Category Archives: #ww1

Thoughts and Ramblings: I Miss Mr. Heat Miser; The Seagull; Ronald, Texas; Preserving the Legacy of W. T. Block Jr; Remembering Roy; Red Cross Armband; Don’t Ever Mess With My Bananas!

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Good morning to everyone except Mr. Snow Miser. Here he comes now, the big ham. His icy crap and low temps suck. I prefer Mr. Heat Miser because he’s Mr. Green Christmas. He’s Mr. Sun. He’s Mr. Heat Blister and Mr. One Hundred and One. They call him Heat Miser because whatever he touches starts to melt in his clutch. He’s too much!

I hope you all survived this icy nonsense called mid-January. I blame all the folk participating in dry January. January is never dry, just frozen for the weekend, then we deal with rain and the Canadian thistle weeds, clover, and other growing stuff that appears in spring. Not to brag, but I am certified in afterlife heat-tolerance training. This does not matter in January, though. It basically means that I have a jacket on when the temperatures fall below 67 degrees.

This week, I have been focusing on the Port Arthur High School yearbooks that I acquired from a friend who texts me whenever he finds something from Port Arthur. Although I can’t take everything he suggests, he somehow finds a lot of interesting stuff at estate sales. I have five editions of The Seagull, the yearbook of the first years of Port Arthur High School. I have the ones from 1918, 1922, 1923, 1925, and 1927 thanks to Mr. Don Smart. All the years are digitized and can be viewed at the Portal to Texas History. I’ll leave a link at the bottom of the blog.

I’ve also been looking at my maps, and the city of Ronald stands out because it was, I believe, a place where the train stopped. I have a map of the city from a Texas and New Orleans Railroad Survey. I did find a “Ronald, Texas” stop on the Houston and Sabine Pass Railroad. It was just south of Fannett and northeast of Big Hill on an 1898 map that I purchased from the Spindletop Boomtown Museum over ten years ago. I will state that this map keeps on giving, whether it’s finding Catherina Stengele’s rice farm and land or Ronald McDonald touting that he and N. A. Gallagher founded a city (yep, that’s his name, and now I really want to look into the story). I will also give kudos to the Spindletop Boomtown Museum for selling this treasure.

On Friday, I attended the “Preserving the Legacy of W. T. Block Jr.” lecture. Bill Block, W. T.’s son, did a fantastic job of explaining why we need to preserve history and how to do it. His journey of reclaiming some of W. T.’s files and learning the ropes of self-publishing to bring his books back to print for a decent price is commendable because some of these online stores are ridiculous. In the end, though, will you pay for what they offer? Luckily, the reprints of his father’s books are accessible at a decent price. I’ll leave a link at the bottom of the blog.

This event really had a good turnout, and I hope to attend more of these gatherings at the Tyrrell Historical Library. My only regret was not knowing that the Listen Closely podcast hostess/“Old News” Facebook page creator was in the audience. If you haven’t checked out the podcast and the Facebook page, I have the links! If that’s okay with you, Mrs. Marble! I love your work.

A few weeks ago, a reader sent me down memory lane. I found out that someone in her family lived basically across the street from the house I lived in during the 1990s. Also, we had a mutual interest in one of our neighbors. I have many spirit animals that have influenced me (isn’t that what the kids say? Or is that the new-aging community?). Margaret Hamilton (Wizard of Oz), Bunny Rabbit (from Captain Kangaroo), Oscar the Grouch (from Sesame Street), and Yukari Akiyama 秋山 優花里 (Tank Enthusiast from Girls Und Panzer) have all had an influence on my life, but not as much as Roy Temple. My neighbor, who was a living being, had a major impact on me on many levels. He taught me a lot and told me stories of coming to Port Arthur from Leesville, Louisiana, in 1957. I did a tribute for him in 2012. I’ll leave a link.

