Tivy Stadium has a birthday.

Seventy years ago this coming Tuesday, on a Saturday evening, the Tivy football team played Kingsville, beating them 14 to 7. It was a double header; the Schreiner football team also played the North Texas Agricultural College Aggies. A crowd of about almost 6,000 people showed up, and even the Fredericksburg high school band and pep squad was there to celebrate, along with bands from Tivy and Schreiner Institute.

On November 1, 1941, you see, they dedicated the Tivy Stadium. And they dedicated it some great football.

Previously Tivy played on a field just behind the school, back when the high school was on Tivy Street. The field, I believe, was between College and Gilmer streets; looking at a satellite view on Google maps I can still see the outline of an oval toward the 2nd Street side of the site.

The site for the new staduim was donated to the school district by L. A. Schreiner, and the community approved a $25,000 bond issue early in 1941.

"It is truly a monument to the foresight and co-operative spirit which typifies this progressive area of the great Hill Country, and will serve the needs of youth for long years to come," the Kerrville Mountain Sun reported.

Prices for the event were modest: $1.10 for reserved seats; 75 cents for general admission, and 20 cents for students. Tickets were on sale at the Blue Bonnet Hotel.

"There are 3,000 permanent seats in the concrete section of the stadium, with another 3,000 bleacher seats along the south sideline. And should the need arise there is ample room for the placing of several thousand temporary seats. Student sections

ind the press box, with broadcasting and public address facilities, have been  built on the south side, while the main entrance ticket windows, rest rooms, concession stands and business office are located atop the promenade deck on the north bowl. Team dressing rooms are also located on the south side."

Not wanting to disrupt an evening of football, the school planned for the dedication ceremony to be held between the two football games. "A brief ceremony of dedication will be held between the Schreiner-NTAC and Tivy-Kingsville games, however it will be very brief and filled with interest."

I love how the writer of the story used the word "brief" to describe the ceremony, and assured the readers the event would be filled with interest.

Community spirit was also evident in the way the proceeds from the games were distributed. "The Saturday program has been turned solely into a stadium benefit,  with all the proceeds being directed into the bond retirement fund. This was made possible by the kind co-operation of Schreiner Institute authorities with the public schools."

The old field behind the high school was not abandoned without ceremony. Charles Lochte, president of Tivy's senior class that year, gave a short talk, and the student body sang a farewell song to the tune of  Auld Lang Syne. Then the goalposts were taken down by the students and taken to the new field, with a downtown pep rally afterward.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native, who is thankful to a kind reader who pointed out the stadium's birthday. This column originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times October 29, 2011

Photograph stirs up controversy -- still

There's some new evidence in an old controversy about a photo taken of Kerrville long ago.  This is a long post, but the evidence I recently found is at the end.  I'd sure like to hear your opinion.

* * *

Months ago, when this blog was new, I posted this:

Click on any image to enlarge

Two former Kerrville mayors can't agree  on this photograph of Kerrville. 
From where do you think it was taken?

John M. Mosty was Kerrville's youngest mayor in history -- until I took office in 1992, at the age of 30. So we're a lot alike.  Like me, he's a Kerrville native, and we both have a keen interest in Kerr County history.  And we both have more than a "passing interest" in Kerrville politics.
John's dad took this photo of Kerrville after a snowfall.  I'm not sure of the date.
But John and I politely disagree about this photograph -- in fact, we're almost exactly 180 degrees apart.  I think it was taken from one side of the Guadalupe River valley; he thinks it was taken from the other side.  We've had discussions about this photo for several years now.
What do you think?  If you have a guess from what part of town this photo was taken, please leave a comment.
Also, if you could share this photo with your Facebook friends (there's a button right below this story), we could get more "eyes" looking at the photo, and perhaps we can settle this controversy!   Please comment below, or on Facebook.   Thanks!

