Local Treasures Archives | Postcards Magazine

The San Jacinto Professional Building

Postcards — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 17:16:24 +0000

Postcards
March 30, 2024
Postcards

The restoration of the San Jacinto Professional Building is more than an architectural achievement; it’s a celebration of community, history, and the enduring spirit of a town that cherishes its past while boldly stepping into the future.

Nestled in the heart of Cleveland, Texas, on the southwest corner of Crockett Street and San Jacinto Avenue, stands the San Jacinto Professional Building, a beacon of the town’s rich history. The restoration of this iconic structure was the dream of Sherry and Danny Cook, of Cook Construction Company. The newly renovated building marks a significant milestone in the preservation of Cleveland’s heritage.

The Cooks embarked on a mission not just to restore the building, but to keep its historical essence, marrying it gracefully with the advancements of modern architecture and technology. “The aim was to recreate what was already here and to bring it up to date,” Sherry Cook said, emphasizing the effort to maintain the building’s unique narrative through every nook and corner.

Originally the headquarters of the First National Bank of Cleveland, established in 1912, the building was a testament to the town’s growth and prosperity. It’s a lesser-known fact that Alfred C. Finn, the architect behind the San Jacinto Monument, had a hand in the building’s remodeling and expansion back in 1931, doubling its size and functionality.

Throughout the restoration process, significant elements from the building’s days as a bank were preserved, including the original stone casting of the bank sign, which can now be viewed in the conference room atop the original vault wall. The exterior depository boxes are still at the front of the building, and several of the arched windows were restored, as well as the original terrazzo and wood floors in the building. Sections of the original building’s granite can be found in the building’s interior columns, along with areas of exposed original brick and tin ceiling tiles. All these restored elements showcase the building’s rich legacy. The Cooks also worked to preserve the surrounding buildings, which used to be McAdams Dry Goods. The sign for the building is now fully visible to the public.

Over the years, the building has hosted a myriad of businesses–including the First National Bank, Trinity Valley Savings and Loan, Diamond Mine Jewelry Store, First Fundamental Baptist Church, Rags to Riches Resale, Diane’s Flea Market, and Second Chance Resale Store. At one point, the Cleveland School District used the building for school offices. The Cooks have ensured that traces of these businesses remain, honoring the building’s role as a commercial hub in Cleveland.

The transformation spearheaded by the Cooks is not just about architectural restoration, but about reviving the community spirit. The building’s connection to Alfred C. Finn and its architectural significance were rediscovered by the Cooks during their meticulous research, further deepening their commitment to the project. The discovery of Finn’s blueprints in Houston was a pivotal moment, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of the building’s historical importance.

Now known as the San Jacinto Professional Building, this landmark offers office spaces, a central indoor staircase, and an elevator–features that blend historical charm with modern necessity. Sherry Cook’s decision to preserve the building’s original features adds a unique character to each office space, making them far from “cookie-cutter.”

The building’s name, inspired by its location on San Jacinto Street, inadvertently ties it to the broader narrative of Texas history, a detail that the Cooks find serendipitous and fitting.

As the oldest national bank in Liberty County, First National Bank’s original building has witnessed Cleveland’s transformation over more than a century. Today, the San Jacinto Professional Building stands as a testament to the community’s resilience, its dedication to preserving its historical landmarks, and its forward-looking vision.

The Cooks’ approach to restoration, emphasizing historical integrity while providing modern amenities, has made the building a sought-after location for businesses. Tenants of the building now include a diverse array of businesses and professionals, including Donny Haltom, Attorney; Majestic Homes; Contreras Building Group; Tarver Abstract; Air Tech Solutions; Dana Jackson Insurance Agency; Justin Morgan, Attorney; Allen Dumpster Rentals; Slyder Energy Solutions; CRC; Country World Realty; and NelCo.

Sherry and Lori Cook, the mother-daughter team running the San Jacinto Professional Building, have created more than just office spaces; they’ve fostered a community of tenants who contribute to the vibrant life of Cleveland. Their commitment to maintaining the building’s historical essence while ensuring it meets contemporary needs is a fine example of how the past and present can coexist harmoniously. “All the tenants here are amazing people. Anytime you walk in this building you will be welcomed by smiling faces,” said Sherry of her tenants.

The Cooks continue to welcome stories and artifacts from the building’s past, adding layers to its ongoing story wall located in the Conference Room. “We are always so happy to hear stories from those who used to frequent the bank or work here,” said Cook. “There is still so much we don’t know about it and want to uncover.”

Image of Staircase with Tenants and Owerns:
From bottom up:

Row 1:
Sherry Cook, Lori Cook
Row 2:
Megan Gaston, Elizabeth Valdez, Dawn Anderson
Row 3:
Stephanie Meadows, Wanda Nelson Tarver, Wendi Thompson
Row 4:
Bryan Neal, Justin K Morgan

The post The San Jacinto Professional Building appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Chilly at the Lodge

Mike Yawn — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 16:21:24 +0000

Postcards
January 1, 2024
Postcards

“Chilly at the Lodge” is about “Chili,” and it’s also about fun. The event, held annually on the first Saturday in February at the Josey Scout Lodge in Huntsville, Texas, involves bands, vendors selling their wares, community, and, (of course) chili tasting.

This free event was the vision of Karla Christian, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Josey Scout Lodge. “We needed to raise money for some much-needed repairs to the historic buildings,” Christian noted, “and I wanted to do this in a way that was fun and benefitted the community. I also want the community to see and experience Josey Lodge. It just so happens that everyone loves chili.”

The Weekend

This concept—that everyone (or almost everyone) loves chili—is the central aspect of the event. Chili-chefs, known as chili-heads in the business, will be peppered around the Lodge, preparing chili for competition and offering samples to visitors. But there is a lot more.

Vendors will be offering items for sale; KSAM will have “Bryan and Tracy” serving as “celebrity judges;” and live musical guests will also be on hand to entertain guests. In the past, acts such as Kate Watson, Shannon Maisel, Audy Armentor, and Drew Fish have performed, adding spice to the already peppery proceedings.

Scout Leaders and supporters of the Josey Lodge are also on hand to offer tours of the historic building and its grounds.

The Lodge

The Josey Scout Lodge was built in 1934, constructed specifically for the use of local Boy Scouts of America troops. The money for its construction was donated by Robert A. Josey, a Huntsville native who grew wealthy as a Houston oilman. Additional support was provided by the Gibbs Brothers, and the project was built under the auspices of the Civil Works Administration.

Josey was at the dedication of the building, as were the Huntsville Mayor and the Texas Governor, a reflection of the Lodge’s centrality to the community. This was not lost on Josey. According to Dr. Will Oliver, who compiled a short history of the building, the importance of the Lodge and the Boy Scouts of America stayed with the Huntsville native, throughout his life. In a letter to a friend, Josey wrote, “In the oil business which I have been engaged in for nearly 50 years, tremendous profits are sometimes made on a small investment. But I can think of no investment that I have ever made which has…paid greater dividends in happiness than the Boy Scout Lodge at Huntsville…”

Since its construction, it has served as the local home of the Boy Scouts of America, and, more recently, the Girl Scouts of the USA. The property, however, is managed independently by the non-profit Robert A. Josey Lodge organization, which is responsible for maintenance on the property and structures—two of which (the Lodge and Caretaker’s Cabin) are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Time, however, has taken its toll on the structures. Some of the logs need repair; a new paint job is needed; weatherproofing is called for; and the caretaker’s cabin (located on the same property) requires much care.