I don’t know if I ever told this story here before (I could go back and look for it, but it’s cold and my search engine is sketchy). A friend—we’ll call him Doug—saved a few treasures from a garbage pile. Unfortunately, someone passed, and the nieces and nephews threw out many boxes of gems. (This happens all the time, so if you have something to pass on, you should know that your family members are the worst people to trust to pass it on. Make a plan.) These boxes contained oil stock certificates, abstracts, lawyer stuff, a map of Hardin County, and a World War I Red Cross armband. The stock certificates were never given to me. Although worthless, they were cool, so the finder decided to keep them. They gave me the other stuff. I contacted the Hardin County Historical Commission and agreed to give them the map and all the papers. I decided to keep the armband. Everything was good to go the day before. That evening, as I was photographing and digitizing as many papers as I could, I became ill—ill enough to recognize the sign that a treasure needs to be in a certain place. The next afternoon, I dropped off all the papers, along with the armband, because that is where I suspect Mr. Cruse wanted it to be—I digress.

Today, if you visit the Hardin County Museum, you will see the Red Cross armband in the case, among other historical relics. I don’t go there often, but I love this museum, and I hope it continues to grow.

Would you be interested if there was a volunteer day to help clean up an abandoned cemetery in Jefferson County in late January? If you think you might want to help, reach out to me so I can give you the details. I will definitely be talking about this in future posts; for now, we need to get the details in order.

Until next week, make sure your bananas are secure in your kitchen because Ratatouille paid the ultimate price for sneaking in under the oaks on Block’s Formosan Farm and trying to eat my bananas at 3:30 a.m. The bananas are safe now, but my Tanto short sword is chipped.

Don’t ever mess with my bananas!

The Seagull -Port Arthur High School Yearbook 1918: 

https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth139825/

W.T. Block website

http://www.wtblock.com/

To Purchase His Books:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/W.-T.-Block/author/B001JS50ES?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Listen Closely Podcast:

https://www.facebook.com/HTTLISTENCLOSELY

Old News:  

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555333351969

Tribute to Roy:  

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2012/07/24/remembering-roy/

Museum of Hardin County:  

https://www.facebook.com/MuseumHardinCounty

Thoughts and Ramblings: A Look Back

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It has been a most intriguing year for me, to say the least. We found the “Elks Love Nest,” which was given away in a raffle in December 1926. The house still stands in 2023.

We also found Beaumont’s “daredevil,” Louis Sacker, eating horseshoes and nails in 1926 while doing other strongman stuff. Grrr! (These are the types of stories that appear when you search in old newspapers.)

Eunice Stephens, Florence Stratton’s niece, was proven right about the discovery of a town called Florence. Yes, I ate crow at dismissing this because Florence, Texas, was established in 1857 in Williamson County, but a fellow researcher (thanks Kate) found an article referring to a train stop called Florence Switch in Hardin County. The depot/stop had no post office but lasted until at least 1912. I nicked a 1912 train stop map from the internet as proof. Sometimes we can be a bit dodgy, but it was the original map and I just wanted proof of the location of Florence Switch. I’ll pay $150 for a signed book by Florence Stratton and $150 to walk around the U.S.S. Texas in drydock, but I do have my limits.

I was honored to speak to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Captain William Sanders Chapter, in Port Arthur in February. And, heads up, I will be doing the same this February.

In February, I also visited the U.S.S. Texas at Gulf Copper in Galveston. I was five minutes late but managed to drive from the ferry to the shipyard parking lot in those five minutes (you do the math and the wind speeds—sorry/not sorry). On my visit, I noticed that most people there were not from Beaumont, but they opined about Beaumont being a drive-thru city and that they would hate to see the ship moored there. I had assumed it would be moored in Galveston, but for some reason, they didn’t mention it after Beaumont and Baytown were taken off the list. However, it will be moored near the Elissa.

In March and April, I participated in a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey at the Sabine Pass Cemeteries. Our goal was to find the mass grave of yellow fever victims from the mid-1860s, but due to the clay soil and lack of permission to access the known site, our efforts didn’t yield much. This investigation is ongoing!

