Category Archives: People

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

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February 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

Well, that’s it for this week,

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

Blue Moon:

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

Bob West:

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

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

Moore Outdoors with Chester Moore:  

Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour:

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

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

Typhoon Khanun:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until next time, tot de volgende keer!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until next time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://www.facebook.com/TheNightDayOrchestra

Whispers from the Past (2013):

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

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

Whispers from the Past (2014):

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

Bayoulands Talks

Katharine Leister: Tyrrell Historical Library/Pleasure Island History:

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

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

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

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

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

Bragg Road

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

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

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

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

Until next week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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First Baptisit Church Nederland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crucible of Hell by Saul David:

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

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

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

Texas Point Gun Emplacements:

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

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

Thoughts and Ramblings: Susie Spindletop Edition

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It’s been a busy week here, Under the Oakes on Ye Olde Block Farm. So I’ll be back next week with more nonsense and shenanigans. In the meantime, Susie is here to guide you through some SETX life in 1929.

                              Susie Spindletop’s Weekly Letter Snipetts 1929

Dear Della:

   Rumor is telling it around that some doctors are going to build a clinic right alongside of Stratton’s flat in Magazine street. Della, if this is true I DO hope they won’t throw all amputated legs, arms, tonsils, adenoids and appendixes out of the back window into the front yard of the flat. You know I’m in debt for that flat. However, that mortgage I have plastered all over the place may keep this human debris out. Guess I had better ask Miss Pearl Brock—she is the yes-and-no man for the building company.

   So with a clinic next door, it looks like I will inherit the burden lifted from Mrs. Sol Elisha’s shoulders when the baseball park was moved. Mrs. Elisha had a tub full of baseballs which had fallen into her yard after inflicting damage to the roof of her home. Well, Della, I’ll promise you not to carry the burden that far. I’m not going to save things in my yard until I get a tubful.

                                                          May 19, 1929

                 *                                                      *                                           *

DELLA, the passing of the old homes of Beaumont brings many heartaches. But there are heart throbs along with the aches, for as in the case of the old Keith home on Willow street, recently sold, it awakened sweet memories… carries the mind and heart back to yesteryear.

   Mrs. Bucklin once kept a boarding house in the Keith home and I recall the days when Seawillow and Will Keith, Marjorie and “brother” boarded with Mrs. Bucklin. It was from there that Marjorie Bucklin Solinsky finished school.

   Eleanor Ives (now Eleanor Wiggins) was born in one of the big old rooms.

   No one thought then that the place where hospitality reigned supreme, where infants with their cooing songs were romping on the floor, where youth was spending its evenings in innocent merrymaking would one day give way to the pounding of the machinist’s hammer as he worked over automobiles, something almost unknown at that time.

                                                           July 7, 1929

   *                                                     *                                               *

DELLA, my boy friend, I mean one of them, left the Shawnee high and dry on the flood waters of the Neches river when he heard that about the only spirits he would find on the West Indies cruise would be those that might slip out of Davy Jones’ locker for a peep at what was going on on the surface. But there were a lot of fine fellows aboard who only thought of flowers, good wishes from their friends and the pleasures of a cruise among tropical islands.

  That reminds me that the dearest folks on earth are the thoughtful ones, the ones who think about the happiness of people who might otherwise be overlooked—maybe jump overboard in despair. Acting upon this impulse Sadie Wiess sent Jim Edwards a bouquet to take to his state room. Said she knew nobody else would send one.

SINCE the flood I am strong for short skirts and natural stockings. Really natural shoes would come in handy.

   Truth is, the Neches river and all of its little rivers up the country have been cutting up like a seashore party. Motor boats and airplanes have been about the only means of transportation in some sections but Beaumont is high and dry with the exception of a little water around the hem on a skirt.

  The Enterprise delivered papers by airplane and I expect you got my last letter that way. Carried yeast up the country too, saying that the people wanted to make some bread.

                                                June 9, 1929

*                                                    *                                                     *

SOMEHOW, my dear, we can’t get ahead. For geographic prominence we started out with Spindle Top which seemed to carry an impression that we had a mountain that looked like a spindle top until somebody discovered that there was a Spindle Top gulley because some boy lost his top there.

  Then Captain Plummer caught a whale down on the beach and somebody came along and wrote “Down to the Sea in Ships,” showing more whales somewhere else than the average person has advice when you have a bad cold. Then we produced our Big Hill which at least sounded big, but it hardly got on the map before Sour Lake came along and produced a crater.

  Just why they didn’t ask my advice about it I don’t know, but it promises to be constantly widening until it gets up where I can afford to give it a little attention.

