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- Ara Masterson & Jess Archibald Hickman 8-30-14
I am writing this to see if you can provide any information on my mother and/or any of her relatives; she died in Dallas in l947. My mother was born Ara Masterson in or near Corn Hill, Texas. Her mother�s name was Martha Masterson. She married Jess Archibald Hickman, originally from Pickens MS (don�t recall the year) in, I think, Sugar Land, Tx, where they both worked for the same company (don�t know name). They moved to Dallas, where I was born May 28, l931. I have no siblings. I think my mother was married once before, because I have seen documents referring to her as Ara Harrell. I do remember a family friend, perhaps a relative by marriage, Dr. Travis. C. Harrell, of Corpus Christi. I remember being in his house, at--I think--2102 2nd St., in Corpus, when I was a small child. Dr. Harrell�s wife�s first name, I assume, was something like Margaret, because I called her �Aunt Mag�. Any information, of course, will be greatly appreciated. Please email pjhickman@Hotmail.com. - Best regards, Peter James Hickman, August 30, 2014 - George, Texas 8-30-14
George Donaho, who had a store and post office in George was my grandfather. He and Charlie Martin submitted several names for the town before the name George was selected by the Postal Department, I think. George Donaho had a wonderful water well and ran lines to several homes in the community. Some of those homes belonged to Bethel Mize, Charlie Martin, Mollie Donaho, and a house that was occupied by Floyd Martin during WW2, as well as his own home and outbuildings, his and Charlie's store and possibly the cotton gin. There was also a high faucet outside the store where other people would bring their water barrels and cans to be filled for a minuscule amount (5 cents I think). George had electricity at his home so people brought their sheep to his place to shear them. He also had a dipping tank for cattle that he shared with people in the community. He and maybe Charlie Martin contributed the land behind the church to the community to be used as a cemetery. - August 30, 2014 - Sudan, Lamb County 4-16-14
I have made an almost life-long study of Texas post offices, and I absolutely love your prose (sometimes delightfully humorous) and photos of Texas' many small towns. Thank you!!! I did want to take a moment to share that although the article on Sudan states that the town's name origin is a mystery, its namesake is apparently sudan grass which has been grown as a commercial feed crop in the area. - Cheers. John J. Germann, April 15, 2014 - Goforth, Hays County Ghost Town 4-17-14
I noticed the discussion about an elderly man with a white flowing beard who was one of the last residents of Goforth, Texas. That man was Len Miller. He looked exactly like the traditional image of Santa Claus... more - David J. Andrews, November 19, 2013 - Coolidge, Texas 10-13-13
I've run across your site in the process of researching for a book I'm working on based on my mother's life. She was born in 1917 and grew up in Coolidge... I would also very much appreciate it if anyone who reads this and remembers can tell me if Coolidge ever had a movie theater? more - Gayle Morrow, October 13, 2013 - Dryden, Texas 7-19-13
Subject: Dryden Post Office
The post office has somewhat of an interesting history for my family... more - Duane Miller, College Station, Texas, July 19, 2013 - Ford's Corner 7-8-13
Subject: Bonnie and Clyde
My dad, Mervis Lowery spent about half a day with a gentleman at this station who told a very interesting story about the capture/killing of Bonnie and Clyde... more - Tuawana Lowery, July 07, 2013 - Soldier and Sailor on the Clearwater Memorial Causeway, Clearwater, Florida 6-30-13
Article states there are nine pairs of Viquesney Doughboy/Sailor sites around the country, and that the plaque mentioning only 7 is in error. The plaque is correct (for now; I will explain later)... more. - Les Kopel, June 29, 2013 - Maryetta, Texas 5-28-13
The old gas station you took photos of once belonged to my grandparents. They ran the gas station and the room at the front was the convenient store...more- Sherry Rupe, May 26, 2013 - Carpenter's Bluff Bridge5-28-13
... Oklahoma was a "dry" state for liquor until late in the 1950s. In the 1950s, my grandfather sold beer to the Okies who crossed the bridge and traveled to his farm. more- Karen McGee, May 26, 2013 - Cora, Texas 3-25-13
My great great grandfather was Francis Marion Collier (FM Collier) and his son Thomas Anderson was the first white child to be born in Comanche county... more- Elizabeth Collier, March 25, 2013 - Bucareli, Texas3-25-13
I believe that we have a cemetery that the old timers called a "Mexican cemetery" on our sanctuaries in San Jacinto County that may be related to Bucareli.... more. - George H. Russell, March 24, 2013 - Talpa, Texas
I found your web site while searching for info on the Talpa, TX ISD. My grandfather was Wiley G Clarkson, a very well known architect in Fort Worth from 1912 to 1952. He designed schools for many ISD�s during those years... more- Wiley Clarkson, March 16, 2013 - Poer, Texas 3-19-13
I would like to add information about the community of Poer, Texas that once had a school and a post office and a store about two miles east of Simms, Texas on highway 67... more- Frances Poer Fox, March 18, 2013 - Coke, Texas 3-11-13
Subject: The Coke Store
My Family moved to the big town of Coke when I was around 7 years of age. My Momma and Daddy and us three boys grew up with the Coke Store owned most of that time by Art and Frankie Holt... more- Dale Cummings, March 10, 2013 - San Diego, Texas 3-11-13
Subject: San Diego Texas History
During the Mexican revolution, the wealthy landowners, the Garcias, were forced to escape to the United States and settled in San Diego, Texas... more
- Zandra Zuniga, March 09, 2013 - Subject: Slide, Texas 3-4-13
I enjoyed reading about why Slide TX is so named. You refer to a W.R. Standefer Lubbock county surveyor who had a 2 mile disagreement with the previous survey and as a result the town moved their homes 2 miles West. What a story. What makes it better? That surveyor was my Great Grandfather.... more. - Roxanne Standefer, Ottawa Canada, March 03, 2013 - Subject: Montague County 2-26-13