These needs are what prompted Karla Christian to think of ways to raise funds for the Lodge, while also spicing up a community event. And, in Texas, what cause can unite more people than chili?

The Chili

Texans are known as an independent bunch, but if there is one thing they can agree on, it’s that chili is a gift to food lovers, particularly in what passes for cold weather in the Lone Star State. It is, after all, the “State Dish,” so designated in 1977.

The origin of chili is a fiery matter of contention, with different regions staking a claim to “inventing” the dish. A Franciscan friar noted in 1529 that the Aztecs cooked a type of stew with chilis and frog, lobster, or fish.

But Texans have long claimed that chili, properly understood, involves red meat. And, according to food writer Robb Walsh, the first record of such a dish is in 1827 in San Antonio, when a visitor to the city noted that poor Tejanos mixed the “cheapest beef” with peppers. By the late 1800s, “Chili Queens” were well known in San Antonio, and as news accounts and travelers proliferated, Texas became more closely identified with “true” chili—so long as chili is defined as red meat and peppers.

And that is pretty much how Texas writer Frank X. Tolbert described it in his book, “A Bowl of Red,” which he wrote in 1966. “When speaking of a bowl of red,” he noted, “I refer to chili con carne—honest-to-God chili, and not the dreadful stuff masquerading as chili which is served in nine out of ten cafes.” Helpfully, he laid out what “honest-to-God chili” is: beef, “cooked slowly and for a long time in boon companionship with the pulp of chili peppers,” along with oregano, cumin, and garlic. Notably absent from his ingredients was beans, an omission that The Washington Post credits with establishing the Texas “no-beans law.”

Mix that basic tenet with a bit of Texas chauvinism, and you have some strong feelings. President Johnson, while still President (and, presumably needing votes outside of Texas), nonetheless publicly noted that “chili concocted outside of Texas is a weak, apologetic imitation of the real thing.” Johnson’s chili patriotism is the type of attitude that made writer Calvin Trillin observe, “I love chili, but not enough to discuss it with someone from Texas.”

This disagreeable tone isn’t really in the spirit of Chilly at the Lodge, but it is a competitive endeavor. The “cook-off” consists of three divisional competitions: (1) an International Chili Society (ICS) Division, that is open to their members; (2) a Community Adult Division open to adults not affiliated with ICS; and (3) a Community Youth Division for young people ages 10-17. Each division has its own competition and prizes, and the winner of the Community Adult Division on Saturday earns the right to participate with the ICS cooks on Sunday.

Over the past two years, more than 50 contestants have entered the competitions, some from places as far flung as Arizona and Nebraska. In fact, in 2022, its very first year, seven previous national champions competed.

What this means for residents is some amazing chili. The contests include categories such as “traditional red,” “chili verde,” “homestyle,” and “veggie.” Some of these categories allow ingredients that one suspects Frank Tolbert would disapprove of—including crawfish, meat substitute and…beans.

The People

There is a global community of chili-lovers, and within the inner circle, these people are “chiliheads.” Indeed, the ICS notes that “as fellow Chiliheads, we pledge to continue the friendship and comradery that was established back in 1967 and continues today.”

But “Chilly at the Lodge” is also about the camaraderie that comes from a tight community, which Christian hopes the event continues to foster. For the World Championship Chili Cook-off, judges are required to complete a “Certified Chili Judge” onsite class, but for regional competitions, judges are simply selected for their impartiality, willingness to follow rules, and their community involvement. They cannot be related to anyone in the contest, but they need not be chili connoisseurs. According to Christian, “we tell them they just need to know what they like and what they don’t like.”

Leanne Woodward, a Board of Trustee member who recruits judges, is impressed by people’s willingness to serve. “People are so willing to give their time to support the event and the Lodge. It’s another example of the great-hearted people of Huntsville.”

Derrick Birdsall, who was a judge in 2022 and is serving again in 2024, considers the judging a privilege. “I love chili, so there’s that. It’s interesting to taste the different flavors, wondering what the cooks did to produce their version of chili. But it’s also just a fun event, and it’s good for the community.”

Gene Roberts, a “Scout Father” who doubles as a member of the Lodge’s Board of Trustees, also relishes the event: “Huntsville Scouts do so much for the community. So, it’s great for the scouts to see the community come out and support them and the historic Lodge while they are supporting another event that’s good for the community.”

But the event isn’t just for “seasoned professionals.” Morgan Robertson, an SHSU student who attended “Chilly at the Lodge” the last two years, says it’s a great opportunity to try chili. “For $5, you get a ‘tasting kit’ of six spoons, which you can use to sample from among the many chili chefs. It’s a good way to try new foods, and you’d be surprised how filling six samples are!”

Those who purchase the tasting kit also receive a “people’s choice ballot,” which allows the public to select the “people’s” winner, reinforcing the community-centric nature of the event.

The Event

This year, “Chilly at the Lodge” will occur on Saturday, February 3, 2024. The event is free to the public, although visitors should donate $5 if they wish to sample the chili. This is Texas, so it may not be “chilly,” but it is a perfect weekend for those with the appetite for music, fun, and lots of chili.

The event is open to the public Saturday, February 3 from 9am-3:30pm, with chili available beginning at 11am. All proceeds go to Josey Lodge’s capital campaign for repairs to the organization’s historic buildings. For more information, go to joseyscoutlodge.org/chilly.

Sidebar: Chili Notes

Scoville Scale: Named for American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville, the scale attempts to measure the pungency or heat of a pepper. This method has been superseded by the “high-performance liquid chromatography” (HPLC) test, but even so, the HPLC often converts its results to the Scoville scale to help with interpretability. So, what is hot? Well, a jalapeno comes in with about 5,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), a cayenne emits about 40,000 SHU, and habaneros possesses about 300,000 SHU. The world’s hottest pepper is the “Carolina Reaper,” with 2,200,000 SHU.

Chiles: Myriad peppers or “chiles” are used for chili, according to taste. Robb Walsh, in his book “The Chili Cookbook,” sorts them by “dry” and “fresh” according to heat. Among the dry are Ancho (mildest), New Mexican Long Red Chili, Pasilla, Chipotle, and Japones (hottest); the fresh include New Mexican Long Green Chile (mildest), Poblano, Jalapeno, Serrano, and Chile Pequin (hottest).

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Blueberry Pickin’ at the Sanctuary Blueberry Farm

Ruth Fields — Tue, 30 May 2023 15:09:00 +0000

Local physician Dr. Tom Reed and his wife Evangeline operate an organic, pick-your-own blueberry farm oasis in Montgomery.