                                              October 20, 1929

   *                                               *                                                      *

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

Here lyeth the body of WILLIAM STRATTON

buried May 18, 1734

Age 97

Who had by his first wife 28 children

By his second, 17

Own father to 45,

Grandfather to 86,

Great-grandfather to 97,

great great- grandfather to 23…in all 251

A gravestone in Yorkshire, England

                               June 16, 1929

*                                         *                                             *

LAST Sunday the printer made an error in the last paragraph of my letter. I was worried until a member of my family pulled this: “Why worry? Nobody ever reads to the last paragraph of your letter anyhow.”

  Yours for more and longer miles between relatives, SUSIE

                                     October 13, 1929

                       *                                      *                                              *

Must leave you now. The ground is broke for my new home and so am I

                                             September 29, 1929

                                  Florence Stratton, aka Susie Spindletop

Born in Brazoria County in 1881, Florence moved to Beaumont in 1903. She was a newspaper reporter for both the Beaumont Journal and the Beaumont Enterprise. She is credited with starting both the Milk and Ice Fund (1915) and the Empty Stocking Fund (1920), charities of the Beaumont Journal. Florence authored The Story of Beaumont, published in 1923, which was the most successful of her five books. In 1929 Florence built her home at 1929 McFaddin Avenue, using plans from a New England cottage and brick from the 1892 Jefferson County courthouse. She also wrote a weekly column for the Beaumont Enterprise under the pen name Susie Spindletop from 1926 until her death in January of 1938.

A Brief History of Florence Stratton Part 1:    

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2017/03/21/a-brief-history-of-florence-stratton-part1/

A Brief History of Florence Stratton Part 2:

https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2017/03/28/a-brief-history-of-florence-stratton-part2/

Thoughts and Ramblings: ChatGPT Lies; Susie Spindletop Wasn’t Anthony Lucas’s Wife; Hooks Cemetery; the Mayumi Child

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After receiving many “I’m sorry” and “I apologize” from the ChatGPT bot/Terminator wannabe in reply to my questions, I think this technology is probably only ready to replace politicians. It is vague and just gives out nonsense. To be fair, I asked it to do a bio of myself and a few friends or to provide information about some Southeast Texans. I get it, most of us are not famous, and the internet is where it gets its content, but I did put in a few names of authors and academics that it should have recognized but didn’t. It kept apologizing and telling me it hadn’t been updated since September 2021. Even our technology has been neutered. So, the moral of this story is that I do not need to quit my day job and that AI chatbots lie! No, ChatGPT, Susie Spindletop wasn’t the wife of Anthony Lucas! I’m beginning to hate technology more and more. To all those in college: some professors would love to bring back oral tests because of this new technology. I can only imagine the terror that writing in cursive would bring to their students.

Last week, I forgot to mention that I visited Hooks Cemetery on my journey to Hardin County. I wanted to pay my respects to Bessie and Bruce Reid. Bessie coauthored When the Storm God Rides, a textbook on Native American tribes, with Florence Stratton. She also wrote Legend of Kisselpoo, which was published in the Port Arthur News in July 1923. It was a historical fiction article based on her research on Texas’s Indian tribes and their lore. Bessie was also an avid birder and naturalist.

I’ve written about the Kishi family of Orange County and their role in SETX history. They were not the only ones to farm in this area. Yoshio Mayumi, a prominent banker and landowner in Japan, purchased 1,700 acres near Taylor’s Bayou, where he began to grow rice and raise cattle. Like Kichimatsu from Orange County, Yoshio was not initially trusted by the locals. Still, in time, they got to know him and respect him.

Yoshio Mayumi

Yoshio eventually brought over his brother Yasuo to help manage the farm. In 1915, their father died, and Yoshio returned to Japan. Yasuo took over the farm and did well for a while, but mismanagement, dwindling crops, and a rice market crash after World War I made its future bleak. Finally, in 1924, Yasuo sold the farm to the Burrells and left for Japan. Unlike the Kishis, none of the Mayumi clan stayed behind—none of the living, that is.

If you walk among the rows of section X at Magnolia Cemetery in Beaumont, you may come upon a small cement slab with a headstone that reads Mayumi. In December 1917, Toshiko, Yasuo’s wife, bore her and Yasuo’s first child; unfortunately, the baby was born premature and lived only for one day. In a Beaumont Enterprise article, Gwendolyn Wingate wrote the following:

Yasuo Mayumi

“One evening in early December Mayumi rode horseback up to the Bailey Wingate home. For days it had been raining a cold drizzle, and the roads were under water.  Apologizing for what he said was an intrusion, Mayumi explained that his first child, a son, had been born, but after only one day of life, the baby was dead.  Mayumi needed help.

