Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > The Lighter Side
ROAD TRIP: A BBM Game
jpwagoneer1964:
Kemah, Tx
The recorded history of Kemah began when a labor (approximately 177 acres) of land along the Gulf Coast was granted to Michael Gouldrich on August 24, 1824 by the Mexican government. [1] Gouldrich was listed as one of Stephen F. Austin’s first colonist in 1826, a widower over 50 years of age, engaged in farming and stock raising. [2] His land was located on the south bank end at the mouth of Clear Creek and Galveston Bay. Gouldrich disappeared from historical record and William Vince of Vince’s Bayou, Harrisburg County acquired the Clear Creek land. [3]
The name “Flanders Grove” and “Flanders Labor” appears on several early maps of Galveston Bay in the vicinity of the present day town of Kemah at the mouth of Clear Lake in Galveston County. [4] The place-name was given because one John Flanders bought the property from William Vince. [5]
John Flanders was issued a passport for six months on December 7, 1830 in Austin’s colony. [6] A notation in Austin’s Register of Families reads, “Flanders is to be included as a colonist although he takes no land.” Flanders was 32 years old, single, and listed as a farmer from New Hampshire who arrived in Austin’s colony in December 1830, probably in Anahuac where he acquired a house and a lot. [7] He was not listed on the 1834 Census of Anahuac and was probably then living at Clear Creek.
There is no Kaiser and Keller was taken so no automobiles this time.
Mark
MaineWriter:
Heidenheimer, TX
The town was built near the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe tracks in 1881 and the post office opened the same year. The town was named to honor S. Heidenheimer, director of the railroad.
In 1884 the population was a mere 75 people with only the basic businesses that comprised a proper town. Two years later, the population had risen to 225 and a newspaper was included in the town’s businesses.
The town reached its zenith of 250 people in 1925, but by 1948 it had lost fully half of that. The railroad is still the most active area of town – with grain elevators and a working gin.
Bonus points to the person who can name the movie that contains the song, "The Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe" and identify its star.
Leslie
Fran:
Red Desert, WY
In the central part of the Great Divide Basin’s Red Desert, this tiny town overlooks the biggest stretch of unfenced land in the lower 48 states.
jpwagoneer1964:
Texaekana, Tx
TEXARKANA...”WHERE LIFE IS SO LARGE IT TAKES TWO STATES.”
Why? Texarkana is really two cities where State Line Avenue joins Texarkana, AR with Texarkana, TX; twin cities located in two sates and named for three.
Another of our famous mottos: Texarkana is “Twice As Nice”, appropriately conveys the political structure here. There are two of most everything: two city mayors, two city governments, two police departments, and two fire departments. Texarkana is a thriving metro-center serving nineteen counties in four states. A diversified economy is supported by manufacturing, agriculture, medical, transportation, and retail. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the moderate climate and a variety of recreational and entertainment activities.
Who named Texarkana is up for debate. The popular version credits Colonel Gus Knobel who surveyed this section for the Iron Mountain Railroad right-of-way from Little Rock. The story goes that Colonel Knobel wrote Tex-Ark-Ana on a board and nailed it to a tree and remarked that this was the name of the town which was going to be built here.
Here's the rest of the story in case you're wondering. Colonel Knobel reckoned he was at or near the spot where the borders of three states met. So he named the city after these states - Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
We welcome you to discover our very unique city! A visit to Texarkana reveals a host of historic treasures; ten annual festivals; entertainment from performing arts, stock car races, hockey, and art exhibits; shopping; great outdoors and sports; wonderful restaurants; and a heaping of “Southern Hospitality!” For Texarkana must see attractions, check out “10 Texarkana Must Do’s” and “Things to see and do” at this website!
MaineWriter:
Abram, TX
The town was named for Texas Ranger Abram Dillard, who lived in the vicinity of Ojo de Agua Creek. A ranch by the name Ojo de Agua was established later and the community is sometimes called by this name.
The Ojo de Agua - or watering hole was on the military supply route from Fort Brown to Fort Ringgold. A post office was granted in 1901 and the railroad laid tracks a few miles North of the community three years later.
During one of the Mexican revolutions Abram was the site of a fight between the U. S. Cavalry and bandits that had crossed the river. The population of Abram at this time (1915) was a mere 50 people and it never exceeded 100 people until the 1970s.
A colonia developed near enough to Abram to be included in the area's 1990 census. There is now a population of over 4,000 population living in the area. Greater Abram receives its water from the La Joya Water District.
Leslie
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