Tag Archives: Texas History

Today in Texas History – April 15

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From the Annals of the French –  In keeping with this week’s museum theme, in 1956, the restored French Legation was opened to the public.  The site is in East Austin adjacent to the Texas State Cemetery.   France was the only country other than the United States to recognize the Republic of Texas.  France sent Jean Pierre Isidore Alphonse Dubois, from the French Legation in Washington, to be the chargé d’affaires  in Texas.  Dubois was instructed to to remain in Austin to maintain an official presence there.  The legation building was completed in 1840-1841, and probably was the finest structure in Austin at the time. Dubois entertained dignitaries (such as were available) and worked with the government to bring French settlers to Texas.  After the capital was temporarily moved from Austin, the legation was abandoned. It was then occupied by the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese  Galveston.  Dr. Joseph W. Robertson later bought the estate where he and descendants lived 1940. In 1945, the State purchased the site and gave custody to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas who established the French Legation Museum in 1949. The DRT restored the legation building and grounds and opened the site to the public on this date in 1956.  It is the oldest house in Austin.

Today in Texas History – April 14

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From the Annals of the Museums–   In 1933, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum opened in Canyon.  The PPHM claims to be the first state museum in Texas.   The museum first began to take shape when an educator named Hattie Anderson moved to Canyon to teach history at West Texas State Normal College.  She saw an opportunity to preserve the quickly vanishing history of the Llano Estacado.  By early 1921, Anderson and L.F. Sheffy (the head of the college’s history department) joined seven other faculty members and around thirty students to organize the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society.  Together they began to collect and preserve the human and natural history of the region. They began soliciting support for their efforts, in the form of society memberships.  By 1932, the group had enough funds to begin construction of Pioneer Hall still the main building for the museum.  The Art Deco limestone structure features fine decorative stonework and, on its façade, carvings and bas reliefs depicting Western themes as well as Panhandle-Plains flora and fauna. More than 75 famous West Texas cattle brands surround the entrance.

Red personally recommends the PPHM as the best historical museum in the State.  A must see if you visit Canyon and expect to spend at least a couple of hours touring the excellent exhibits.

Today in Texas History – April 12

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From the Annals of Fine Art –   In 1924, the Houston  Museum of Fine Arts opened to the public. The MFA claims to be the oldest art museum in the state of Texas.  That claim is disputed by the Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art.  The museum site was dedicated in 1917 by the Houston Public School Art League (later the Houston Art League) with the intention of becoming a public art museum. The original neo-classical building was designed in phases by architect William Ward Watkin. The original Caroline Wiess Law building was opened in 1924 and the east and west wing were added in 1926. The museum has continually expanded over the years with the addition of the Robert Lee Blaffer Memorial Wing in 1953, Cullinan Hall in 1958 and the Brown Pavilion in 1974.  The Brown Pavilion is the only Mies van der Rohe museum building in the U.S.  IN 2000, the MFA expanded dramatically with the addition of the Audrey Jones Beck Building which added 158,000 feet of exhibition space for major traveling exhibits.

Today in Texas History – April 11

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From the Annals of the Rivers –  In 1838, the keelboat David Crockett, arrived at the head of the raft on the Colorado River.  The “raft” was an enormous logjam caused by the river’s slow current and meandering course.   By the late 1830s, the raft blocked the river ten miles above its mouth at Matagorda. The Crockett, reputed to be the largest craft to attempt to navigate the Colorado, had averaged more than sixty miles a day, but was forced to stop  at the head of the raft, where its cargo of cotton was unloaded and carried by wagon to Matagorda.  Incredibly, the raft remained in place until the 1920s.  Removal of the log jam  caused the development of an enormous delta that reached across Matagorda Bay to the Matagorda Peninsula. In 1936 engineers dug a channel through the delta, but Matagorda gradually became landlocked.

Today in Texas History – April 7

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From the Annals of the Empresarios –  In 1825, Green DeWitt successfully petitioned the Mexican government to settle a colony of “four hundred industrious Catholic families” in Texas between the Lavaca and Guadalupe Rivers.  DeWitt’s Colony was less successful than Austin’s never reaching the maximum allowed number of families before the contract expired.  By 1830, the total population was only 377. The areas of settlement were primarily along the Guadalupe and San Marcos rivers, but also on the tributaries of the Lavaca River.  DeWitt did manage to reach the required minimum of 100 families, and his colonists were allowed to receive land titles.  DeWitt appointed Jose Antonio Navarro as land commissioner.  The land was surveyed by Byrd Lockhart and in 1831 and 1832, 189 titles were issued.

