Category Archives: Places to Tour

Reenactors; the Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour Part Deux; Orlo Greeves; Hubert Oxford; and no reference whatsoever to Star Wars people.

Posted on by
Dick Dowling Days 2013

Watching the Kate Dorman Scenario video that I uploaded to YouTube from the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Sabine Pass brought back many memories last week. I hadn’t watched it in ages. The year in question (2013) was special because of many people who planned the event behind the scenes. It was a big deal as most battles were recognized and promoted. At the time, I was learning photography and filming. I was not an expert, but I did what I could for those who would be interested in the future.

Ron Strybos and Darlene Mott Dick Dowling Days 2012

One thing I will say about reenactors is that if you want to know the reality and life of a period, you need to talk to a reenactor and not a historian. I know many reenactors, and I am blown away by how much research these men and women do. They also volunteer their time to teach us about interesting stuff.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned Earl Keith, who passed in September 2021. Ron Strybos, who portrayed Colonel Crocker in the video, was a great reenactor, actor, and all-around good guy. He also reenacted at the Battle of San Jacinto in April. This is one event that I wanted to see him in, but I couldn’t; either I was working or the grounds were flooded that year. Ron passed in June of 2021. I wasn’t close to these men, but dammit, it hurts when you lose two people who gave everything for historic preservation and education. Many other reenactors have left us over the past year, and we will miss them all.

The Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour Part Deux is in the works. I can’t help but recall the planning of a Cemetery Tour in 2017 that never happened because of Hurricane Harvey. Things were getting a little like Game of Thrones. He killed this guy by accident but was murdered 13 years later by his incompetent friend. Some of this research will be on display on our next tour, but I do want to say that our tour is educational; it is not a ghost tour, as the Beaumont CVB put it. I’m glad that the Beaumont CVB has since updated their website and does not mention us at all. I find things like this hilarious because I make zero dollars from this blog, but some of the people at these local websites have a salary and they haven’t updated the sites in four years. And now, with the rant done, I want to get into the weeds.

Orlo G. Greeves

Someone once asked me who these people were and how they could afford these big mausoleums. They were looking at the Greeves Mausoleum, not too far from Rush B. and Aurelia Norvell’s Mausoleum near the office. I have researched both Rush B.and his wife, Aurelia. In 2017, I looked into Orlo G. Greeves and found that this impressive mausoleum was erected after his death in December of 1920.

Orlo George Greeves was born in Orange County in 1887, but most of his early years were spent in Beaumont. He attended the Peacock Military Academy in San Antonio for a short time, then left the city to go to the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College (Texas A&M).

In 1905, Greeves returned to Beaumont and entered the business world with a job at the Lumber Machine and Equipment Company. In his obituary, it was noted that the company “has grown until it is one of the largest of its kind in the South.” He was also a director of the Texas Bank & Trust Company and the former president and vice-president of the Beaumont Baseball Association, along with many other civic and business interests.

Unfortunately, Mr. Greeves met his end while hunting near Raywood, in Liberty County, with his friend Hubert B. Oxford, who was married to Sibbie Van Wormer’s daughter Sadie. As the story goes, both men were walking back from a hunt to a friend’s home one Sunday evening when Hubert’s shotgun accidentally discharged, killing Greeves instantly. Oxford managed to carry Greeves’s body for a few feet, then summoned friends from the house to help. The sheriff and the coroner were called, and an inquest was held. The death was ruled an accident.

I believe this was true, not because all of his descendants are lawyers, but because accidents happen—I guess. Unfortunately for Hubert, thirteen years later, he was at the beach and a friend who always needed money shot him in cold blood. All the facts are available in Beaumont Enterprise records. A hundred people got subpoenaed for that trial, even Florence Stratton.

Well, I got through this blog without any references to Star Wars. I’ll give it a rest for this week, but I think that my other interests, including Kaiju (Godzilla) and anime (Sword Art Online) for the gen z’s, will trickle in. Sayonara.

