History Today Texas

1917: Rebel wife and diarist dies On this day in 1917, diarist Elizabeth Scott Neblett died in Anderson, Texas. “Lizzie,” born in Mississippi in 1833, grew up a southern belle in Grimes County and married William H. Neblett, a planter and aspiring attorney, in 1852. From 1852 until 1863 sheContinue Reading

History Today Texas

1948: First TV station in Texas goes on the air On this day in 1948, WBAP-Fort Worth became the first television station in Texas–and indeed in the whole South–to go on the air, carrying a speech by President Harry Truman. The station grew out of Fort Worth’s first radio station,Continue Reading

History Today Texas

1736: Temperamental new governor arrives in San Antonio On this day in 1736, Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo arrived in San Antonio to begin his controversial tenure as ad interim governor of Spanish Texas. Having “a stormy, petulant, and precipitous temper,” Franquis refused to show his credentials, insulted both civilContinue Reading

Gardening by David Wall

By David Wall Quite often we read or hear about critters causing havoc in the vegetable garden. Depending on the vegetable type any number of products are discussed based on their potential to reduce the problem. Well, as it turns out there is one product that tends to repel aContinue Reading

History Today Texas

1922: Radio broadcasting comes to South Texas On this day in 1922, WOAI-San Antonio, the first radio station in South Texas, began broadcasting. The station, founded by G. A. C. Halff, had an initial power of 500 watts. It grew to 5,000 watts by 1925–considered powerful at that time. OnContinue Reading

History Today Texas

: G&I train arrives in Port Bolivar–three years late! On this day in 1903, a Gulf and Inter-State Railway passenger train from Beaumont pulled into Port Bolivar slightly more than three years behind schedule. The Galveston hurricane of September 8, 1900, had destroyed the G&I’s tracks and trapped a G&IContinue Reading

Ken Bridges/Contributing writer John Henninger Reagan was a controversial figure in Texas History.  He had a long record, serving as a judge, U. S. Senator, Confederate cabinet member, and chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission.  While he was an outspoken defender of slavery and secession early in his career, he was later a defender ofContinue Reading

Gardening by David Wall

By David Wall Several years ago, I wrote an article on dandelions suggesting they probably weren’t anywhere near as bad as many would have us believe. Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) have been valued since ancient times for their healing properties. Although this plant has a high overall value, it still canContinue Reading

History Today Texas

9/14/1919: Hospital destroyed in hurricane On this day in 1919, the Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi was demolished by a hurricane in which a nun, two patients, and two employees were killed. Spohn Hospital (originally Spohn Sanitarium), the first hospital in Corpus Christi, is a Catholic institution founded in 1905Continue Reading

History Today Texas

9/13/1883: Fence-cutting war reaches Mabel Day’s ranch On this day in 1883, free-grass cattle raisers began cutting the fences of Mabel Doss Day’s ranch, the first fully fenced large ranch in Texas. She inherited the 85,000-acre, debt-ridden spread in Coleman County when her husband of 2 1/2 years, William H.Continue Reading

History Today Texas

9/12/1909: Country singer born in country town On this day in 1909, country singer Kenneth Threadgill was born in Peniel, Texas. In 1933 he moved to Austin and began working at a service station; by December, he had bought the establishment and turned it into Threadgill’s Tavern. After World WarContinue Reading

Gardening by David Wall

By David Wall This year many are reconsidering raised bed vegetable gardens. Reasoning is simple. They’re compact, easy to work, easy to water, maintain moisture better, fewer problems with weeds, and usually produce more than a regular garden the same size. They come in all lengths, although widths are usuallyContinue Reading