In April, I visited the Tallship Festival in Galveston. Touring the four ships, plus one modern ship, was fantastic, and I managed to do it in an hour and a half. My main love at this festival was the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson. This modern National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship is a federally operated hydrographic vessel out of Norfolk, Virginia. It does ocean mapping and is a vital tool for scanning shipping areas after a hurricane or any other problem that could endanger the maritime sector. The ship is here to scan the waters and make sure they are clear of debris and hazards. It was here for Hurricane Delta in 2020, and it did its thing for Hurricane Maria in 2017.

This year was Port Arthur’s 125th anniversary, and there were many efforts to tell the story. My favorite was the online map of historical markers. Les McMahen did an excellent job on this!

The 49th Galveston Historic Homes Tour was one to remember for me, at least for me. As some of you know, I take the tour on the first day and then volunteer with the candy lady Bev from Liberty County on Sunday. I stayed at a friend’s Airbnb this year, so I didn’t have to drive from Jefferson County to Galveston via Winnie. Between waiting for the ferry and that drive, it usually drives you insane. Whatever the insanity, Mama Theresa’s Pizza is there, and this is my dinner waiting on the ferry! Hope to see you at the 50th in May. I hear there’s something exciting planned!

The drought hit us hard this year. It was worse than in 2011. If you remember, that was the year that many forest fires threatened Plantersville. There was a lot of damage between Houston and Austin that you can still see today. Well, this year was more of a look at how low the river has become “and is that a ship?” While we heard about a few incidents from the news media, many boats have sunk along the Neches. If you take the Ivy Bill Tour along the Neches, they’ll point them out to you! That crew is impressive!

In May, two veterans interred at Evergreen Cemetery received headstones. The new headstones were for Sergeant George Shaw, who died in France during the Great War (WWI), and Jerry Lloyd, a Buffalo soldier who fought in the Indian wars. The replacement headstone for George Shaw was necessary because the original one erroneously stated that he was a private. Thanks to the research conducted by a member of our Jefferson County Historical Commission, a headstone with the correct information was sent, as Sergeant Shaw deserves. The situation with Jerry Lloyd’s headstone was a bit different; as far as we know, he never received one. If there was a regular one marking his grave, it had disappeared. Research confirms that he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, but we’re unaware of his specific location.

In September, fallen Deputy John E. Hutcheson received a headstone in a ceremony at Magnolia Cemetery. Thanks to Operation Blue Remembrance (OBR) for making this happen and paying for it. OBR is a nonprofit organization from Baytown, approved by the state and the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization on June 2, 2020. Its primary focus is “assisting the law enforcement community in any way” they can and visiting the graves of fallen officers in Texas and a few other states. OBR’s motto is Nemo Oblitus, which is Latin for “No One Forgotten.” The organization stepped in because neither the family nor the county had purchased a headstone for Deputy Hutcheson when he was buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

The 3rd Annual Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour was well received, with record attendance this year. The Texas Historical Commission even included us in its Project Spotlight publication. This is basically their way of giving county historical commissions throughout the state a shout-out for what they are doing to preserve history. This is excellent because a lot of people involved in the tour work tirelessly to preserve various aspects of our county’s history. The stories from the tour usually stem from their own research, and they do a wonderful job. See you next year for the fourth annual tour!

So, what’s in store for 2024? I have no idea, but I’m sure it will be full of shenanigans, history, and anime references that no one gets, but that’s okay. I do know that no one here will be participating in “dry January.” Cheers!

Thoughts and Ramblings: October; Deputy Hutcheson; Research and Obsessions

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October is almost here, but not quite here, so I can’t get into my rants on ghost hunters, weather people, and SB-7 ghost boxes. I’m counting the days, though. Do you know of an interesting paranormal happening in this area? I ask this because I stay one step ahead of the journalists who ask the historical commission for leads on spooky stories; the commission refers them to me. I know that some of you have stories to tell. The Rougarou? The light on Bragg Road? Your mother-in-law coming back to continue tormenting you? It’s all good. DM me or email me at rediscoveringsetx@gmail.com.

Last week, I mentioned Deputy John E. Hutcheson. On Wednesday, he finally received a headstone in a ceremony at Magnolia Cemetery. Thanks to Operation Blue Remembrance for making this happen and to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for being present. I also credit fellow Jefferson County Historical Commission member Kate Hambright for the photos and her research on the history of some of the Beaumont Police Department officers who paid the ultimate price while protecting citizens. Finally, kudos to 12 News Now and Fox 4 Beaumont for attending. I’ll add their videos at the bottom of this blog.

