Author: Jill Campbell Jordan

Take a drive down Interstate 20 (I-20) in Parker County, and at the Brazos River bridge looking to the north you will see the predecessor to I-20, U.S. Route 80 (also known as the Dixie Overland Highway) that is now the frontage road. Back in 1934 a beautiful three truss bridge was built to span the river, and you can take a drive over it today. The bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. To support the travelers that journeyed down the highway, service stations, campgrounds, motor courts, and restaurants were built. I can imagine that the area…

Sometimes it is hard to relate to individuals who lived in the past when all we have are words to describe their lives. One way to gain a deeper understanding is by visiting a historic home, which can provide a tangible link to days gone by. Home is an intimate place filled with both adornments and practical items, and contemporary homes share some common characteristics with historic ones. This familiarity can spark a connection with people from the past. Historic homes also have an authenticity of place that compels visitors to seek meaning in the lives that inhabited them. In…

Of the state’s 31 historic sites operated by the Texas Historical Commission, one has the distinction of being the smallest – the Acton State Historic site. It consists of just .01 acre of land located in the Acton Cemetery where Elizabeth Crockett, the second wife of Alamo defender Davy Crockett, is buried.   Elizabeth and David Crockett married in 1815. Both had lost their previous spouses and they had five children between them. Elizabeth and David saw the benefit of joining their families. David said they were “in the same situation, it might be that we could do something for…

Lareatha Clay grew up knowing her history and understanding from an early age the importance of heritage and community. What she’s come to understand is that family history is often part of a larger story. Family Always Front of Mind As Clay grew up in Beaumont, her mother, Larutha Odom, nurtured her daughter’s love of family. Trips back to Larutha’s childhood home kept that family history alive. Homecomings and family reunions were held in the Shankleville community, located in Newton County between Burkeville and Jasper. Clay became familiar with the stories of an ancestor who was born a slave in Mississippi,…

Kerrville, in the Hill Country, is known for its beautiful landscapes, galleries, boutiques and rivers. But the town also has a special place that brings handcrafted jewelry lovers in by the droves: the James Avery Headquarters. The relationship between the work of the craftsman and the individual who wears his designs inspires many to make the trip to Kerrville. Avery’s goal from the beginning was to make jewelry that holds meaning for both him and his customer, and, based on the company’s success, he was able to strike a chord in the hearts of many. In 1954 he started his…

The first major vegetable crop grown in Texas might reduce you to tears — sweet tears. But first, some history. The 1015 Texas Sweet Onion — referred to by that number because the seeds are planted in mid-October — hit grocery store shelves in the 1980s, but its origins in Texas began in 1898 when a packet of Bermuda Grano onion seeds were planted near Cotulla in South Texas by T. C. Nye and George Copp. The Bermuda seeds produce early-season onions and were popular among farmers because of their profitability in the early 1900s. In those early decades, the…

The Guadalupe is a perfect Texas icon: it’s unique, it’s strong, and it’s a survivor. In 1989 the Guadalupe Bass (micropterus treculii) was named the official Texas State Freshwater Fish. But why would a state that boasts that “everything is bigger” select a fish that in adulthood averages around 12 inches long and one pound in weight? What makes this little fish so special? For one, it’s unique to Texas. And it’s a powerful fish for its size. The spunky Guadalupe Bass is a favorite for fans of fly fishing. It uses river currents to put up a fight like…

From Baptist encampment to resort to army property to city pool, few recreational spots in Texas have undergone as many resurrections as the Hancock Springs Pool in Lampasas. Today, visitors can appreciate all these aspects of the pool’s past while also enjoying a dip in its sparkling, invigorating spring waters. The town of Lampasas, about an hour northwest of Austin, developed around the Hancock Springs in the 1850s. By the 1880s, a health resort had opened at Hancock Springs to take advantage of the springs’ salutary effects. Situated just a halfmile from the historic downtown (with a courthouse that is…