In the moments before sunrise, vast rows of blueberry bushes, heavy with fruit, are glazed with dew. Giant hardwood trees, which grow around the edges of the fields, envelop the farm in a peaceful cocoon. As the sun peeks over the treetops, birds sing. Crickets chirp. Frogs croak. The farm’s owners, Dr. Tom Reed and his wife Evangeline, observe this tranquility at The Sanctuary Blueberry Farm every day. “Our goal is for this to be a place that would help people have peace, to take a deep breath and relax,” Evangeline says.

Making it different

In 2011, Tom (a double-board-certified foot and ankle surgeon) and Evangeline (a homeschooling mom) purchased 70 acres of gently rolling countryside south of Montgomery. They envisioned a Christian retreat, and planned to call it The Sanctuary Retreat Center. At the time, however, Tom and Evangeline lived in The Woodlands, and they found it demanding and time-consuming to manage the retreat center remotely. So, they rethought their plan, walking through their acreage and thinking, “What else can we do with this?”

While walking through the fields, the Reeds reminisced about the days when they took their five young children to pick-your-own blueberry farms. “It was a very special time of the year for us to go out together as a family and pick buckets of delicious blueberries,” Evangeline says. “So,” Tom says, “we decided to start a blueberry farm, but grow the plants differently by making it all organic.” The name, The Sanctuary, seemed appropriate, so it stuck, and the acreage became The Sanctuary Blueberry Farm.

In 2013, the Reeds moved from The Woodlands to their Montgomery property; that fall, they planted 1,000 blueberry bushes, concentrating on heat-tolerant, hybrid varieties such as Premier, Tifblue and Climax. “Tom especially was a big gardener, but this was a much bigger and more complicated effort and took some long-range planning,” Evangeline says. “We didn’t kill them the first year, so we thought, ‘hey, we’re good to go’ and the next year we planted another 3,000.” More followed until finally, the farm had more than 7,000 blueberry bushes growing on approximately 11 acres. As they matured, the bushes began to produce more fresh, sweet, large berries— “unlike anything found at the grocery stores,” Evangeline says.

During the picking seasons of 2016 and 2017, Tom and Evangeline invited friends to help them harvest blueberries, but soon there were more berries than friends and family could pick. In 2018, the couple opened their gates to the public, and local residents began flocking to the farm. With dozens of rows of blueberries spanning 11 acres, visitors can spread out and pick berries while enjoying the rural quiet of the farm. “You are by yourself,” Evangeline says, “even if the parking area is full.”

In harmony with nature

Evangeline is quick to point out that the farm never uses synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. “We don’t always follow traditional farming advice,” she says. Instead, they use organic fertilizers, such as molasses and fish emulsion, and apply essential oils as needed for pest control. The couple has plans to start a worm farm, which will create richly-fertilized soil for the blueberry plants, and Hive Bee Farm keeps hives on the property to encourage bees to pollinate the many blueberry bushes. “It is financially unfeasible for small farms to go to the expense of becoming certified as organic farms, but The Sanctuary does adhere to organic, bio-dynamic standards. That means ‘in harmony with nature,’” Evangeline explains.

It’s not surprising that Tom and Evangeline are so passionate about organic farming methods. In his medical practice, Tom advocates natural solutions to health problems rather than resorting to medications. In 2019, he published Your Health has been Hijacked, a book that “challenges everything that is out there on health-related topics,” he says. It became a number one best seller in Amazon’s toxicology division just three weeks after its release. “People are searching for the truth,” Tom says, but because it’s hard for readers to know what to believe, his book cites more than 500 references to give credibility to his challenging ideas. Evangeline believes Tom makes things easy to digest. “He can take a complicated subject and make it something you can understand,” she says.

Tom and Evangeline often advocate the power of nature’s own essential plant oils, and are affiliated with Young Living Essential Oils, a 30-year-old company that produces high-quality essential oils and other essential oil-infused nutritional, personal care and household products. “These are not oils that you will find in most stores,” Evangeline says. “They’re pure and highly researched.” The Reeds also host health-related home gatherings to mentor others on how to use essential oils, as well as other healthy lifestyle options for families, pets, gardening, and even pest control.

In addition, the couple is in demand nationwide at seminars, both in person and via Zoom, to teach about natural health, homesteading, healthy lifestyle choices and other pertinent topics. The Reeds’ passion for healthy living is now in its second generation: their son Joshua Reed is the owner of Montgomery Farmers Market, which brings naturally-oriented farmers, ranchers and food manufacturers to Montgomery every Saturday morning. (For more information, visit montgomeryfarmersmarket.com.)

Picking season

Depending on several variables, blueberries at the farm begin ripening at the end of May or early June, and picking season lasts for five to six weeks. The Sanctuary Blueberry Farm is usually open two or three days during the week for picking, depending on weather, plus Saturdays and Sundays with limited hours. Picking hours during the week are typically 7 a.m. until noon, or 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.; there are additional evening hours on Saturday and often Sunday. Evangeline encourages pickers to check The Sanctuary’s website or Facebook page frequently, as picking days and hours sometimes change. (Google Maps doesn’t always reflect accurate hours.)

Families can park right by the blueberry fields or, during the week, by the barn, which is just a short walk to the fields. Pickers can purchase buckets from the farm—or bring their own—and get right to picking. While children are welcome, Evangeline suggests bringing strollers or wagons for children who may tire of picking before their parents do.

During the 2022 picking season, local residents picked thousands of pounds of blueberries, enough to create countless pies, muffins, pancakes, shakes and dessert toppings; however, Tom and Evangeline promise that the organically-raised berries are temptingly sweet all by themselves.

It brings Tom and Evangeline great joy to observe the pickers’ excitement each year. “You see the smiles on people’s faces,” Tom says. “They know the berries are going to be better than anything they can buy at the store.” Pickers also tell the Reeds that they enjoy visiting the farm because it brings calm to their otherwise busy lives. “Many people have told us that this property does that for them,” Evangeline says. “They just feel more peaceful.”

For more information, visit sanctuaryblueberryfarm.com or facebook.com/TheSanctuaryBlueberryFarm.

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SHSU Peabody Memorial Library

Lindsey Kinane — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 14:41:52 +0000

Sam Houston State University’s Peabody Memorial Library was constructed in October 24, 1901, and currently remains the second oldest building on campus. The $9,372 cross-shaped building became the first standalone library and office building for President H. Carr Pritchett–intended for, what was called during the time, the Same Houston Normal Institute. The name Peabody comes from the generosity of the North American financer and philanthropist, George Peabody, whose funds helped start the institute. Oh, if these walls could talk!

It wasn’t until 1928, when an increase of students caused Peabody to run out of library space, that the library moved to a bigger building called Estill. It remained an office for professors, along with C.R. Hackney putting it into service as a band hall until 1951 (the building still has remnants of the bluish-grey tiles that often flooded when the rain came down the hill), when it became a foreign language office. The broadcasting studio for KSAM, the Huntsville radio station, was in the building for a period, starting in 1939; during 1979-1982, the radio, television, and film departments and KSHU-FM used Peabody as studio space (electrical plugs can still be seem in the basement). 1942 had the Student Army Training Camp for World War II Military Officers office located in Peabody.