Wingate’s sturdy widowed mother, Artemise, who had borne nine children and had seen three buried, bundled up against the cold and rode back to the Mayumi place with the men. She found Mayumi’s wife with the dead child in her arms rocking back and forth in mute grief. She tried to comfort the woman who spoke no English and helped prepare the baby for burial.”

The Mayumi child was buried at Magnolia Cemetery, and Toshiko moved back to Japan, while Yasuo stayed behind. I’ll leave a link to the full article at the bottom of this blog.

Speaking of Magnolia Cemetery, October will soon be here, which means that the Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour will take place again on Museum Madness weekend. The dates are Thursday, October 19, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, October 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We’ll have more information soon!

Until next week!

Southeast Texas Rice Beckoned Japanese:

https://hirasaki.net/Family_Stories/Mayumi/Mayumi.htm

History of the Kishi Colony:

http://hirasaki.net/Family_Stories/Kishi_Colony/Kishi.htm

History of the Mayumi Colony:

http://hirasaki.net/Family_Stories/Mayumi/Mayumi_History.htm

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: Historic Homes Tour Is a Wrap; Archie Wallace; Griffing Park; the Company Store; Howard’s Grocery; The Oilers Blew it; Some Guy with Nice Hair Didn’t

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Edmund and Lorena Toebelman House

The 49th Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour has wrapped up. Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather, we had to end it at three in the afternoon instead of at six, the usual time. I know there were a few disappointed souls out there, but when the streets flood, it may not be a good idea to let wet booties or bare feet walk through a house. Overall, the tour went well, but it did have its moments. As I wrote last week, I volunteered at the Edmund and Lorena Toebelman House. The morning was nice and cool, and we had a steady stream of people. I was a porch docent by choice. We didn’t have any issues other than the fact that the group had to wait a few minutes after I spoke because of the house’s layout. We didn’t want a traffic jam from the staircase to the living room. Everyone was fine with that, and the wait was worth it, in my opinion. It’s a beautiful house, and the woodwork is amazing.

Kudos to my fellow volunteers who, unlike me, usually volunteer on Mother’s Day. I have done so a couple of times, but the outside chairperson told me this was his 20th year. Generally, on Mother’s Day, it’s hard to get people to volunteer, and that’s why I did it and probably will do it next year. A little insight into the 50th anniversary: the Galveston Historical Foundation is planning something special, so follow them for updates as we get close. As far as I am concerned, despite the tiring drive, it is worth it. If you’re interested in volunteering, I’ll leave a link at the bottom of this blog post.

Unfortunately, I’ve lost another friend and fellow Jefferson County history lover. Archie Wallace was a client of mine, but we would end up reminiscing about Port Arthur, the interurban, those rich people in Griffing Park, our mutual friend Roy Temple, and Port Arthur Mayor Bernis Sadler’s annexing quests. When asked how the city would pick up the offshore rig’s garbage, Bernis said, “Just leave it on the curb; we’ll pick it up.”

Archie was one of the few people I asked about their life during World War II. He was a child then, and the main thing he remembered was the sugar rationing; also, he had no idea where Pearl Harbor was. I’m sure those rich folks in Griffing Park had encyclopedias, but I digress. In his younger years, he worked on the streets in Griffing Park, so he knew the answer to my question. Back in 2015, I found a photo in the Beaumont Enterprise, taken where it is now, 32nd Street and Twin City Highway. It was a then-and-now photo. The first was taken in 1929, while the second was from 1959. It was nothing special, but it did show that looking south in 1929, you saw nothing, and the road curved to the right instead of making a 90-degree angle like it does today. In 1959, you could see the newly constructed auditorium and gymnasium in the background. Again, there were no trees, and the road curved to the right. If you stand at the stoplight on 32nd today, you don’t see the school, but if you glance to your right, you notice a street leading into Griffing Park that was blocked off by a barrier long ago. Since 32nd Street runs west to east, and Twin City Highway runs north to south, you really couldn’t have a fifth road there. Hell, most drivers in Port Arthur can’t figure out a four-way stop.

I will state that the roads in Griffing Park are different for a reason. Another client/history lover who has since passed told me they are the way they are because this area was a nursery and you can’t turn a wagon at a 90-degree angle. Mrs. Thibadeaux was full of information, and I loved our conversations. I haven’t been to Rose Hill Manor in a while, but the dolls on the second floor were hers. She was also a friend of my neighbor Roy Temple and his wife.

