Tag Archives: Dallas

State Fair of Texas Cancelled

Giant 'Big Tex' statue burns down after 60 years as State Fair ...

There are few things Red likes more than the State Fair of Texas held every October in Dallas.  Where else can you see the Governor, the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, a full line-up of the latest automobile models, Tennessee Walking horses, pig races, steers, hogs, chickens, lambs, ducks, rabbits and llamas competing, Chinese Acrobats, Brenda Lee backed up by the Air Force Band, the Bearded Lady, the Human Pincushion, a sword swallower, a major college football game, old football players, a giant Ferris wheel, an assortment of thrill rides, art works, butter sculpture and other attractions while chowing down on corn dogs, fried snickers, giant burritos, funnel cake and just about fried everything else edible – all in one day?  Not to mention Red’s particular favorite – SkeeBall.  And yes, Red has seen and eaten all of that in just one day at the SFOT.

But not this year.  “With a heavy heart” the SFOT has announced that it will not open for the 2020 season.  “We believe the spirit of the Lone Star State lies in every Texan’s ability to care and look out for their neighbor and it is with this in mind, we have decided to keep our guests, staff, and partners safe and healthy during these uncertain times.”

Now Red is really pissed at the morons who have let this pandemic spiral out of control with their wishful thinking, refusal to acknowledge science and reality, and inability to shift course.  Yes, Trump and Abbott – Red is talking about you.

Today in Texas History – January 2

New Orleans Saints: Sean Payton Wants Bill Parcells To ...

From the Annals of Football –  In 2003, the Dallas (Arlington) Cowboys announced that Bill “Big Tuna” Parcels would be their new head coach.  The two time NFL Championship head coach would post a decidedly mediocre 34-30 record as the Cowboys’ coach – making the playoffs in 2003 and 2006 but never winning a playoff game.  Since retiring (or being fired) after the 2006 season, Parcels has never coached again.

Today in Texas History – November 29

Map of the Town of Highland Park, Tx. by Richard-E ...

From the Annals of the Enclaves – In 1913,  Highland Park voted to incorporate as a separate municipality.  The neighborhood had petitioned Dallas for annexation, but the City refused to annex the area. The 500 residents then voted to incorporate which was granted in 1915, when its population was 1,100.  Additional developments were added to the  town in 1915 and 1917.  Perhaps realizing its mistake, Dallas sought to annex Highland Park in 1919 which began a long fight that lasted until 1945.  Highland Park is one of the wealthiest areas per capita in Texas (4th place) and the wealthiest area in Dallas County.

Today in Texas History – April 11

MAJESTIC THEATRE (DALLAS) | The Handbook of Texas Online ...

From the Annals of the Theatre – In 1921, the Majestic Theater opened in Dallas.  This was during the Vaudeville Era and the MT hosted a variety of acts rangint from Harry Houdini to Mae West to Bob Hope. The Theater was named to the National Register of Historic Places and re-opened on January 28, 1983, as an elegant center for the performing arts in downtown Dallas.  The MT presents music concerts of all stripes, traditional theater, musicals, comedians, movies, lectures and a variety of other events.

Texas High Speed Rail Terminal Planned for Houston Mall Site

Developers of a high-speed rail line hope to turn Houston's aging Northwest Mall into that city's bullet train station.

Texas Central Partners – the outfit that is attempting to bring high-speed rail to Texas –  has identified the site Northwest Mall in Houston as the likely location for its Houston station.  Northwest Mall is about eight miles from downtown Houston and sits near the intersection of the 610 West Loop and US 290.  That location is one of three sites that TCP was considering for its Houston terminus.  One major problem is that Houston Metro Rail has no plans for lines in that area and it would seem that a hook up to the local rail system would be an essential ingredient for success.

TCP plans to run high-speed trains (up to 205 mph) between Dallas and Houston with an average travel time of about 90 minutes.  The project is expected to cost about $15 billion and is to be completed without state or federal funding.