From 1954-1979, Peabody became a dance studio, ROTC storage space in the basement, and even a bomb shelter during the Cold War. After the Board of Regents stopped a razing of Peabody in 1981, it became part of a State Archeological Landmark February 18, 1982—the same year Old Man burned down—and a Texas Historic Landmark in 1990, after a $1.5-million renovation the previous year.

The last fulltime use of Peabody Memorial Library was the University Archives between 1991-2004. The first University Archivist was Linda Fowler, the second is Barbara Kievit-Mason who has remained in this position for 25 years. Humidity and mold issues moved the archives to the Newton Gresham Library, the current library for Sam Houston State University.

While Peabody has been many things to many people over the years, it’s not completely abandoned and can be used for formal reception, meeting, and other events for the university president’s cabinet. Students of the university are not permitted to go inside the building and often wonder what is within the building’s walls. The basement, especially, is inaccessible to anyone who goes in the building.

When people get the opportunity to go inside Peabody, they might discover an empty room, if there are not event tables set-up. But to the right of the door remains the 1894 M.P. Moller opus 139 pipe organ, the oldest artifact on campus, that once was in Old Main, and was placed in Peabody August 3, 2007. While this magnificent instrument is preserved inside the building, it’s unplayable due to parts needing refurbishing. According to Barbara Kievit-Mason, playing the organ is worrisome for the original stain-glassed windows and the Old Main window being shattered.

There is one remaining 11 foot by 4 foot table inside the building that was used for studying when Peabody was a library. When looking at the table, there are three small holes on the top which were used for lamps.

The original stained-glass window to the right of the front door once belonged in Old Main. It was saved during the 1982 fire due to it being in the building’s basement. When looking at the window in Peabody, you may not notice, but there was a mistake when putting it up (it’s upside down; the circles at the bottom of the window are supposed to be at the top).

Over a dozen classical and literary figurehead busts can be found along the walls in the Reading Room; writers like Dante and Tolstoy, composers like Tchaikovsky and Wagner, even the Roman/Greek goddess Diana/Artemis. Most of these figures are about the size of a coffee pot, but larger bust figures of the philosophers Diogenes and Socrates (which are three times bigger) are found on the fireplace mantle.

During Peabody’s 1992 renovation, the fireplace was rebuilt. Additions to the renovations also include bathrooms (that once were a cloakroom), a back staircase, small attic area, an alcove, chandeliers, and shelving underneath the windows throughout the front of the building. Behind the organ is a wooden wall that was also added to hide file and map cabinets when the university archives were still located in the building.

The 30-foot ceiling of Peabody is still the original metal tin design that was saved by the radio, television, and film department between 1979-1981. The department installed a drop ceiling, or suspended ceiling, which was used to hide Peabody’s infrastructure. In every room, including the bathrooms, the metal tiles have different patterns. There are remnants of a library ladder system, which is a giant square around the stacks, in the room with the organ.

There are three colors on the interior—grey(ish), tan, and white—that are difficult to get and can’t be matched anymore due to the specific pigment required for the walls.

When people have the chance to walk through the red front door, they might notice two particular differences not found in modern-day doors. First, the metal door handle is the original. Second, the size of the door is wider than a standard one-door entrance—this was used to accommodate the hoopskirts of the day.

When looking outside the building, there is a distinctive dome on top that is 30 feet high. When the University Archive was still in Peabody, Barbara Kievit-Mason shared her experience of squirrels running across the dome’s top; the dome’s acoustic sound makes the squirrels echo throughout the building, especially in a room with minimal objects.

There was once an 8-foot statue of the Greek goddess Athena that was placed in Peabody’s reading room in 1997, until the University Archives moved to Newton Gresham Library in 2004. The statue was originally placed in an alcove located in Old Main in 1922—it was a class gift in 1912. But between stays in Old Main and Peabody, the statue was moved to the Estill building in 1928 (when it was still a library), where it was forgotten in an art studio until 1997. After Peabody, the statue moved back to the art department, where it remains today.

The Peabody Memorial Library has a rich history at Sam Houston State University and remains timeless. For students who pass the building, they often are unaware of its significance or simply curious as to its purpose. But those able to walk around the interior during special occasions are able to see the beauty of the metal titles, the vast organ, and try to guess the figureheads around the room. The Peabody Memorial Library is truly a historical treasure for Sam Houston State University.

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Texas Prison Museum

Postcards — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 19:18:04 +0000

If Huntsville, Texas is known for one thing, it is the prison system. In fact, the first prison in Texas was built in Huntsville which opened in 1849. The reason the first prison, “The Huntsville Unit,” now more commonly known as the Walls, was established in Huntsville is because of Sam Houston. Houston resided in the town and with his authority, he was able to create a new prison system.

Five prisons reside in Huntsville city limits and an additional five within a thirty-mile radius. In order to teach residents more about the prisons in Huntsville, The Texas Prison Museum was opened in 1989. The museum showcases the history of the prison and many artifacts. Visitors can also find goods made from the prisoners, such as leather wallets, belt buckles, and wooden wall plaques in the gift shop.

Before starting the museum tour, visitors can watch a five-minute video overview of what to expect from the museum. You will notice the benches in the room are the same benches from the Walls Prison Unit. In the same room, you can learn more of stats concerning types of crime and the demographic of prisoners housed in Huntsville units.

Leaving the room, is a miniature replica display of the prison system as seen from a bird’s eye view. This will allow you to gain a sense of the size of the prison compared to buildings around it and to also see the inside. On the wall surrounding this display are plaques detailing how rough the prison system in Huntsville was in the early 1900’s due to overcrowding. That was until General Manager Lee Simmons made positive changes. One of the positive changes was when he created the Texas Prison Rodeo in 1931.

A section on the Texas Prison Rodeo is further ahead which shows how the rodeo helped bring in money for the prison. The rodeo grew so large it attracted many celebrities including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton. The rodeo eventually ended in 1986 when there was not enough money to repair the stadium.

Simmons’ family has donated some artifacts from his time at the prison, including an album of pictures, that can be found in the museum.

Many famous, and infamous, prisoners have entered the Texas prison system throughout its long history. Stories about some of these prisoners are hanging telling of the crimes they committed. Some of these prisoners include David Crosby, Jack Purvis, and Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman. Of the most infamous is Bonnie and Clyde. You can learn how Simmons eventually brought them down. Many artifacts from Bonnie and Clyde are showcased around the museum including a pistol found in their car.

One important exhibit for visitors to see is about the rehabilitation of prisoners. Visitors can watch a video about how dogs have helped rehabilitate some of the offenders. You can also read more on how offenders can take college classes to learn how to become productive members of society when they are released. This is one of few exhibits concerning the present state of the prisons.

One artifact that attracts many people from around the state is the famous execution chair, ‘Sparky,’ which rests at the center of the museum. The use of the electric chair was used in Texas between 1923 and 1964. Visitors can read more about the history and the 361 prisoners that met their fate in the chair.

Besides the execution chair, many other artifacts from the prisons are showcased throughout the museum. This includes homemade weapons made from items smuggled into the prison. Each stage of prisoner uniforms and restraints from balls and chain to modern handcuffs are displayed. In one corner, there is wood furniture made from the prisoners such as, bed frames, a baby crib, and vanities. License plates and paintings created from some of the prisoners hang on the walls.

