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$24.99
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In 1904, when the railroad completed its expansion westward from Brownsville through the Rio Grande Valley, small towns were aligning the tracks. Rich, fertile valley territory was attractive to new settlers during the early 1900s, and land developers promoted a place where one could buy a piece of the American dream. Around the same time, immigrants from south of the border were arriving with dreams of starting a new life away from the tumult of the Mexican Revolution. Situated at the crossroads of both rail and roadways, San Juan was the optimal place to settle. Rapid agricultural growth had in turn fostered community growth. As San Juan celebrates 100 years of vitality, this book reflects and recalls why this city was known as the "friendly city in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley."
Surfing Corpus Christi and Port Aransas
9780738584560
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$24.99
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Surf culture in the Texas Coastal Bend began in the early 1960s when a few young men set up surfboard rental stands on the beach. By 1970, thousands of people had caught the surfing bug. In the decades that followed, dozens of surf shops and surfboard makers established themselves in Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, and nearby communities. Coastal Bend surfers won national championships for their wave-riding prowess, beating out counterparts from the East Coast, California, and Hawaii. By the 21st century, Coastal Bend wave riders had become a force to be reckoned with, playing strong roles in local political movements that influenced public policy.
Amarillo's Historic Wolflin District
9780738579160
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$24.99
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In September 1887, J. T. Berry bought 640 acres of school land from the State of Texas. Several years earlier, this raw section of prairie had been home to buffalo herds and the Kiowa and Comanche Nations. Berry could not have known that this land would one day become home to cattle barons, oil and gas pioneers, and a U.S. ambassador. When Charles Oldham Wolflin married Alpha Eunice McVean a decade later and acquired that same section of land, he never dreamed that his son would develop that land from a dairy farm into a premier residential development. Today the Wolflin Historic District is a vibrant, lush neighborhood with tree-lined brick streets and stately houses. It is home to several thousand residents, including descendants of pioneer families, modern-day professionals, and public servants who contribute to the arts, are involved in philanthropy, and are active in community service.
Arlington
9780738579818
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$24.99
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Historians dispute the founding of Arlington. Some say Arlington started in 1848 when Col. Middleton Tate Johnson started the settlement called Johnson's Station, a forerunner of Arlington. Others say it was 1876, when the railroad arrived, or 1877, when the post office was established. Still others claim 1884 as the founding, because that was when city leaders incorporated Arlington, naming the town after the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Whatever date one chooses for the founding, there is no question that Arlington has grown from its frontier origins into the entertainment center of North Texas. Highlights of Arlington's development include Depression-era gambling at Top O' Hill and Arlington Downs, Progressive values in the Berachah Home for Erring Girls, higher education through the University of Texas at Arlington, and economic expansion with General Motors. More recently, energetic citizens like former mayor Tommy Vandergriff helped bring two professional sports teams to Arlington. Today the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys share top billing with the city's other signature attractions—Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor.
Keller
9780738579467
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$24.99
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In the late 1800s, pioneers settled in the northeast Texas region of Cross Timbers known as Double Springs. In 1875, Isaac Roberts, a farmer who owned more than 600 acres, left a parcel of his land to A. G. Roberts, who then sold the right-of-way to the Texas and Pacific Railway for $25. A new town was formed, and in 1882, it was named Keller in honor of the railroad foreman who was instrumental in making the area a regular stop along the railroad. With the railroad bringing new visitors and residents, a post office was created in 1888, and new businesses started forming. The Works Progress Administration provided jobs for many Keller residents during the Great Depression, and the results of those projects shaped the way the city looks today. As of 2010, Old Town Keller was undergoing a new phase of revitalization while maintaining its connection to the hardy pioneers that once called Keller home.
Shackelford County
9781467131186
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$24.99
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One-hundred-fifty miles west of Dallas, on a gently rolling prairie that was once the predatory domain of the Plains Indians, lies Shackelford County. Anglo-American settlers began arriving in the 1850s to raise livestock and cultivate crops near the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. To protect the settlers from the Indians, the US Army established Fort Griffin in 1867. In true Wild West fashion, the raucous town of Fort Griffin sprang up nearby to service the soldiers, cattle drovers, and buffalo hunters. In 1874, Albany became the county seat, and with the arrival of the Texas Central Railroad in 1881, then the oil and gas boom in 1910, both Albany and Moran flourished while Fort Griffin folded. Today, Shackelford County's economy is based on cattle ranching, farming, petroleum, and hunting. Visitors enjoy shopping Albany's beautifully restored Main Street and taking in the Old Jail Art Center, the stately limestone courthouse, the Fort Griffin State Historic Site, and the Fort Griffin Fandangle.
Austin's Travis Heights Neighborhood
9781467129862
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$23.99
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The Travis Heights neighborhood in Austin, Texas, is comprised of three developments: the Swisher Addition, Fairview Park, and Travis Heights. Each of those three is unique. Fairview Park was designed to be an elegant Victorian suburb. The Swisher Addition developed as a thriving commercial district. The Travis Heights subdivision was the most successful residential development in the area and overshadowed the others. Travis Heights is known for its parks that run the length of the neighborhood. The history of Travis Heights is about the evolution of a neighborhood influenced by location and by its landscape.
Austin's Montopolis Neighborhood
9781467131766
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$24.99
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Montopolis is a multiethnic neighborhood located approximately four miles southeast of downtown Austin. The area was long visited and occasionally occupied by various Texas Indian nations; the first documented European or American to settle here was Jessie C. Tannehill, who in 1830 built a cabin and townsite and gave the new community its pretentious name. Instead of establishing a permanent presence in Montopolis, however, subsequent European colonizers looked a few miles upriver to the new settlement of Waterloo, later to be called Austin. Rural and sparsely populated, the remainder of the 19th century saw the Montopolis area used primarily for plantation agriculture. In the 1920s, succeeding waves of Mexican migrants helped establish the modern neighborhood that exists today. Between the 1950s and 1970s, the City of Austin annexed Montopolis, although the area retains much of its rural character.
Donna
9780738519432
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$24.99
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Donna, Texas, named for the daughter of one of the town's founders, is located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. Established in 1904, Donna has grown from a village of tent-dwelling pioneers to a community of families who share a productive agricultural and economic tradition. Captured here in over 150 vintage images, from the 1890s to the 1950s, is the rich history of the ranchers who lived along the Rio Grande, the entrepreneurs and families who settled in Donna and contributed to its development, and the social impact of the military in the years just before World War I. Advertisements from developers, railroads, and businessmen's organizations brought many Texans and Midwesterners to Donna. Deployment of U.S. soldiers, Texas state militia, and National Guardsmen to the border during the 1914-1917 bandit raids brought a new prosperity to Donna with the influx of these troops. From the coming of the railroad and construction of the irrigation system, to the laying out of farms and groves, and finally to the building of the town itself, Donna residents have always seen the potential of their chosen land.
Big Thicket Region
9781467129534
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$23.99
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The Big Thicket region is centered in Hardin County but includes land in Tyler, Jasper, Newton, Polk, Liberty, Orange, and Jefferson Counties as well. Changes to the dense forests of the thicket began with pioneers who first cleared land for family farms and communities. Economic pressure on the forests occurred as steam engines rode iron rails through vast stands of yellow pine and timber harvesting laid waste in a cut and get out sawmilling method. The oil boom also resulted in enormous changes as town populations doubled almost overnight. In 1936, R.E. Jackson, a conductor on the Santa Fe Railway, formed the first organization with the goal of protecting the thicket. Later individuals continued the fight, and in 1974, the United States Congress authorized the Big Thicket National Preserve. The preserve, with its 112,500 acres in nine land units and six water corridors, now protects the remnants of a biological crossroads that once covered more than three million acres.
Early Abilene
9780738579542
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$24.99
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During the 1870s, there was wondrous change in West Texas. The area was ripe for settlement, and as the Texas and Pacific Railroad pushed west from Fort Worth, towns began springing up along the tracks. Ranchers coming to the area took advantage of the vast grasslands, and the new arrival of settlers was the beginning of a town named Abilene. Deriving its namesake from the town of Abilene, Kansas, the locals hoped the city would become a shipping point for cattle on their way to eastern markets. The town has since grown to be one of West Texas's most thriving metropolitan areas. The city—which is home to Dyess Air Force Base—is also well known for its numerous parks, schools, universities, and historic neighborhoods that are enjoyed by its 120,000 residents.
Carrollton
9780738556376
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$24.99
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Over 160 years ago, bear and buffalo roamed the prairie and Wichita Indians camped on the banks of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Settlers from places like Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and as far away as England and Ireland began arriving in North Texas. Texas was not yet a part of the United States when Sam Houston, as president of the Republic of Texas, entered into an agreement with the Peters Colony Company to attract settlers to the area with the promise of free land. Carrollton likely received its name from one of these groups that emigrated from Carrollton, Illinois. The city grew as it became a railroad hub and later transitioned from a rural community to a prosperous Dallas suburb. In 1976, the city participated in many national bicentennial celebrations, and volunteers restored and opened a museum to honor its rural beginnings and courageous settlers.
Fort Stockton
9780738584942
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$24.99
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In 1859, the US military established Fort Stockton to gain control of Comanche Springs, which formed an oasis in the midst of arid West Texas. In the town that grew up beside the fort, a colorful mix of hardy pioneers--Peter Gallagher, Cesario Torres, Frank Rooney, Father Jose Ferra, Annie Frazier Johnson Riggs, and others--struggled (and sometimes fought) to construct a viable farming and ranching community in the vast, isolated terrain of Pecos County. Later, railroads, highways, air bases, oil, natural gas, and wind farms joined water as forces shaping the city's history. A century and a half after its founding, Fort Stockton is an innovative city with high-tech dreams, yet the traces and tales of its Old West heritage remain vividly alive along the banks of Comanche Creek.
