Aug 8, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton Columbia Historical Museum Board Member John Garrett Smith’s premonition could not have imagined the scale of devastation that was forthcoming. “Shorty” Smith rode his horse to work that morning 90 years ago at the Texaco oil fields just outside...
Aug 1, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Tracy Gupton Columbia Historical Museum Board Member Now in my third year as president of the Columbia Cemetery Association (CCA), I and other CCA board members take pride in serving as keepers of the flame and caretakers of West Columbia’s historical graveyard. A...
Jul 25, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
By BENJAMIN TUMLINSON Columbia Historical Museum Board Member Being the son of a construction contractor and serving in the United States Army for the past 30 years, I’ve had the “opportunity” to move about every three years. As the new guy in town, one of the first...
Jul 18, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
By Susan Avera Holt Columbia Historical Museum Board Member First Capitol State Bank opened its doors at a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 22, 1950. The building was described as “new and luxurious” and “the house which Galloway built,” according to a newspaper...
Jul 11, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
*** This is the first in an occasional series *** By SUSAN AVERA HOLT Columbia Historical Museum Board Member In March 1938, West Columbia began feeling growing pains again as its 20-year-old oil field began production from new wells. At that time, 11 rigs were...
Jul 4, 2022 | From The Vault of Texas History
From playing Hercules in a high school play to achieving Herculean accomplishments as a community leader, Sands “Sandy” Smith Weems III takes pride in achieving the many improvements at the local American Legion Hall. He would be the first to say it has been a group...
