John Gets His Diploma

And I believe that's Bob Tyus in the background.

Where Some of Us AttendedSecond Grade

Elizabeth Robinson tells me that the J. W. Elliott house was originally owned by the Peyton family. Leila Peyton gave this building to the First Methodist Church, and it's the place where some of us attended second grade. I had Mrs. Davis that year, in the room to the right on the second floor. The building wasn't air-conditioned then, and it didn't have the storm windows.

Who Are These Beauties?

These are the Fiesta de Mexia beauties from about 1955. I can identify Sandra, Jessie Lou Lively, Sandra Yarborough, and Glenda Floyd. Maybe LaNelle Fountain on the far left back. Who are the others?

Number, Please

Here's the switchboard in Mexia, back before the dial phones (1947). Sandra's mom, Ruth Romain, is second from the right. Anybody recognize any of the others?

Kidd House?

Phone Book Page, 1953

Ice Pick

The Dillard House

This is the house at the end of south Ross, at Tyler Street. It was to me the most impressive house in town, aside from the Hughes mansion, now a funeral home.

J. W. Elliott House

Jan in the Air

Written on the back of this one are the words "Jan, Joe, Milton." My guess is that Jan Grice is the one being held aloft (he was at this kind of thing early). Holding him are Joe Owens (in the cap) and Milton Williamson. I can almost make out Milton's face, and I'm sure he's the one. And this has to be on the Ross Ave. Elem playground. There's one of the softball fields on the right in the background.

Town of the Week

Town of the Week

Mexia, Texas
August 3, 1996)

About 90 miles south of Dallas is a town which honors a close friend of Texas heros Sam Houston and Steven Austin. General José Antonio Mexia was distinguished by a life-long feud with Mexican president Despot Santa Anna. Mes Mexia died at the hands of a Mexican firing squad at the age of 39. He owned a huge land grant in Limestone County, Texas, and his son donated townsite in right-of-way when the Texas and Central Railroad arrived there in 1871.

Today, Mexia is a town of 7,000 people, centered between I35 and I45, within minutes of six lakes in central Texas. Most people are employed at the Mexia State School. Some make furniture. Others churn out butter fudge at the Centex Candy Company. At the town's Old West Museum, you'll visit a saloon, a house of ill repute, a jail, Wells-Fargo office, and a casino where old west reinactments take place daily. Worth visiting are the Old Fort Parker State Historical Park where you'll learn about the late, great Comanche chief, Quanah Parker and the Confederate Reunion Ground State Historical Park containing the two-story cabin of Mordecai Yell who gained fame for his cry, "Give 'em hell." They say there's nothing sweeter than a Mexia peach. You can taste them in our Town of the Week, Mexia, Texas.

Red Arrow Freight Lines

Anybody Know What this Is?

According to John Black and Ina Cooper, it's a button hook for high-button shoes. I'm sure they're correct. Must be pretty old. The button hoook, I mean, not John and Ina.

The Cotton Mill

Camille Hall

Mexia Auto Supply

This building is on Main Street. The business was owned by Arland Allbright. You can see Nabors Cleaners next door. They're still in business.

BeThere or Be Square

Mrs. Partlow & Mrs. White

Pinball Wizard

Front and back of the photo.

Girl Scout Cabin

Anybody Read this One?

From the reviews: "This intriguing story is set in Mexia, Texas, on the oil-rich Balcones fault during the 1920s. Leela Wilder, a beautiful, intelligent orphan, comes to live with her aunt and cousins. She grows up and marries in the midst of an oil fever that creates turmoil in the African American community that she loves. Her husband works himself to death, leaving her to unscramble a twisted family tale, raise a child, save the farm they built, and begin a new life."

Judy and I have met Anita Bunkley a few times and talked about Mexia with her. She interviewed a lot of people from Mexia when she was writing the book, and some of them are mentioned in the introduction (or afterword; I can't remember which). You can buy a cheap copy here.

Harness Hearne!

Storm Drain in the City Park

How many of you traveled through these storm drains? There was a place on Hunt Street where we'd slip in and walk to the park through the drain. If we went the other way, we could go quite a distance, but I never went more than a block or two in that direction before turning back.

Guys & Doll

This might have been taken in the City Auditorium. That looks like the door in back of the stage to me. Why the guys are wearing lipstick and the girl isn't . . . . well, I have no idea.

Eubanks Hardware Building

The Eubanks Hardware building is now home to an antique store. The building next door was was the auto supply store owned by Paul Page, husband of Rosebud Page, who taught history at MHS.

John M. Black for the Defense

John Black (#83) charges down the line to lead the Texas Wesleyan freshmen to victory. That jersey he's wearing looks suspiciously like a Mexia Blackcat jersey that was liberated from his gym locker.

Bill Crider's New Band Uniform (1956)

Wade Motor Company

This was the Chevrolet place, across the street from Eubanks Hardware on Main. I remember the new Chevrolets sitting in the showroom, and I also remember that a couple of dances were held in the service area. The building is a church now.