Weatherford
9780738585499
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$24.99
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The early years of Weatherford yield stories of trials and triumphs as a rowdy frontier town that matured and became known as the City of Churches and the City Beautiful. Created in 1856 as the county seat of newly formed Parker County, Weatherford was lush with grasslands, timber, and fertile soils. In 1858, the two-story brick courthouse was surrounded by log cabins, frame buildings, and tents. For nearly two decades, the town was the principal supply center for points west and a safe haven for settlers seeking refuge from Indian raids. Stalwart men and women nurtured the development of religious, educational, and cultural refinements. But when the Texas & Pacific Railway arrived in 1880, it spurred Weatherford's stature as an agricultural, banking, and commercial center and opened national markets to local cotton and prize-winning watermelons. The historic City Beautiful is still evident today in Weatherford's picturesque courthouse square and quaint tree-lined residential districts.
Elgin
9780738595191
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$24.99
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Elgin is located in northern Bastrop County and recognized as the Sausage Capital of Texas and Brick Capital of the Southwest. Beginning as a watering stop for the Houston & Texas Central (H&TC) Railroad Company, the town was named for Robert Morriss Elgin, an official in the railway company. The town was incorporated on May 31, 1873. Swedish, German, and Czech emigrants soon turned it into some of the best farming land in the state. With the growth of cotton farming, coal-mine work, and a local brick-making business, more jobs were becoming available. An influx of Mexican and African American citizens came to the area looking for work and often kept the languages, religion, and customs of their homelands. William Moon began making hot sausage in 1882. The business continues as Elgin Hot Guts, and its sausages are shipped all over the United States. The proximity to the state capital, the agricultural influence, the natural resources, and the availability of technology substantiate the current city motto of Perfectly Situated.
Fort Worth's Fairmount District
9780738571355
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$24.99
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Fort Worth is called the city "Where the West Begins," and 100 years ago, the neighborhood known as Fairmount was where the south side ended. Now considered inner city, the Fairmount Southside Historic District is actually numerous smaller subdivisions including the largest, the Fairmount addition, and the smallest, the dubiously named Swastika Place. The neighborhoods were home to early merchants, lawyers, judges, artists, and small-business owners-many of whom went on to local and national fame. Today that legacy continues. Fairmount welcomes new generations of urban pioneers and benefits from a neighborhood renaissance that has brought this historically and architecturally significant gem of the city back from the brink of extinction.
Matagorda County
9780738556406
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$24.99
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Matagorda County is centered in the Texas Coastal Bend at the crossroads of the Colorado River and the Gulf of Mexico. The name Matagorda, Spanish for thick brush, was derived from the canebrakes that formerly lined the extensive shoreline. This vast coastal prairie is rich in history and tradition, with its roots dating back to 1685 when the explorer LaSalle sailed into Matagorda Bay. Later Stephen F. Austin used the seaports of Matagorda and Brazoria to build his new colony. The Gulf of Mexico, the rivers, the rich agricultural soil, the natural habitat full of wild game and birds, and the determined spirit of the people make the cities of Bay City, Palacios, Blessing, Sargent, and Matagorda an exquisite mix of history and tradition.
Medina County
9780738579894
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$24.99
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Medina County was founded in 1848 by settlers from Europe and the eastern United States. At the time, Native Americans still lived on that land, which they called "Comancheria." Full of hope for a better life, settlers tamed an unfamiliar landscape that was filled with prickly pear cactus, rattlesnakes, coyotes, mountain lions, bison, armadillos, pecans, persimmons, and mustang grapes. The first settlements in Medina County were Castroville, Quihi, Vandenburg, and D'Hanis. New Fountain, New D'Hanis, LaCoste, Rio Medina, Hondo, and others were established later. The settlers worked hard growing cotton and grain and raising cattle, and they retained their old-world customs and religious faith in the face of many challenges. With the building of the Medina Dam, farming changed for the better, and new immigrants arrived to help establish schools and communities. Today the proximity to San Antonio allows people to work in the city while maintaining their homes, farms, and ranches in Medina County.
Grapevine
9780738584638
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$24.99
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The town of Grapevine was formed when a small group of pioneers settled together on the Grape Vine Prairie in the 1840s and 1850s. The first settlers came for the promise of land ownership and a better life, and the Grape Vine Springs and rich soil yielded good harvests and subsequent prosperity. When the Cotton Belt Railroad arrived in 1888, it helped establish the town as a permanent agricultural trade center servicing the entire region. The Civil War and World Wars I and II interrupted the town's normal activities, but the citizens rallied in support of their state and country. Two major construction projects in the 1950s and 1960s transformed the future of Grapevine: the Grapevine Dam and Reservoir and the Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport. In the 1970s, local historians realized the wealth within the city's past, and leaders took steps to protect and preserve it so that today people from all over the world come to see this quaint little prairie town.
Winnsboro
9780738599670
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$24.99
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From its meager beginnings as The Crossroads, Winnsboro has become a bustling small town situated in the heart of the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas. Settled in 1854, when the railroad came in 1876, Winnsboro became a major shipping center for goods going west to the frontier. At one time, the area was one of the top producers of fruit for Bama Pies; one local grower referred to his business as My Slice of the Pie. From 1932 to 1934, Winnsboro was a destination stop for Bonnie and Clyde when they traveled from central Texas to Louisiana. Because of their friendship with a local resident, the couple promised never to rob anyone in Winnsboro. Home to the Bowery, the town had as many as eight saloons from 1893 to 1910, and people still talk about the shoot-out at Massel's Saloon. With a thriving community arts center as well as galleries and venues for live theater and music, Winnsboro has been named a State of Texas Cultural Arts District.
Pflugerville
9781467130806
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$24.99
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When the early settlers arrived in the 1850s, the Blackland Prairie was covered with four-foot sage grass on which buffalo grazed. Land was cleared, homes were built, crops were planted in the rich fertile soil, and cattle were driven, via the Chisholm Trail, to market in Kansas. The village of Pflugerville in northeast Travis County received its name in 1893 when postal service was approved. In 1904, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad established a depot on land donated by George Pfluger. The railroad was the economic engine that spurred the growth of the town, attracting new businesses and visitors. Diligent leaders established churches, schools, and support organizations, forming the firm foundation and core values that are still visible today. The football team received national recognition in 1962 for its 55 consecutive victories. Present visionary leaders face the challenges of another explosive boom in growth, providing support, opportunities, quality of life, and excellent education for Pflugervillians.
Garza County
9780738579092
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$24.99
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Garza County was created in 1876 and named by Texas legislators in honor of the de la Garza family of San Antonio. The county lay claim to vast ranch lands with the picturesque cap rock escarpment weaving its way from north to south. Though the 1880 census listed the population as a sparse 36 people—mostly landowners and cowhands—cattlemen like John B. Slaughter and W. E. Connell owned massive spreads in excess of 100,000 acres with more than 5,000 head of cattle and 100 horses. By 1900, the population had grown to 180, with only 545 acres in cultivation. Things changed with the arrival of cereal magnate C. W. Post, who came to Garza County to begin building his model town and experimental farming campaign. On June 15, 1907, an election to organize the county was held and Post City became the official county seat, touting the slogan Gateway to the Plains.
Corsicana
9780738578781
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$24.99
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The first Texas legislature created Navarro County in 1846 and named it in honor of Texas patriot Jose Antonio Navarro. When asked to name the new seat of government, Navarro replied, Call it Corsicana for the island of Corsica, the birthplace of my father. From its beginnings in 1848, Corsicana's history has been marked by Texas icons such as cotton, cattle, and chili. The town's history took a dramatic turn when drillers looking for water struck oil instead in 1894. By the end of the decade, more than 500 wells dotted the landscape, marking the first commercial oil field in Texas and launching the industry that has become synonymous with the Lone Star State. Oil, business enterprises, and politics are important parts of Corsicana's legacy, but much of its history is found in the everyday events that make up the fabric of a community. Local history is filled with stories of people who overcame obstacles to fulfill the American Dream.
Haskell County
9780738578873
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$24.99
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Though the story of the land runs far back in time, Haskell County was first platted on the map of Texas on February 1, 1858. Its name honors Texas revolutionary soldier Charles Ready Haskell, who was martyred at Goliad. Cradled by two forks of the Brazos River, the county's open prairies were a favorite American Indian hunting ground. Stories of Spanish treasure buried along the river still linger. Gold seekers following Capt. Randolph Marcy's 1849 expeditionary trail camped on what came to be called California Creek, and Col. Ranald Mackenzie's trail through southern Haskell County was a key supply route for cavalry engaged in the Red River War. By the late 1870s, cattle replaced herds of buffalo, and ranching became the cornerstone of the economy. As news of this promising country traveled east, settlers arrived and established farms. In the words of historian R. E. Sherrill, "There was something about this country fresh from the hand of the Creator . . . a kind of drawing power that was irresistible." Today, as a modern agricultural region, Haskell County continues to capture the heart of its people.