My great, great grandfathers brother William Howard is buried near Forestburg. He came to the county in the 1880's. His nephew Dr. Lilburn Colley founded Colleyville Texas near Dallas. Another nephew ran a drygoods store and was postmaster in Wall Texas near San Angelo.The off spring of his son James live around Muleshoe,Texas. William was born and married in Kentucky. Lived in Lawrence county Missouri and Grayson County, tx where his first wife Elizabeth is buried. William remarried a widow from Montague county. This Howard Family started in Virginia then to North Carolina then to Kentucky, Missouri and Texas. - Mike Johns, February 25, 2013 - Fruitvale, Texas 2-5-13
Subject: Photo shown in Fruitvale Texas
"...This picture shows the store empty and painted. It held many pieces of the town's history..." Great memories. Thanks, Christopher L. Evans, February 05, 2013 - Carpenter's Bluff, Texas1-22-13
Subject: Carpenter's Bluff Bridge
My mother-in-law and father-in-law (Clyde and Ruby Ramsey) were married on June 4, 1932 on the bridge. Clyde had bought their marriage license in Oklahoma not realizing they would have to marry in Oklahoma for it to be valid... more- Jimmie and Calvin Ramsey, January 21, 2013 - Millsap, Texas
... Granddad owned the general store during the Great Depression and helped lots of people with merchandise on credit... more- Eva Trowbridge, Trenton, FL, December 22, 2012 - **Kenedy, Texas**12-18-12
Subject: Mexican School
In the 1920�s there was a school built for the Mexican or Hispanic children... more - Maria Grijalva, December 13, 2012 - **Subject: Galveston County Courthouse**12-1-12
On your web page describing the Galveston County Courthouse on 21st and Ball you have several errors. First, the architects you have listed are: Raymond Rap Jr. and Ben Koten and Associates The architects are: Raymond Rapp Jr. & Ben Kotin and Tibor Beerman. Second ... more- Lillian E. Beerman, PhD, December 01, 2012 - Langtry, Texas 11-20-12
My parents & grandparents ran the old Mobil station/cafe/truck stop (now called the "Langtry Depot"), from 1957-71.. more. - Alan R. Taylor, November 20, 2012 - Best Texas 11-19-12
Subject: Picture from Best Texas
Attached is a picture is of our office reportedly taken in Best, Texas in 1925. The company got its start building wooden oil derricks and Best was a small oil boom town back then. We�re now known as McDermott International, Inc. - Bill Soester, November 19, 2012 - Navidad Baptist Cemetery 11-17-12
My Great, Great Grandfather Dr. Benjamin Franklin Rose is buried there. He was born in 1809... more- Anthony Rose, October 11, 2012 - Odell, Texas 11-7-12
Subject: Odell Post Office
Included is an updated photo(s) of the Odell, Texas Post Office building that is now closed. After years of weathering the painted signage for the Post Office building has faded away to reveal a former purpose for the tiny building.... more- Billy Gilbert, Denton, Texas, November 07, 2012 - Brooklyn, Texas 10-25-12
Subject: Brooklyn - ghost town
No doubt it is a ghost town BUT the 1870 census and an 1880 map from GLO show the name as Brooklin ... more. - Pam Manley Stranahan, October 23, 2012 - Langtry, Texas 10-21-12
Subject: 1930 Photo of my mother at the Judge Roy Bean House on her way (by car) to California
...The place was fenced off from the public and the roof had big gaps in the shingles.. It wasn't kept up at all in 1930... more- Colin Patterson, October 20, 2012 - Herman Lehmann 10-16-12
Subject: Uncle Herman Lehmann
I want to take a moment this morning to thank you for the hilarious � and vivid � stories that you have published about our Uncle Herman. I believe I speak for our whole family when I say that you really have captured his eccentric nature... more- Kimberley Holcomb, October 16, 2012 - Shafter, Texas 9-28-12
I�m with Rio Grande Mining Company and we are in the process of re-opening the Shafter Silver Mine. We are also working on re-opening the old company store as a coffee shop/museum. - Sandy Bruce, September 27, 2012 - Texon, Texas 9-20-12
Subject: Texon, Texas--in the '50's
I am 64 years old and back in the '50's I spent time in Texon with my grandparents when I was around 5 or 6 years old! ... more- Janis Potter, September 20, 2012 - **Subject: Cisterns in Mason, Texas**9-5-12
I am doing research on historic above ground cisterns (water towers) in Mason, Texas. I was recently told that an article was written in the last five years stating that a greater number of these cisterns have been preserved in Mason than any other town in Central Texas. I have not been able to find this article and asking your readers if they can provide me with the name of the magazine and date of the publication. - Gerron Hite, Architect, ghite734@gmail.com, September 04, 2012 - Toyah, Texas 8-30-12
We visited Toyah on August 2, 2012 and took the following photos. The town seems to be going through a boom at this time... more- David Tullos, August 23, 2012 - Toyah, Texas 8-30-12
Subject: More info about Toyah, Texas
I just found your great pictorial essay about the Texas Ghost Town in Reeves County, West Texas, and have some interesting information to add to it.... more- - Vanda M. Powers (Mrs. William S. Powers), August 23, 2012 - Nogalus Prairie, Texas8-16-12
The Davis side of my family were living on this Prairie from the middle of the 1800s. My dad and grandfather related the no Gallows story to me... more. - Jerry Davis, Hot Springs, AR, August 16, 2012 - Lakeview, Texas 8-4-12
The Olympic high hurdler Jack Davis was born in Lakeview... more - Nancy Cecil, Granbury, August 03, 2012 - Roscoe, Texas 7-27-12
I was born in Roscoe in 1947, raised in Sweetwater, Texas. I have been searching for years to find pictures or a record of a hospital in Roscoe...more. - Lee Weatherford, July 27, 2012 - Ding Dong, Texas 7-24-12
I was surprised to see the relatively small volume of information regarding Ding Dong... Thanks for the memories and the history lesson. more- Dave Timpe, Cooper ME., July 24, 2012 - Cedar Station, Texas 7-20-12
I just googled Cedar Station Texas and found your site. My mother used to live in Cedar Station... more- Carrie, July 17, 2012 - Subject: Fort Lincoln, D'Hanis, Texas 7-2-12 My wife's GGgrandfather Capt. Heinrich Josep [HJ] Richarz, purchased Ft Lincoln and it became his homestead... more - John K. Condon, July 02, 2012
- Talpa, Texas 5-11-12
Subject: Talpa Yankees
I was raised in Coleman and in the 1960's, Talpa had a little league baseball team...more- Rick White, Boerne, TX, May 11, 2012 - Dalby Springs, Texas 5-10-12