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

Posted on by
T.J. Chambers House Anahuac Texas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

rediscoveringsetx@gmail.com

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

Miss Jack McDonough:

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

Rediscovering Anahuac/Wallisville:

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

Chambers County:

https://wallisvillemuseum.com/

Charles Irwin’s books:

Charles Irwin

Unheralded Texas Heroes ISBN: 9781935377009

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

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

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

https://www.museumofthegulfcoast.org/museumofthegulfcoast

48th Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour

Posted on by
1874 Robert and Ellen Hughes House

What a day taking the 48th Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour; all I can say is booties, booties, and more booties. No, I wasn’t at the beach, but we did visit all nine homes yesterday. There were some fantastic homes this year, which is why I think that this was the Year of Bootie. Five houses, including the cover house, required barefootin’ or using booties. This slowed the flow in some homes, but I wouldn’t let that deter you from having a peek inside these beautiful structures.

Old City Cemetery

After a mandatory trip to Old City Cemetery, our first stop was the jewel of this year’s tour, the 1874 Robert and Ellen Hughes House. As expected, the lines were long, but the flow was good. I arrived about twenty minutes before the tour started, and I was in the sixth group of the morning. To put that into perspective, there were twelve people in a group. This is truly a must-see home. In the future, there may even be a way to spend the night in this treasure. The structure is a work in progress six years in the making, and it will eventually become a bed in breakfast.

Second on the list was the 1897 August J. Henck Cottage, where we experienced probably the longest wait time. The main reason is the small size of the property and the single staircase to access different parts of it. Like the cover house, this is a must-see, but know that booties are involved and the lines may be long. I suggest an early visit to this one.

We arrived at the 1931 Dr. Albert and Willie Dean Singleton House around noon. (Did I mention that eight of the nine houses have working ACs? All the porch docents did. Yes!) It was a pleasure to tour this gem without wait or booties.

The rest of the tour flowed smoothly for the most part. Our fourth stop, the Stubbs- Garrigan Bungalow, had no wait at all. It is located away from the other homes, so I guess this played a role. It’s a beautiful house that I could see myself relaxing in on weekends.

Number five was the 1906 Romanet-Glenn House. I enjoyed all the information the docents gave us here. They did an excellent job—the same goes for the 1894 Adolph and Augusta Helmann Cottage and the 1896 Oscar and Mary Walker House. You will need to wear booties for both these properties. The 1896 Walker House had long lines all day, but it’s worth a visit. However, it may be haunted! (I heard that while waiting in line.)

The eighth stop, the 2020 Magruder Cottage, was a head-scratcher. New construction on a historic homes tour? There were a few minutes of wait because the house is 1,000 square feet, and only six people can go in at once. I really enjoyed this one. It is not often that the owners, who are also the builders/designers, give the tour. This is the first-ever new construction on the historic homes tour. The reason is probably that the couple has remodeled around twenty houses in Galveston over the years. The property was built to be a traditional Galveston raised cottage. A lot of antiques and reclaimed wood were used in the construction. The owners made the floor with reclaimed Red Oak, White Oak, and Maple. I love this property, but feng shui people beware: it is a shotgun house!

Our last stop was the 1866 Thomas and Frances Blythe House—a restoration in progress. This property is similar to The French House in Beaumont, Texas. I say this because of the odd dog trot middle that it may once have had. Anyway, I hope to see this one after it’s finished.

Well, that’s it for now. Enjoy the tour. It was a long day but worth every minute of it. And there was no wait on the ferry! I must be living right.

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

Posted on by
Jorge Mireles headstone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Galveston’s Historic Homes Tour

Posted on by

What you need to know

The Galveston Historic Homes Tour begins next week, and I am ready! I hope you are too and look forward to seeing you there. Here I want to offer a few tips on tour etiquette that will make your visit much more pleasant.

  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 to 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 West End Wanda 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. In popular homes, such as the cover house, it may be better to visit at the opening, during lunchtime, or near the last tour (6 p.m.). 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’ll get into this next week.
  7. Visit the 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.
City Cemetery

Until next week, I bid you adieu! And remember, no heels!