Lake Jackson
9780738584799
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$24.99
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The city of Lake Jackson is located adjacent to an oxbow lake of the same name. The land was part of the original Stephen F. Austin land grant from Mexico in 1822. Abner Jackson began to develop the land in 1842, and his family and slaves resided there until 1870, when the end of the Civil War ultimately ended the habitation of the plantation. The land was bought to resume the production of sugar in 1900, but the effort was quickly ended by the famous Galveston storm. In 1938, the Dow Chemical Company bought the land in their effort to build a chemical plant on the Gulf Coast. The plant size greatly expanded with the advent of World War II, and beginning in 1943 Alden Dow designed one of the first planned communities to house Dow employees. The city expanded after the war, and the chemical plant grew to the second largest in the world. By 2010, the population of Lake Jackson had grown to 27,000.
Hemphill County
9780738571133
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$24.99
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From Spanish conquistadores and American Indian battles to railroads and oil booms, Hemphill County has seen it all. Located in the northeast Panhandle, Hemphill County is a land of sage-covered sand hills and rolling breaks, with towering buttes and deep canyons cut by the Canadian River. Once inhabited by the ancient mammoth and mastodon and, more recently, thundering herds of bison, Hemphill County has a rich human history too. It was home to the Kiowa, Comanche, and Cheyenne Indians and was crossed by Coronado's famous expedition in 1540. American Indian fights, such as the Battle of Buffalo Wallow, also occurred here. Canadian, the county seat, has a unique history of its own. This oasis located on the banks of the Canadian River was the site of the first rodeo in Texas and a stop on the Santa Fe Railway. Other commerce soon followed, including a successful ranching and farming culture, as well as many thriving oil and natural gas industries.
Lampasas County
9780738558813
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$24.99
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About an hour's drive northwest of Austin, Lampasas County is located in the center of the state of Texas, on the northern edge of the Hill Country. Native Americans were the first to discover the area, and they told settlers about the natural sulfur springs there. In the 1850s, Moses Hughes and his ailing wife, Hannah, traveled to the region to drink and bathe in the medicinal waters of the springs. The sulfur cured Hannah, and word traveled quickly. In 1856, Lampasas County was created. The Santa Fe Railroad completed its line from Galveston to the county seat in 1882, and with hotels and bathhouses booming, Lampasas became known as the "Saratoga of the South." In towns such as Lometa and Kempner, ranchers raised goats and sheep for mohair and wool and cattle for beef. Though fires and floods struck the county on several occasions, Lampasas soldiered on and continues to thrive today.
Galveston's Broadway Cemeteries
9781467133432
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$24.99
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Beginning in 1839 with the donation of four square blocks of land, the grouping of cemeteries on the central boulevard of Galveston has grown to include seven separate cemeteries within their gates. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it is the resting place of famous and infamous citizens from Galveston's colorful past, including veterans from every war between 1812 and the present, heroes, scoundrels, philanthropists, murderers, pioneers of the Republic of Texas, groundbreaking scientists, and working-class citizens from around the world. Due to several grade raisings, there are up to three layers of burials within the cemetery, with some of the markers being lost forever. The stories of some of the residents are gathered here for you to enjoy.
Historic Dallas Theatres
9781467131285
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$24.99
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Dallas was the show business capital of Texas and much of the South throughout the 20th century. More than 100 theatres served the city's neighborhoods, and Elm Street once boasted more than 15 vaudeville and movie theatres—second in number to Broadway. The quality of the show houses in Dallas were surpassed by few cities and all major, and most minor, Hollywood studios maintained Dallas offices. Notable names figuring in this history include Margo Jones, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Karl Hoblitzelle, Baruch Lumet, Bob Hope, Greer Garson, Linda Darnell, Howard Hughes, Clyde Barrow, Gene Autry, Oliver Stone, Pappy Dolson, Jack Ruby, Lee Harvey Oswald, Nicola Rescigno, Don Henley, and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Fort Clark and Brackettville
9780738520636
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$24.99
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The story of Fort Clark and Brackettville began with a quiet pool of water, Las Moras Spring, named by the Spanish conquistadors for the mulberry trees lining its banks. The discovery of gold in California and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo precipitated the opening of the Lower Road from San Antonio to El Paso. To protect the spring and the travelers on the road, the U.S. government established a fort on the high ground above the spring. The town of Brackettville grew with the fort, and the area soon played host to an honor roll of American heroes. Revealed in some 200 images, many never before published, are some of the fort's most famous alumni, including Stuart, Longstreet, Sheridan, Sherman, Bullis, Patton, and Wainwright, in addition to the little-known Medal of Honor recipients buried there. Captured here are the deeds of a legion of unsung heroes, as well as the fort and town's historic past, highlighting the Indian War era, the Seminole Scouts, and the quiet time between the World Wars. Culled from the collections of the Library of Congress, the National Archives of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and pioneer photographer Eugene O. Goldbeck, this book is a testament to American soldiers throughout the country.
Tioga and Collinsville
9781467131278
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$24.99
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Two small towns in Texas, Tioga and Collinsville have a rich heritage and a mutual bond. Separated by only six miles, citizens of each have relatives in the other city. The silvery railroad tracks that stretch between the two towns have served as a liaison between Tioga and Collinsville—and the rest of the world—for many years. Both towns had train depots, but unfortunately, the depots went the way of the mineral baths and mineral waters of the past. Today, each town has its own municipal court, school district, post office, mayor, and city council. Although they are independent towns, they will forever be joined by their shared bloodlines and rich history.
Stamford
9780738595757
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$24.99
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Stamford arose almost overnight at the turn of the 20th century as a partnership between the Texas Central Railroad and the vast Swenson Brothers ranches. Businessmen, workers, and cattlemen began erecting the new community even before the railroad arrived in February 1901. The young city quickly became a commercial center with additional railroad connections, wholesale distributors, banks, brick-paved streets, small industries, a hospital, and the renowned Stamford Inn. Over the next two decades, farmers joined ranchers in developing the West Texas plains, and new businesses arose, along with a college and a Carnegie library. In 1930, a group of citizens formed the Texas Cowboy Reunion Association and began an annual celebration of ranch life that endures to the present day. Through changing times and fortunes, Stamford has maintained its role as an agricultural regional center and has preserved the heritage of its commercial and agrarian roots.
Hallettsville
9780738596365
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$24.99
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Hallettsville, known as the City of Hospitality, has been the county seat of Lavaca County since 1852. The city is situated on the east bank of the Lavaca River. Margaret Hallet gave the land for the townsite, and her influence helped secure Hallettsville as the permanent county seat. By means of a charter, the city of Hallettsville was incorporated in 1879. Scenes from the popular musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton, feature the scenic Hallettsville courthouse square. Annual city events include the Kolache Festival, Fiddler's Frolic, and the Festival of Lights. The Texas Championship Domino Hall of Fame also calls Hallettsville home.
North Texas State Fair and Rodeo
9781467134934
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$24.99
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The predecessor to the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo was reported in the October 15, 1885, Denton Doings as consisting of horse races sponsored by the Denton County Fair and Blooded Stock Association (DCFBSA). The next mention was 1890, when the association stockholders had the opportunity to purchase shares of the fairgrounds, thus ending the fair until five years later. The DCFBSA was reorganized in 1895 to host a fair and horse race near North Texas Normal College. The next race was held in 1896, and the association was incorporated. The fair has operated continuously since except for the years during World War II. These early events evolved into one of the largest fairs and rodeos in Texas, drawing more than 150,000 fairgoers annually.
Gainesville and Cooke County
9780738507859
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$24.99
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Cooke County, Texas, located in the north central part of the state, has a richly varied history. Those who first entered the area-Native Americans, gold seekers headed for California, army officials, and settlers-discovered a raw, unspoiled land. Eyewitness accounts speak of grass that was as high as a man's head, and indeed, the land was rich for farming and ranching. In 1841, W.S. Peters and associates signed their first contract with the Republic of Texas, which provided that within three years they would bring six hundred families into what came to be known as the Peters Colony. In 1848, the state legislature created Cooke County, named for a hero of the Texas War for Independence. Over the next 150 years, the area changed dramatically. The stagecoach arrived in 1858, and conveyed freight, passengers, and mail. The Civil War presented economic and social difficulties that had to be overcome. Two major cattle trails flanked Cooke County, and cowboys roared into Gainesville to visit the saloons, get supplies, gamble, and visit the soiled doves. The discovery of oil, and the resultant wealth that it brought, forever altered the face of the county.
Foley's
9780738579283
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$24.99
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The story of Foley's began in Ireland in the late 1800s when William L. Foley set sail for America. Ambition led him to Houston, where he opened a store and hired his two nephews, Pat C. and James. The nephews quickly felt an entrepreneurial urge to run their own store, so their uncle gave them $2,000 to get started. On February 12, 1900, the Foley Brothers Dry Goods Company at 507 Main Street opened for business. Approximately 44,000 residents visited the store that day, and sales of $128.29 were tabulated. Soon after Spindletop was discovered, Robert I. Cohen of Galveston bought the Foley Brothers company for his son George S. Cohen to operate. Cohen, along with the aid of six of the eight Meyer brothers from Galveston, built it into the largest store in Texas. In 1945, Fred Lazarus, from the department store clan in Ohio, came to Houston to visit his son at Ellington Field. He saw Houston's potential, and in 1946, Foley Brothers became Foley's, owned by Federated Department Stores.
Van Alstyne
9781467130776
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$24.99
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Images of America: Van Alstyne relates the story of a Texas town born in an era when small-town life was deeply ingrained in America. Founded by 1873, Van Alstyne is a close-knit, patriotic, religious, hardworking, and progressive-minded community. Surrounded by prime farmland, Van Alstyne thrived as a center for cotton ginning. In addition to railroad service, a far-ranging interurban line enhanced Van Alstyne's transportation system for 40 years. The Van Alstyne Grays, a semiprofessional team that placed its stars into baseball's big leagues, represented the national pastime. The town's former opera house still stands, and so do other Victorian commercial buildings and homes—tangible reminders of a classic American town that continues to offer the amenities of a comfortable community.