"We lived about 2 miles from Dalby Springs in the early 50s. There was one water well that you could still get water from, and a small store / gas station... more" - Jesse Suttles, April 10, 2012 - Lydia, Texas 5-10-12
"In 1947-48 I lived with my family about five miles from Lydia. Dad would some time go there to buy a few groceries or maybe some gas... more" - Jesse Suttles, May 9, 2012 - Sunray, Texas 5-4-12
Subject: July 29, 1956. Sunray/Shamrock Refinery fire
"I would like to add to my brother's, Randy Foshee, comments from 2006. I spent time with my Dad, Darce Foshee, a couple of years ago talking about the fire... more." - Jamey Foshee, May 03, 2012 - Coleman, Texas 4-29-12
Subject: Coleman, TX abandoned brickyard
"... My father worked for Martin Brick Co. for over 40 years. He was the plant manager for 30 years or so. I and my 3 brothers worked our way thru high school and college there, as well as a large percentage of folks from Coleman back in the day. At one time in the 1980's Martin Brick Co. employed over 200 workers, making it the largest employer in the county... more" - Mike Merryman, April 28, 2012 - Texas Art 4-15-12
Subject: Old, Texas Cinemas
I am an art teacher in the Dallas, Texas area. Last year I found your incredible website and used it for researching a project I designed for my students on old, Texas cinemas. The results of my 8th grade studio art project was recently featured in the professional art educator magazine, "School Arts" (April 2012). I write a blog about art (www.artteachtravel.com) and my post last week mentioned your fabulous website in conjunction with the information about my art project... more- Anita Horton, April 13, 2012 - World War II 4-14-12
Subject: PFC Cruz Gamboa FOD Jan 18, 1945
I adopted the grave of PFC Cruz Gamboa at the Ardennes American Cemetery here in Belgium... more - Philippe Vanderdonckt, April 14, 2012 - Durham, Texas 4-4-12
Subject: Naming of Durham
I think I know how Durham,Texas in Bordon County got it's name...more- Hilda (Holly) Hilpert, April 04, 2012 - Subject: Houston, The Second Hundred Years 3-23-12
My grandfather, Jesse Martin Robertson, was a brick mason by trade and he worked with the crew that laid the brick paving for Heights Boulevard. It was a sad day when the city covered the thoroughfare with a topping of asphalt....more- Bruce Martin, March 23, 2012 - Subject: Country Living in the Mid-1900�s - Chalk Mountain 3-23-12
Great story! Good website, too. Makes me think of all the stories that disappeared because no one wrote them down. - Nancy Wood, February 26, 2012... more("It's amazing how one article can prompt others to recall their earlier years.") - Moran, Texas 3-6-12
...I tried to call the Moran Historical Museum, but the number didn't work. When I saw the photo in your article, I had to laugh. No wonder!... more - Christopher Logan, Eugene, Oregon, March 06, 2012 - Richard Gaertner 3-5-12
The Moulton storyteller, Richard Gaertner, has passed away. He celebrated his 104th birthday in this picture on Feb. 4 - another valuable piece of history is gone. I am happy that I had a small part in telling his story. - Murray Montgomery, March 05, 2012 - Losoya, Texas 3-3-12
Subject: Losoya, & the Battle of the Medina
With today's news, there is a gentleman claiming to have located the actual site of the Battle of the Medina--well away from Nuestra Senora Del Carmen and the cemetery (supposedly) originally populated with the casualties... more- Kerry McCollough, March 02, 2012 - Pyote, Texas 2-27-12
Subject: BORN IN PYOTE TEXAS
My father, Avery William Vowell, Sr. was an instructor at the Pyote Air Base (Rattlesnake Field) when I was added to the family on May 20, 1947... more- Glenn Vowell, Cairo, Ga., February 27, 2012 - Dayton, Texas 2-27-12
"Rosenwald School has been totally refurbished thanks to two grants and the construction efforts of Assistant Superintendent Doug Coleman, for Dayton ISD. ... The people of Dayton have converted the old school house into a beautiful museum with many items donated back to the school from the time the school was in operation... - Deborah Coleman, February 08, 2012 - Notrees, Texas 2-24-12
Subject: Notrees Firetruck
I'm enclosing a photo of the old Notrees Volunteer Fire Department truck that I shot yesterday. Feel free to use it on your Notrees page. I loved reading the memories of former residents. - Cheers, Bronson Dorsey Austin, February 04, 2012 - Rosebud, Texas 2-21-12
I was born in Rosebud in 1947, the oldest of eight ... more - Mary Enriquez nee Perez, February 17, 2012 - Shafter, Texas 2-21-12
I was born in Shafter Texas in March 1942. My grandfather Macedonio Carrillo Sr immigrated from Mexico in the 1900s... more- Yolanda Carrillo Payne, February 14, 2012 - Troy, Texas 1-26-11
I came across the comments regarding the old community of Troy, TX in Freestone County... My father owns the property where Troy, Pine Bluff and the cemetery are located... more - Eola, Texas 1-14-11
You mention that Eola today is almost dead. I ride my bicycle thru there all the time... more. - Chad W Freeze, January 13, 2012 - McAllen, Texas 1-13-11
Subject: Addition to "Street Name Trivia" for McAllen
McAllen is one of the easiest towns to navigate. The town plat was based on the railroad and the canal... more- Ella Aubin, January 12, 2012 - Frognot, Texas 1-12-12
Frognot Water Supply Corporation has a website with History of Frognot, TX. You can find it at www.frognotwsc.com - Lydia M.V. Brandt, January 12, 2012 - Kerrick, Texas 1-11-12
Thanks for the information on Kerrick Texas. My bucket list includes visiting Kerrick Texas and Kerrick MN. As a retired military officer I have spent over 14 years overseas and my goal is to see the United States. I have both cities on our travel list. - Stephen W. Kerrick, Lansing, KS, January 10, 2012 - Ruidosa, Texas 1-7-12
Subject: Family from Ruidosa, Texas
My father, Isaac Prieto Hernandez was born in this small village 6-3-1921... more- Ben Hernandez, Artesia, NM, December 31, 2011 - Old Gulf, Texas 12-21-11
Subject: Another ghost town?
...Since you have New Gulf, I thought you might like to include Old Gulf, since their histories tie together. I've put TexasEscapes on my desk top. As always, it's fun & interesting! Thanks for all you do. - Kathryn Cockroft - Mozelle12-18-11
Subject: Mozelle School, Sports...