* * *

Later, I wrote a column about the controversy:
There’s one idea to keep in mind when you study history, and, though it sounds silly, it really makes a difference. When you’re reading about some pioneer, or some historic figure, you must remember that the person about which you’re studying had no idea he lived a long time ago.
He or she was like us: life is lived in the present. To Joshua Brown, the day he and his band of shingle makers made their first camp here was just a day. It was “now” to him, not a date in the mid-1840s.
I say this because we often put our own assumptions onto historical figures, eras. For example, at the turn of the last century it took over a day to travel from Kerrville to Junction. The road was good, but steep in some places. In other places you crossed streams and riverbeds. We would consider it a very difficult journey. There would be a lot of work involved: getting the horses ready, checking the wagon, loading any freight, loading provisions for the trip, making sure you had equipment for any unexpected contingencies. If a wheel broke, you might spend a few nights out in the open. If your journey had taken place just after the Civil War, and a band of Indians chose to make your passage “difficult,” you might find yourself in a quite frightening situation.
Those who lived here in that time had no idea travel by automobile from Kerrville to Junction would someday take less than an hour.
In their world, that journey took about a day, with stops along the way. It wasn’t a huge deal. A day’s travel was just what it took. They didn’t think “I wish this only took an hour.”
We color our understanding of history when we look at the experience of those who lived here before us through the goggles of our own experience.
We might get nostalgic about the horses, or the buggy, or the fact that the hills between here and Junction would have not been crowded, that the night sky would have been brighter, that the game along the road would have been, by today’s standards, quite fantastic. (Lots of bears, for example.)
Likewise some of the beliefs those people had in those days were not like our beliefs today. Today we believe man can fly, even so far as to the moon. We know prejudice is wrong. We know we can pick up a small device, push a few buttons, and instantly talk with someone on the other side of the planet. We know we can hop in the car and in a few minutes find ourselves at one of hundreds of tables around town enjoying a hot meal – and we have choices about our cuisine (Italian, Tex-Mex, Southern, etc.).
In the middle of the 19th century, none of these things were known as they are known today.
There are some art historians who can identify the period in which a painting was created by merely looking at the brushstrokes. That means, to my argument here, I suppose, our times dictate very much about us, even small minute things most of us would overlook, like a brushstroke.
This past week I studied for a very long time (almost to the point of obsession, to be frank) a photograph my friend John M. Mosty brought by. The photograph is of Kerrville, taken from a hillside, after a snow. I suppose what I was trying to do, as I looked at it over and over again, using my computer to magnify and sharpen its minute details, was determine from what point the photograph was taken. Knowing from which hill Mosty’s father took the photo would tell me what was pictured in it.
Despite my effort I’m still not sure about the subject of the photo; there are two competing theories, and both are plausible.
Then I realized it wasn’t important to know exactly from which hill the photo was taken. When Mr. Mosty’s father took the photo, he couldn’t have known that the valley before him would someday have this building built here or that built there. He wouldn’t have known about the roads that would someday be built, roads that circle the sleeping town like a crown.
The moment that photo was taken, on some unknown hill around here, I’m pretty sure the thoughts were more “the snow is lovely on the quiet town,” and “my goodness, it’s cold.”
Until next week, all the best.

* * *

And I posted an update to my blog post:

Yesterday I posted a photo about which former mayor John M. Mosty and I disagree.  Several of you looked at the photo and suggested it was taken from above Remschel Street in Kerrville, facing south, looking over the Guadalupe River to the hills beyond.

The original photograph, taken by John M. Mosty's father, Mark
about which John and Joe Herring Jr. have a friendly
disagreement.  From which hillside do you
think this photo was taken?

So today, following several of your suggestions, I climbed the Remschel hill and took the following picture.  For those who do not know, Remschel is the little street connecting Clay to Stadium; it's near Tivy Stadium, parallel to Sidney Baker street.

Taken July 26, 2010.  Notice the hills in the distance.

Do you think the view is a match?
Let me know.  Feel free to share this photo with anyone you'd care to, including your friends on Facebook.  (There's a button just below this story to do just that!)

* * *

Now I've found some new evidence.  Here's an email I sent John M. Mosty:

John,

Remember that photo your father took of Kerrville in the snow?  

I saw a photo at the Water Street Antique company and I took what is probably an illegal snapshot of the portion of the photo showing the 700 block of Water street before the Sidney Baker Bridge was built.  They have a date of 1930 on the photo, but I don't know for sure.  My spy photo is attached.

Take a look at the St Charles Hotel in the photo, right across the street from Pampell's.    For convenience I am attaching detail from your father's photo.

It sure looks like (at least to me) the unidentified building in your father's photo, also across from what might be Pampell's.

It might be worth your time to visit the Water Street Antique store.  The photo is in the back, right in front of the stairs going up to the old mezzanine.

Your long-time friend,

Joe

Here are the images I sent Mr. Mosty:

Aerial view, 700 Block of Water, 1930

Detail from Mark Mosty's photograph.

