning) are Domingue’s on the Neches (under the Rainbow Bridge) and of course, Esther’s. Yes, I do know the latter is in Groves, Texas, but it was just a great place to eat back when.

Finally, sometimes we craved Mexican food, and there was no better place at the time to treat ourselves than under the train bridge at Taco Rey, or my favorite, Guadalajara on 9^th Avenue. Both had pretty good Tex-Mex food. Nowadays Taco Rey can be found on Nederland (where it’s safe), and Guadalajara still has a restaurant in Orange Texas.

Please forgive this minor indulgence because this blog really has no historic value other than me remembering those greasy onion rings, chip beef sandwiches, plate lunches, catfish, and tacos from places and times long since passed.

There is one place in Port Arthur that has always fascinated me even though I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting it. Over the years, the grounds of Eddingston Court have made me think of English-inspired flats and gardens. So how did this property come to be, and what is its history?

In 1929 Port Arthur was short of rental properties due in part to the expanding oil industry. Tugboat captain and businessman Ambrose Eddingston saw an opportunity and commissioned the construction of four two-story Tudor brick apartment buildings along with a pond, which lay in the middle of the drive between the buildings. A one-story brick ranch-style home was also built at the end of the drive.

Given the time it was built, circa 1929, it must have been quite a sight to see the finished edifice. I have personally always been a fan of English architecture and gardens, so to have been among the Port Arthur residents of the period would no doubt have just added to my ardor.

Given the eccentric flare of the property’s pond and structures, you would think that these would have been sufficient, but Ambrose Eddingston had another visual treat for passersby. The captain had 6,000 Conch shells imported from the Caymen Islands, and these went into the construction of a wall at the front of the property. Ambrose Eddingston commissioned Dionicio Rodriguez, a Mexican-born sculpture who was living in San Antonio at the time, to construct the fence and the pond. (As an aside, Rodriguez was not only known for his wonderful works, but he also perfected a process in which he carved chemically treated reinforced concrete so that it looked like wood.)

During the subsequent 76 years, this property underwent a few minor changes but still maintained its English-style charm, providing tenants with a place to call home. Some residents even stayed for multiple decades. Sadly, just as with many other properties in this area, Hurricane Rita unleashed her fury upon it, and it was damaged. In 2008, Hurricane Ike also damaged the structures, and it has lain vacant ever since.

Nowadays, you will notice as you go past the property that this glamorous artistic treasure is barricaded by a chain link fence, and a “For Sale” sign is in plain view. I can only imagine the state of the structures, which have been left as is, waiting until a new owner comes in and restores this historic gem to its former glory. Hopefully this is one Port Arthur property that will escape the wrecking ball, unlike so many other buildings over the years that have not.