Jul 21, 2023 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton Forty-six years have passed since Columbia High School speedster Carl Williams broke state records in the 100 and 220-yard dashes at the 1977 high school state track meet in Austin. On October 6, 2023, Carl will be among the members of the newest class...
Jul 17, 2023 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton When her life ended in 1940 on this day 83 years ago, Annette Finnigan was the age I am now. She was in her 66th year when cancer cut short the life of the renowned philanthropist, suffragette and patron of the arts. Annette was born in West...
Jul 7, 2023 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton The Texas City disaster on April 16, 1947, killed over 580 people including Frank Strzinek, a Purple Heart recipient during World War II. He was interred at Old Columbia Cemetery in West Columbia, Texas, after being one of the hundreds of casualties...
Jun 19, 2023 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton Juneteenth is celebrated annually across the great state of Texas and beyond, but many are unaware of the event’s origins. Famed West Columbia resident Charlie Brown, the wealthiest Black man in Texas in the early 20th Century, was instrumental in...
Jun 18, 2023 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton A direct line to the creation of Father’s Day is blurred by history. But when researching the origin of the annual holiday Americans observe in recognition of beloved dads, that line becomes more sharply focused on West Columbia, Texas. The nascent...
Jun 6, 2023 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton and Ben Tumlinson Columbia Historical Museum It was the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. More than 156,000 brave young soldiers from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada stormed the nearly 50 miles of beaches of...