Unfortunately, I could not attend the memorial service because I needed to go to a meeting that required a quorum. Since it wasn’t on the agenda, I couldn’t bring it up, but I would like to note that you can’t spell “quorum” without “rum,” and since Monday 19 was Talk Like a Pirate Day, we should maybe add refreshments to future meetings—perhaps more members would show up. I digress.

Afterward, I headed to Magnolia Cemetery for another meeting and to look for another fellow researcher’s person of interest buried there. I did find her, and the backstory is not good. When you start researching people, you never know what you’ll find. Sometimes, you become intrigued with the person, and you can get obsessed with finding the truth about them. I have my own obsessions, including Susie Spindletop, the Rowleys, Catherina Stengele, and Hugo DeBretagne. All these projects are ongoing, but I feel farther away from the Hugo DeBretagne one in terms of learning more about his life. Before I go any further, here is a description of what I know and how this journey began.

While walking through Greenlawn Cemetery in Groves one mid-August morning in 2015, I came across a monument erected by the American Legion Auxiliary. Surrounding the stone memorial, which carried the inscription “They gave their lives that freedom shall not perish,” were the graves of several veterans. Most of them survived the conflicts of World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and they went on to lead healthy lives with their loved ones. However, there was one memorial that differed from the rest. Corporal Hugo J. DeBretagne, it seems, paid the ultimate price for his country and never returned. The inscription on his headstone reads:

In memory of Hugo J. DeBretagne, CO D 1st Bat. 2nd Marines. Killed at Tarawa. Buried at sea. Oct. 13, 1923–Nov. 23, 1943.

I now know that his mother was there in 1945 to dedicate this monument to the fallen. At the time, her name was Berthe Toch DeBretagne; she passed in 1985, and her headstone reads Berthe Toch Hay. As far as I know, she was born in Belgium and came to this country as a war bride (as some would say). Her husband was Hugo Stanislaus DeBretagne, a World War I veteran; they had three boys—Hugo J., James, and Bert (who died the same year of his birth).

Both James and Hugo J. fought in Guadalcanal, but there is little about their experiences. I know that James made it through the war and settled back in SETX. He died in 2008 and is buried in Hardin County. Hugo DeBretagne gave his life on D-day three of Operation Galvanic. It was the final day of the Battle of Tarawa, and only his comrades know what happened. I have all sorts of information about Hugo, including the ship he was on, maps, and war diaries, but nothing that his mom would want, except that he was buried at sea. I grab any photos pertaining to the Battle of Tarawa just in case some young kid with the last name DeBretagne is in them.

One day, I hope to learn Hugo Joseph DeBretagne’s story, but research takes a lot of time. As far as Susie Spindletop goes, I’ve done eleven years of research, and it comes in sections. In the end, I suspect that Florence adds to her story when something needs to be found; then, new information comes up regularly. The Rowleys will never be forgotten because there are so many wormholes to go down, and I think this family deserves to be recognized.

Until next time.

12 News Now: 

https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/jefferson-county-deputy-headstone-line-of-duty/502-62a9be17-70a9-45db-ba2c-1d14104b145e

Fox 4 Beaumont:

https://fox4beaumont.com/news/headstone-dedication-for-deputys-grave-nearly-a-century-after-line-of-duty-death

Thoughts and Ramblings: THC Project Spotlight; Operation Blue Remembrance; Deputy John E. Hutcheson; The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in the 20th Century

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Good news on the state front (still waiting for national publicity, though): the Texas Historical Commission (THC) has added the Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour to its Project Spotlight publication. It is good to know that the THC actually reads all the counties’ annual reports. The tour didn’t start out as a Jefferson County Historical Commission (JCHC) project, but some of our members went above and beyond the call of duty to make it happen. And they are still bringing the history. I’ll leave the dates and times at the end of this blog.