Before prisoners on death row are executed, they are allowed to address their victim’s family and give a last statement. Some of these statements are presented for visitors to read as well as comments from the victim’s family.

One of the last exhibits visitors will see is the ‘Great Escape.’ When Raymond Hamilton went to prison for the murder of a police officer, Bonnie and Clyde raided the Eastham prison to set him free. During this raid, a guard was shot and killed. This was when Simmons ordered a shoot to kill order against Bonnie and Clyde. Hamilton was eventually recaptured.

When exiting the museum, visitors have a chance to climb to the top of a mock guard tower.

On the other side of Huntsville, off Bowers Boulevard, lies Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery with over 3,000 inmates buried. A small group of trusted prisoners maintain the cemetery. Visitors can learn more about some of the prisoners buried in the cemetery in the Franklin T. Wilson section in the museum. In 2011, he photographed each grave and studied the history of many of them.

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Oakwood Cemetery

Kali Camacho — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 18:12:34 +0000

If area residents are wanting to learn more about local history, one place they may not consider is their local cemetery. Oakwood Cemetery, located on 9^th Street in Huntsville, is home to many famous historical figures that have made the community what it is today. These include General Sam Houston, George Robinson (who founded The Huntsville Item), SHSU presidents, and prominent attorneys. Guides for walking tours are available at the cemetery entrance which provide more information on some of the historical figures buried at the cemetery.

Former Mayor of Huntsville Mac Woodward, who is also the former Director of Sam Houston Memorial Museum, provided in-depth information about the history of Oakwood Cemetery and why residents of Huntsville should visit and tour the cemetery.

What is the history and significance of Oakwood Cemetery?

Pleasant Gray, the man that founded Huntsville, donated this land to establish a city cemetery in 1847, and then it expanded to other sections. Standing near Sam Houston’s grave, we’re standing in the earliest part of the cemetery. The cemetery extended later all the way to Martin Luther King Drive in the late 1880s, which is known as the New Oakwood Cemetery. Then the Addickes Addition was added in the 1920s. This was where Sam Houston’s Steamboat House was originally located. You see a lot of graves in the original section that show a death date of 1867–that was a yellow fever epidemic in Huntsville, so you have a lot of people that died from that that are buried in the older section. There’s a number of historic figures. There’s a lot of prominent families, the Abercrombie family, the Thomas Ball family, and some veterans of the Texas Revolution and the Civil War that are buried here. This is a historic Texas cemetery which was awarded by the Texas Historical Commission because of its age and because of its significance. This is really one of the important cemeteries in Texas.

Interestingly, Pleasant Gray himself is not buried at Oakwood. He caught “gold fever” and died in Nebraska on the trail to California. Also mentioned above: Leonard Anderson Abercrombie was Commissioner of the Texas penitentiary. As a senator of the twenty-first state legislature he used his influence to establish the Sam Houston Normal Institute. Rev. Thomas Ball was early president of Austin College. His son, Tom Ball, was mayor of Huntsville and a congressman who fought to establish the Houston Ship Channel. The city of Tomball was named in his honor.

Can you talk more about Sam Houston’s grave?

Sam Houston died July 26^th, 1863, and this is where he was buried. Originally, it was a little simple marker. In April of 1911, which was the 75th anniversary of the battle of San Jacinto, a sculptor created this monument. When this was dedicated, there was probably several thousand people here to dedicate the marker. Sam Houston’s family descendants were also here to dedicate the new monument. Every year on April 21^st, they have a ceremony here to celebrate his birthday, which is called A March to the Grave. His slave Joshua Houston’s son, Samuel Walker Houston, is also buried here. He started the real effort for black education in Huntsville-Walker County.

Why should residents of Huntsville visit the cemetery?

This is the history of the people of Huntsville. In Walker County, this is a way people can come and learn about the different people that were part of this community. Some residents may not have grown up in Huntsville or they have moved here recently, but they’re part of the community, so it’s a part of their community, too. If you walk through here, you can follow the history of Huntsville. Cemeteries are very special to people and very interesting, because this is where their relatives or their ancestors are buried, so there’s almost a connection. I think it’s sacred in a way or spiritual that you have a feeling being here. Look how peaceful and quiet. I think there’s a good quality about it. Many people stop and go through this cemetery out of fascination.

Are there any graves that are unknown?

There are some unmarked graves. The geography department with Sam Houston State University used a ground penetrating radar to try to locate grave sites. Before the site was all grown up and when the area was cleared out, you could see the depressions in the ground where the grave sites were. They identified those graves were all African American graves, but we don’t know who they are. The prison donated crosses to use as the grave markers that are used now.

What is the importance of the Christus Statue?

The Powell family was a family of prominent attorneys here in Huntsville that moved to Houston. While they were living here, their son had his tonsils taken out and hemorrhaged and died. His mother was so grieved that she got this monument, this statue, and donated this area in his memory. The original statue is in Copenhagen, Denmark, but I think this one is from Italy. I believe at the time, there was only four replicas in the United States. There are other members of the family buried here as well. All that behind the statue is a wilderness and you can’t do anything with the trees, so we can keep it as a wildlife area.

I also spoke with Penny Joiner, Director of Parks and Leisure to learn how the ground of the cemetery is taken care of.

How is the cemetery maintained?

The city took this over in about 2000 or 2002, and the city is under the Parks and Leisure Department. They have a small crew that helps maintain it. They have community service crews from the Walls Unit who will come out. TDCJ would help with us, once COVID hit it became a little bit of struggle. They do it when they can, depending on their situation. Without them, it’s difficult to maintain. Right now, we have a contracting company that helps us with the mowing and trimming. Our cemetery attendant assists with new cells and checking everything.

Let’s appreciate and take care of our local history! If interested in assisting with cemetery-related projects, contact 936-294-5708. For walking tour information, visit http://www.huntsvilletexas.com/.

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Gibbs-Powell Museum

Lindsey Kinane — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 17:58:55 +0000

Located on the corner of 11 th Street and Avenue M in Huntsville is the historic Gibbs-Powell
Museum. This house was commissioned by Thomas Gibbs, the original owner of the house, and
constructed in 1862. The house was constructed by W.M. Barrett, who also built the Austin
College building located on what is now the Sam Houston State University campus. After the
Gibbs family lived in the house, female students who attended the Sam Houston Normal
Institute along with the Mott and Jarrard families rented the house between the 1880s and
1890s. Judge Ben Powell II and his wife Eleanor bought it in 1897 because she had relations to
the Gibbs family; Anna Powell was the last to live in the house in 1983. Now, the building is
managed by the Walker County Historical Commission, which leases it from the Powell family,
who helped restore the house to its current model.

The Gibbs-Powell Museum is open Tuesdays-Fridays from Noon to 5:00 PM and Noon to
4:00PM on Saturdays. Guests can walk-in or reserve tours for schools or groups. Lee Anne
Wiseman, a docent for the museum, offers a delightful tour of the many rooms upstairs and
downstairs. These rooms are filled with furniture and mementos from the Gibbs and Powell
families, along with other families from the Walker country area, to encapsulate life for the
many people who lived within the walls.