Post
9780738596303
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$24.99
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Post City was founded in 1907 by an American icon, cereal magnate C.W. Post. Mr. Post acquired approximately 333 square miles on which to construct a unique town and farming community on the plains of West Texas, a place where Comanche Indians roamed until the buffalo hunters depleted the buffalo herds. By 1900, the population for the entire county of Garza was 180—a meager handful of people, mostly cowhands and landowners, scattered amid the vast ranches. Great change would take place with the arrival of C.W. Post, a man with a plan to build a model town in the middle of Garza County. Post's colonizing began to unfold when 72 of Missouri's best mules and 24 wagons were bought by Post for the mule skinners to haul lumber and supplies from the nearest railhead at Big Spring. It took three days to load the 60,000 pounds of freight for the first journey and four days of travel for the wagon train to arrive at the new townsite.
Tyler County
9780738584980
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$24.99
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Before six flags flew over Tyler County, Native American settlers created forest trails and left artifacts. Later, Mexican officials welcomed Alabama-Coushatta Indians and invited adventurous pioneers from southeastern states. The banks of the Neches River supported rustic homes nestled among towering pines and graceful dogwood trees. Southerners brought their culture and lifestyle, and cotton reigned as king in the early days. Timber and tourism industries soon flourished. The Wheat, Shivers, and Kirby families, among the first to put down roots in the yet unformed county, provided leadership for the prospering communities. Sawmills dotted the landscape. Longleaf pine trees provided jobs in the lumber industry for all willing workers. The Dogwood Festival and Tyler County Fair added celebrations of seasonal beauty and bounty. Transportation systems improved to sustain industrial growth and rising tourism. In the 21st century, biofuel producers continue the quest for improved uses of Tyler County's forests and enhanced quality of life for its people.
Lower Brazos River Canals
9781467132244
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$24.99
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Communities have spent more than 100 years mastering the mighty Brazos River and its waterways. In the 1800s, Stephen F. Austin chose the Brazos River as the site for the first Texas colony because of its vast water and fertile soil. Within 75 years, a pumping station would herald the way for crop management. A sugar mill that was eventually known as Imperial Sugar spurred community development. In 1903, John Miles Frost Jr. tapped the Brazos to expand the Cane and Rice Belt Irrigation System while Houston newspapers predicted the infrastructure marvel would change the region's future—and it did. Within a few decades, the Texas agricultural empire caused Louisiana to dub Texas farmers the sugar and rice aristocracy. As the dawn of the industrial age began, the Brazos River and its waterways began supplying the Texas Gulf Coast industry.
Around Timpson
9780738584843
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$24.99
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A chant used by dice players during both world wars and later made into a song recorded by Tex Ritter, Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair made the rural area surrounding Timpson internationally recognized. Situated along the northwest border of Shelby County, the city of Timpson sprang up almost overnight when the Houston East and West Texas Railroad reached its present site in 1885. The city quickly became the major shipping point for the area, with four railroads connecting at Timpson by 1904. Notable in the city's history is its sacrifice of young lives during two world wars. The Timpson Guard Company was called into national service during both wars, and during World War I, Company B, 3rd Texas Infantry was said to have had more commissioned officers than any unit from towns of comparable size. Beginning in the mid-1940s, population slowly declined as families sought opportunities elsewhere. Still predominately rural, Timpson is set to enjoy a steady revitalization as recent gas exploration spurs its growth. Timpson has had its share of tragedy, intrigue, and notable residents, but its lasting legacy comes from the honest, hardworking people who have called Timpson home.
Waxahachie
9780738571751
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$24.99
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Located in the center of Ellis County, Waxahachie has been the county's vibrant heartbeat since the town was formed in 1850. From its glory days in the early 1900s as the nation's largest cotton-producing area to the thriving city it is today, Waxahachie-much like its beautiful stock of Victorian and early-20th-century homes and buildings-is unique in Texas. Waxahachie's economy flourished up until the 1920s, when cotton farmers in South and West Texas began to compete with other lucrative cotton markets. When the Great Depression arrived, demand for cotton fell, marking the end of Ellis County's quick rise in commercial success. The town's dramatic history ranges from celebrated prosperity and culture to economic hardship, all of which can be seen in the well-preserved photographs in this book.
Austin's Rosewood Neighborhood
9780738595979
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$24.99
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Rosewood is a historically African American neighborhood on the east side of Austin. It takes its name from Rosewood Avenue, which runs through the heart of the area. Rosewood was first settled by Europeans in the late 19th century, and beginning in the 1910s, the City of Austin adopted as official policy the goal of segregating African Americans in East Austin. Rosewood has been the official home of Austin's Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, celebration. June 19th was the day that news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas—two years after the fact. The exact location of the celebration has changed over the years, but whether it was Emancipation Park or Rosewood Park, Austin's major Juneteenth event has always been in Rosewood.
Kermit
9780738584546
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$24.99
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Well known for its oil and gas production, Kermit was originally founded by ranchers needing a supply hub in an isolated area of West Texas. An 1876 campaign by Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie helped rid the area of Comanche Indians. Prompted by the state's policy for free use of its land, ranchers quickly moved in. This population growth resulted in the establishment of Winkler County in 1887. Competition between nearby towns for the title of county seat lasted until 1910, when Kermit's offer of free lots won it the designation. Though the town later experienced a drought, which severely crippled the population, the discovery of oil on ranchland owned by Thomas G. and Ada Hendrick in 1926 helped the town boom. Today, Kermit's economy is sustained by ranching and oil and gas production.
Seminole
9780738585390
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$24.99
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Seminole got its name from former slaves who escaped Southern plantations in the early 1800s and fled to the swamps of Florida. They lived alongside Seminole Indians and later came to be known as Black Seminoles. Renowned for excellent tracking abilities, they eventually served as guides for the Shafter expedition to West Texas in the mid-1870s, which opened the region. In a shallow draw on the prairie, the Black Seminoles discovered water wells dug by the Comanche. The Seminole Wells demonstrated the area's livability. Settlers arrived a few decades later, and by 1905, Gaines County and its county seat were established. This small town became Seminole. Ranching was the area's first industry, but it was eclipsed in the 1920s with the discovery of oil. Today, Seminole is a thriving multicultural farming and oil-producing center with excellent schools, a booming economy, and the friendliest people around.
Fort Sam Houston
9780738596167
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$24.99
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Fort Sam Houston has been San Antonio's Army post since 1845. Originally located in the city, elements of the post began moving to Government Hill in 1876. Fort Sam Houston became one of America's most important military installations, witnessing the end of the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, the birth of military aviation, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Fort Sam contributed more than one million soldiers and airmen to the defense of the United States, including many of its most distinguished leaders. Its contributions to the nation merited its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1974. More than 800 historic buildings are within its boundaries—more than at Colonial Williamsburg and the largest collection on any installation within the Department of Defense. Images of America: Fort Sam Houston portrays the fort during its first hundred years on Government Hill.
The Bolivar Peninsula
9781467133869
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$24.99
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The Bolivar Peninsula is a quirky coastal community consisting of Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, Caplen, Gilchrist, and High Island. The peninsula, as locals call it, is a 27-mile-long barrier formation. Bounded on one side by the Gulf of Mexico and on the other by the Intracoastal Waterway, it is a short ferry ride from Galveston, Texas. The history of the peninsula includes filibusterers, pirates, fierce natives, and headstrong settlers. A spirit of independence survives to this day, providing a continuation of the story of this unique landmass and its people. An unlikely conglomeration of cowboys and farmers, third- and fourth-generation landowners, retired executives and professors, fishermen, shrimpers, and birding enthusiasts comes together with weekenders and tourists to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the Gulf Coast. Its beautiful setting and wild, storied past make the Bolivar Peninsula a fascinating place to explore.
Denton
9780738578545
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$24.99
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Founded in 1857 as the fourth county seat of Denton County, the city of Denton is situated at the top of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex triangle. After the first trains from the Texas and Pacific Railroad and the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railway (the Katy) rolled into town in 1881, Denton developed from a frontier community into a vibrant city. Establishing itself as a center of education in 1890 with the founding of the Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute (now the University of North Texas), the creation of the Girls' Industrial College (now Texas Woman's University) in 1901 further enhanced this image. The city's 150-year history, forged by so many talented people, has provided a strong foundation for its growing economic environment. Today Denton's community spirit resonates through the energy of the city's many diverse events and its lively music scene.
Historic Bridges of Milam County
9781467124911
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$24.99
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Milam County, located in the heart of Central Texas, is home to 18 historic bridges that were constructed through the years to accommodate the growth of the county. One bridge, Worley Bridge, has been fully restored in a cooperative effort between Milam County and the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). TXDOT is an important partner in the preservation of these historic structures. Memories of some bridges will be preserved in a bridge park, which is being constructed in Rockdale. Other bridges simply stand in mute testimony to the passing of time and the changing of human needs and habits. This book tells the story of these bridges and their important role in our history. It provides knowledge and understanding of these structures.
