Category Archives: North Texas History

Farming is Not for the Fainthearted

Slowly but surely manufacturing and technology have overcome and then rapidly passed other industries, including agriculture. But we can never ignore the importance of the farmer and his workers. They still battle many of the same problems they faced at … Continue reading

Posted in Greenville, Historical tidbits, North Texas History | 1 Comment

Russian Germans Come to Texas

Russian Germans are also known as Volga Germans, but what in the world do they have to do with anything I write about? Well, they are terribly interesting and some ended up in numerous little villages in North Texas. Maybe … Continue reading

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From Wilderness to Commonwealth

While in Santa Fe last month I made a pilgrimage to Dumont’s Maps and Books, one of my very favorite haunts there.  Mr. Dumont’s shop is not in the ritzy part of town with fine furnishings.  It’s near the railroad, … Continue reading

Posted in Greenville, Historical tidbits, North Texas History | 1 Comment

Prison Songs in Greenville

For over ninety years the City of Greenville had no public space for its government. Back rooms of stores or saloons were used for city council meetings, other departments rented space in every thing from hotels to rooms adjacent to … Continue reading

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Friday Night Lights at Phillips Field

On Friday before Labor Day this year, Greenville High School held its first Tailgate Party before beating North Garland High School 40 to 27 in a great football game. What a splendid way to begin a new school year! Football … Continue reading

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Blue Laws and Sales Tax

The last semester of my senior year at Midwestern State University I discovered that I needed a car to get to my assigned school for student teaching. Wichita Falls had, and probably still has, an outstanding public transportation system, but, … Continue reading

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Where Was Crescent?

My mother-in-law, Joyce McCloud Taylor, lived in Crescent when she was a young girl. A few years ago my husband and I took her there so she could show us around. If you’re not acquainted with Crescent, it’s a village … Continue reading

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The War Comes to America

When I began to post tidbits of local news on Facebook in 2014, I wasn’t certain how long it would last. I’m fascinated with the past, but was there others who might be interested? Well, my posts have never gone … Continue reading

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Treasures on Our Doorstep

Earlier this summer Heather Goodson asked me to do a historic resources survey on Live Oak Street and Maple Street in Commerce as part of the preparation for the downtown Commerce renovation project. Commerce has always been a special place … Continue reading

Posted in Greenville, Historical tidbits, North Texas History | 1 Comment

The Amazing Captain Benjamin A. Van Sickle

Captain Benjamin A. Van Sickle was a most unusual man. A native Texan born in 1808 in San Augustine, he was a citizen of Spanish Texas, the Republic of Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States, the Confederate States … Continue reading

Posted in Greenville, Historical tidbits, North Texas History | 2 Comments