During the late-1860s/early-1870s, the Gibbs family extended the first floor due to their
growing family; Thomas Gibbs had a total of eight children, two with his first wife and six with
his second wife Mary. The house originally had two downstairs bedrooms, one in the back, and
an exceptionally large upstairs bedroom for the kids. When female students later rented, they
lived upstairs and split the room into two bedrooms; the Mott and Jarrard families had the
downstairs. This extension was not attached to the house until 1913 when the Powell family
owned it.

Photographs of the families can be found in the front section hallway and front bedroom.
Sisters Louise and Inez Powell taught piano and voice at Sam Houston Normal Institute and
other Huntsville schools. In the parlor room, there is a square piano from 1875, a Victorian 1885
pump board, and Regina music box that were made between 1892-1921. All still work, but
were not owned by the sisters. Items from Louise and Inez’s teachings remain in the parlor
room–busts of composers like Franz Joseph that were gifted to commemorate their students’

year of study. Additionally, people claim to hear the sound of piano playing in the house as
though Louise and Inez are still giving lessons.

When looking at the bottom of the window in the parlor room, there is an opening portion
called a jib door that helped air circulate throughout the house. This was also done with the
placement of the front and back door being a straight walkway for air flow. When it was too
cold to open the jib door, the fireplaces–which extended to the second floor–were combined
for heating.

There are two dining room set-ups, one with a table made for two people, and the other with a
table for six. The smaller one is the original dining room that was converted into a bedroom
before the 1860/70 extension gave the Gibbs family more room. In the original room, there is a
small pantry with a lock; it would be locked due to the Gibbs children’s sweet tooth! It also had
another door that led out to the 15’x34’ brick kitchen, which was not attached to the house,
but is currently a bathroom, added in 1917.

The front bedroom, considered the master bedroom, accommodated Thomas and Mary Gibbs,
Benjamin II and Eleanor Powell, and Inez Powell. Inez’s hope chest, which was made by inmates
at the Walls Unit and was designed for a bride as a gift from her groom, is one of the biggest
items in the room. Even though Inez was never married, she moved into the room to take care
of other children with the help of Louise Powell and their brother Benjamin III. A dress can be
seen hanging from the wardrobe. This changes seasonally between a lace dress, a donated
pioneer casual dress, and the Powell sisters’ party dress.

The second bedroom has a large bathroom that was a storage area during the 1860/’70
extension, until indoor plumbing converted it into a bathroom in 1917. There are empty vintage
medicine boxes that show how far medicine has come. But there is also a medicine cabinet that
is said to open by itself, even though it has a latch; however, as a calming explanation, this
could be explained by the house shifting.

When people venture upstairs, they might notice a few things–the first being a lack of air-
conditioning. Then there are also penciled names visible on the walls of the bigger room. The
lack of air-conditioning makes people who visit understand what it could have been like for the
children and women who slept upstairs; it also gives appreciation for the beauty of air-
conditioning! When coming to terms with the absence of air-conditioning, people then read the
thirty or so names of the female student tenants from 1890-1897 in beautiful cursive. The low
ceilings, compared to the high ceiling on the first floor, are another reason for the heat upstairs
due to heat rising.

Outside the house is a horse-drawn wagon from 1910-11 that belonged to Wilbourn Sandford
Gibbs, the brother of Thomas Gibbs, who helped run a local mercantile store called Gibbs Bros.
& Co. This wagon was used for the business when they needed supplies from places like
Galveston.

While the Gibbs-Powell house is the only thing that remains, there was a bathhouse with a
water system in the west side, a well house on the east side, and an outhouse on the north
side. There was a stable on the land for the horses that possibly was located where the First
United Methodist Church now stands.

The back of the house has the gift shop and is a Walker County historic area. Here George
Weedon’s original tombstone remains. Weedon, who fought in the battle of San Jacinto, had
his tombstone found in the battlefield; his body was relocated to Austin Cemetery with a new
tombstone. Another figure is Minnie Fisher Cunningham, who help found Texas Women’s
Suffers Institution and the League of Women’s Voters, and her green basket that she used
during her fight for getting women to vote. Samuel Walker, the real Walker Texas Ranger, has a
display for his times as a unionist and the development of the Samuel Colt Revolver. There is a
changing display, so people can expect to learn something new each time.

The Gibbs-Powell Museum is an amazing opportunity for Huntsville to learn about its
community before air-conditioning, plumbing, and motorized vehicles. The museum partners
with Historic Tours of Texas, where people can come for events, like high tea. Even though
COVID-19 cut into events, there is an annual reception in February at the museum during the
town’s celebration of Sam Houston’s birthday—about a hundred people visit during this time.
There is something to interest everyone at the Gibbs-Powell Museum.

1228 11th Street
Huntsville, TX 77340
(936) 295-2914
walkercountyhistory.org/museum

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SHSU Planetarium and Observatory

Lindsey Kinane — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 13:58:41 +0000

Not every area is blessed to have a local university. Institutions of learning can open up whole new worlds to students and area residents alike—literally! People often forget or are unaware that Sam Houston State University has a planetarium and observatory, available to the public and not just the students. We recently visited with Michael Prokosch, the public outreach director in charge of the planetarium and observatory, to get the “Big Dipper” scoop on the facilities and available indoor and outdoor programs.

The Planetarium

Located on the SHSU campus in the Farrington Building (Room 102), the university’s indoor planetarium can offer the public the opportunity to explore our solar system and beyond the Milky Way. The planetarium’s dome is 7.3 meters and 22 feet across (shaped like an umbrella).

The planetarium shows movies and a digital night sky within the room. Such shows can last about an hour and are ideal for those with younger children or students who want to explore constellations. There are also feature programs and readings for about twenty to thirty minutes each. But there is always something different about the shows, so an audience would not experience the same thing twice.

If there is an interest in visiting the planetarium on campus, people can visit the SHSU Physics Department page (www.shsu.edu/academics/physics/links) and the SHSU Planetarium Facebook page to see when and what is available that month. You can also contact Michael Prokosch at (936)294-3664 to make an appointment.

During the fall and spring semesters, when the campus is more active, the planetarium only offers one show a month or by appointment. During the summer, there are two shows (one at 7:00 pm and another at 8:00 pm)—once a week, with thirty seats available for appointments. This is an ideal time for scout troops, churches, homeschooled children, and similar groups to experience what the planetarium has to offer. The physics department physics also includes planetarium show trailers which offer a preview as to what people can expect when visiting.

Most importantly—the planetarium shows are free!

When people visit the planetarium, there is parking located off Sam Houston Ave and Bowers Blvd; this parking is paid by the hour using the ParkMobile app, available in the app store. The Farrington Building is located between the Estill, Marks, and Academic Building III buildings.

Sam Houston State University’s planetarium has been in existence since the construction of the Farrington Building in 1956.

The Observatory

Another former part of the Farrington Building, until its removal in 1985, is the Sam Houston State University Observatory. The observatory is currently located off Highway 19, north of Huntsville, where the public is able to visit with appointments. The address is 39 Knox Circle, Huntsville, Texas. Allow for 25 minutes of drive time once you leave campus.

