Oct 3, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
A little more than 30 years separated jury verdicts in Brazoria County murder trials involving the killing of two men in the Columbia area. The common threads sewing the unrelated murders together – in addition to them happening in West Columbia and East Columbia –...
Sep 26, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
By SUSAN AVERA HOLT Columbia Historical Museum Board Member In 1836, Stephen F. Austin’s colonists relied on the Telegraph and Texas Register newspaper for notices of land for sale, crop reports, passenger manifests and social events. The weekly paper also carried...
Sep 19, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Benjamin Tumlinson Columbia Historical Museum Board Member One of the most celebrated heroes of the republic has ties to West Columbia. Erastus Smith is lauded in Texas history as a scout and spy, as well as a soldier and Texas Ranger. He was born April 19, 1787,...
Sep 12, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
*** This is the third in an occasional series about West Columbia’s mayors. *** By Susan Avera Holt Columbia Historical Museum William H. “Boss” Pierce was West Columbia’s fourth mayor and succeeded Dr. Greenwood in leading the city during wartime. Improving roads and...
Sep 5, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton Columbia Historical Museum Board Member What one Damon resident remembers as “a lot of commotion,” her older brother sums up as “a lot of abnormalities going on.” The “commotion” got a surplus of media coverage 57 years ago and altered the lives of a...
Aug 29, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton Columbia Historical Museum Board Member The Columbia Roughnecks are in their 101st season and one of the school’s biggest stars, James Ray Smith, 90, reflects on his nine-year, pro career and his illustrious collegiate and high school gridiron days....