John E. Hutcheson

While at Magnolia Cemetery last week, I learned that Operation Blue Remembrance (OBR) will be hosting a memorial service for the fallen deputy John E. Hutcheson, whose end of watch was June 28, 1925. The OBR is a non-profit organization from Baytown that was approved by the state and the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization on June 2, 2020. Its primary focus is “assisting the law enforcement community in any way” they can and visiting all the graves of fallen officers in Texas and a few other states. I’ll leave a link to their full story at the end of the blog.

The OBR’s motto is Nemo Oblitus, which is Latin for No One Forgotten. The reason the organization is coming here is that neither the family nor the county purchased a headstone for Deputy Hutcheson when he was buried in Magnolia Cemetery. The man was forgotten until the OBR went boots on the ground and discovered that he had no marker. Well, that will change on Wednesday, September 20 at 10:00 a.m., when they will set a brand-new headstone for the fallen deputy, paid for by the organization. Indeed, no one must be forgotten. Ever. Kudos to this group for doing this. Now that I know about them, I want to know about their next projects.

So, what happened to John E. Hutcheson? Here is what we know.

Deputy Hutcheson was shot and killed with his own revolver by an unruly prisoner in the county jail. The man was in jail for public drunkenness and was working off a $21 fine. At around 1000 hours, the prisoner threw a piece of metal at Deputy Hutcheson, grazing his head. The deputy reported the incident to the sheriff, who told him not to give the prisoner lunch without the assistance of the sheriff.

Deputy Hutcheson did not heed the warning and enlisted the help of two other prisoners to help serve lunch to the prisoner. As he entered the cell, the man hit him in the head with a pot and knocked him down. The prisoner then grabbed the deputy’s .45 caliber service revolver and shot him in the chest. The two other prisoners immediately attacked the prisoner and during the struggle, the suspect was shot in the head and fatally wounded.

The two prisoners who assisted Deputy Hutcheson were released from prison for their heroic actions.

Deputy Hutcheson was survived by his wife and four daughters. He was buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Beaumont, Texas.

Source: https://www.odmp.org/officer/17099-deputy-sheriff-john-e-hutcheson

A wife and four daughters usually don’t have the money for a headstone, especially if it’s 1925. I haven’t delved into the story here, but I want to learn more about it. The public is welcome to come out to the cemetery and attend the memorial service in remembrance of John E. Hutcheson, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will be well represented on the occasion.

On Thursday, I attended a virtual presentation by the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission. It was called “The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in the 20th Century.” Cale Carter II, director of exhibitions at the Buffalo Soldiers Museum in Houston, did a superb job. He enlightened me on a few things about the 24th and 25th Infantry units in the Pacific theater of World War II that I would like to research.

The buffalo soldiers’ history is new to me, and I’ve only begun to discover their past. Here in SETX, we can confidently say that we have a buffalo soldier buried in Beaumont’s Evergreen Cemetery. For years, people speculated that there was a soldier buried there, but the facts weren’t available. Then, a researcher named Kate Hambright, who is also on the JCHC, found the last piece of the puzzle, which identified him as a soldier who fought in the Indian Wars.

Jerry Lloyd is an actual buffalo soldier because the units that originated this term were from 1866–1898. There were some Black units who fought in the Civil War on the Union side, and there were a few who fought for the Confederacy. I won’t get into this because I am not knowledgeable about the Civil War except that my great-great-grandfather came to this country in 1868 from Italy when “y’all got your sh*t together!” Some say we still haven’t, but we’re trying. I believe this is true!

George Shaw, who is also buried in Evergreen Cemetery, died in France in the Great War in 1918, along with our recognized fallen. He wasn’t a buffalo soldier, and that’s all right, but he did receive a new headstone, at the same time as Jerry Lloyd. Shaw did have a headstone, but it stated that he was a private. George Shaw was a sergeant, and when you die in a war that you didn’t ask for but participated in, accuracy matters. Thanks again to Kate for also discovering this! I will leave a link to the full video of the presentation. Thank you, Kristy Peloquin, development manager at the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission.

Well, that’s about it for this week. Until next time, Nemo Oblitus. Ever!

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.

