Kendrick & Horn, 1935

Parade, 1940s

This is the same corner we saw in yesterday's photo, but a different angle.

Parade, 1950s

We're looking east on Commerce at its intersection with Sherman. The question is, what year is this? Who's the drum major? The twirler looks like Carolyn Stewart. Ann Wardlaw on the chimes? Judging by the coats, this must be the Christmas parade.

St. Paul Institute

On Highway 84. This must have been taken shortly before the building was completely demolished.

Ghosts of Mexia

Click here for the complete list. Ever seen any of them? And what's that "Also known as "Shiloh" business?

Navarro College, Mexia Campus

Welcome to the Navarro College South Campus in Mexia. We are here to help you meet your educational goals that will lead you to a bright and exciting future. Our exceptional faculty, counselors, library staff, and administrative team will provide you with a student-centered campus and a high quality education that will prepare you for the real world. We will guide you every step of the way to help you make your dreams a reality.

El Navarro , 1959

They don't have the 1960 annual on-line yet, but if you search this page for "Mexia," you'll see many familiar names.

El Navarro, 1963

Lots of names you should remember. The band president was a member of our class. Click here.

Ann, Ina, and Jan

Yet Another Mexia High School

Did You Save Your Copy?

Ann & Jan

Mexia High School (1910)

City Hall, 1910

Confederate Reunion Grounds (1910)

Ice & Electric Light Plant (1910)

The Commercial Hotel (1910)

Here's some info on the builder of the Commercial Hotel and its location. John Corley was also involved in the water, ice, and electric company (tomorrow's photo).

CORLEY, John Roberts 3/24/1854 2/3/1939 "John Roberts Corley was born March 24, 1854 in Monroe Co., AL. John R. Corley came to Mexia in 1876. He was a building contractor and established a furniture/funeral business when the town was three years old. He served as President of the first school board of which he was a member for 25 years. He organized and became the first president and manager of the Mexia water, light and ice company and was a past Mayor of Mexia. He was married Oct. 18, 1887, in Dallas to Elizabeth Z. Record, member of a pioneer Dallas Family. Her father was George W. Record for whom Record Crossing in Dallas was named. She died July 15, 1961,at the age of 98 years. When Mr. Corley arrived in Mexia, the town had only a livery stable, blacksmith shop, a union church and lodge hall, a few grocery stores,several saloons and a lot of cowboys. Shortly after his arrival he erected a home for Gn. Enricque Mexia on S. Belknap St., which was destroyed by fire. Later he built the old Farmer's State Bank Building, 105 N. Sherman St.; The Commercial Hotel, 100 W. Commerce and an addition to Westminster College Main Building in Tehuacana. He was known as an outstanding citizen, church, business and civic leader and he believed in his family and his fellow man, and in his God"--This was taken from the Corley Marker.

Comanche Crossing (1910)

This is an area that became notorious a little more than 20 years ago because of an incident that took place at a Juneteenth celebration. You can read about it here.

Mexia Street Scene (1910)

You can see the fountain in the foreground, so this was taken at the intersection of Commerce Street and Sherman.

Souvenir Postcards

Oil Boom -- West Mexia Oil Field

Oil Boom

I remember seeing many steel derricks around Mexia when I was a kid, but all of them are gone now. I don't think I ever saw any wooden ones. Looks as if this one's getting its top.

Dining Out

Flirtation Walk at the Reunion Grounds

Jacqueline Lou Ragland, R. I. P.

Mexia Daily News - Obituaries for 01-04: "Jacqueline Lou Ragland

Mrs. Jacqueline Lou Ragland, 71, of Plano passed away Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008 in Plano. Mrs. Ragland was born March 9, 1936 to Jack Woodrow and Hattie Lucille Marrs.

Mrs. Ragland received her Bachelors degree in English and Spanish from Sam Houston State University in 1957 and her Masters in English from Baylor in 1968. She taught English at Sam Houston State University and Baylor University.

A career change took “Jac” into the field of subrogation and risk management where she eventually retired from Dallas Area Rapid Transit in that field.

Jacqueline loved to read, needlepoint and root for the Dallas Cowboys.

She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Metoyer and husband Lou, her Son, Lee Ragland and wife Jane, 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren and by her brother, Monte Michael Marrs and wife Karen.

Funeral services will be 1 PM, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 at the Blair-Stubbs Chapel in Mexia with the Rev. Brad Brittain officiating.

She will be sorely missed by all friends and family.

Please visit www.blair-stubbs.com to sign the guest book or to leave a memorial message for her family."

$50 Bill

Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Texas Collection," January 4, 2001, Lot 4323, where it was described as follows: "1882 $50 Second Charter Brown Back, Fr-508, VG. Although this high denomination Brown Back has the body of a slightly higher grade, it was torn in half in a long, curved tear, and was rejoined with a piece of adhesive tape on the back. Otherwise the note is acceptable, with nice black pen signatures. This is only the second known example from this bank--the other is from the Philpott collection and has never been publicly available. Neither Irish nor Everson was able to locate a specimen for their respective collections. Only 86 sheets of $50 Brown Backs were issued by this bank (three per sheet, with the fourth note a $100), the smallest amount of any denomination--yet it is curious that both of the two known notes are of this rare type. This bank was chartered in 1883 and liquidated in 1919."

$10 Bill

We've seen the $5 and the $20 bills from the Pendergrast-Smith Bank. Here's the $10 bill. The opening bid on eBay is $260.

Blackcat Mascot

Wanda Nell Pritchard and Kay Butler Roark

Another Movie Ad

How Many Did You Buy?