Flatonia
9781467128698
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$23.99
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Flatonia owes its place on the map to the railroad and its name to German immigrant and entrepreneur F.W. Flato. The Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway first traversed southwestern Fayette County in 1874. Inexpensive land along the line attracted farmers and ranchers, and new shipping and trade opportunities enticed merchants. Immigrants of German and Czech origins mingled with Mexican Americans, African Americans, and transplants from the Southeastern United States. These diverse groups were known to brawl one minute and unite in a common cause the next. Flatonia's survival has depended upon its ability to adapt while honoring its heritage. As rail service declined, a location on the coast-to-coast Old Spanish Trail (US Highway 90) provided a steady flow of automobile traffic. Cotton disappeared, but cattle and egg production remained strong. The buildings of the Flatonia Commercial Historic District still retain their late-19th- to early-20th-century charm, earning distinction in the National Register of Historic Places.
El Camino Real de los Tejas
9781467131940
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$24.99
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The Royal Road of the Tejas Indians, El Camino Real de los Tejas, was born hundreds of years ago when the Native Americans followed routes used by buffalo and other animals, realizing that these early creatures knew the best paths to take. Also known as Kings Highway, it later became a major thoroughfare used by travelers from the East coming to Louisiana, Texas, and Mexico. In 2004, El Camino Real de los Tejas took on new meaning when the historical road was designated as the 19th National Historic Trail in the United States. Development is guided by El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association housed in Austin, Texas.
Rockdale
9780738585062
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$24.99
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Rockdale was first established as a railroad town in Milam County in 1874. Milam County was carved from the extensive Robertson's Colony in 1852, and it flourished with immigrants eager to move on after the Civil War severed the nation. For many, Rockdale was an easy choice for a new home because it was the end of the line. The fertile land, pleasant climate, and ample water attracted settlers, many of whom were of German, Czech, and Wendish descent. The presence of large deposits of lignite brought mining onto the scene in the early 1900s. From 1954 until 2009, the Aluminum Company of America operated a large plant that was six miles from Rockdale, which further changed the economy. The settlers were by no means the first humans to inhabit this land.
White Rock Lake Revisited
9781467131179
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$24.99
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For more than 100 years, White Rock Lake has been the people's playground. The types of lake activities popular here have changed through the decades as Dallas has grown from a small country town to a large metropolitan city. The lake first known for hunting and fishing is now an urban oasis enjoyed by well over two million visitors a year. Images of America: White Rock Lake Revisited focuses on the people and activities of the lake and expands on the previously published Images of America: White Rock Lake.
Henderson
9781467132510
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$24.99
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One of the oldest towns in Texas, Henderson—founded in 1843—is situated in the rolling green hills and pine forests of East Texas. Named for the state's first governor, James P. Henderson, the town is the seat of Rusk County. Henderson's fertile land and abundant stores of clay were enjoyed for centuries by Caddo Indians and other indigenous people; after settlement by Anglos, beginning in the 1830s, the area became known for cotton plantations. More Old South than Old West, Henderson might have had spectacular growth if the planned Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad had come to fruition. When that did not happen, Henderson relied on an economy based on cotton, farming, and logging until the Great East Texas Oilfield was discovered in 1930 just a few miles west. Oil, and later the commercial production of bricks, paved the way for a brighter future for the town, which today is still partially sustained by the riches of the earth through lignite production. Generations of hardworking men and women have called Henderson home, and the town today enjoys a revitalized town square filled with shops and restaurants.
Johnson County
9781467130707
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$24.99
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In 1854, land that was covered in trees, tall grass, spring-fed creeks, and rivers and was home to abundant wildlife, including deer, buffalo, and turkey, became Johnson County. In the early years, a trickling of brave pioneers developed cattle trails and iron rails, and as the area continued to grow and change, many farms and ranches were replaced with industrial and retail enterprises. In 2013, the Chisholm Trail Parkway, which efficiently connects the western part of the county to the metroplex and the Dallas–Fort Worth Airport, was nearing completion.
Vernon
9780738595467
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$24.99
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Located in the north-central part of Texas, Vernon is the county seat of Wilbarger County. Originally, the area was home to the Kiowa and Comanche Indians. The first white settlers came in April 1878. Two years later, on April 23, 1880, Vernon was settled as Eagle Flat, though that name was changed to Vernon on March 27, 1881, because the postal department said there were too many towns in Texas with the word eagle in their name. Once the Fort Worth & Denver Railway extended to Vernon, the population began to boom.
Helotes
9780738579443
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$24.99
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A small town with a big history, Helotes--20 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio--was named for the Spanish word elotes, or corn on the cob. So extensive were the fields of corn along its namesake creek, a Spanish official in 1723 called the area el Puerto de los Olotes, or Corncob Pass. When settlers later arrived, few ancient cornfields remained. Situated along Bandera Road, the town became a stagecoach stop, and a post office was established in 1873. Nevertheless, the settlement remained rural for the next 100 years. Helotes, known as a place to "let down yer hair and kick up yer heels," solidified its reputation in 1946, when John T. Floore Country Store, a dance hall and concert venue for top-rated country musicians, opened for business in downtown Helotes. The annual Cornyval Festival, inaugurated in 1966, continues this tradition. Incorporated in 1981, the town provides a verdant and hilly escape from the city.
Mansfield
9781467162715
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$24.99
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The establishment of Mansfield brought along a diverse community with a myriad of stories and cultural backgrounds, and the town became a beacon of quintessential Texas that readers will both appreciate and revel in.
Around 1856, Ralph Man and Julien Feild arrived at a small community among the oak groves bordering Walnut Creek. Here, they built a gristmill at the crossroads that would become the center of Mansfield. The steam mill they established ground grain into flour and meal and eventually served customers from San Antonio to Oklahoma. As the community grew, Dr. John Collier established the Mansfield Male and Female College, insisting the community be platted before the college opened in 1870. The community progressed with the arrival of the railroad between Fort Worth and Mansfield and the community’s incorporation. With the building of the town’s Memorial Hall in 1920, many of Mansfield’s functions became centralized, and the town grew to be more than a collection of buildings and fields. It grew to be a reflection of the voices, histories, and cultures of those who settled here and shaped the rich, diverse identity of the town. This cultural reflection continues today with the city’s rapid growth. New voices continue to add to the spirit that is Mansfield.
A special committee of the Mansfield Historical Society, along with the staff of the Mansfield Historical Museum, worked in collaboration for the creation of this book. All recognize and are grateful for the work of the Mansfield Historical Society in assembling the wealth of information and photographs contained in this book.
Wharton
9780738579078
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$24.99
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On a bend in the Colorado River where it meanders through the Bay Prairie lies the town of Wharton. Caney and Peach Creeks spill into the river nearby and mark the boundaries of this small community. Stephen F. Austin first brought settlers here in the early 1820s, and the town of Wharton was organized in 1846. Named in memory of two brothers who fought in the Texas Revolution, the town sits astride trade routes that connect larger cities like Houston and San Antonio. Steamboats made their way up the Colorado River, and the railroad bustled through in the 1880s. The town began to grow quickly by 1900, and now, a century later, Wharton honors a diverse cultural heritage passed down for six generations. Today Wharton has more than 9,000 residents who make up a diverse and thriving community, and who still appreciate their special place along the mighty Colorado River.
San Antonio in the Great War
9781467131759
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$24.99
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San Antonio, Texas, has been called Military City USA for many years. It earned this sobriquet not only by virtue of its major military installations but also because of its close and cordial relationship with the US Armed Forces. But in 1916, the year before America entered the Great War, all of that was still in the future. Fort Sam Houston was the largest US Army post in the country, but its attention was focused on the border with Mexico. This changed on April 6, 1917, as the United States needed to quickly raise an expeditionary army of three million men with its attendant air service and send it overseas. This volume portrays the growth of military facilities and infrastructure in San Antonio during World War I that started the Alamo City on the road to becoming Military City USA.
Texas Sesquicentennial Wagon Train
9780738584881
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$24.99
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In 1986, the Texas Sesquicentennial Wagon Train joined the 150th birthday celebration that commemorated the state's independence from Mexico. The wagon train followed a jagged 3,000-mile circle around the state to bring it within approximately 100 miles of every town or city in Texas. The six-month schedule began January 2, 1986, in Sulphur Springs and was followed so closely that each town or city knew the exact day the wagon train would arrive and could make plans for welcoming it with local events. Some folks traveled the entire route; others joined for a day or a week. A total of 10,000 riders from 27 states traveled at least a part of the way during the six months. While people and wagons came and went, a core group of participants and support staff completed the entire trip, arriving at the Fort Worth Stockyards on July 3, 1986, for a final celebration.
Old Sylvan Beach and the Pavilions
9781467132077
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$24.99
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Sylvan Beach is synonymous with bathing beauties, moonlit pavilions, the jitterbug, the Charleston, and a train called the Moonlight Express, as well as picnics, carnivals, music, romance, love, and legend. The unlikely truth is that familiarity and age can make our most beautiful treasures banal if we do not pause to remember and observe and venerate the events and moments when we first saw, or most appreciated, a place like Sylvan Beach. For this reason, we ask you to come back with us to Sylvan Beach, where, for over 100 years, Houston and much of Texas has come to play, dance, pray, fall in love, relax, or simply swim in the bay. Today, the park and its pavilion are enjoying renewed popularity.