2022 CHC Project Spotlights:

Click to access 2022%20CHC%20Project%20Spotlights.pdf

Operation Blue Remembrance:

https://operationblueremembrance.org/#

Buffalo Soldiers Museum: https://buffalosoldiersmuseum.org/

12 News Now: Jerry Lloyd and George Shaw

https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/two-black-fallen-soldiers-receiving-headstone-evergreen-cemetery/502-872d65aa-a1a9-4ec4-b621-529bf8d3d6de

Friends of the THC:

http://www.thcfriends.org/

Texas Historical Commission:

https://www.thc.texas.gov/

The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in the 20th Century (Full Video Presentation)

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=267001102819972

Thoughts and Ramblings: The Museum of Hardin County; Evergreen Cemetery; Memorial Day

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On Wednesday, I made a pleasant visit to the Museum of Hardin County. I’d been meaning to get up there for a while, but my work schedule and the museum’s hours didn’t match, so I had to put it off. My main reason for going was to find out all I could on the train stop/depot/newly erected township called “Florence” along the Beaumont, Sour Lake, and Western Railway. The Beaumont Enterprise article that refers to this new stop was published on July 19, 1907, after the railroad’s president R. C. Duff, W. H. P. McFaddin, and B. R. Norvell drove in the last spike to finish the railroad connecting Beaumont to Houston. I hope to get into more of this in the coming weeks, but there is more sleuthing to do.

The museum is top notch and full of content about different eras of our history. Whether it’s the sawmills, early Texas history, or an abundance of family histories spanning Hardin County, it is worth a visit. And I’ve been told that they have a new schedule.

New Museum Hours

Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or by appointment.

409-209-5377, 409-755-7313, 409-658-4712

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and this has different meanings for different people. For me, it’s about remembering those who fought and died serving their country. For some of you, it probably means getting in your Jeep and heading to the beach only to get arrested for DWI, PI, or just for being the idiot who doesn’t realize that Maria Maria La Policia doesn’t take any crap. Oh, sorry, that was last weekend, but I digress.

Memorial Day does have multiple origins and means different things to different people. Despite the nitpicking of most of these people (who have their own agenda), I see Memorial Day as a day to honor and remember those who gave all. And with war, there have been many. Race, creed, color, and religion don’t matter to me, and they shouldn’t matter to those looking at the headstone of someone who died serving their country. Now I’ll get off my high horse and look at this weekend’s services.

Memorial Day weekend in SETX is well attended, and there are memorial services in the cemeteries of every town. Beaumont had two on Saturday. One was at Magnolia Cemetery, and the other at Evergreen Cemetery, further up Pine Street. Both began at ten in the morning; I wish I could have gone to both, but there was a scheduling snafu. I was glad to attend the Evergreen one because of the newly placed headstones for two veterans. Shout-out to Magnolia Cemetery for receiving these military headstones and having their people set them for Evergreen Cemetery because Evergreen did not have the resources to do this.

The two new headstones were for Sargent George Shaw, who died in France during the Great War (WWI), and Jerry Lloyd, who fought in the Indian wars and was a Buffalo Soldier. The replacement headstone for George Shaw was necessary because the original one stated that he was a private. However, thanks to the research done by a member of our Jefferson County Historical Commission, they were able to send a headstone with the correct information, which Sargent Shaw deserves. The situation with Jerry Lloyd’s headstone was a bit different because, as far as we know, he never received one. If there had been a regular one marking his grave, then it had disappeared. Research has shown that he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, but we are unaware of his location.

It was great to see how many people turned out to honor the veterans who have passed. It was quite a diverse group. Some came from as far away as Houston. Some placed flags on the graves, while others placed flowers. Many Beaumonteers showed up after seeing a Friday night report on 12 News Now; they felt compelled to be present and support the event in any way they could. They left with the knowledge of these two heroes and some other stories from this hallowed ground.

That’s it for this week. I would like to leave you with a poem written by Clare Harner.

Do not stand

By my grave, and weep.

I am not there,

I do not sleep—

I am the thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints in snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle, autumn rain.