Archie also mentioned trips to the company store on Saturdays. Whether it was Texaco or Gulf, most people did this. I know my grandfather did. Unlike nowadays, it seems that Saturday morning was the day back  then—now I’m in HEB five days a week. I remember my father going to Howard’s Grocery every Saturday morning. Howard Hatfield made sure there was more stuff to buy in the 1970s than in the ‘30s, and we appreciated this. JPOTS (Just Part of the Store) was much better than Howard E. Butt’s flaming bird! I remember how excited we got in the ‘70s about the National Football League stickers on the loaves of bread. Unfortunately, it was usually a Seattle Seahawks or a Kansas City Chiefs sticker that no one cared about, but we still stuck it on our school books. The Houston Oiler sticker was nonexistent as far as I know—I never saw them. I guess the NFL dropped the ball on that one, but I was only a fan of Earl Campbell and could not care less about a disgruntled team that would eventually end up in Tennessee. Shout-out to Bum, though. He knocked on the door; then, the following year, he banged on it. He then broke his foot trying to kick the door in because the iron curtain took no crap from any team.

Now that I’ve ticked off all the Houston Oiler fans, I will add that I knew about Washington Huskies quarterback Warren Moon because he was QB with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League before he came to Houston when Hugh Campbell, the Eskimos coach, took the head coaching job for the Oilers and lasted one year. Warren stayed a bit longer, but they never really played forward in the end. I won’t even mention those Buffalo Bills people who had the audacity to come from behind and make it to a Superbowl, where they lost to some Port Arthur native coaching the Dallas Cowboys. I remember he had nice hair and a few rings. Shout-out to Don Beebe for never giving up. Sorry, Leon.

Until next week!

Galveston Historical Foundation:

Home
GHF Volunteer Opportunities

Bum Phillips Kick that SOB in/Higlights Houston Oilers Pep Rally 1980 :

“The Comeback” (Oilers vs. Bills 1992 AFC Wild Card) :

https://youtu.be/u1lgLXsO2Ag

49th Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour

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Today is the day, and I will post information all day on our experiences on the tour.

#ICYMI Here is what to expect on this tour and the dos and don’t’s. Hope to see you along the way!

When taking a historic homes tour, you should have a plan.

1.         Each ticket is valid for one visit to every house on both weekends. If you can go both weekends, taking the tour with family and friends is a great experience. However, if you only have one weekend or even only one day, then it is better to take the tour with no more than three people. Long lines can be an obstacle. One year I took the opening-day tour solo, and there was a point when I passed in front of 14 people because they only had enough room for one more person in the group.

2.         Some of the houses are in the same neighborhood, so have a plan to park centrally. You will be able to walk to multiple places without wasting time looking for a parking spot for the various destinations.

3.         NO HEELS! I should have put this up top. This is the one thing I’ve never understood. Why would someone wear heels on a home tour that involves walking upstairs and on lovely restored floors? If you do wear heels, you’ll end up walking through some stranger’s house shoeless. There was an instance when a homeowner had their beautiful restored floor damaged by someone who chose not to wear comfortable shoes. The money raised by the tour paid for the floor to be restored once more.

4.         Booties! Speaking of shoes, it is always inevitable to have one house on the tour that doesn’t want you, prancing around in heels or people walking on their newly restored floors. I get it, restoration is expensive! But then why have your home on the tour? Anyway, I digress. This will undoubtedly slow down the number of people taking the tour. So, there may be some waiting time.

5.         It may be better to visit popular homes, such as the cover house, at the opening, during lunchtime, or close to the last tour (six in the afternoon). I’ve found that these times have fewer lines.

6.         Volunteers. Most of the people checking your ticket, selling you the excellent wares that the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) has to offer, and who are stationed throughout the property are all volunteers. This means they are not getting paid. The white shirt-black pants army is there to keep the tour rolling and help you visit these beautiful homes. I say this because when you find yourself in a line, know that most of these people are doing the best they can to give you a great experience. Concerning the historical knowledge of these places, I am looking forward to seeing what the GHF will offer its volunteers. One year, I volunteered to be a docent on the front porch and all I got was a 3 x 5 index card of information. I will admit that it has finally gotten better!

7.         Visit the Old City Cemetery! The wildflowers are lovely and a great photo opportunity for photographers.

8.         Make sure to look for the cemetery tours hosted by Kathleen Maca. They sell out fast! The reason is that she is a great storyteller and has written several books on Broadway’s prominent cemetery.

See you on the tour!

2023 Galveston Historic Homes Tour:  

https://www.visitgalveston.com/blog/galveston-historic-homes-tour-locations/?fbclid=IwAR1kchD2PH3VW1Ixn9i_xwE1OTA59eWBjkydkMkieMghj7QLxmC2BKk1ha4