 Given all that's been discussed about this mystery photo, I'm curious about what you think.  Do you think this old photo was taken from the hill near the football stadium, looking south toward town?  Or do you think, like my long-time friend John M. Mosty the photograph is taken from south of the river looking north?
Please enter your comments below.  Thanks!

The first movie shown at Kerrville's Arcadia Theater

My friend Lanza Teague found this poster for Irene online.  The 1926 film was the first movie shown at the Arcadia Theater, and Lanza knew I've been looking for it.  I want to display it in my Arcadia poster frame, which was original to the 1926 building.  Thanks Lanza!

Click on image to enlarge

Poster, Irene, 1926.  This was the first movie
shown at Kerrville's Arcadia Theater.

A buffalo hunt for the newsreels

When do you think the last buffalo hunt occurred in Kerr County?

A kind reader with a sharp eye sent me a clipping from the March 18, 1937 issue of the Kerrville Mountain Sun with a page one story with this headline: "1937 Buffalo Hunt Goes Into History Successful Event."

Odd, I thought, as I read the story.  I believed buffalo were gone from Kerr County by the mid-19th century.  There was a photo of a man in a white hat with his hands on the horns of a recently dispatched buffalo.  William ' Buffalo Bill' Blanton was the fellow's name.  The buffalo was not named in the caption.

"Arrayed in a big hat, big chaps, and the right attitude for a big time, manager William N. 'Bill' Blanton of the Houston Chamber of Commerce turned cowboy Monday and fulfilled the role of slayer in the buffalo hunt on the L. A. Schreiner preserve southwest of Kerrville.  It was the first buffalo hunt in this vicinity since the latter part of the past century and probably the last one to be held in Texas.

"Despite freezing weather and an occasional snowflake, everybody had a great time except the 700-pound, two year old buffalo that was slain." 

I'm sure that's probably right.

Blanton used a Remington .35 special rifle in the hunt. The entire hunt was filmed for a Paramount newsreel, to be released, according to the story, to "21 million motion picture patrons."

The story explains "the hunt was permitted through the courtesy of L. A. Schreiner, owner of the buffalo herd, and was sponsored by the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce.  The preserve owner not only consented to the killing of one of his seven remaining head of bison, but placed his riders and other facilities at the disposal of the hunter and photographers.  Blanton rode Mrs. Schreiner's favorite paint pony during the early warming up maneuvers, but later changed to a mount with more of a shock-absorbed pace."

The story includes information about Harry Juenke, an employee at the City Meat Market, whose task in the project was to "dress the carcass of the fallen bison," a job he performed by himself, after all of the cameras and cowboys had departed.

"At work alone, Juenke glanced up to see approaching one of the herd, which had faded away after the gunfire.  Showing fight and resentment at the sight of a man working over a fallen buffalo, the animal chased Juenke up a convenient tree.  Having nobody to call for assistance or succor, Juenke determinedly remained in the tree until the peeved buffalo went away.

"Down came the man to finish his job, but not without another interruption.  The same bearer of the herd's resentment returned to the carcass dressing, and again the man performed the tree-climbing act.  Still having no source of succor he could reach with an appeal, Juenke staged a tree-top sit-down strike while Mr. Buffalo sniffed and snorted on the ground below."

Juenke eventually finished the job, and steaks from the last great buffalo hunt in Kerr County were served in Houston at an "all-Southern products dinner for delegates to the Southern Chamber of Commerce Manager's Association convention."

On the whole, and considering the reaction of the other buffalo, I'm sure the slain buffalo would have much rather skipped the big honor.  Houston is no place for a Kerr County buffalo.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who recently noticed buffalo meat products for sale at a local grocery store. This column originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times October 22, 2011.


UPDATE: After doing more research, I ran across a similar story in the Kerrville Times; it turns out the buffalo's name was "Esau," and his head was mounted as a trophy to be displayed at the Houston Chamber of Commerce.  Wonder what happened to that old, moth-eaten trophy?

Westminster Encampment -- Young People's Building

I've studied this photo for a long time, trying to place it on the old Westminster Encampment grounds.  Westminster was on what is now part of the Schreiner University campus, the part closest to town, between the old pavilion and the Union Church.  Looking at the rocks in the foreground, I'm wondering if this building was on the road just beside the little bridge.  What do you think?