As you awake with morning’s hush,

I am the swift, up-flinging rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight,

I am the day transcending night.

Do not stand

By my grave, and cry—

I am not there,

I did not die.

                                    The Origins of  Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on peace and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. The origins of this holiday go back to the Civil War, when it was known as Decoration Day.

The official National Decoration Day is said to have begun on May 5, 1868, when General John A. Logan declared the date would be observed as a national holiday. In the South, however, many local ceremonies had already begun in 1866. For example, I found one reference to a group of women from Columbus, Mississippi, who on April 25, 1866, visited a cemetery to honor and decorate the graves of the Confederate soldiers who had died at the Battle of Shiloh. When they saw the bare graves of the Union soldiers, these women decided to place flowers also upon them.

Through the years, people used this day to tend to their family’s plots. They would clean their area since most cemeteries back then were not cared for by staff. They had picnics and spent time remembering their loved ones, which is a tradition I love.

In 1966, Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day because on May 5, 1866, people there honored “local veterans who had fought and died in the Civil War.”

No matter when it started or who started it, we all know the meaning of this day: to honor those who fought and died for our freedom. Thanks to their sacrifice, we stand here today and celebrate them on the beaches, at BBQs, and in many other places. They are our family and our heroes, and we remember them now and forever.

https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/two-black-fallen-soldiers-receiving-headstone-evergreen-cemetery/502-872d65aa-a1a9-4ec4-b621-529bf8d3d6de

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

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

Vuylsteke House

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vuylsteke House:

Vuylsteke House

Pompeiian Villa:

Pompeiian Villa

秋山 優花里 Akiyama Yukari:

Tankery explained:

American Plague:  

Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza:

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

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

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Johnny Horton with the Rowley Trio

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

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

Virginia Lee Rowley

If I must die then die I must and when the coffin round me rusts my bones will go whence they came and all that’s left is my name. To shield that name I’ll do my best; that’s all that’s left when I’m at rest. I’ll do no harm and bring no shame upon my dad and mother’s name.

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

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

Jeanna Clare and Don Mahoney

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

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

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

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

Dear Della:

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

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

Too cold for Easter hats.

Too wet for Easter hats.

No Easter hats.

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

                                         *                         *                         *

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

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

                                          *                          *                         *

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

                                         *                             *                       *

About egg rolling?

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

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

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

                                    *                             *                           *

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

So wrote Susie,

Easter Sunday, March 31, 1929

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

https://texasarchive.org/2016_04235

The Rowley Trio:

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

Virginia Lee Rowley:

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

Louisiana Hayride: 

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

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

Thoughts and Ramblings: USS Texas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until next week

The Texas Battleship Foundation

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

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

Willie Cooper

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

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

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

photo credit: Portal of Texas

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

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

Until next week, Tschüss!

Thoughts and Ramblings: Pearl Harbor Meant the Age of No Candy; Audie Murphy; Cecil Bordages; The Gates Memorial Library; Interurban; Bill Quick.

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The eighty-first anniversary of Pearl Harbor was this week, and all those I’ve talked with, who were children at the time of the attack, have similar memories. Most didn’t know where Pearl Harbor was and didn’t understand what was happening, but later, when the rationing of sugar and candy began, as children, this really hit home. The older folks, from age fifteen to people in their thirties, who understood what had happened, signed up for service soon after the attack. And yes, many fifteen-plus-year-olds attempted to serve their country. Some even made it to the theaters of war. Audie Murphy was sixteen when he infiltrated the US Army with the help of his older sister, who falsified documents for him. I guess the US Army should be glad that they got duped because no other soldier was decorated more than that little underweight sixteen-year-old.

Audie Murphy

During the Great War, a fifteen-year-old from Beaumont named Cecil Bordages was attending a private school in New York but decided to enlist to serve his country in 1918. Being large for his age, Cecil looked older than he was, so he was accepted into the Mounted Service Field Artillery 162nd Ammunition Train Twenty-Seventh Division; I would assume he then went off to France with Company F 102nd Ammunition Train. His actual age was discovered, and the army was ready to send him back, but his mother basically told them not to bother, as he would just go back to his unit if they did. He served a year and made it back to the United States. Based on some of the Beaumont Enterprise articles I’ve read, he lived a good and fruitful life with many mentions of helping others. I even saw an article that said he helped the Empty Stocking Fund.