...Mozelle played six-man football, and we had some decent teams. My all-time favorite football memory was... more
Judging from the photos on the website, memories are about all that will be left of the school pretty soon. Thanks for saving what you can. more- Mike L. Downey, December 17, 2011 - Pearsall, Texas 12-7-11
Subject: "Birdhouse" picture in Pearsall
Hi, Sarah, Thanks for the pictures of things in Pearsall that you submitted to TexasEscapes. However, I think I must tell you that the "birdhouse" is not a birdhouse at all, although it seems to be very attractive to birds. In reality, it is a siren ... more - George C. Toalson, December 05, 2011 - Subject: Bresford, Leforest, and Litwalton 12-6-11
I have some information on these three towns in Garza County. The information comes from Jim Wheat's Post Masters and Post Offices of Texas. Leforest recieved its postoffice on March28,1902,and Arthur E.Tuffing was the only postmaster listed.The name was later changed to Justiceburg,on June3,1910. Southland, was originally called Bresford, and received its postoffice on July 14,1905 with Job Davis as postmaster.Later the name was changed from Bresford to Southland, July 15, 1910. Both coummities still exist today. However,the Texas Handbook ONline does not give any information on Litwalton. I looked at the Texas Genweb site for Garza County,and don't recall seeing anything on the town. However, according to Jim Wheat's site, Litwalton had a postoffice on May 2, 1903, with Charles W.Justis the first postmaster. Later Mary V.Gates tookover (Oct. 18, 1906) and then the postoffice was discontinued July 31, 1907, when the mail went to Tahoka, in Lynn County. Apparently Litwalton did not survive. - Holly Hilpert, December 05, 2011 - Lobo, Texas 11-25-11
Subject: Lobo, Texas 1915-1917 Photos
My father (Bert E. Bailey) and his family lived in Lobo, Texas 1915-1917. My grandfather, Lee Bailey ran a small cattle and horse ranch there... more - Wayne Bailey, Richardson, Texas, November 25, 2011 - **Subject: Lamesa Lobos**11-23-11
I was looking through some of your pictures & noticed those of the Lamesa lobos... My dad, Joe Locke, played on that team... more- Patti Bradstreet, November 23, 2011 - Subject: Bright and Early Signs 11-21-11
I recently found and read Mr. Bowman's short article on the Bright and Early Signs. My Grandfather and Father painted those signs ... If you look down in the lower right hand corner of the original signs you will find the name of Dallas Ford, which stood for both Dad and Granddad. I too am A Dallas Ford. Thanks for the article. more- November 21, 2011 - Trent, Texas11-19-11
I do have some valuable history about Trent that I would like to share...
After living in Oklahoma for 40 years I say I am an Okie, but I am a Texan at heart! ...more - Sarah Gladden, Stillwater, OK., November 18, 2011 - Fredonia, Texas
Subject: Fredonia General Store
In 1959 when I was 13 years of age my Dad took me deer hunting in the Fredonia, Tx area and we stopped at the general store and Dad bought gas and the store had the old manual hand pump gas pumps. It was the only time I was at the old store but even then it was a time capsule and has stuck in my mind all of these years. - Owen Whitsitt, Graham, Texas, October 16, 2011 - Subject: Update on San Antonio's Historic I&GN/MoPac Depot 10-21-11
I have some interesting news regarding the former International and Great Northern Depot in San Antonio... more - Sam Iacullo, San Antonio, October 12, 2011 - Subject: Pyote, Texas & Pyote Air Base 10-19-11
I enjoy reading your reports on Texas towns, and the one on Pyote, in Ward County caught my attention today.
My father was a civilian mechanic at the Pyote Air Base (Rattlesnake Field) in the years following WWII... more - David McNeely, Edmond, Oklahoma, October 18, 2011 - Subject: Dowsing For Graves & Witching For Water 10-19-11
As a dowser myself, I appreciate the article on dowsing. I use copper wire, AKA 'Spanish rods.'... more- C. F. Eckhardt, October 17, 2011 - Subject: Dixieland, Texas 10-16-11
Apparently my great-grandfather, Rufus Patterson Hicks, was living in Dixieland in 1908 ... more- Sonya Rama, October 13, 2011 - Westminster, Texas 10-11-11
Subject: A Plea from Westminster, Texas
I currently own the three buildings in old Downtown Westminster, Texas... I am trying to preserve the three building's history and the City of Westminster's also. I am trying to find people that may have old photos of the downtown area ... photos of the inside of the three buildings ... and anything related to the bank such as old deposits, receipts, bank records, pictures, pens, pins, etc... Westminster's history is dying a fast death ... morePLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me preserve the history of this once great town. Thank You - Collin, collin@bigslicks.com, October 11, 2011 - Chapman Ranch, Texas 10-7-11
I was doing some casual web browsing around Corpus Christi when I came across Chapman Ranch. One of the first photos I saw on your site was the old Post Office. My mother�s older sister, Eunice Brown, was the post master and I remember as a child and teenager going out to visit her many times in that building... more- Rodger Olson, Sugar Land, Texas, October 07, 2011 - Floresville, Texas 10-6-11
Subject: Wilson County Courthouse
"The Wilson County courthouse has been evacuated after engineers found the building to be unsafe. A report on our local news showed courthouse employees talking about a sinking upper floor and debris falling on the lower floor. The outer walls have cracks all the way down to the foundation and one of the walls is bowing outwards... The building has been fenced off, but Floresville is still planning to have their annual Peanut Festival on the courthouse square this weekend." - Terry Jeanson, October 03, 2011 - Mount Sterling, Texas 10-5-11
Subject: Goodman Bridge Update
A concrete bridge is under construction immediately to one side, the old bridge is still there and used for traffic. I suspect it will be demolished after the new bridge is completed. - John Goeser, September 26, 2011 - Subject: Ghost Road Light 10-4-11
"[A] real life pic of the lights off the ghost road. We have just got a new deer lease on 1293 @ Ghost Road and this pic was taken by my game camera... more" - Jim Adams, Jr., www.jacontrolsinc.com, September 06, 2011 - Sierra Blanca, Texas 10-3-11
Subject: Sierra Blanca Truck Stop & UFO
"...My mother still believes she saw a UFO as we were sleeping in the car the last night we were in the El Paso area... more" - Cheryl Welch, September 25, 2011 - Subject: Doole, Texas 9-30-11
...The stadiumis, unfortunately, continuing to fall into ruin at an alarming rate. So anyone interested should plan to see it in the next few years... The site was on my Tom-Tom GPS and it was well worth finding and visiting... more- Carla Foft of Midland, TX, September 28, 2011 - Subject: Broome, Texas 9-11-11
There was a little stop in the road about 10 miles northwest of Water Valley on highway 87 and... more - Regards, H. L. Lovell, September 09, 2011 - Subject: Rosita, Duvall County, Tx
A gas station, beer joint was built up on Hwy 44, known as the Rosita Inn. It was one of the few watering holes between Freer and San Diego...more- Gloria Beare, September 09, 2011 - **Subject: Green Elm Cemetery Story**9-4-11
Dear TE: I loved the story about the ghost of Green Elm Cemetery & the bridge. I discovered that cemetery about 3 1/2 years ago... more
I absolutely love Texas Escapes & it has enhanced my enjoyment of my many road trips around Texas. Thank you for creating this wonderful and very interesting site. - Sincerely, Kay Garsea, September 04, 2011 - Dell City, Texas 8-26-11
Subject: Dell City Namesake
I now reside in New Mexico but grew up in Texas and still have a lot of relatives in Texas. One story I remember when I was maybe 7 years old was that Dell City, Texas was named after my uncle Joyce Ardell (Dell) Donathan whom I believe worked in the post office there from 1947-1954... more - REV, August 26, 2011 - Subject: San Isidro TX 8-24-11
... The founder is not Santiago Peña but in fact Blas Pena Gonzales .... more- Arturo Silva, August 23, 2011 - Subject: Texas Escapes 8-21-11
I am keeping TE as a treasure to be brought out and plunged into with wholehearted attention when the house is quiet and I have the time, or, a stoled tidbit in between LIFE... - JL Weiss Truitt, August 2, 2011 - Subject: In Cold Blood: Clay County, Texas 1975 8-6-11
There are/were several mistakes in the articleyou posted on the Kieth Brothers. Clyde Burns was arrested ... more
At the time I was Chief Deputy of Clay County.