Red can’t really imagine how the economics of this work but he sure would love to take the train instead of heading to the airport to spend 3 plus hours for a 40 minute flight.

Today in Texas History – February 5

From the Annals of the Highways –  In 1844, the Congress of the Republic of Texas authorized a commission to oversee the construction of the Central National Road. The CNR was planned to run from the Elm Fork of the Trinity River to Kiomatia Crossing on the Red River in far northeast Texas.  It was intended to become part of a larger international highway ultimately connecting San Antonio to St. Louis.  The Congress provided that the CNR was to be at least 30 feet wide with no tree stumps taller than 12 inches from the ground.  Bridges were to be at least 15 feet wide and built of good substantial materials.  The project was to be paid for with public land grants to contractors building the road. The rate was to be 160 acres of land for every mile constructed.

The commissioners chose George Stell of Paris, Texas, as surveyor for the project.  Surveying work began in April 1844. Stell and his assistant traveled northeast, measuring and marking the exact route, which passed through the present counties of Dallas, Rockwall, Collin, Hunt, Fannin, Lamar and Red River. The route largely  utilized existing prairies and natural stream crossings – avoiding densely wooded areas and river crossing requiring bridges.  It is unclear if construction was ever completed.  The CNR appears to have been short-lived and was replaced by the Preston Road and other early routes.

 

Quote for the Day

“When it comes to how we should deal with evil doers, the Bible, in the book of Romans, is very clear: God has endowed rulers full power to use whatever means necessary — including war — to stop evil. In the case of North Korea, God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un.”

Robert Jeffress, Trump Supporter, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and Confidant of God.

Red for one  is glad that Jeffress is here to tell us what God thinks.  We would be lost without his intercession and misconstruing all that wimpy stuff Jesus said about forgiveness, turning the other cheek and making friends of your enemies.   And since he also knows that God placed Trump in the White House, it is unsurprising that RJ has now established a holy hot line with the almighty to help Trump justify whatever it is he wants to do – Constitution be damned.  So when Trump decides to nuke the hell out of millions of North Koreans, take solace that God is smiling and approving because he wanted Trump to condemn those men, women and children to burn in the lake of blessed nuclear fire.

 

Today in Texas History – June 16

La Reunion August 2010 #1 photo DSC01820.jpg

From the Annals of the Utopians –  In 1855, 200 or so French, Belgian and Swiss immigrants arrived at La Réunion. The colony was located on the south bank of the Trinity River in Dallas County and was planned as a utopian socialist community. Victor Prosper Considerant was the founder of the colony and a French democratic socialist who directed an international movement based on Fourierism, a set of economic, political, and social beliefs advocated by French philosopher  François Marie Charles Fourier.  La Réunion was short-lived and disbanded due to financial troubles, bad weather, failed crops and rising costs.  On January 28, 1857, Allyre Bureau, one of the society leaders, gave formal notice of the colony’s dissolution.  By 1860, the site was incorporated into Dallas.  The colony’s name survives in the Reunion District of Dallas highlighted by the Reunion Tower.

Photo from texasghostowns.blogspot.com

Today in Texas History – May 12

CAM-3

From the Annals of Aviation –   In 1926, the first commercial air mail service (known as CAM-3) to and from Texas was begun.  The initial route was between Dallas and Chicago.  The initial CAM-3 service was awarded to National Air Transport, Inc.  which had been founded in 1925 by Clement M. Keys.  CAM-3 air service was inaugurated with both north and south flights between Chicago and Dallas with interim stops in Moline Illinois, Saint Joseph & Kansas City Missouri, Wichita Kansas, Oklahoma City Oklahoma and Fort Worth.  NAT used Curtiss Carrier Pigeon bi-planes with Curtiss engines for this initial CAM-3 service. The Carrier Pigeon bi-planes were built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company founded by Glenn Curtiss and now controlled by Clement Keys.   Postal mail covers carried on the inaugural flight between each point of landing and take-off are collectible and are known as CAM-3 covers.

Photo from http://www.aerodacious.com.