Click on image to enlarge

Young People's Building, Westminster Encampment, Kerrville, date unknown

Wednesday Ephemera: Ham Postcard from E. T. Butt

The correct name for this postcard is a "QSL Card."  I had no idea Eugene T. Butt was a ham operator until I saw this card.  Mr. Butt was Howard Butt's older brother, the second son of C. C. Butt and Florence Thornton Butt.  Mrs. Butt, as you may recall, started a small little grocery store in Kerrville in 1905.

Click on image to enlarge

My friend John MacCrossan, whose father was a ham radio enthusiast, sent along this clarification: Look at the remarks on the card.  Mr Butt used the abbreviations beloved of Morse operators  "vy gld to QSO om es hpe cuagn"  = "Very glad to have made contact with you old man and hope to see you again". "73 de E T Butt" meant cheerio or best wishes from E T Butt.  (Similarly "88" meant love and kisses.)

Three different views of the old Kerr County Courthouse

Here are three separate views of the third Kerr County Courthouse.  This is the courthouse which preceded our current courthouse, which was built in the 1920s.  I don't yet have a photo of the back of the courthouse, the side which faced Jefferson Street.  With that view, we'd have all 4 sides.

Click on any image to enlarge

As a bonus, this shot also shows the 2nd courthouse, which had been
repurposed as the county jail.

A postcard image showing the Sidney Baker side of the Courthouse
(Though in at least part of this building's life, that street was called Tchoupitoulas.)

A view from Main street.

A special Thank You to two ladies, plus an Internet trick

I want to offer a big "thank you" to two ladies who made this year's Tivy Homecoming more special.

First, a hearty thank you to the talented Lisa Winters, who handles Public and Media Relations for the Kerrville Independent School District. About a year ago we talked about the 100th anniversary of Tivy Football, and it was through her efforts this milestone was celebrated by the school district. She organized a showcase of Tivy memorabilia for the Homecoming celebrations and I believe she was instrumental in encouraging others in the district to make some new homecoming traditions by reviving the pep rally on the Heritage Star in downtown Kerrville. Years ago every home football game was celebrated with a pep rally at the intersection of Water and Earl Garrett streets -- and this year's Homecoming Parade paid homage to that old tradition.

Secondly, a special thank you to Jan P. Wilkinson, a corresponding historian friend of mine. Ms. Wilkinson is a descendent of Joshua Brown, the founder of Kerrville, and also a descendent of the Auld family. About a year ago Ms. Wilkinson sent me a newspaper article from the September 26, 1957 issue of the Kerrville Times, written by E. T. Butt, who was himself a member of an interesting Kerrville family. In it, Mr. Butt recalled the first Tivy football team, of which he was a member. Without Ms. Wilkinson thoughtfully sending me this article, this 100th anniversary might have passed by unnoticed.

Thanks to both of you, a little bit of history was remembered in our community. I am also thankful to the news coverage this newspaper gave the event. I think Peter McCrady's article was very good.

* * *

I found an amazing Internet trick that might make my work here obsolete, and so I share it with you with some trepidation. All you need to do this trick is a computer with Internet access, and you can do historical research quicker and faster than I.

(For those who are not Internet savvy, don't worry: this is so simple even I can do it.)

First, go to www.google.com. Then, in the search box, enter the following text exactly as it appears here:

site:newspaperarchive.com Kerrville  "Joseph Tivy"

Then click the search button.

The results below will list every reference to Joseph Tivy in the Kerrville newspapers on file. You can replace "Joseph Tivy" with anything you wish. Say you wanted to see every reference to "Florence Butt" in the newspaper archives; entering

site:newspaperarchive.com Kerrville  "Florence Butt"

in the search box on Google would provide you with those newspaper stories about Mrs. Butt. You can list the name of anyone you like, or the name of a store, or the name of even a street.

I hope you have fun with this trick, and I hope you will still read this column even though it's now obsolete.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who becomes increasingly obsolete with each passing day.  This column originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times October 15, 2011.

A bit of Whimsy for your Sunday

This photo, by Don Murray, my co-worker here at the print shop made me smile.  It was taken during some holiday festivities in 1993.

Click on image to enlarge

Velocipede and rider, Kerrville, 1993

First Peek: Renovations at the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library

My long-time friend Peter Lewis took me on a tour of the construction at the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library.  Peter is the architect on the project; J M Lowe Construction is the contractor.  Not only will the building be updated with electrical, mechanical, and layout improvements, great new features will be offered, especially for younger readers.  Like Peter said during the tour: "Where else can you have a children's section of a library overlooking a brand new playscape and the Guadalupe River?"