There is a current transition going on with the observatory, with its original telescope being replaced and wheelchair accessibility added for people to view the telescope. These improvements are expected to offer the opportunity for more events at the location.

To set-up appointments, follow the same procedures as for the planetarium. There is not a set schedule for the observatory, due to the unpredictability of Texas weather throughout the year. When there are eclipses or meteor showers, the observatory has special events associated with such happenings.

When there is the opportunity to visit the observatory, digital cameras and different gear associated are allowed. With the observatory being outside, it is important to arrive early enough to set-up your equipment before it gets too dark. But, being without a digital camera should not stop people from coming out. According to Prokosch, though, Android phones are able to capture night vision, due to the accessible use of shutter speed and iOS options for people to better capture the night sky. Newer Apple devices are improving in this area.

A word of warning: Being outside comes with “The Dew Factor.” Excess moisture during cool, clear nights when the SHSU Observatory is accessible for perfect sky viewing is common. This can wet equipment if people do not have access to something able to wipe down the surfaces. With this, Prokosch states, “Less gear is better,” because everything eventually gets wet.

Going to the SHSU Observatory offers people the opportunity to see parts of the Milky Way not accessible when standing in a neighborhood, restaurant parking lot, or shopping center due to light pollution. According to Prokosch, light pollution can make people forget that the Milky Way has color and can cast a shadow from its light, if light pollution were non-existent.

Make “Space” in Your Schedule for a Visit

Our rat race pace in life can be daunting at times. The planetarium and observatory can offer a welcome change of speed. First, the planetarium offers indoor programming with preparation for scheduling a day with Mr. Prokosch. The observatory, opposite in terms of location and scheduling, is offered at night when the brutal sun has set for the day, and a calming breeze blows throughout the location. People can spend their time at the observatory reclining in silence while gazing at the different constellations or taking the time to capture better images of the night sky.

By going to the SHSU Planetarium and Observatory, you can forget about your day for an hour and try to comprehend the massive size of our universe. Search for Venus, Jupiter, or Mars in the night sky at the observatory; connect the dots of Orion’s Belt or the Big Dipper on your search for Polaris, the North Star. If the observatory is not available, visit the planets and stars within reach at the planetarium. The sky isn’t the limit, after all.

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Gibbs Playhouse

Kali Camacho — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:14:00 +0000

Huntsville, Texas is home to many historical structures, some being lesser known than others. One of these is nestled on the corner of Avenue O and 14th Street. There stands a stone playhouse which was built around 1910. The playhouse had two previous locations, originally on 11th Street, then on a different property on Avenue O, before resting at its current location in 2019.

Sandford Gibbs and his wife Sarah Elizabeth, also known as Sallie, had the playhouse built for their first grandchild, Wilbourn Sandford, who later became mayor of Huntsville. Gibbs was a co-founder of Gibbs Brothers and Company in 1841. The company was a mercantile store which sold necessary items to residents, including General Sam Houston. After his death, Gibbs was survived by his five sons and wife, who took over the family business.

Wilbourn Sandford married Peggy and had a daughter, Margaret in 1935, who also played with the house. In the 1950s, when Margaret outgrew the playhouse and Sandford was selling the property, the playhouse moved for the first time when it was further passed down to Gibbs’ great-granddaughter, Mary Laura Gibbs, and her brother. Generations of neighborhood children and even animals have enjoyed the playhouse as well. At one point, the Gibbs family used the playhouse to house a Boxer whose owners could no longer care for the pet.

The playhouse remained at this location through various owners until 2019. Then the playhouse was moved for its final time when the owners wanted to change their yard and noticed the historical value in the playhouse. They knew the playhouse could not be destroyed, so they offered the playhouse back to Mary Laura Gibbs, who joyfully accepted it.

Gibbs has lived in her grandparents’ home since 1986. Her grandparents built the house in 1926, and her grandfather’s prized pine trees and grandmother’s magnolias are still growing in the yard and help shade the yard and playhouse. When her grandparents were residing at the home, farm animals, including chickens, a cow, and horses roamed in the yard. The house also functioned as a Sam Houston State University location for a home economics class once Gibbs’ grandfather died and the house was sold.

Measuring 6 ft. X 8 ft., the playhouse is made of stone with petrified wood placed sparingly between. Mary Laura Gibbs speculates the stone is from when the family was building something for Gibbs Brothers and Company, and she believes the stone is local to Huntsville. Grooves were made between the stones and wood to help them stand out. When looking closer, one can see the empty craters from where shells had once been buried in some of the stones. Many stones also contain igneous properties with sponge-like textures. A few pieces of marble were added, some to make the outside windowsills, which Mary Laura Gibbs acquired during the rebuilding of the playhouse from Grand Leader department store, once located on University Avenue.

The house was originally built with glass windows and a faux chimney in the back. It was also made, and continues to have, working electricity. Some of the original design has slightly changed. Cabinets that were built on an inside wall have since been removed. To make a stronger foundation, a concrete slab was added during the playhouse’s second move. A child-size door was also replaced with a regular-size door for easier access. Lastly, in order to better protect the house in the rain, a slate roof was built.

Inside, the concrete floors are painted to resemble checkered linoleum. Paneling on the walls are made partly from Parana Pine from Brazil, an endangered wood that has since been banned from exporting. The pine was brought from Mary Laura Gibbs’ parents’ house on Avenue O. A ceiling fan has been added, and a little wooden square table stands in the corner in front of an outlet. On top rests a candle and the remote for the ceiling fan. A mat and pillow rest on the floor for meditation practices.

When moving the first time from 11th Street, the house was moved in one solid structure. However, when moving the second time, the house was disassembled and rebuilt stone-by-stone. Mary Laura Gibbs compares this process to how William Randolph Hearst moved and rebuilt the San Simeon Castle in California, but in a miniscule way. In order for the house to be moved as such, photographs were taken from every side so the details would remain the same. The stones from each side were then placed on separate pallets and moved to the new location. It was decided to be moved this way because of the shape the house was in. Builders had concluded moving the playhouse in one piece would damage it.

“My brother shot the windows out with a BB gun, the door came loose from the hinges, and the roof got bad,” Gibbs said about the state of the playhouse before the move.

The state of the house just shows the many fond memories that were made during all the years of the playhouse’s life.

“I can remember being held in my grandmother’s arms and watching them put up the house, and I made a handprint in the steps.” Although those original steps were lost, Gibbs added her handprints again in 2021.

With these memories, the house contains emotional attachments as well.

“It was a part of our house. I remembered it being involved in things. It was like another room of the house, just not connected,” Gibbs said.

Another fond memory Gibbs has of the playhouse is being in girl scouts and becoming interested in batiste fabrics. She used the playhouse for melting wax on a hot plate to dye the fabrics. Looking back, she knows her mother would not be happy about this.

Gibbs has continued to take care of and upgrade the playhouse since receiving it. She now plans to add greenery around the base of the house. She also hopes to have a geologist examine the rocks making up the structure to determine the origin and age of them. Currently, she uses the playhouse for meditation, as she finds being in the house provides peacefulness.

