I was headed out to vote one day and had just rolled up to Fire Station Number 4 on my Harley for this purpose. As I got off the bike, I noticed these two firemen, framed by the wheel well of a fire truck while they were doing some maintenance and thought it told a…
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This day in Texas History: (from the Texas State Historical Association archives) “Santa Claus” Robs Bank but Muffs Getaway December 23, 1927 On this day in 1927, the Santa Claus Bank Robbery occurred in Cisco, Texas. At noon Marshall Ratliff, Henry Helms, Robert Hill, and Louis Davis entered the First National Bank of Cisco with guns drawn. Ratliff,…
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Driving down the highway in more-or-less the middle of nowhere, it was surprising to come across this roadside Vietnam Memorial, complete with a reduced-size version of the national memorial wall. This is a very compelling memorial and if you were alive during these controversial and politically-charged years, you may want to pay this site a…
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This day in Texas History: (from the Texas State Historical Association archives) Escaped POW William Dyess Resumes Flying and Dies in Plane Crash December 22, 1943 On this day in 1943, war hero and escaped prisoner of war William Dyess resumed his flying career and was killed while attempting an emergency landing in Burbank, California. Dyess, born…
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This day in Texas History: (from the Texas State Historical Association archives) Legislature Passes Act to Encourage Transcontinental Railroad Through Texas December 21, 1853 On this day in 1853, the Texas legislature passed the Mississippi and Pacific Railroad Act, designed to encourage the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad through Texas. The act authorized Governor Peter H. Bell…
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While driving the back roads between Tyler and Ben Wheeler, I spotted this dilapidated mailbox with a scrap of fluorescent pink plastic ribbon attached. With a horse grazing in the background, this composition just said “Rural Texas” to me. How about you? Find this on page 53 of Texas As I See It R.F.D. (LIKE…
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This Day in Texas History: (from the Texas State Historical Association archives) Driskill Hotel Opens in Austin December 20, 1886 On this day in 1886, the Driskill Hotel opened in Austin. The hotel was one of the grandest in Texas, the meeting place of legislators, lobbyists, and the social leaders of Austin, and was the site of inaugural…
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Glen Rose is the county seat of Somervell County. Anchoring the classic small-town square is one of the many remarkable courthouses Texas is famous for. This late Victorian style courthouse was constructed of native limestone in 1893 after the previous incarnation burned. Somervell County was formed in 1875 and named after Texas soldier, colonist, and…
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This day in Texas History: (from the Texas State Historical Association archives) Somervell Expedition Disbands December 19, 1842 On this day in 1842, the Somervell expedition disbanded. The Somervell expedition was a punitive expedition against Mexico in retaliation for three predatory raids made by Mexican armies upon Texas in 1842: Antonio Canales Rosillo’s descent upon Lipantitlán and the…
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This day in Texas History: (from the Texas State Historical Association archives) Texas Rangers “rescue” Cynthia Ann Parker December 18, 1860 On this day in 1860, Texas Rangers under the command of Lawrence S. Ross attacked a Comanche hunting camp at Mule Creek. During this raid the rangers were surprised to find that one of their captives…
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