- Dexter Parnell, August 06, 2011 - Subject: Babylon, Navarro County, Texas - Lost Cemetery 8-6-11
My family lived in the Purson - Dawson area since before the turn of the century or pretty close to it. When I read about Babylon it gave me a real start. There is a cemetery out there, (Younger?), and one time when my Dad had taken me out there to view family graves... more- Robbie Scifres, August 06, 2011 - Subject: Nocona, Texas 8-1-11
I remember my grandmother, Pearl, talking about Cynthia Ann Parker, the wife of Peta Nocona; and Enid Justin, who started the Nocona boot company. Each Nocona boot customer had a pattern of his/her foot on file at the Nocona boot company so that custom made boots could be done without the customer travelling to Nocona. My dad and grampa had boots made that way for years when I was a kid in Wyoming... - JL Weiss Truitt, July 31, 2011 - Subject: Big Wells & Valley Wells, Texas 7-29-11
In 1950, my family moved to Big Wells, Texas, and my father was pastor of the First Baptist Church at Big Wells. We had three of the best years of our lives at Big Wells. While there, my father and our family went to Valley Wells on Thursday evenings to hold prayer services in the old Valley Wells School.... more- Charlotte Ann Wyatt Rickenbaker Woodard, July 29, 2011 - Iredell, Texas 7-26-11
Subject: G.M. Gordon Drug Company of Iredell, Texas
While I was on-line attempting to research an old business in Iredell, I happened upon your website. I must have sat here for three hours reading about all the little or forgotten Texas towns... more- Mike Kaszuba, Lakeside, CA, July 24, 2011 - **Subject: Red River Station**7-26-11
The books of T Lindsay Baker have left me intrigued with Texas ghost towns. I now make frequent week end road trips to try to visit as many as practicable. Your website has become a valuable tool in this diversion. Suspecting I'm not the only person with these interests and pursuits, I offer the following regarding Red River Station, which I visited on a recent "tour" ... more- Philip Abel, Fort Worth, July 25, 2011 - Subject: Coolidge, Texas 7-26-11
I was born at home in Coolidge in 1934... I was born in the Monger Cotton Gin Co. house across the dirt street from the blacksmith shop. I would say that the first few years of my life were spent in that shop... We visited Coolidge often over many year. Visiting Aunt and Uncles and cousins. I slowly watched the town shrink in size and business move out... more- Joe Robbins, January 15, 2011 - Subject: Indian Gap, Texas 7-16-11
Indian gap Texas is where most my family is from. There is a date as to when the Indian gap school was closed. In the article it said 1950. The school closed in 1959. I know because ... more. - Susan Deluca, July 16, 2011 - **Subject: Fairy, Texas**7-16-11
I would love to see more pics of Fairy, TX if you have any....I live in Idaho and my name is Fairy Essex... I was named after Fairy Chisum, a Nazarene missionary to Africa... more- Fairy Arta Essex, July 16, 2011 - **Subject: Sam Houston Painting**7-14-11
Greetings from Nashville, TN. I am writing in response the Mike Cox�s July 2004 article about a �lost� Sam Houston painting, the article which I recently happened upon.
A friend of mine here in middle Tennessee owns a framed portrait of Sam Houston, being approx 4� x 3� including frame (photos above), which I am told has been in her family as long as anyone living can recall... more- Rand Morgan, Nashville, TN, July 13, 2011 - Subject: Nuecestown, Texas 7-9-11
Back in the '60s & early '70s--and perhaps before that--there existed a tourist attraction known as 'Old Nuecestown.' It was near the actual site of Nuecestown ... more- C. F. Eckhardt, Seguin, July 08, 2011 - The Streets of Reynosa, A Walk Down Pinata Row 7-3-11
Dear TE, I was about to embark on a quest to make a pinata, and did a Google image search for some creative possibilities, somehow wound up in the middle of your entertaining piece about Pinata Row. I�m kind of a tough customer with a short attention span when it comes to reading stuff on the InterWebs, but I thoroughly enjoyed your article and your sense of humor. more- David Allen, Thousand Oaks, July 03, 2011 - Bandera Hanging Tree Tragedy 7-1-11
[message] - Irene Van Winkle, Kerrville Texas, July 01, 2011 - Iredell Pioneers 6-30-11
My family was among the original pioneers to Iredell. I have several pictures of homes and families. I will get these submitted. - Stan Royal, June 29, 2011
My family lived in Iredell in the late 1800's. The family name is Royal and my grandfather was Wm Phillip Royal married to Mary Rebecca Pye. The Pye family also lived in Iredell at the same time. Attached is a photo of the family home found in belongings of Essie Royal, daughter of Wm Phillip. We believe the home was "down by the river." My father Mack Hobart Royal and his brother Chandler Renfro Royal were born in Iredell. - Kay Krausman nee Royal, Anaheim Ca, June 29, 2011
Most everyone has interesting tidbits to share 6-30-11
Reading your article reminded me of a picture I took of my father David O. Rudine in 1954 while he washed his new Chevy. Look closely and you will see the top half of his BVDs. I always thought it stood for Blended-fabric Ventilated Draws - but I could be wrong. He wore them everyday. They buttoned down the front, had a big slit in the back and were short legged. - Ken Rudine, June 28, 2011The Big Tree 6-13-11
I was again reading through your website and happened on Lamar and noticed that you had "The Goose Island Oak" as a "Nearby Attraction". I thought that I would provide a few picturesof what we always called "The Big Tree".
