Known and Unknown Knowns
While researching a recent series of columns I had the opportunity to study several old Texas newspapers from the mid-1880s. In them I found the thin ribbon of a story, which, with more research, has...
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Uriah Lott, a man who changed the fortunes of Kerr County
Uriah LottSome characters from Kerrville's history have wonderful names, names so unique one would think the names are fictional. To me, one of the names fitting this description is that of Uriah...
View ArticleKerrville versus her neighbor, Fredericksburg
Kerrville was not supposed to get the railroad. When the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad was organized, in 1884, its owners and management hoped to connect San Antonio not only to Aransas Pass,...
View ArticleFredericksburg and Kerrville in a bidding war
Fredericksburg, or Kerrville? That was the question before the owners and management of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad (S.A.&A.P.) in 1886. Work was underway to connect San Antonio with...
View ArticleKerrville incorporated when, exactly?
At the intersection of Sidney Baker Street and Main Street, on the corner of the newly developed "Peterson Plaza," words over an archway declare the Kerrville was established in 1889. In addition, the...
View ArticleKerrville was incorporated in 1889-ish
Looking around our community you'll find several references to 1889 as the year Kerrville was incorporated. That date is engraved in an archway in the newly-developed "Peterson Plaza," and also is...
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The toughest teacher in Kerrville's history
John Creed Moore (via Wikipedia)If you think back about the teachers you had in elementary school, middle school, and high school, I'm sure you'll remember one or two who were tough. Perhaps they were...
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He never claimed to be a historian
Lone Star,by FehrenbachLast Sunday Texas lost T. R. Fehrenbach, a writer who never claimed to be a historian, but who wrote books of history which brought Texas' past to life.His book "Lone Star: a...
View ArticleCONTEST! How well do you know downtown Kerrville?
My December 14, 2013 Kerrville Daily Times column offers a contest for readers to guess which of Kerrville's downtown buildings are the five oldest. If you'd like to play, please use the following...
View ArticleA contest plus memories of a salon owner
Taking a casual walk in Kerrville's downtown area, one passes several commercial buildings over 100 years old, and I thought it might be fun, Gentle Reader, to have a small contest.At stakes: bragging...
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A Christmas Photo of the Charles Schreiner Mansion
Mrs. Joesphine "DoDo" Schreiner Parker, atthe Charles Schreiner Mansion, a fewChristmases ago.My thanks to Ridge Floyd, who is in town to perform at a concert, for sharing this photograph with all of us.
View ArticleThe answer to last week's challenge
Last week I offered a little puzzle to my readers, asking them to name the five oldest commercial buildings in Kerrville's historic downtown. I provided a list of many of the older buildings in the...
View ArticleA review of 2013
And here, suddenly, we're at the end of 2013.It seems like yesterday I was writing about the year ahead for this column: "Sometimes I feel like a long-distance backpacker: January is the start of a...
View ArticleKerrville grew in cycles
The "Old Town" section of downtown Kerrville is the site of many of my happiest memories growing up years here, from about the time my folks started our printing company in 1964, through my graduation...
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A Hero's Grave
Last week I spent some time searching for the grave of Francisco Lemos.Bill Sloan, an author from Dallas, who is working on a book about Francisco Lemos, Earl Garrett, and Sidney Baker, visited me at...
View ArticleAndrew Edington's Centennial
Dr. Andrew Edington would have celebrated his 100th birthday this past Wednesday, January 15th.For those who do not remember, Dr. Edington was the second president of Schreiner Institute (now Schreiner...
View ArticleScotch Tape Tins and Hospital IV Bottles
Francis Swayze, my long-time friend, confirmed a story several readers had sent to me about an invention born here in Kerrville: the hummingbird feeder.Mr. Swayze, of course, knows more Kerrville...
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My last Kerrville Daily Times column
Earl Garrett Street, Kerrville, long agoFolks: my column at the Kerrville Daily Times ended last Saturday, after a 999 column run. The reason: the owners of the newspaper sent out a contract which had...
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Captain Joseph Tivy photograph mystery
A wagon bearing the name Capt. Jos. A. TivyWhere was the photograph taken?Mysteries -- local history mysteries -- come across my print shop desk most days. This particular one came in the form of a...
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The recycled cattle trough in a Kerrville city park
Dairy cattle, part of the Lewis farm.Kerrville's "Westland Park," at the intersection of Woodlawn and West Water Streets, has a unique recycling project that many would never recognize. What once was...
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