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Dixon Was Brazoria County’s First Black Mayor
By Tracy Gupton Robert Dixon would have celebrated his 78th birthday last month. The former longtime West Columbia...
Tuskegee Pilot’s Career Highlighted at Museum
By Tracy Gupton When author Ben Vinson III was making routine visits to Brooks Manor Apartments in 1999, it is a good...
Holy Trinity Choir to Perform Saturday at Museum
The Reverend Anthony Hall will be bringing his Holy Trinity Church Choir to the Rosenwald School at the Columbia...
Former bank holds museum treasures
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...
West Columbia’s Mayors
*** 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...
Weems Family, American Legion Post Histories Intertwine
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...
Hollywood Starlet Hails from West Columbia
Reflecting on a life well lived, Olive Kathryn Grandstaff Crosby beams with pride knowing her childhood dreams were achieved. The little girl who used to swing in the backyard hammock on East Bernard Street and gaze through the canopy of oak and pecan leaves at the...
Birth of Father’s Day Traced to West Columbian
By Tracy Gupton Columbia Historical Museum Board Member 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...
Charlie Brown Supported Early Juneteenth Celebrations
Charles Brown. (Photo from A Sure Foundation & A Sketch of Negro Life in Texas by A.W. Jackson) By Susan Avera Holt Columbia Historical Museum Board Member June 19th. Emancipation Day. Freedom Day. Emancipation Day is officially Jan. 1, 1863, but slaves in Texas...
West Columbia’s John B. Hanson was one Tough ‘Ombre
By Benjamin Tumlinson Columbia Historical Museum Board Member Being removed from Memorial Day by less than a week, the sacrifice of those who served is probably fresh in our memories. On the heels of this sacred day of remembrance is the anniversary of a great...
Ferries: The lifeline to early Columbia
By Benjamin Tumlinson Columbia Historical Museum I had the privilege of living in six states and two other countries, not counting the United States. As I traveled in these other states and foreign lands, I would often gaze out at the various landscapes and daydream...
History of Masons in Texas traces back to founders of Republic
The second Masonic Lodge, located on Broad Street. The downstairs was the Q+P Food Store. To the right of the lodge is the First Capitol State Bank. Photo courtesy of Scott Leopold, from his book “Masons in the Early Days of Texas”
Renowned artist painted museum’s mural
Photo courtesy Columbia Historical Museum. “Columbia, The First Capitol of Texas” mural painted by George E. Shackelford was commissioned by the directors of the First Capitol State Bank and unveiled at the grand opening of the bank on July 22, 1950. By Benjamin...
Kittie Nash Groce: colorful, resilient rancher and socialite
By Tracy Gupton A speaker summed it up perfectly when addressing the role Kittie Nash Groce played during her illustrious lifetime in the quaint community of West Columbia, Texas. On May 3, 1958, at a memorial appreciation dinner in Kittie’s honor, the speaker...
Columbia Rosenwald School celebrates 20 years of care from museum
Interpretive Center offers tours of 100-year-old, fully-restored building Cindi Ericson gave the child a small slate and a piece of chalk and asked her to write her name. Writing your name with chalk - such a small thing, but the child’s smile was big, and so was...