Thoughts and Ramblings

Posted on by

It’s been ten years since I began my research journey into learning about some of SETX’s history, and boy, have I been down many rabbit holes! I’ve met many interesting people and seen many interesting things. I’ve cherished the opportunity to visit so many houses and museums and to witness people open up about their own reflections on the past. Joining the Jefferson County Historical Commission (JCHC) and visiting the other county historical commissions has also provided me with a wealth of knowledge. In fact, if you enjoyed the past cemetery tours at Magnolia, you can thank the Liberty County Historical Commission for being the inspiration for them. The two cemetery tours they performed were nothing short of brilliant. I really hope that they’ll one day bring back Whispers from the Past.
I’ve always enjoyed volunteering. Taking photographs for the Beaumont Heritage Society was invariably interesting, especially when they started running the Heritage Happy Hour event. There were a lot of lovely places, but I always preferred the Chambers House Museum events. Why? Because it was like visiting your grandma’s house. (Well, unless your grandma had millions of dollars—then maybe it wouldn’t be up to standards. But Papa Homer was thrifty and taught his girls well.) Truth be told, my grandmother lived in a single-story, two-bedroom house in Port Arthur with a husband, five sons, and one daughter, and I believe she wouldn’t have been happy living at the Chambers House simply because it wasn’t within one mile of her church. I can’t comment on the rest of the occupants would have felt.
Speaking of the Chambers House Museum, I’d like to give a special mention to Virginia Bowman who worked at museum. It was Ginny who set me off on my journey to research Florence Stratton, and after ten years of studying Florence’s life, I’m indebted to her. Much of my time has been spent on researching Florence, as it should be. I don’t know if I’ll be the one to write her autobiography, but at least the facts of her life and shenanigans have been discovered and are available in my archives (and I have a lot of them!).
Getting back to the topic of volunteering, it’s no secret that I love the Historic Homes Tour in Galveston. I’ve taken the tour for years, and it’s an annual part of this blog. I love taking the tour on the first Saturday, but I also love volunteering with Bev Davis, a member of the Liberty County Historical Commission. She’s the reason I check you through the gate into the cover house on Sunday.
Other subjects I’ve researched have taken up much of my time. One of them is the Interurban. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, this was the pinnacle of the conversations I had with Jerry Burnett. Something about an electric train running from Port Arthur to Beaumont from 1913 to 1932 seemed unique to me.
Another topic was Catherina Stengele. After hearing the story of a lowly seamstress who saved her money solely to buy a mausoleum, I knew it was something I had to look into. As usual, the facts were much more fascinating than the story. Much like my research on Florence researching Catherina is still ongoing.
What was probably one of my most incredible rabbit hole moments happened in Greenlawn Cemetery, where I saw a porcelain photo of a young girl attached to a flat headstone with this poem beneath:
If I must die then die I must and when the coffin round me rusts my bones will go whence they came and all that’s left is my name. To shield that name I’ll do my best; that’s all that’s left when I’m at rest. I’ll do no harm and bring no shame upon my dad and mother’s name.


For weeks, I researched the origins of Virginia Lee “Gene” Rowley’s poem and her short life. What I found went beyond her life and told the story of a family filled with both tragedy and impressive accomplishments. After my original research hit a dead end, I was still unaware of what had happened to Gene’s siblings Jerry and Vera. But a family member saw my original blogs and introduced me to the Rowley Trio. I spent many late nights going through newspaper archives and even YouTube videos of their musical journeys.
The Rowley Trio was KFDM radio’s backup band and was also a part of the Louisiana Hayride circuit. They even got a mention in George Jones’ autobiography. Apparently, George didn’t like waking up early to perform at 5:30 in the morning.
In my office, I have a photo of the Rowley Trio—Jerry, Vera (Dido), and Evelyn (Jerry’s wife)—with Johnny Horton. It’s an excellent conversation starter and a reminder that there are more stories like this.
Another story I’d like to know more about is that of Hugo J. DeBretagne. Hugo was killed on the 3rd day of the Battle of Tarawa and buried at sea. A memorial stone was placed in Greenlawn Cemetery with the following inscription:
In memory of Hugo J. DeBretagne, CO D 1st Bat. 2nd Marines Killed at Tarawa Buried at sea.  Oct. 13, 1923 – Nov. 23, 1943

World War II—and especially the Pacific War—has been my greatest research project. You could say that the movie Tora Tora Tora has a lot to do with that. Still, there’re no words to describe the feeling of being a kid and seeing a formation of T-6 Texans modified to look like Japanese Zeros flying over Nederland, Texas, headed for Jefferson County Airport to participate in the Confederate Airshow.

