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?

April Love

Remember Any of These?

Verna, Lynn, and Patty Murphy

Bobbie and Rayford Bowden

Miniature Diploma

Rusty Old Halo

For some reason, I always think of Virgil Russell when I'm reminded of this song. Band students might remember it.

It Used to Snow in Mexia

Most of my family photos are undated. The one with me and the snowman was taken at out house on the Shiloh Road, where I lived until 1946. The other one was taken at our house on Hunt Street around 1952.

Doris Lambright ('56)

Betty Ann Jones

Another Fallen Tree

Mexia Daily News - Another fallen tree: "City crew cuts down tree on North Railroad Street, on the southeast corner, allowing a crepe myrtle to realize its full potential. This fallen tree was 'choking' growth of the crepe myrtle, and had to 'bite the dust.'"

That looks like the old Lone Star Gas building in the background, but I'm not sure.

James Chrisner, '56

Mexia History Lesson

William Moore was born into slavery in Alabama about 1855 and later moved to Mexia. You can read his story here. (It's a pdf file, is you can open those.)

Birders

From Left to right - Joycelyn Calame (Wortham), Erui Luna, Donald Lippsett, Ann P. Linda Matthews Flatt, Bennie Flatt Green (newly married to Donnie Green from Mexia and Tehuacana, Jane Williams (Harvey Williams wife), Carolyn H, and Lizzy. We were at a home on Lake Mexia watching the American Bald Eagle nest.

This group are know as the Loons (Limestone Organization of Nature Students) We have a lot of fun because of our name. We meet the first Tuesday of every month Sept. - May and spend the day around the area looking at birds. Elizabeth is our leader and is much loved by all.

What's in Those Bottles, Ann?

Hank the Cowhand

Hank the Cowhand was born David E. Stanford in Mexia, Texas October 9, 1911. He became an entertainer at a young age, working up the ladder with various bands, eventually working with such greats as Eddy Arnold, Ted Fiorita and other known bands of that era.

For more about Hank the Cowhand, click here.

More from '57

Lloyd Marsh, Martha Kerzee Beene, Jesse Lou and Mike Yarbrouogh, Warner Dean Hancock. Theresa is in the background.

Mystery Shopper Caught

Mexia Daily News - Melissa And The Shopper: "The Mexia Area Chamber of Commerce Mystery Shopper was 'caught' Wednesday shopping in Jackson's Western Auto. Identifying Dick Flatt as the 2007 Mystery Shopper is Melissa Easterling of Mexia. Thanks to all Mexia Chamber businesses which donated prizes for the event."

Some of the Class of '57

Betty Tacker, Suzanne Hayter, Roy Moore, Carole Smith

Bill Crider 11/25/67

Thermometer

Johnny, Gladys, Margaret Ann

City Hall Tree Bites the Dust

Mexia Daily News - City Hall Tree Bites the Dust: "City crews continue to work around town, sprucing up the premises. Here, crew members are shown just after they cut down a tree on the north side of City Hall. Work continues to beautify City Hall and area, and part of this is getting rid of unwanted trees."

Class of '57

Laura Rothrock, Jackie Davis, Jan Jackson

Charles Fowler, Warner Dean Hancock, Verna Jo

Don Hinchcliffe, Murphy Pate, Rayford Bowden

Winning Float

The float put together by the Mexia Fire Department won the first-place trophy for Thursday evening's Lighted Christmas Parade through downtown Mexia. With lights all aglow on the big fire truck, this creativity caught the judges' eyes. Jimmie and Dorothy Porter were designated as this year's Mr. and Mrs. Mistletoe. The couple has long given to local and area benevolent causes, in addition to their civic work through the years.

The Class of '62

Gladys

Dickie Flatt Gets the Christmas Spirit