Today in Texas History – April 5

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From the Annals of the Gunslingers –  In 1896, U.S. deputy marshal George A. Scarborough shot John Selman in El Paso.  Selman was a notorious gunman and gambler. Selman was perhaps best known as the man who killed John Wesley Hardin in 1895.  Selman, as Constable of El Paso, had also shot and killed former Texas Ranger Bass Outlaw on April 5, 1894 after Outlaw killed Texas Ranger Joe McKirdict.  Outlaw had been a close friend to Scarborough.  Selman was tried for the shooting and found not guilty.  On the second anniversary of Outlaw’s death, Scarborough called out Selman into the alley behind the Wigwam Saloon.   An argument ensued followed by a fight.  Scarborough claimed both drew their guns, and that he then fatally shot Selman. Selman died the next day. No gun was found on Selman’s body.  Scarborough was indicted for murder.  Conveniently before the trial, a thief was arrested who claimed to have stolen Selman’s gun immediately after the supposed gun fight. Scarborough was acquitted but was forced to resign his position as deputy marshal.    April 5 was an auspicious day for Scarborough. As with many of his ilk, he died at the end of a muzzle.  He died at his home in Deming, New Mexico on April 5, 1900 following a gun fight with cattle rustlers in Arizona.

Photo of U.S. Marshall George Scarborough from murderpedia.org

Today in Texas – April 4

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From the Annals of San Antonio –  In 1981 Henry Cisneros became the second Mexican-American mayor of a major U.S. city.  Cisneros was elected as an independent to be mayor of San Antonio with over 62% of the vote.  Only 33 at the time, Cisneros seemed to have a bright future and was overwhelmingly elected mayor for another two terms.  Throughout his mayorship, Cisneros lived in the small house that once belonged to his grandfather in the city’s west side. His administration spent more than $200 million to the city’s long neglected Hispanic west side for streets, gutters, libraries, and parks.  These improvements helped alleviate long standing flooding and drainage problems. Cisneros also worked to establish an education partnership that brought together the city, the local colleges and universities, local business, and various community organizations to provide financial aid for college to young people in the poorest school districts of San Antonio. 

Cisneros also served as Secretary of HUD in the Clinton Administration and as President of Univision.  He and his wife live in San Antonio and he continues to work on housing issues today.

Today in Texas History – April 1

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From the Annals of the Small Towns –   In 1881, the town of Buda was formally established. The name is believed to have originated from the Spanish word viuda, meaning “widow.”  Here’s what Buda has to say for itself today:

Just 20 minutes south of Austin, off the beaten path, lies Buda, Texas — a friendly city with small town charm and big plans for the future that are equal parts pragmatic and idyllic. Steeped in area history, Buda holds fast to the values and rich potential that made it a choice location for the first settlers of the 1880s. The same qualities that made the city attractive in the past hold true today.

Safe, affordable, wholesome Buda is a city centered on community, an oasis of country calm at the edge of civilization, unspoiled by the pace of Austin and San Antonio’s big city ways. Put your feet up, and breathe easy — Buda’s city fathers have seen to it that its historic flavor, laid-back lifestyle, and family values will be protected and preserved for the next generation.

Today in Texas History – March 31

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From the Annals of the Cowboys –  In 1883, a large group of Texas cowboys went on strike.  The cowboys were complaining about new working rules that were coming with the closing of the open range.  The large ranchers were imposing new conditions on their workers.  Cowboys would no longer be able to brand mavericks, keep small herds of their own, or receive part of their pay in calves.  Some ranches even forbade the cowboy from keeping his own horse which meant that if he quit he was afoot in the vast ranges of the Panhandle.  At its peak, the strikers numbered about 300 cowboys. The cowboys were unprepared for the big moneyed ranches response and plenty of men were seeking work.  It didn’t help that the big ranchers had paid off local judges and politicians.  The strike was broken within a couple of months.  The cowboys’ strike was the inspiration for Elmer Kelton’s novel The Day the Cowboys Quit.     Red recommends almost anything written by Kelton.

Today in Texas History – March 30

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From the Annals of Reconstruction – In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Act to readmit Texas to Congressional representation.  The Act followed Texas new constitution and election of a state government and most importantly, Texas’ ratification of the 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.  Texas was readmitted upon the following fundamental conditions:

First. That the constitution of Texas shall never be so amended or changed as to deprive any citizen or class of citizens of the United States of the right to vote who are entitled to vote by the constitution herein recognized, except as punishment for such crimes as are now felonies at common law, whereof they shall have been duly convicted under laws equally applicable to all the inhabitants of said State: Provided, That any alteration of said constitution, prospective in its effects, may be made in regard to the time and place of residence of voters.

Second. That it shall never be lawful for the said State to deprive any citizen of the United States on account of his race, color, or previous condition of servitude, of the right to hold office under the constitution and laws of said State, or upon any such ground to require of him any other qualifications for office than such as are required of all other citizens.

Third. That the constitution of Texas shall never be so amended or changed as to deprive any citizen or class of citizens of the United States of the school rights and privileges secured by the constitution of said State.

One could argue that all three conditions were violated – at least in spirit – by Texas for decades.