Until next week, keep looking back.
Sayonara さようなら

First Annual Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour

Posted on by

Many things have changed in the five years since our last tour. In 2017, we were planning our fourth trek into Beaumont’s past when Hurricane Harvey devastated our area, and other events have occurred, such as tropical storm Imelda (2019), hurricanes Laura and Delta (2020), and a global pandemic to boot. We are still dealing with pandemic concerns, but things are slowly getting back to normal. As I write, our area’s business is in full swing, and many events are taking place to the satisfaction of those who have been couped up, hunkered down, and “Zoomed out.” They want to get out and regain some normalcy in their lives. We all do.

Earlier this summer, Magnolia Cemetery contacted me about possibly bringing back the tour. I also felt it was time to get back in the saddle, so to speak, and continue what we started back in 2014—but with a twist. Our newest incarnation of the tour will be christened The First Annual Historic Magnolia Cemetery Tour. Why the first, you ask? Here’s why: ever since I attended the Liberty County Historical Commission’s (LCHC’s) Whispers from the Past tour in 2013 and 2014, I have felt that this part of SETX needed something like this to bring its rich history to life—if not a reenactment-type tour, such as the LCHC beautifully performed, then a walking history tour of our hallowed grounds, which could be an excellent way of showing our history and teaching everyone how life was back then.

Our first cemetery tour, in 2014, was for the docents of the McFaddin-Ward House. In 2015 and 2016, we presented a tour sponsored by the Beaumont Heritage Society, which was a phenomenal success. In 2021, we want to bring to light a few things about one of the older cemeteries in Beaumont. Magnolia Cemetery is a not-for-profit cemetery, meaning it does not reap money from the people and families interred there. The aim of the tour is to promote the area’s history, show the beauty of the cemetery’s monuments, statues, and artwork, and tell the stories of those who are not so famous but contributed to Beaumont’s future.

This will be an annual fall event, but we hope to offer more educational tours throughout the year if there is a demand.

The tour is free to the public, and we hope to see you there.

The tour dates are as follows:

Thursday, October 21, 2021, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 23, 2021, 10:00 a.m.

43rd Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour

Posted on by

This past weekend marked a beautiful start to the 43rd Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour. The weather was gorgeous, and the powers that be expect the same for this coming weekend. Given such good weather, I anticipated that the tour would have a huge turnout, and boy was that confirmed as the day progressed. Lines were long at some houses, but they moved swiftly. Most homes on the tour have shade for visitors, with the exception of the c1880 Alley House, so you might want to see this one first, before the sun gets too hot.

 

 

 

 

After a stop at the Old City Cemetery on Broadway to photograph the wildflowers, we began at the tour’s Cover House, the 1868 Charles and Susan Hurley House. I immediately understood why this was the premier house on the tour. Its posh landscape along with its lovely exterior can entice all who visit, but a look inside is also a must: this is truly the jewel of the tour. My fondness for this gem only grew during the additional day I spent volunteering there as the gatekeeper on Sunday.

Our next stop was the c1880 Alley House: a very tiny abode, but a well-done restoration. The current owner has done a fabulous job. While you are visiting, please make a note to stay on the runners; although the owner has not requested that all who enter wear booties, he still would not like his floors tarnished from the gravel outside. So wipe your feet!

Our next venture was touring the 1904 Thomas and Maggie Bollinger House. Note that this is the only house in which the owners requested all visitors to wear booties. It’s a beautiful house, with varying decor. My favorite was the original 1910 Ouija board!

 

Moving on, we visited the 1905 James and Emma Davis House, where I noticed the amazing wood floors. I decided they surely could not be original, and I was correct in my assumption – but as usual, I was totally wrong on the period! Originally from a bank, they were installed in the house in 1915.

 

Next on the list were two abodes side by side: the 1925 Joseph and Helen Swiff House and the 1926 Harry and Harriet Wetmore House. The Wetmore house had long lines, but as with the other properties, they moved quickly. Inside, both dwellings had appeal. The blueprint reproductions of the house, including the fireplace, was a nice touch in the Swiff house, and the elevator inside the Wetmore House was priceless.

 

 

Lunch was our usual. I don’t think we can go to Galveston and not eat at Shrimp and Stuff.