Click on any image to enlarge

The new dome in the center of the ceiling

Another view of the dome.  It will feature indirect lighting and a chandelier. 

Overlooking the old porch, which will be enclosed for a new Chldren's Area.
Note the construction of the Playscape in teh background, and the river.

Peter Lewis, architect, with plans

 

Looking toward the back porch area

Where the young adult section will go -- 

Up toward the mural, which is being protected during the construction.

Today Only: 100 years of Tivy Football Homecoming Showcase

Lisa Winters, Public and Media Relations officer for the Kerrville Independent School District has done a great job creating a temporary display commemorating the 100 years of Tivy Football.  The display is at the campus of the Hal Peterson Middle School (the campus on Sidney Baker that was Tivy High School until 2003).  The address for the showcase is 1607 Sidney Baker Street.

The community has donated items for the display, including items from my collection.

These items will be displayed today ONLY.  Hours for the display will be October 14, from 10am to 5pm.

Admission is free.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of these items.

PLEASE share this post with your Facebook friends by clicking HERE.

Banner at the entrance to the Showcase

One of the displays, including a copy of the Tivy Fight Song signed by 
woman who wrote the lyrics.

Some of the hundreds of images on display

A few of Tivy's football trophies

An original copy of the Tivy Fight Song, complete with the lyricist's autograph

A Ridiculously Busy Downtown Kerrville postcard

Man, Kerrville was hopping in this photo.  I remember a lot of these buildings, but this clear photo shows so many details.  There's a newsboy's bicycle at the gas station under the hospital; another bike parked at Pampell's; awnings on the J C Penney building; a Pool Hall down in the 800 block of Water; the Arcadia and Manhattan Cafe signs dominate that side of the street, along with the Western Auto; a Yellow Cab heading to the Taxi Stand by the Sidney Baker Street bridge; and, of course, the big Blue Bonnet Hotel in the background.

Click on image to enlarge

Water Street looking east, Kerrville, around 1950.

Wednesday Ephemera: Kerrville Rotary Club announcement

This announcement postcard, from Mrs. George Morris, concerning the formation of the Kerrville Rotary Club is a quite interesting little piece of history.

Click on image to enlarge

Announcement postcard, Kerrville Rotary Club, Kerrville, 1926
original is printed on vellum and measures 3 1/4 x  5 3/16 inches

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Two different photos from two different sources

Years ago I received a photo of a man and a girl in front of a barn.  I was pretty sure the man was George Morris, who was the proprietor of the St. Charles Hotel from about World War I through the 1920s.  But I didn't have a clue who the girl was.  I assumed she was Mr. Morris' daughter.  This week a friend brought by another image, taken by a different photographer.  It shows the same girl in front of the same barn.  This time, though, the photo was marked on front and back "Tillie," and dated 1916.  I'm guessing the girl was Tillie Morris.  If you can help solve this mystery, please let me know in the comments below.   I think it's interesting that the photos came from two different sources yet are so similar.

Click on either image to enlarge

This photo entered my collection years ago; I could identify
the man, but the woman was a mystery.

Tillie [Morris?] with calf, St Charles Hotel, 1916

A faded dream: Kerrville's J. M. Auld Youth Center

From time to time I get questions about the history of the J. M. Auld Youth Center, the little building at the corner of 2nd and College streets, behind what was Tivy Elementary School long ago.

I'm not old enough to remember the building being used as a youth center though it was in limited use as such during my youth; my earliest memories of the place come from my 6th grade year when we beginner band members practiced there, far away from other members of the community, probably because of our skill level. We rarely hit the right notes, but what we lacked in skill we made up with loudness.

A long-time friend let me borrow a scrapbook about the Auld Center, and in it was a short history of the place.

"The J. M. Auld Youth Center was organized in 1949. It is, undoubtedly, the oldest active youth center in Texas not privately or municipally owned and run. Its conception came from a group of high school students who felt they should have a place to congregate, play, and talk. This dream was made possible by [the J. M. Auld Family Foundation]  who gave $6,000 for the project.

"From the very beginning the school system cooperated although they wanted no part of running the youth center. However, teachers have often been on the board.

"The Foundation is set up with trustees and running the youth center is delegated to the youth center board. A director was hired early in its operation when it became apparent the students couldn't manage by themselves. The center has had its ups and downs and several directors, but has overcome many obstacles and seems in better shape now than in many years."