I first saw the tree in the early 1960's while on one of many fishing trips to the coast. While living in Aransas Pass in the 1990's I took my children there many times and it never failed to impress me no matter how many times I saw it. Thinking of the history that tree must have seen and the hurricanes it survived gives you an appreciation of how sturdy and tough those old Live Oaks are. - David Armstrong, June 09, 2011Hext, Texas - AKA Peg Leg Pocket, Wagoner Ville 6-3-11
As a historian/genealogist in the Menard County area, I have always been interested in the earlier days of Hext... more - Alicia Brown, June 03, 2011Thank you from San Francisco 6-2-11
"...Thanks for bringing her back into the room for a moment... I do have to visit the Panhandle some day. My mother said it was awful -- yet all her life she had an affection for the people and the culture... she never lost that. And, reading about the place now, I realize how enormously who she was had to do with where she was from..." more- Susan Fry, June 1, 2011Big Wells, Texas 6-1-11
I grew up in Big Wells in the 50's and 60's. The pictures are of my grandfather and grandmother and also my dad in the 1922 photo at 9 years of age. My grandmother told my father that his father gave Big Wells its name. My grandparents moved from Frio county to Big Wells in 1906 so it was around that time. Thanks. - Bill Armstrong, May 29, 2011Subject: Denison Weeping Angel 5-26-11
On your wonderful page about the Weeping Angels. I am sad to inform you that her arm was broken off sometime this late winter or spring. I drove by and saw it, so sad! - Susan Hawkins, May 25, 2011Mozelle, Texas 5-20-11
I love your website ! I have contacted you before about the history of Independence, Washington County, Texas. Today I purchased a 1945-1946 old yearbook / annual for the Mozelle School in Coleman County, Texas. In checking your website I was sad to learn the building is being demolished . Thought you might preserve what it looked like at its time of glory ! - John Gilmartin, Crockett and Independence TexasOld Corn Hill (Texas Ghost Town) 5-19-11
As a direct descendant of John Shaver, I have also photographed the deteriorating Shaver home/hotel (in the photo provided by James Bridges) through the years. I am always relieved to find it still standing on each return visit! My Corn Hill families (Shaver, Biles, Haralson, Buchanan, Robbins and Frasier) all eventually lived in Jarrell and Georgetown. I have visited the old Corn Hill cemetery at least twice a year my entire life, and am glad to see that it is still well maintained. I would very much like to see more stories and photos from those with Corn Hill connections or interest. - Linda Petty, May 19, 2011Submerged Ghost Town: Friendship, Texas 5-18-11
I lived in the Friendship community until the dam was built and it was swallowed by Granger lake. I knew Mr. Richard Caden who contributed many of the pictures on the web site. [Here are two more photos.] One is of the Friendship Baptist Church and the other one is of the Friendship store, Gilbert's Grocery, the friendly store while it was still in operation. The Conoco gas pumps are there. Thank you. - Richard Steffek, May 18, 2011Hamby, Texas
Along with the Fire Station and Churches shown, there is an old rock house with pecan trees in the front yard. I lived in that house in 1947-48. Went to school for a year at the 2 room Hamby School and then on to North Junior High School in Abilene.
Our water was pumped by a windmill to a two story cistern at the back of the house. The only inside plumbing was running cistern water to the kitchen sink. A one hole outhouse lent itself to emergency situations, etc. In the summer we took our baths in a bath house type of room beneath the cistern fitted with a shower head. In the winter it was a No. 2 washtub in the warmth of the kitchen. A butane tank, which is still there, did furnish fuel for an O'Keef-Merritt(sp) oven and a couple of Dearborn stoves.
My Dad worked for Guy Paxton and Paxton Poster Service on South Oak St. My Mom was an employee of T. S. Langford & Sons on Walnut Street.
An interesting aside concerning Hamby Richardson and one of his great, great, great grand daughters. She was the first girl that I ever dated. We went to a football banquet at North Junior High School in 1948. Ah, history ! It never stops....................... .
Keep up the good work at Texas Escapes. I love it !! - Ellis Bewley, May 14, 2011Shafter/ Presidio
Dear TE, I can solve the murder of Joseph H Diamond's grandfather. Mr Diamond�s grandfather was murdered in Presidio, TX in 1952, I was living in Presidio then. There is a book about Arthur Hill, Texas Ranger entitled _Law on the Last Frontier_by S.E. Spinks which tells of Ranger Hill�s life. Hill investigated the murder of Joe Kalmore and the story is one of many in the book. The names of the people are in the story and they were wax smugglers from Ojinaga, Mex.
By the way Shafter is coming to life as they are going to reopen the silver mine, hiring 150 people. - John C Darst, April 14, 2011The Day that the Rains Came in Stiles, TX
- Mike Mitchell, April 28, 2011The Unfortunate Chimp/Auto Collision of Mankins, TX
- Michael A. Mitchell, Wichita Falls, TX, April 28, 2011Subject: Correction on Redwater Article4-26-11
Gentlemen, I teach Texas History at St. Philip's College in San Antonio, and I require my students to research and report on several small towns as part of their class requirements. One of my students quoted your statement on Redwater: "An avid Democrat, Page also served as Redwater�s postmaster for several years during a Democratic administration in Washington. But when Republican Grover Cleveland became president, Page was on the verge of losing his postal job." Page's job was subsequently saved when his wife had quad girls and became a national attraction. I believe if you check you will find that Grover Cleveland was NOT a Republican, but instead was the only Democratic president elected from the Civil War until 1912. He did serve non-consecutive terms, and either of his successors, Benjamin Harrison or William McKinley could have been the Republican president you were referring to.
Your Texas Escapes site is a wonderful source of information on a vital and infinitely interesting topic: small Texas towns. Please keep up the good work, and if I can be of any assistance in any way, do not hesitate to call on me. - Allen Lee Hamilton, Professor of History Social Sciences Department St. Philip's College San Antonio, TX, April 26, 2011Lamkin, Texas 4-24-11
"...my grandmother once pumped gas for Bonnie and Clyde... more" - Ron Clark, April 24, 2011Sunshine Hill, Texas 3-29-10
Subject: Sunshine School Building
Sunshine Hill, TX fell victim to a grassfire on March 22, 2011.
I visited the site of the Sunshine School building, a few miles NE of Electra, Texas, on March 20th, and took the attached photos...When I heard that the fire had destroyed the structure, I was saddened, and went back to the school to see if it was true. It was.