“History only lasts as long as we take care of it,” she said when asked what has made her desire to keep and take care of the playhouse so strong. “My family has been here since 1841, and it’s nice to have something that looks back a little bit.”

Although she does not know what she wants the future to look like for the playhouse, Gibbs knows she wants it to be enjoyed by all.

“It is a minor souvenir of Old Huntsville, and I am delighted to think of others admiring it for years to come.”

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Rattlesnake Ranch Pecan Company

Postcards — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 13:54:00 +0000

Postcards
April 4, 2022
Gina Turner

Along Highway 21, west of Crockett, lies a genuine Texas treasure one might not expect traveling the long stretch of ranchland from Crockett to Madisonville. Once crossing the Trinity River on Highway 21, travelers are in for a treat, as an old cotton gin transformed into a quaint, welcoming pecan retail store in the middle of nowhere emerges. With an ambience of true southern Texas charm, Rattlesnake Ranch Pecan Company store and gift shop takes its customers back to the days of southern hospitality, trains, and a side of tasty Texas pecans – any way you like them.

The store is an experience in itself. The aroma of hot, fresh brewed coffee fills the air, free samples of all things pecan (including coffee) are ready for tasting, and a toy train track runs along the bottom of wooden shelves that line the walls. Outside the store, visitors can even get a glimpse of old luxury passenger train cars, including a former Silver Hyacinth sleeper car and Seaboard luxury dining car. Although the inside of the cars are not currently used or able to be toured, they make an interesting novelty for customers.

While the pecan company has had several owners through the years, Clint and Hannah Craycraft are the current owners and operators of Rattlesnake Ranch Pecan Company. Currently living in Huntsville, they are both Houston County natives, graduates of Texas A&M University in College Station, and grew up in local family-owned businesses themselves.

“Growing up in families that owned businesses, we found many aspects of owning and operating a business of our own together appealing,” said Hannah. “We began researching different opportunities and decided to pursue the pecan business, which was located in the town we both grew up in.”

After getting married in 2017, they bought the business that same year and now work with their desks five feet apart, except when Hannah is busy taking care of their three-month-old son Cal.

“We intentionally create a customer experience,” said Clint. “We like our customers to come in and stay a while. Texans really like their pecans, and they also love to tell stories about sitting around and shelling pecans. We really enjoy meeting and getting to know our customers. We come to think of them as friends and family.”

When asked about some of his most notable encounters at the store, he smiled as he talks about the dad of Texas A&M University quarterback Haynes King. They were on their way to the football game and stopped in the store.“We meet a lot of cool people, and there is a lot of out-of-town and out-of-state traffic from people travelling,” said Clint. He also recalled meeting a foreign exchange student from Indonesia, who came to the store and had never seen a pecan before.

From basic raw pecans (native and papershell) to deep dark chocolate covered pecans, the pecan possibilities are endless. They offer a variety of flavored pecans and other pecan inspired goodies such as: pecan butter, pecan coffee, pecan syrup, candied pecans, pecan pralines, and (of course) traditional made-from-scratch southern pecan pies with their own custom-branded wooden box for shipping. “It’s a well-known place in East Texas. I’ve given out the pecans as gifts in college and have been given them as a gift as well,” said Clint.

So what makes their pecan products so special? Clint says they make sure only the best pecans are sold to their customers. “We harvest pecans from the ranch when we can, but we also source out part of our pecans from different places to make sure we have the freshest pecans for our customers,” explained Clint. “There have been times I have sent back trailer loads of pecans because they weren’t up to our standards.” Clint says to ensure that high level of quality, he samples the products before they ever go to the customers. “Quality makes us different – you can’t beat it.”

While pecan lovers will have an abundance of products to choose from, the store has other unique items. Mason jars are filled with southern sliced peaches, sliced green tomatoes, quail eggs, sauerkraut, jelly and preserve varieties, salsa, Bloody Mary mix, vodka rib glaze sauce, and Chow Chow to name a few. There is also an array of gourmet coffees and teas, Splendid Iris jewelry, Myra Bag purses, Thyines lotions and spray, and even some gift ideas for little ones.

Hannah takes care of most of the store’s marketing and customer service, while Clint takes care of daily operations and making sure they have the best pecans to sell in the store and ship out to customers. “Hannah loves to help people and take care of them. She really enjoys the customer service side of it,” said Clint.

Along with the storefront, ecommerce is a large portion of their operation. On average, the company ships out 400 packages of pecans a day from its 10,000 square foot warehouses across the highway. While their busy season runs through the months of November and December, Clint says they are constantly shipping out corporate gifts (including custom tins with corporate logos or custom branded pie boxes), wholesale orders, and packaging products for various fundraisers. They’ve shipped all over the United States and internationally to France, Mexico, Canada, and Guam. An ecommerce customer Clint proudly mentions is Texas songwriter Robert Earl King, who sent the company a handwritten thank you note and gift box after ordering their pecans.

While Rattlesnake Ranch Pecan Company may be found along a desolate stretch of Hwy. 21, for those travelling, it is a sweet surprise of nostalgia–with rockers sitting outside welcoming visitors to sit and stay a while. It is a haven for lovers of the Texas pecan no matter where they live. It is a place where heritage, food, and friendship come together.

You can visit them at 19354 state Highway 21 west in Crockett or visit them online at www.rattlesnakeranchpecans.com. Their hours are seasonal, so call 1-888-PECAN7J or check their Google listing for current hours.

Rattlesnake Ranch

The Rattlesnake Ranch Pecan Company store and gift shop is surrounded on both sides by the ranches that gave it the name Rattlesnake. While the Craycrafts own and operate the pecan company, the ranches are owned by Randy Parten, formerly of Madisonville, and other Parten family members, along with nonfamily individuals. The Seven J/Rattlesnake Ranches encompass 20,000 acres of rich farmland and ranchland in the Trinity River Valley.

Randy Parten currently calls the original ranch, Seven J, his home. His father, J. R. Parten, a native of Madisonville, bought the first 11,000-acre parcel of Seven J in 1948 while exploring for oil and gas. He later bought the adjoining Rattlesnake Pasture (now known as Rattlesnake Ranch) in 1959, which now encompasses about 9,000 acres. Both ranches produce oil and gas as well as pecans, cotton and grain, and Brangus cattle owned by SRR Ranches. Both the store and the Seven J headquarters are located 19 miles southwest of Crockett on Texas Highway 21, the original El Camino Real.

Most of Rattlesnake’s trees are native pecans, some of which existed when Davy Crockett and others made their trip to San Antonio to fight at the Alamo in 1836. Seven J’s hybrid orchard was first planted in 1992 to add hybrid pecans to list of products with 5 varieties: Pawnee, Kiowa, Choctaw, Desirable and Cheyenne. Parten said these varieties grow best in East Texas and are grafted onto native pecan rootstock to produce larger and more desirable pecans.

While the hybrids provide the beautiful nuts seen on a fresh baked pecan pie, the small native pecans contain a higher oil content (and some believe better flavor). The pecans are harvested mechanically from October until January. Parten said Rattlesnake and Seven J added the pecan store in an abandoned cotton gin on the property in 1995 to allow customers to get the best and freshest pecans available.

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