Live Oak County
9780738595337
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$24.99
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In 1856, Live Oak County was chartered by frontiersmen under the spreading limbs of a great live oak tree near the Nueces River. As far back as 12,000 years, hunter-gatherer Paleo-Indians subsisted on berries, roots, and megafauna like mastodons in this timeless frontier. Cabeza de Vaca, prisoner of Coahuiltecans in 1535, provided the first European description of the area. The Spanish then explored and unsuccessfully attempted to colonize the region, and when Spanish troops withdrew from Texas in 1813, the sole Spanish colonizers in the area, the Ramirez brothers, abandoned their ranch and left with them. Shiploads of Irish immigrants next arrived between 1828 and 1834, and following the Civil War, herds of wild Longhorns driven north turned drovers like George West into wealthy cattle barons. The early-1900s arrival of the railroad created new towns, causing others to die. Today's Live Oak County citizens draw on its indomitable pioneering spirit to meet new 21st-century challenges.
White Rock Lake
9780738578835
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$24.99
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In 1909, Dallas city leaders approved the damming of White Rock Creek to create a new water source for the increasing needs of a growing city. As a result, so much of the life and history of Dallas has echoed through the life and history of White Rock Lake. In the early decades, the lake was home to many private summer homes and boat houses, as well as hunting and fishing clubs. Soon thereafter, a bathing beach, sailing clubs, public boathouses, and picnic facilities were added. The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration transformed the lake with more recreational and leisure amenities. World War II brought increased military uses that included a POW camp for German officers. Those early city leaders could hardly know that the lake they were creating 10 miles outside of Dallas would become an urban oasis enjoyed by over two million visitors a year.
La Histórica Plaza del Mercado en San Antonio
9781467127363
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$24.99
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San Antonio fue fundada en 1718, para 1730 el virrey de Nueva España emitió órdenes de trazar mapas de plazas y parques para la llegada de los isleños de las Canarias en 1731. Las plazas con sus mercados se convirtieron en centros de negocios y entretenimiento. La primera fue Plaza de las Armas y cuando los isleños llegaron, marcaron Plaza de las Islas (Plaza Principal). Plaza del Álamo era el centro de comercio antes de la guerra civil; al ir creciendo San Antonio los mercados se tuvieron que relocalizar. La construcción del Mercado Municipal empezó en 1899. Éste fue construido en Plaza Paschal y demolido en los 1930s pero el anexo del Mercado Municipal, construido en los 1920s, sobrevivió. Los anexos se convirtieron en El Mercado y Centro de Artes. En los 1970s, un edificio permanente para el mercado de agricultores fue construido en la Plaza de Zacate. Hoy éstos, con los edificios históricos en el área, son conocidos como El Mercado.
Azle
9780738595924
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$24.99
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Early Azle settlers began arriving in the mid-1850s and settled near Ash Creek. Azle had several names before settling down to one. An early name was Mooresville after the town's general store owner, Mr. Moore, who supplied the farmers of the community. Following several other name changes, citizens decided upon Azle in 1883 after Dr. James Azle Steward, who donated land for the townsite. The town remained small until the building of Eagle Mountain Lake in the 1930s spurred its growth. Further development occurred when World War II brought more people to the area. After nearly a century, the little community officially incorporated in 1957. Images of America: Azle tells the story of numerous pioneer families and their schools, churches, and early businesses. Today, Azle is a close-knit community with various social and civic organizations, as well as parades and jamborees.
Ennis
9780738558592
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$24.99
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In 1871, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad reached what would soon become Ennis, Texas. A year later, the city was officially established and named for Cornelius Ennis, a Houston and Texas Central Railroad tycoon. It became home to many, including a number of Civil War veterans. Czech immigrants also made Ennis their home, adding their rich cultural heritage to this growing city. In its "Wild West" days, there were as many as 13 saloons in the city, and it became a popular train stop for as many as 10 passenger trains a day. A thriving cotton industry brought thousands to the downtown district on Trade Days. Family, tradition, and a strong sense of community have always been the foundation from which Ennis has prospered. This remains evident with yearly events such as the Bluebonnet Trails and Festival, the National Polka Festival, and the Christmas Parade of Lights.
Fort Worth's Oakhurst Neighborhood
9781467131162
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$24.99
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In 1924, civic leader and developer John P. King promoted Fort Worth's Oakhurst neighborhood as country life for the city man. He appealed to those who wanted space for artesian water, cool breezes, gardens in a hillside setting, and a utopian atmosphere for their children. King—the creator of a confectionery company known for King's candies for American queens—made a park-like neighborhood in a part of Riverside just a few miles from downtown Fort Worth. Thoughtful landscape design and charming architecture are hallmarks of this all-American neighborhood, beloved for its small-town, community feel well into its 90th year.
Around Farmersville
9780738579719
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$24.99
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In 1900, due to its cotton production, Farmersville was the wealthiest Texas town of its size, with a population of 1,856. Originally called Sugar Hill, the town gradually moved to another location a few miles away. Because most residents during those years survived by farming and raising their own food, they named their community Farmersville. Fortunate to have such rich black soil, Farmersville became a hub of cotton production. During the 1920s and 1930s, onions became the money crop. Nearly every farmer had onions planted, and 1,000 railroad cars a year were filled with onions that shipped throughout the nation. Farmersville had certainly lived up to its name. In later years, farming declined in Collin County, but the town has adjusted to that loss and thrives today without forgetting its farming roots.
Roanoke
9780738584584
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$24.99
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The first pioneers who came to the Roanoke area in 1844 were led by Lewis and Charles Medlin of Missouri. This group consisted of about 20 families, including the 10 sons of the Medlin brothers. They came for an opportunity where each married man could obtain 640 acres and single men could receive 320 acres. Settlers were primarily looking for water, timber, and abundant game, which they found near Denton Creek. They built log houses and a school (where church was held), and they soon began businesses to sustain their new town. Today Roanoke is a fast growing, small city that is distinguished by a charming and eclectic downtown and steady lines of hungry diners. Roanoke was appointed "the Unique Dining Capital of Texas" for its concentration of delicious and entertaining family-owned restaurants and welcomes thousands of visitors each year to enjoy many special events, including the annual Celebrate Roanoke in October.
Texas Citrus Fiesta
9781467131544
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$24.99
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The Texas Citrus Fiesta has remained an exciting celebration since its beginnings in 1932. At that time, Mission civic leaders decided to promote the citrus industry through a festival featuring decorated streets and store windows, a parade, coronation of a king and queen, a court with ladies-in-waiting, a queen's ball, exhibits for citrus growers, and a variety of contests and activities. Social leaders, working through their clubs, added a style show of costumes covered with fruit, vegetable, and flower pieces. Children marched in their own unique parade. The Golden Grapefruit Golf Tournament was added in 1934. Today, directors of the Texas Citrus Fiesta continue these traditional events and others added since 1932. The creativity inspired by the festival, the recognition of regional participants, and the experienced planning needed to accommodate thousands of residents and visitors combine to make Mission's annual Texas Citrus Fiesta a premier event in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Houston Fire Department
9781467132985
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$24.99
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Houston's firefighting service began in 1838 with the founding of Protection Fire Company No. 1. As the city of Houston grew throughout the early and mid-19th century, volunteer companies formed and grew along with it. By 1895, city leaders decided to form the Houston Fire Department as a city department, culling the volunteer forces for men, stations, apparatus, and horses. The city grew in leaps and bounds, swallowing up neighborhoods, communities, and smaller cities along the way, with the fire department nipping at their heels. This brave force battled devastating fires throughout the years, most notably the Great Fifth Ward Fire in 1912, the 1943 Gulf Hotel Fire, the Woodway Square Apartment Conflagration in 1979 and the Southwest Inn Fire in 2013. What was once a smattering of volunteer fire brigades has grown into an imposing force of over 3,000 firefighters protecting over two million people in the fourth largest city in the United States.
Slaton
9781467133517
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$24.99
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Slaton, Texas, has a very rich and interesting history. The journey began in 1911 with the clickety-clack of the railroad track of the Santa Fe Railroad. Slaton was named after local rancher and banker O.L. Slaton on May 11, 1911. It was nicknamed Tent City in the beginning, because the first citizens lived in tents while construction began on small framed houses and buildings. June 15, 1911, was the official opening day of the city as people came by train, wagon, and on foot. Soon, the Harvey House restaurant was established, giving not only delicious cuisine but also meals served by attentive and attractive women who became known as the Harvey girls. Slaton became the center of the largest division in the Santa Fe system, servicing four daily northbound and southbound trains between Amarillo and Sweetwater. Today, you still hear the lonesome sound of the Santa Fe rolling through town, and the Harvey House is still open to the public. Slaton is a small West Texas community of approximately 6,129 citizens and is located 15 miles southeast of Lubbock.
Port Isabel
9780738596877
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$24.99
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In the 1830s, a small community known as El Fronton de Santa Isabel set roots on the banks of the Laguna Madre Bay. Official claim for the land was granted to Don Rafael Garcia as part of the Potrero (Pasture) de Santa Isabel in 1828. Less than two decades later, Point Isabel was home to Zachary Taylor's Fort Polk and found itself a home base during the Mexican-American War. In 1853, construction was completed on the Point Isabel lighthouse, a navigational beacon with a 16-mile view. Port Isabel was incorporated in 1928, and a deep-water port shipped its first commercial load in 1937. By the 1950s, Port Isabel was the Shrimping Capital of the World, and the first Queen Isabella Causeway connected South Padre Island to the mainland. Port Isabel continues to deepen its roots on the banks of the Laguna Madre Bay. Heritage and cultural tourism, a relaxed quality of life, and an appreciation for all things coastal are synonymous with Port Isabel.