Here are both before and after pictures, only 2 days from the other... A part of North Texas history is gone. - Keith Vaughn, Wichita Falls, March 26, 2011Subject: Notrees, Texas3-22-11
There was a question about the so-called "Christmas in Notrees" song. The song is actually "The Tumbleweed Christmas Tree" by Andy Wilkinson from Lubbock. To solve a mystery, I had received a tape of the song while in the Navy, package postmarked Lubbock, Texaswith no other name on it. Mr. Wilkinson had actually mailed it to me as a gift and I "bumped" into him recently when he was in town doing a concert. I accidently overheard him talking about the song and I told him how I had received the package years ago and had always wondered who sent it. It was nice to finally get to thank him for his kindness. At the time I was freshly overseas and terribly homesick. It shows you what a small world we live in and yet another example of how everybody's acts of kindness do not go unnoticed. Thanks, Andy. - Kyle Davian, Nolan County, Texas, March 22, 2011The Wolfman of Comstock by Gary Humphreys 3-15-11
This is a true story told to me by my mother, during the fifties��Subject: Tokio, Texas 3-6-11
While reading about Tokio, I noticed some conflict of information concerning the closing of the school. I was supposed to begin school at Tokio in September of 1946, but the school closed at the end of the school year 1945-1946. As a result my mother almost cried because I had to ride the school bus the longer distance to the Gomez, Texas, school instead of the two miles to Tokio. (You remember things like your mother being upset when you are young.) Anyway, that is what I remember. - Thanks, Dennis Richardson, March 05, 2011Subject: Pandale, Texas 3-1-11
Thank you for Texas Escapes, It is a frequent destination when time permits.
Pandale and the Pecos River that runs near it is just about my favorite place on earth. My brother roughnecked in that area in the 70's and would always spend time there camping when he could. The scenery is beautiful and the river runs cold even in the 100 degree plus summer days.
That area of the Pecos River once had a large indian population and while walking along the river bank you will find more worked pieces of flint than is possible to count and in many of he nearby hills it is quite easy to spot indian caves, however, they are all on private property and not accessable unless you "know someone".
Up until the mid 90's, FM 2083 that runs from Ozona, through Pandale, and then on to Langtry, crossed the Pecosvia a Low Water Bridge and would become impassable during heavy rains. In the following pictures you can see remains of the old bridge and the new bridge in the background.
Now, (the last time I was there in 2005), Pandale does have an open business, a camping area with a small store at the old crossing location. I wish I knew more of the area history, I bet it would be colorful and interesting. - David Armstrong, February 27, 2011Subject: Odds, Texas and Odds, Kentucky2-27-11
Dear TE, My name is Danny K. Blevins. I am an educator and author in Johnson County, Kentucky. I have looked at your site many times and I found it very interesting to find a Texas Ghost Town by the name of Odds, Texas. According to your site, it was named for Odds, Kentucky. You stated that you were unable to find anything about Odds, Kentucky and that maybe it too had become a ghost town.
Well, Odds, Kentucky is located in southeastern Johnson County, Kentucky. The U.S. Post Office of Odds was closed in the 1920's. Today, it is served by the Van Lear, Kentucky Post Office. Most of the Odds, Kentucky area was settled by the Richard Wells Family. My mother happens to be a member of this family and I have always been told that members of our family left Odds and relocated in Texas. It maybe that one of my family members may have brought the name from Kentucky? I would be interested in knowing if there were ever any families with the surname Wells that lived in Odds, Texas. - Danny K. Blevins, President Emeritus, Van Lear Historical Society, Inc., February 25, 2011Roosevelt, Texas 2-27-11 Subject: Growing up in Roosevelt, TX
My father, David Earl Fellers, lived in Roosevelt, Kimble County, TX as a boy. Born in 1926, he was the youngest of twelve children of Edward, and Alice Fellers. To make ends meet, my grandparents had to cut cedar posts. I always loved to hear Daddy tell stories of the way he and his friends passed the time in Roosevelt. My favorite is how the boys would take guitar strings and fish for Gar in the Llano River. They would "shuck" their clothes, and while sitting on tubes, let the big fish pull them around the river. Before supper time, they would go ashore, and put their clothes back on. They would head for home, and their parents never realized what they had been up to. - Mary Fraley, February 25, 2011**Subject: Battle of Adobe Walls**2-21-11The Indians did make a comment as they were leaving the scene of Adobe Walls. I am surprised that it isn't noted (That I could find.)
Maybe I know because I am part Caddo. but, when I visited the location in 1966 with my dad, he told me this. Due to the distance from the mounds that the bullet traveled and found it's high ground mark to the North, that one Chief stated: "Shoot today, Kill tomorrow."
In 1966 when we visited, the mounds were only about 2 feet high, I have not been back since. The walls were formed in a small square as best that I could tell. The location on the North side of the Canadian River was located near a bend in the river that turned in a southerly direction. There were a few Cottonwood trees near the river and a Texas plaque on a metal post stating the information about the 1874 battle. - Cal Hunt, February 03, 2011Subject: Texas Pete 2-18-11
Based on information at Forensic Genealogy, the tall gentleman on the Texas Pete postcard appears to be one James G. Tarver.- Ray Garrison, February 18, 2011Subject: Bud Matthews 2-18-11
I believe Bud Matthews was the husband of Sallie Reynolds Matthews. She wrote 'INTERWOVEN, A PIONEER CHRONICLE' In the 1930's. They were a cattle family. - Kim Garnett, Denton, Tx, February 17, 2011World War II 2-16-11
Subject: Your Camp Howze story and pix
"I stumbled onto your pictures and story concerning the German POW camp at Camp Howze. Thanks for bringing back memories.
I was one of those POW�s at the camp from Mar 45 to Spring of 46. There were 3 compounds for the prisoners, all next to each other. Most of us worked on area farms, I had the fortune of working at the Camp Howze laundry plant. In the Spring of 46 we were shipped home, which turned out to be a journey to England where we had to work for another few years as POW�s for the Brits.
In the mid 50�s, I with my family emigrated to the US. I had opportunity to visit Camp Howze (or what was left of it) in the early 70�s during a trip to Dallas. At that time I met with and talked to a farmer who had built his homestead where the camp was located before. He told me that I was the first and only former POW he knew of that ever came back. Thanks again for your story and your pictures." - Wolf Weber, February 15, 2011Lubbock, Texas 2-11-11
Subject: Your web site is wonderful!
I found your web site today. It�s fantastic! My family was in the cotton ginning business in Central Texas and the Panhandle. I saw a lot of back country along the old U.S. Route 84 between Hubbard(Hill County) Texas and Lubbock, Texas. I still love to stop and look at the old railroad depots.
I was in Denisona few weeks ago and found an old railroad station. Railroads and stations are one of my passions. Denison has an old hotel, too, that must have seen a lot of life.