This particular history of the center was written in the mid 1970s. It continues with details of renovations done then, like a new roof and window repairs.

The scrapbook included many photographs -- some snapshots, and some professionally taken. In its heyday, the center was a very active part of the youth community.

There are photographs of boxing matches, of kids dancing, playing ping pong, pool, and shuffleboard. There are photographs of adults working on fundraisers for the center, of young people hard at work painting the building, of boy scouts and women sewing. I think most of the photos are from the mid-1950s, when the center was still pretty active.

In the old scrapbook, there are even some minutes from a 1979 meeting of the Kerr County United Way board of directors where several directors questioned the director's salary (which was, when figured on an hourly basis, a whopping $6.11/hour.)  They eventually agreed to fund $4,500 of the center's request that year.

What had started out as a dream of high school kids, and funded by a long-time Kerr County family, seemed to fade over time. At the beginning there were many enthusiastic volunteers; toward the end, few.

The building itself is now used by the Kerrville Independent School District's Adult and Community Education program, run by my friend Phil Houseal.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who is well past the Youth Center maximum age. This column originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times October 8, 2011

Extremely rare images of Kerrville's St. Charles Hotel

A friend shared these images with me -- they're Morris family images.  The George Morris family were the proprietors of the St Charles for a time   I believe most of these images are from the early 1920s.

Click on any image to enlarge

Employees, St Charles Hotel, Kerrville, possibly late 1910s

Snowfall, courtyard, St Charles Hotel, Kerrville, around 1920

Courtyard, St Charles Hotel, Kerrville, around 1920

Snow, St Charles Hotel, Kerrville, around 1920

Mr. and Mrs. George Morris,
St. Charles Hotel, Kerrville, around 1920

More antique Kerrville Postcards

Here are some more antique postcards from downtown Kerrville.  Please feel free to share these with your friends.

Click on any image to enlarge

I like the old-style tinting on this postcard.  Schreiner Mansion, Kerrville, around 1908

Kerrville City Hall, Kerrville, late 1930s

Looking down the 700 block of Water Street, Kerrville, mid 1950s.
Look at the awnings on J.C.Penney's.

Charles Schreiner Mansion, Kerrville, 1907.
Note the little balcony on the left side of the home.

1970 Tivy Basketball stars (with autographs!)

The caption says "Kerrville Tivy, under the leadership of Coach Jim Reid, successfully defended its state title by winning for the second straight year the Class 3A state championship in the Class 3A, 2A, and A state tournament.  These 7 boys have won 3 straight district titles, 3 b-district titles, 2 regional titles, and 2 state championships in 1969 and 1970."  This printed piece also includes something rare, the original signatures of all 7 of these student athletes.

Click on image to enlarge

Tivy Basketball players, Kerrville, March 1970

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Kerrville's Railroad Depot

I don't actually have an original copy of this photo; to get this image we scanned an old newspaper.  This was the first passenger depot in Kerrville for the San Antonio and Aransas Pass railroad.  The caption in the newspaper read "Remember When? Kerrville was the railhead for the entire area in 1910 when this picture was made, and daily passenger service to San Antonio was the main mode of travel.  D. H. Comparette located this rare picture, made by the late Col. J. E. Grinstead, and said it was made before a fire destroyed part of the station.  Comparette could identify the team of horses, which he said belonged to E. E. Galbraith, but is unable to recognize any of the people."  I think that's kind of funny.  I do see a big old bird dog in the front seat of the carriage.

Click on image to enlarge

Kerrville Passenger Depot, Kerrville, 1910

Wednesday Ephemera: Grand Opening of the Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital

It was a big day for Kerrville when the Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital opened in 1949.  I'd never seen this 8-page booklet, which was printed and mailed to advertise the grand opening, and I'm grateful to a long-time friend for letting me scan it.  Please feel free to share this with your friends.  There are some buttons at the bottom of the post that will let you share this with your Facebook friends.

Click on any image to enlarge

100,000 page views

Wow.  Someone, in the last minute or so, looked at the 100,000th pageview on this blog.  I'm humbled and flattered by the response this blog has enjoyed.  Here's to the next 100,000  pageviews.  Joe

Notre Dame Institute Girls' Marching Corps, 1956

This is an interesting photo of a girls' marching corps from Notre Dame Institute, taken in 1956.  If you recognize anyone in the group, please let me know in the comments section below.