A couple of other anniversaries that occurred in December were the opening of the Gates Memorial Library in Port Arthur and the inauguration of the interurban. The Gates library opened to the public on December 1, 1917, but wasn’t dedicated until May 18, 1918. The library, a gift of Mrs. Dellora Gates to Port Arthur, was in memory of her husband John “Bet-a-Million” Gates and her son Charles. The dedication coincided with another event called “Gates Day.” This event began in 1912 to pay tribute to the late Mr. Gates on his birthday for his contributions to Port Arthur. Gates died in Paris on August 9, 1911. The annual celebration took place each May 18 until 1921, when the Gates family requested its end.

I’ve mentioned John “Bet-a-Million” Gates before, and I stand by the fact that if he hadn’t been here, nothing in Port Arthur would have been built. Arthur Stilwell was all hat, no cattle, and a bit of a loon. But I digress.

December 15 will mark the 109th anniversary of the opening of regular service on the interurban line between Beaumont and Port Arthur. Yes, the Texas Historical Marker in front of the building that used to be its starting point says August 16, but all evidence states otherwise. Would I dare talk smack about the Texas Historical Commission? Of course I would, because it’s wrong. As the final piece of evidence, I’ll throw in a photo of a plaque in which William D. “Bill” Quick’s name is at the bottom, which gives the same info. So, what is an interurban you might ask, and who is Bill Quick?

First, the interurban was an electric train that serve Jefferson County residents from December 15, 1913, to August 15, 1932. The tracks extended from Austin Avenue in Port Arthur to Orleans Street in Beaumont. The train would make nineteen trips per day with an early start at 5:45 a.m. and a midnight finish. Tickets cost ninety cents for a roundtrip or fifty cents one-way and were prorated for the ten stops between the two cities. Stops along the way included South Park, Spindletop, Nederland, Rice Farm, and Griffing/Pear Ridge.

I’ve always found the fact that our county had an electric train in 1913 fascinating. Even more intriguing is how someone in Jefferson County could make ice in August in the 1900s. I’m not a scientist, so I don’t know how that’s possible; I’ll leave it to you engineers who run the great ice Illuminati.

William D. Quick was a historian who lived in Nederland. I never met him, but I guarantee you that every time I do some research, he is in my head, guiding me to try to be as accurate as possible. I attended my first Jefferson County Historical Commission meeting a year to the day that Bill passed. He influenced many people in his life as a researcher/historian, and I talked to many of them in the last ten years. I was honored and excited to be able to go through his research at the Sam Houston Research Center in Liberty. He was very thorough in his work, and I often draw on his example. I was told that when doing research, you should have at least three sources. Bill didn’t go for hearsay; he wanted facts, not content with publishing books.

Bill Quick’s interest in history was vast; he particularly loved Sabine Pass, the beach, and the Sabine lighthouse. Hell, I believe he owned the latter at one point. There is so much information on the Sabine lighthouse in his research at the Sam Center—it’s a researcher’s dream. I’ve used a couple of articles he had in his notes that I’ve never seen anywhere else. One is the 1932 article on the abandoned Lewis Cemetery; the other talks about when Magnolia Cemetery used to have barge funerals because it was too wet and muddy to get to the site. Although I never met Mr. Quick, I follow what he brought to historical research. No one is perfect, and I usually suck at dates and details, but I do want my research to be accurate for others to use. I like to think that Bill Quick is still guiding those of us who care about our history.

Well, that’s it for this week. If you’re in a giving mood, please donate to the Empty Stocking Fund.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=X94T5X2AMU82S

Life in Jefferson County in World War II: https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2013/05/25/life-in-jefferson-county-during-world-war-ii/

Audie Murphy: 

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

John “Bet-a-Million” Gates: 

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

The Interurban:

Interurban Railway
100th Anniversay of the Interurban

Sabine Lighthouse:

Sabine Lighthouse