Attached is the old College Avenue Co-op Gin. The gin was south of Lubbock. It WAS College Avenue then because Texas Tech was not a university. They changed the street name when the Tech became a university. My earliest memories were when it was steam driven. I remember the old steam engine, the boiler and the fireman who ran it. Then they tore that down and put in a huge Waukesha engine that my twin brother and I could crawl down into the cylinders! Then they went electric.
My first school was Wheelock Elementary in Lubbock. It was made up from old U.S. Army barracks taken from some base somewhere. Then Wheelock was rebuilt.
I remember a ginner (a man who ran the gin stands) was killed when he was pulled into the saws and chewed to death. It was a horrible death. The saw was boxed up, but my twin brother, Jerry, and I sneaked in and saw it. It was all bloody. My father, Lloyd C. Goode, was manager. We lived on the gin property. Later my father installed individual electric motors on each gin stand so that the ginners did not have to clean the saws while the saws were turning.
Jerry and I say that one day we will take a day or two and re-trace that U.S. 84 route from Waco, TX, to Lubbock just to see all those little towns again. This was the late 1940�s and early 1950�s. U.S. 84 must have followed the railroad because tracks ran parallel to U.S. 84 for most of the way. The towns I remember are Gatesville, Comanche, Abilene, Sweetwater, Slaton, Roscoejust to name a few. My mother was stopped for speeding in Roscoeonce. I remember a truck stop on U.S. 84 then but is now I-20. It was between Roscoe and Abilene. It had huge oil derrick out front hold up the sign. That derrick is still there!
- Regards, Jay Goode, Goode Web Design, www.goodewebdesign.com, December 29, 2010Gallatin, Texas 2-10-11
My father was born in Reklaw, TX but he grew up in the Gallatin � Rusk, TX and he grew up with the late great Johnny Horton. My father�s name was Cleland E. Bailey and he was the son of Isaac Lawson Bailey and Maude (Parsons) Bailey. I�ve been to Gallatin several times even though I live in Michigan. What a great place. My favorite place is the Olde Store restaurant. - Kevin C. Bailey, Kalamazoo, MI, February 09, 2011Tyrrell Library, Beaumont, Texas 2-10-11
Subject: My First Visit
I must have been about ten, and a student at St Anthony's Grammar School. We had been studing about Libraries and how they worked, and that must have peaked my interest in books something that had not been apparent before. It must have been 1938 and a saturday so I highed myself by foot the twelve or fifteen block downtown to the Tyrell Library.
It is an experience that is seared into my memory even today. I entered the massive doors in front and I distintly remember that when I stepped inside the floor squeeked, and there was a smell that I can still smell today, but for the live of me cannot describe. Dust particles hung in the diffused light clear up to the vaulted ceiling like a gentle London fog.
As I hestantly walked furthur in to the huge open room out of the fog emirged a large figure dressed in black and scramed at me "What do you want young man?". It later turned out that she was not large, only about 5 feet tall, not dressed in black, it was grey and didn't scream. But my heart was pounding and I was speachless, something my parents would find hard to believe.
I finally sputtered out the name of the book I wanted and she took me in tow and found it for me and then asked me for a library card. It was at that point that I knew the dream was about to shatter. What Library card, I didn't know anything about cards. That was the catch, they said it was a free library but you to have a card and you had to buy it and it probably cost a dollar or more. I guped real hard and confessed that I didn't have one. At that point she won my heart forever by saying "That's alright Hugh come with me to the checkout desk fill out this little form and I will type one up for you." She must have really like me because she spent the next fifteen minutes explaining how books are our friends and we never turn down their ears or write on their pages and we always return them a day early so that others can also enjoy them.
She lauched me on a wonderious journey of the printed page that has lasted til today. I am now 82 and as long as my eyes hold out I will continue my treak into the unkown. - Hugh Nini, Sr., February 06, 2011Goforth, Texas 2-2-11
We lived on a farm near FM 2001 in the 50's. As a matter a fact, Clay Thompson and his family were friends of ours. I am older than Clay, and well remember going in to the old store with my older sister, and later with Clay's siblings and other friends. We were always warned about the danger of entering that old building, but somehow we managed to survive! I still have an old calendar pulled from the ruins of that 'dangerous' old building, and like Clay's mother, my mother threw out other things scavenged.
My father grew cotton and used the gin in Kyle. Many times on our way through the winding roads to Kyle passing through Goforth, we would encounter a very old gentleman with a long white beard and white hair. He would be walking along the side of the road with a long staff. He would wave, and we would stop to say hello. He had a merry face and was always so friendly. This kind man would lean into the car window and ask how we were doing. Mom would sometimes bring him bread or some other goodies. I do not recall his name as it has been such a long time ago, but I do remember being told he was Santa. - Barbara Clayton, February 02, 2011Concho County Courthouse 1-17-11
My mother, 86, gave me a small photo of the Concho County, Texas, courthouse, probably taken shortly after it was built. There is a horse and buggy in front of the courthouse and several one-story buildings in the background, but no trees around the courthouse. The photographer�s name on the reverse is J. Y. Lowe, Miles Station, Texas. The photo was sent to her mother in Georgia before she was married by a friend who went to Texas. - Virginia Eubanks, January 15, 2011Sugar Loaf, Texas 1-17-11
I was stationed at Fort Hood from April 1954 to September 9, 1955. I was from Holland, MI, so I made my home away from home in Killeen. I was the first Explorer Advisor (Boy Scouts) at the First Baptist Church in 1954.
I talked with an old-timer near the USO which had a nice bench out front. He told me the history of Killeen without any dates. A community was formed on the east side of Sugar Loaf Mountain as soon as the Comanches would allow. Just how big it got, he didn't say, but it was big enough for a graveyard.
When the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway built through the area of the current city, he stated that the crew chief painted his name on the storage building. As the railroad was near the South Nolan Creek, the citizens of Sugar Loaf moved to that location and the railroad named the town as being the name on the shed. The grave yard was moved when Fort Hood was expanded as the that location was within the firing range.
How much of his story was true, I don't know, but he honestly passed on the history to me in hopes it would be passed on. - Clifford J. Vander Yacht, PFC, US55440178, Hq & Hq Btry, Div Arty, First Armored Division, January 16, 2011Katemcy, Texas 1-3-11
Photo of my dad Kenneth Hill in 1925. He is with his horse �Prince�, his dog �Shep� and his .22 rifle. The picture was taken while he lived in Katemcy. Not sure how long the family lived there. I know they moved to Mountaire, New Mexico by the 1930. If you have any other information about the Hill Family that would be great. - Brian Hill, January 02, 2011More Texas Forum - next page
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