Click on image to enlarge

Notre Dame Institute Girls' Marching Corps, Kerrville, 1956

Remembering the Pampell family

When I was a boy I would walk from the print shop to get my hair cut at Randy Follis' barber shop on Main Street. To get there I would head west on Water, cross in front of the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, pass by the H-E-B Grocery store on the corner of Water and Quinlan, cross Quinlan, round the corner of Quinlan and Main by passing the Burton Insurance Agency, and get in line at Randy's barber shop. Both the insurance agency and the barber shop spaces are now taken by Little Caesar's Pizza.

There was a large fir tree on the corner, by Mr. Burton's office. I remember it clearly because it was very large and also because fir trees are relatively rare here. I recently went to that corner to see if I could see any evidence of the old tree, either a stump or roots. I've heard the tree died some time ago.

The tree interested me because it was planted by a blacksmith named August Breautigam in the front yard of his daughter and son-in-law's house to commemorate the birth of his grandson Milton Pampell in 1898. (I didn't learn this until recently when Steve Kensing dropped by a copy of a photograph of the Pampell's house.)

Pampell home, corner of Quinlan
and Main streets, Kerrville, around 1929

I recently received a copy of a July 15, 1948 story from the Kerrville Mountain Sun which tells the Pampell family's story.

J. L. Pampell came to Kerrville in July, 1890 from Brenham, and worked as the express messenger for the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad here. It was Pampell's first job outside of working for his father's Brenham mercantile store. Kerrville had about 1,500 people when Pampell arrived.

"I was impressed with the first sight of the beautiful hills, the Guadalupe River, and the splendid class of people which I met. There were not carrying six-shooters, neither were they lacking in their welcome to a stranger," Pampell said.

"Captain Schreiner's store, and residence, the St. Charles Hotel and Dr. Parson's livery stable, with dance hall above it, were the chief buildings except the courthouse and the Union Church, where all denominations worshiped."

To help a 2011 reader, Parson's Hall was on land my family now owns, the parking lot between our print shop and Grape Juice.

"There was no paving in the town, and no sidewalks. On rainy days, when we walked down Water Street, we clung to the high picket fences to keep out of the mud. Water was hauled in barrels, and sold to customers at 10 cents per barrel. Hauling was done by oxen and it was not unusual to see them trudging along with heavy loads.

"Old time camp meetings, picnics, barbecues, old fashioned dances and horse racing were the entertainment features of the day," Pampell remembered for the 1948 article.

"My first business was an Ice Cream Parlor and Confectionery'" which stood in the middle of the 700 block of Water Street, just on the Sidney Baker Street side of the Schreiner building being currently renovated.

"I opened this business about six months after my arrival in the city. When the wool and mohair building was started, I moved across Water Street, and later purchased the present location which was known as the 'Gregory Hotel.'"

In their new location the Pampell family made and sold ice cream, candy, and bottled soda drinks. "1916 he acquired the franchise for the Coca Cola agency for this section, which was considered as 'pioneering' in that field," the 1948 article reports.

There was also a "Pampell's Hall" in the second story of the building, where many dances, theatricals, concerts, and even motion picture shows were enjoyed.

Soon after his arrival in Kerrville, J. L. Pampell married Miss Annie Brautigam, and their son Milton, for whom the tree was planted, came along in 1898.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who loved going to Pampells to visit the Hoods, buy a candy bar from Virgie Morris, and get a malted milkshake from Emmy Kneese. This column originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times October 1, 2011

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Chester Nimitz and his sister, Dora Reagan

Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz came to Kerrville for a welcome home parade just a short time after accepting the unconditional surrender of the Japanese on the deck of the USS Missouri.   I've published other photos of the "Welcome Home Chester" event, but I particularly like this photo of the admiral and his sister, Mrs. Dora Nimitz Reagan.

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Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and his sister, Dora Nimitz Reagan,

Kerrville, 1945

There's an old story about Dora Nimitz Reagan.  While she was teaching school in Ingram, she met John G. Reagan, Jr., and they fell in love.  John Reagan asked Dora's parents for her hand in marriage, but the parents refused.  So Dora and John eloped, marrying in San Antonio in 1920.  "The disapproval of the parents was short-lived as they came to care very much for their young son in law," according to the Kerr County Album.  John died in 1947; Dora in 1982, in Kerrville.

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