Sweetwater
9781467130967
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$24.99
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From buffalo hunters and ranchers to rattlesnake hunters and wind farmers, Sweetwater has a rich and diverse history of hearty people flourishing in a harsh environment. Beginning with the Kiowa, Apaches, and Comanche, who migrated through the area following herds, and continuing with hunters after the Civil War, Sweetwater, like many West Texas towns, owes its inception to the buffalo. After the war, the demand for beef, hides, and tallow in the North escalated, requiring hunters to reduce buffalo populations, both for their prized hides and to make room for cattle. The slaughter reached its peak in the South in the 1870s, and in 1877, Billie Knight set up a small store on the banks of Sweetwater Creek to accommodate hunters and ranchers. Since the construction of this humble dugout, the town of Sweetwater has had one racetrack, two locations, three names, four courthouses, and countless snakes, wild fires, and tornadoes.
Rains County
9780738579986
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$24.99
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This fourth-smallest county in Texas was created in December 1870 from parts of Wood, Hunt, Van Zandt, and Hopkins Counties. The county and the county seat are named after the founding father, Emory Rains. In the early days, cotton was king, and the towns were full of businesses that served the residents' needs. In 1902, the National Farmers Union was formed in Point, and with the decline of cotton, dairy and beef cattle are now the main industries. The Texas legislature designated Rains County as "Eagle Capital of Texas" in 1995 in order to protect and preserve the bald eagles who nest around the local lakes. Today, Emory is the home of the A.C. McMillan African American Museum, which preserves the African American culture of this area. Rains County is bordered by Lake Tawakoni for catfish fishing and Lake Fork for bass fishing. These lakes, along with annual festivals, draw thousands of visitors and outdoor enthusiasts each year. This pictorial history portrays the everyday life, influential people of the county, education, worship, and businesses from 1870 to 1950. "Come to Rains County where it rains when it wants to!"
Delta County
9780738579320
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$24.99
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During the frenetic days of Reconstruction, Delta County claimed land between two branches of the Sulphur River, from Lamar and Hopkins Counties, and named itself after its shape and the third letter of the Greek alphabet. From its early days, Delta County became home to prosperous farmers who relocated from the South and who brought with them their knowledge of growing cotton as well as their traditions and cultures. At its heyday in the 1920s, the county boasted the densest rural population in the state. These pioneers believed strongly in education, and more than 40 schools dotted the county at one time, with many graduates of these rural schools becoming doctors, engineers, teachers, politicians, ministers, authors, musicians, lawyers, coaches, scientists, and athletes—as well as one All-American. For those who remained, those who returned, and those who chose this quiet corner of Northeast Texas, Delta County is home, with all the sweet and poignant implications of that word.
Pilot Point
9780738571003
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$24.99
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The oldest town in Denton County, Pilot Point is situated atop the highest point in North Texas at a place that was once a landmark for wagon train pilots traveling through the region. In 1854, the town was platted and lots were sold, many to cross-country pioneers who were drawn to the abundance of fresh water, game, and fertile soil. The city began to grow more quickly after incorporation in 1867, and when the railroad arrived in 1880, Pilot Point became one of the busiest trading centers in North Texas, boasting both the largest cotton gin and university. From the early days of cowboys and cotton in the 1800s, to oil and cattle in the 1930s, to the changes that came with the 1960s, this new volume tells the unique story of Pilot Point.
Sixth Street
9780738586694
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$24.99
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Now listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Sixth Street began more than 170 years ago as the only level pathway into the town of Austin from the east. Originally called Pecan Street, throughout its history the street was also a level playing field for merchants and minorities, for moneyed dynasties and little mom-and-pop places. When Austin was a segregated society, Sixth Street was a standout exception where people of all races lived and worked. By 1871, the arrival of the railroad kindled the explosive development of Pecan Street into Austin's first mercantile center. It was home to Austin's first hotel, Bullock's at Congress Avenue and Pecan Street; the first fight with the government of the new Republic of Texas; and the first brothel. In the 1970s, the commercial district suffered some deterioration. Then, as it has done before, Sixth Street was reborn, this time as the Sixth Street Historic Entertainment District. Loved by Austin residents and visitors alike, Sixth Street is Texas's most famous thoroughfare.
Karnes County
9780738584928
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$24.99
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Karnes County's history is rich in folklore, tall tales, real-life feuds, and even an outlaw or two. Declared a county in 1854, it was named after Henry Karnes, a heroic peace negotiator and early Texas Ranger. Despite struggles along the way, the county has survived due to its strong and sturdy pioneers who came from many countries, including the first Polish community to arrive in the United States. From those beginnings and the desire to take advantage of the good ranch and farming lands, the county grew into a great area to raise a family. The local school districts have excellent standards, boasting high ratings in every area and even a state championship football team in Falls City that won the 1A division in 2010. Furthermore, the latest boom in oil and gas drilling is bringing a growth surge that is expected to continue for quite some time.
Historic Dallas Hotels
9780738578798
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$24.99
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In Dallas's infancy, accommodations for the traveler arriving by stage or horseback consisted of boardinghouses or unfurnished rooms, but within 10 years of the city's founding, Dallas could boast about what is considered to be its first hotel: Thomas Crutchfield's log cabin and livery stable. As the village evolved from town to city, these early facilities were replaced with elegantly appointed hotels that rivaled those in New York or Chicago and established Dallas as a modern city. As the 20th century progressed, many older hotels were replaced with up-to-date facilities, and the rise of the automobile following World War II saw the establishment of dozens of motels and motor courts. There were accommodations for every type of traveler, and Dallas had established itself as a hotel town.
Houston's Sporting Life
9780738579740
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$24.99
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Houston has been a sports-crazy town since its founding in 1836 when the biggest pastime was watching the horse races held south of what was then the capitol of Texas. By 1900, spectators and athletes alike enjoyed the team sports played at every school in the city and suburbs. Companies competed with one another in baseball, basketball, and track. Boxing gyms dotted the wards, and downtown boasted billiard halls, bowling alleys, and indoor shooting galleries. There was also hunting and fishing, auto racing, swimming, and hockey at the Polar Wave, a mid-century indoor ice rink. This book presents a history of how Houstonians competed, where their recreation took them, and how they enjoyed a potential 12 months of "outdoor" weather. The 20th century was a fun and vibrant time for both fans and participants in the sporting and outdoor life of Houston, and many of today's fans of sports and local history look back on Houston's sporting past with a sense of nostalgia.
Mission
9780738571485
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$24.99
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Mission is named for the chapel built at La Lomita ("little hill") on a former Spanish land grant. During the 1850s, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate began serving the ranches between Brownsville and Roma. La Lomita was a resting place midway through their 100-mile circuit. In 1908, developers John J. Conway and James W. Hoit bought land from the Oblate Fathers and established the town of Mission, just north of La Lomita. They advertised throughout the Midwest, and soon farmers arrived by rail, wagon, and automobile. Through the efforts of Nebraskan John H. Shary, the citrus industry flourished, and Mission became renowned for its grapefruit. Three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, baseball great Leo Najo, and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient José M. Lopez have all lived in Mission. Their tradition of leadership continues within the fields of medicine, education, military service, and ecotourism.
Stephenville Yellow Jacket Football
9780738584935
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$24.99
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In Texas, high school football is king. If pigskin passion is no less intense among college and professional fans, enthusiasm for the schoolboy sport is more democratically spread throughout towns and communities, small and large. Almost any young man can play if he's willing to pay the price, work hard, and bring a bit of local, regional, or statewide glory to his hometown. Stephenville High School is one among an elite group of Texas football schools that has achieved at the highest level. The traditional rivalry games against Dublin and Breckenridge in the 1920s through the 1940s have evolved into heavily attended matchups with seven-time state champion Brownwood and, most recently, three-time state champion Aledo. From Joe Brown and Jim Mobley's powerhouse teams of the 1930s to Mike Murphy's 1952 regional qualifying squad, the Yellow Jackets have contended with the best in Texas. With four state championships, Art Briles made the 1990s a "Decade of Dominance" for Stephenville High School. Yellow Jacket football fever remains alive and well, promising to remain so long into the indefinite future.
Val Verde County
9780738501284
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$24.99
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Along the banks of the Rio Grande lies Val Verde County, one of the largest counties in Texas and the only one named for a Civil War battle. Although Del Rio is the county seat, Langtry is more famous as the home of Judge Roy Bean, the famous (as well as infamous) Law West of the Pecos. Among the many evocative images of the county featured in this new book are photos of the judge's unique court/saloon. Val Verde County captures the spirit of a region and its people through historic photographs. Most of the topics included are not strictly local in nature: Pre-Columbian art, United States westward expansion, the creation of the state of Texas, radio and modern telecommunications, military history and the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the oldest continually operating winery in Texas. From being the oldest archaeological site in Texas to playing a role in international relations between the United States and Mexico, Val Verde County undoubtedly has a rich and varied history.
Heath
9781467133494
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$24.99
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When John O. Heath first settled in the area now known as Heath in 1848, wild turkey and deer were as plentiful as the area's timber and rich, black soil. The fertile land and convenient location along the east fork of the Trinity River prompted several settlers to follow the Heath family's lead, and Heath experienced steady growth in the early 1900s, with several businesses and schools in operation. Life was hard in those days, with food and money hard to come by, but locals found sanctuary in social gatherings, endless games of 42, mink hunting in the winter, and baseball. Heath's economy was given a big lift when the lake adjacent to the community, known as Lake Ray Hubbard, was filled in 1969 after a seemingly endless rain. With the attraction of the lake and developments that stemmed from it, such as the Rush Creek Yacht Club, Heath now faces the challenge of maintaining steady growth while continuing to stick to its roots as a charming, tight-knit community with an open countryside atmosphere.