 

 

Our second leg of the tour began at the largest house, the 1916 Hans and Marguerite Guldmann House. By size, this castle dwarfed most of the other houses on the tour, and understandably, there was a wait. If you want to see this house, please be prepared for the wait, both in line beforehand and throughout the tour. There is a lot to see.

The final stop for the restored houses was the 1899 William and Ella Dugey House. It’s a beautiful house, both inside and out, and should be a definite stop on your tour. And yes, 15 people did live in the house. I know this because I was reminded by each docent as we walked through.

 

 

 

 

 

We also visited the 1915 H.W. Hildebrand Tenant House, a restoration in progress. I hope to see it on future tours, along with the 1920 City National Bank Building, which is also being restored.

Overall, the tour included beautiful houses with some modern flair, as expected. The lines for entry were long in a few cases but were generally fast moving, with the exception of the 1916 Hans and Marguerite Guldmann House. The scripts were shortened this year by the Galveston Historical Foundation to help the tour flow more smoothly. After all, most visitors (including me) are there to see the wonderful restorations that the current owners have made inside the houses. So hopefully this will make your visit even grander.

The Galveston Historic Homes Tour will resume this weekend. Hours for both Saturday and Sunday are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. I will be at the 1926 Harry and Harriet Wetmore House on Sunday from 12:30 to 3:30, so stop by and take a look at this beautiful house. I’ll try not to stand in the way!

Tyrrell Historical Library

Posted on by

My ongoing research into all things SETX has spanned many counties—even taking me off our clay paths to places like Austin—and the search continues. For instance, last month I talked about my affection for the Sam Houston Research Center and all the great things they offer. Well, this month I thought I’d stay closer to home and give the number one research hub in Jefferson County the opportunity to be in the spotlight. Through my research on Susie Spindletop and her “Weekly Letter,” I’ve spent many hours—and a fair sum of money—at the old Baptist Church. In fact, I’m sure I’ve personally kept them well stocked in quarters over the past two and a half years by printing out the Sunday Enterprise’s “Weekly Letter” from their microfilm machine at $0.25 per page. To be honest, I get a lot more out of a roll of quarters at the Tyrrell than I do at our neighboring state’s casinos!

The Tyrrell Historical Library has been a fixture in Beaumont since its inception in 1926, but the intention wasn’t always for it to be a library. Indeed, this classic structure had its own history before being converted into its current form. Built to be the First Baptist Church in 1903, it served as a replacement for the original brick church previously erected on the same grounds. In the early 20s, the congregation had outgrown that building, so they constructed a church at the corner of Broadway and Willow that was sufficiently large to host the masses of new members each Sunday.

In 1923 W.C. Tyrrell, a venture capitalist and one of Beaumont’s most prominent businessmen, purchased the building and donated it to the city for use as a public library. The library opened in 1926 and served as the main public library until the new structure was built in 1974. The building was subsequently renamed the Tyrrell Historical Library in honor of Mr. Tyrrell.

To assist those doing genealogical research, the Tyrrell has an extensive collection of family archives, city directories, and newspapers, and has gateway access to other research venues such as Ancestry.com. As an aside, volunteers from the Daughters of the Revolution (DAR) are usually on hand on the first Saturday of each month to help anyone doing family research. But it is a good idea to call beforehand to make sure that they will be there.

The Tyrrell has been a very useful resource for me, especially when I was doing research on old Beaumont through the pages of the former Beaumont Enterprise and Beaumont Journal. I do have private access to a newspaper archive, but unfortunately neither newspaper is digitized so are not currently available there. I have also found the collections at the Tyrrell to be excellent. Old photos and letter archives of a few subjects that I’ve written about in the past can be found there. One collection in particular is the Stratton-Stevens-Follin family papers, which were donated in October 2013. This collection comprises 60-plus letters by the Stratton family. Those of Asa Evan Stratton, the father of Florence Stratton (Susie Spindletop), account for most of them. Notably, it was here that I obtained a copy of a letter proving the year of Florence’s birth. Most of the other letters are general correspondence between various family members, which are not of particular interest at the moment. However, they should provide me with further insights into her parents’ lives during my future research.