Sugar Land
9780738578804
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$24.99
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Sugar Land's earliest settlers arrived in the 1820s with Stephen F. Austin, "the Father of Texas." Originally named Oakland Plantation, the area was planted with cotton, corn, and sugar cane, and by 1843, it had its own sugar mill. Benjamin Franklin Terry, famous for leading Terry's Texas Rangers, and William Jefferson Kyle purchased the plantation in 1852 and were the first to name it Sugar Land. Col. Edward H. Cunningham, a Confederate veteran, later bought the property and built the first sugar refinery as well as a railroad to transport cane from nearby plantations. Under his ownership, a fledgling town emerged that included a store, post office, paper mill, acid plant, meat market, boardinghouse, and depot. The town, refinery, and surrounding 12,500 acres were acquired by Isaac H. Kempner and William T. Eldridge in 1908. Their vision resulted in Imperial Sugar, a thriving business and company town.
Cotton on the South Plains
9780738595856
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$24.99
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Today's cotton production on the South Plains barely resembles the cotton culture of 100 years ago. When cotton first came to the South Plains it was very labor intensive, with every stage of production depending on large amounts of hand labor. The planting, cultivating, and picking or pulling of cotton were all done by hand. Often, the harvested cotton was transported to gins in wagons pulled by teams of horses or mules. Today, due to the many improvements in the industry, most cotton is grown without ever being touched by human hands. The story of cotton on the South Plains is the story of continuous change, improvement, and mechanization.
African Americans in Amarillo
9780738571287
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$24.99
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Amarillo became a town in 1887 when merchants opened stores to cater to railroad workers. The first African Americans in the area were Jerry Callaway, who came to the area in 1888 with a white family, and Mathew "Bones" Hooks, a highly respected cowboy who moved to Amarillo in 1900 and later worked for the railroad. By 1908, five African American families had moved to Amarillo. The black community grew and people established churches, businesses, and schools. With the 1950s and 1960s, Amarillo citizens participated in ending segregation and bringing about equality. Today African Americans in Amarillo are still bound together by their churches but have access to many opportunities both locally and nationally. They are justifiably proud of their rich heritage.
Cleburne
9780738571195
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$24.99
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Once known for its cotton production and Jersey cows, Cleburne has evolved from its agricultural heritage into a diverse community. This former Civil War training camp, located near Buffalo Creek, was named for Confederate general Patrick Cleburne when it became the county seat in 1867. Just west of town, cowboys moved cattle up the Chisholm Trail before the Santa Fe Railway brought jobs and money in 1881. As lieutenant commander of the navy dirigible USS Akron, Charles Rosendahl soared over his childhood home of Cleburne in 1932. From early opera and movie houses, saloons, and congested trade days, to live theaters, parks, and modern industries, Cleburne continues to progress. Today a new economy and booming growth have emerged due to the Barnett Shale gas exploration.
Luling
9780738571454
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$24.99
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One historian described Luling in the 1870s as the toughest town in Texas. Along with the railroad came notorious gamblers who were ready to take a man's hard-earned money any way they could. But when settlers enforced what laws there were and established permanent homes, churches, and a school, the rougher crowd sought greener pastures. In the southern corner of Caldwell County, Luling had at first an agrarian-based economy, but that changed with the discovery of oil, which boosted the population from a few hundred residents to several thousand. The oil industry and related businesses kept the population steady. Luling soil also proved beneficial to crops such as cotton, but the area's prize crop became watermelons. Today oil and watermelons keep Luling on the map, and the annual Watermelon Thump attracts thousands. At the crossroads of three important highways, businesses flourish, especially barbecue, which is considered by some to be the best in the state.
Seagoville
9780738578637
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$24.99
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Seagoville was founded in 1879 by T. K. Seago, who also donated the land that brought the Texas and New Orleans Railroad. With the arrival of this new railroad, Seagoville became an industrial frontier. The first church was organized in 1872, and the first bank was founded in 1905. By 1911, the city could boast that there were seven citizens who owned automobiles. Although the Great Depression had its impact, there were no bread lines in town because the local cannery provided employment. The movie actor Chill Wills was born here and went on to star with such noted actors as John Wayne and Spencer Tracy. During World War II, the city sent 228 of its 720 citizens to the armed services. Even today, numerous stories circulate about the infamous Bonnie and Clyde spending time in town.
Lewisville
9780738579931
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$24.99
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Originally known as Holford's Prairie, Lewisville's name is not the only thing that has changed about this town in its long history. Settlers sponsored by the Peters Colony Company founded the small community in the 1840s. In the ensuing years, the settlement, renamed to Lewisville by Basdeal W. Lewis in 1856, consistently grew and prospered until its incorporation in 1925. Cotton farming and ginning, the arrival of the Dallas and Wichita Railroad in 1881, the expansion of Lake Dallas into Lake Lewisville in 1954, and the opening of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 1974 ensured that Lewisville became an important commercial center in booming North Texas. Throughout its phenomenal growth, however, Lewisville still retained the charm and bonds of its farm-centered past. Today Lewisville boasts the largest population and school district in Denton County and serves as a suburb for the bustling Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Historic Downtown Rosenberg
9781467133333
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$24.99
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Rosenberg was created and thrived with the expansion of the railroad. From the first house in 1883, the city grew to become the Hub of the Gulf Coast. Rosenberg was the center of commerce for settlers of all nationalities attracted here by fertile land and economic opportunity. In just 30 years, 56 businesses, including banks, loan and land development companies, merchants, doctors, and lawyers, were in the four-block area of the original Downtown Rosenberg Business District. Even celebrities came. For instance, outlaws Bonnie and Clyde ate their last meal at the Eagle Café in 1934. Also, actors John Wayne, Shirley Temple, and Roy Rogers could occasionally be found outside the Cole Theater, and while campaigning, Lyndon B. Johnson had his helicopter land on a downtown roof.
Smithville
9780738570624
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$24.99
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Smithville's reputation is that of a railroad town, yet it offers an even richer history. Fertile land and the Colorado River attracted pioneers with energy, dreams, and a hunger to build. After Thomas Gazley chose head-right land in Stephen F. Austin's Second Colony in 1827, area settlers joined the fray to secure a Texas free from Mexico's supremacy. Some represented Bastrop County in the new Republic of Texas's legislature. Others stayed home and built a village on the banks of the Colorado. Businessmen influenced the growth of Smithville by attracting the railroad, and soon Smithville was the largest city in the county, offering a place for businesses and families to thrive. Smithville's fortunes have risen and fallen with the railroad, the river, and the Central Texas economy, and it has again become a vital community, this time nurturing scientists, artists, filmmakers, and antique lovers.
Greeks in Houston
9781467130295
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$24.99
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This history of the Greeks in Houston is really the story of individuals who worked diligently to forge new lives for themselves even as they maintained their Greek identity and their Orthodox faith. The efforts of many of the founders are immortalized in the buildings that constitute the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral complex. Their names remind us of their hard work and commitment to establishing their koinonia (communion) in Houston. There are many other names that have gone unremarked over the decades but to whom we owe just as much for their tenacity and dedication. And there are the new generations who inherited this legacy and keep it vibrant through the stewardship of their faith and culture.
Manchaca
9781467130516
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$24.99
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Manchaca, which takes its name from nearby Manchaca Springs, is nestled in the beautiful rolling hills about 10 miles south of Austin. Spanish land grants issued in the 1830s opened the land for settlement, and by the 1850s, stage stop Manchac Springs was established, bringing new settlers through the area. Many liked what they saw and settled in. The population grew in great bounds when the International & Great Northern Railroad laid track through Manchaca in 1881, which led to the building of a new school and several mercantile stores. By the turn of the century, Manchaca had grown into a bustling community.
Crane
9780738595825
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$24.99
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Crane is the county seat and only town in Crane County, Texas. Hot, windy, and impossibly dry, save for the Pecos River and the oil bubbling below, people still have been migrating to or passing through it for hundreds of years. In 1583, Spanish explorers traversed the Pecos at a ford known as Horsehead Crossing. In 1858, the crossing became an important stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route. Famous adventurers Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving trekked through the crossing in 1866. Castle Gap, a mountain with castle-like boulders, offered shelter to prehistoric people. Likewise, forty-niners sought protection there while migrating to California. Legend states that the Mexican emperor Maximilian once buried vast golden treasures there. Nearby, Juan Cordona Salt Lake provided salt to Native American traders. Historically, ranching has been important in Crane County, although oil is king in the region, being one of the largest oil-producing counties in Texas. Throughout the years, the city of Crane has maintained a consistent population of approximately 3,500, subsisting primarily on the oil and gas industry.
Houston's Courtlandt Place
9780738571096
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$24.99
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In 1906, Houston was poised to become a great city. The construction of its first skyscraper began (only eight stories); dredging commenced for the Houston Ship Channel; and Carrie Nation paid a visit and inflicted $750 damage on a saloon named after her, leaving no doubt that she wanted the name changed. Rambunctious growth, the proliferation of streetcar lines, and the emergence of the automobile pushed Houston's boundaries outward. When unrestricted commercialism encroached on the mansions of the city's elite, they abandoned downtown and formed private residential enclaves beyond the chaos. One of the earliest, fashioned after the private places of St. Louis, was Courtlandt Place. Developed for Houston's first big businessmen and power brokers, its story has been linked with the city's history for more than 100 years. The exceptional Courtlandt Place is on the National Register of Historic Places and remains a triumph of historic preservation.