The Tyrrell Historical Library is certainly a gem, not only to Beaumont, but also to all our surrounding counties. The archives are a pivotal resource documenting our history. And I for one am glad to have it as my number one starting point when delving into our past.

Did You Know:

You can support the Tyrrell Historical Library by joining the Tyrrell Historical Library Association.

$15 Associate Membership

$25 Family Membership

$50 Sustaining Membership

$100 Patron Membership

—– Institutional Membership

Your tax-deductible membership dues and donations are used to support the library’s restoration, promote the development of its diverse collections, and encourage the use and enjoyment of the library.

Mail contributions to:

Tyrrell Historical Library Association

P.O. Box 12563

Beaumont, Texas 77726-2563

Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center

Posted on by

 

 

I believe that here in SETX we are a lot better off than in some areas, where gathering historical documents can be next to impossible at times. I found this out in my first year researching Florence Stratton’s college years at Troy Normal College in Alabama (now called Troy University). I will say it is still an ongoing process. But when the archives are in shambles, and there is no one to sort them out, it is quite frustrating to say the least. Nevertheless, I hope to persevere.

To begin with, I would say that we certainly have some great places that are top-notch institutions, which provide a home for most of our historic archives. They keep them safe and accessible for those of us laying the groundwork into our historical past. These sanctuaries of history are certainly an essential part to my research. I could never see myself obtaining as much documentation about my subjects without them.

Over the past five years, I’ve visited many places, seeking information on many different subjects. There are too many, in fact, to mention them all in this article, but I do have a couple of “go-to” places I will use regularly. The first is the Tyrrell Historical Library, which I hope to cover in depth in another upcoming article slated for March. The second would be the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center.

I first visited this library back in 2012. I learned about it through Darlene Mott, whom I met at Dick Dowling Days in Sabine Pass. She was a reenactor portraying Kate Dorman in a living history scenario at the event. I was new to this research thing, and to the history of Mrs. Dorman, but I wanted to find out a little more information on her other than the lone W.T. Block article that everyone writing about her uses as a source. (I will admit that I was guilty of this as well.)

I emailed the research center and set up a day on which I could visit. What I found that day was nothing less than amazing. The treasure trove of information stored at the library is beyond belief. Not only can you sort through government records, tax rolls, and such (which I did researching Kate Dorman), you can also browse through many family and other collections on file. Most of the collections are accessible, but as always, you should plan your trip and give the library notice about which contents you want to research. The staff is astounding at what they do, but it would be best to let them know ahead of time what you are researching. It will save time.

I have since returned a multitude of times these past four years for different research topics and projects, and have always enjoyed my times there. I had the good fortune to help in the inventory of historian Bill Quick’s research papers, along with Don Smart and Bruce Hamilton. These colleagues from the Jefferson County Historical Commission are “foot soldiers in Bill Quick’s army,” as Bruce always refers to himself. On a side note, I never met Mr. Quick, but I will say that through learning about the man and his research, and from the many who hold him dear, he has definitely been an ongoing inspiration to me and my own fact-finding missions.

Another treasure that the Sam Houston Center holds is their collection of Beaumont newspapers. I’ll admit that through my research of Florence Stratton, I have spent many hours in Beaumont at the Tyrrell looking at old microfilm. I have nearly all the “Susie Spindletop’s Weekly Letter” articles (Miss Stratton’s weekly journal of Beaumont happenings, published in the Beaumont Enterprise from 1926 to 1938). But with no fault to the Tyrrell, some of the film is blurred and unreadable. Fortunately, most of the originals are at the Sam Houston Center, and I have been able to make much-needed copies.

On the grounds of the property, you will no doubt see the multiple structures near the library. You can tour these buildings, along with the Price Daniel mansion, but must reserve them two weeks in advance.

About the library: The Center was built in 1975 on land donated by former Texas Governor Price Daniel and his wife Jean to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to construct a regional historical resource depository. Most of the funds for the construction came from private donations. The Center takes its name from Jean Daniel’s great-great grandfather, Sam Houston.

 

Before you visit: www.tsl.texas.gov/shc/visit

Contact information:

Physical Address: 650 FM 1011, Liberty, TX 77575

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 310, Liberty, TX 77575

Telephone: (936) 336-8821

Email: SamHoustonCenter@tsl.texas.gov