Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

The Texas Bucket List – Horny Toad Brewing in Rowena

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Rowena – In the desolate Runnels County, you’ll find the small town of Rowena. This collection of around four hundred folks doesn’t have a whole lot going on in or around it, given its surrounded by cotton fields and farmland. But if you take a walk down main street, you’ll find the town’s most popular location to hang out, the Horny Toad Brewing Company.

“It’s very fitting to have a great brewery here in this town and holding onto that culture that founded it,” said visitor Scott Gonzales.

“We really like the way he brought back a little community in here again,” mentioned local Tony Multer.

Michael McNeill, a fellow Irishman, opened up the Horny Toad back in 2012. His wife is the one who led him to this tiny town. She was born and raised in Rowena.

Interestingly enough, Rowena’s claim to fame is being the birthplace of Bonnie Parker.  It’s also home to the last bank “Doc” Newton ever robbed in 1968. Other than that, there’s not a lot happening here, so when Mike decided to open up a brewery, some people had their suspicions of it working out.

“It’s a crazy thing to do. I mean, everyone thought I was nuts to open a brewery in Rowena, Texas.

“Maybe I was nuts. I don’t know,” joked Mike.

Mike is an army veteran and served for 13 years. He was first stationed in Germany which is where his obsession with grain, hops, yeast, and water began.  “I didn’t realize there were different kinds of beer until I went to Germany and got stationed in Germany. Every town in Germany has their own brewery. And there’s several styles that they drink over there,” Mike noted. “Where before I went to Germany, it was just the fizzy yellow water.”

After Germany, Mike went to Iraq. Then, despite wrapping up his military service, he went off to Afghanistan voluntarily. He stayed there for a year and a half doing contract work, and that’s how he saved up to start his business.  “We’re really, really excited that Mike did this and he has become, I think, pretty close to a pretty good brew master,” joked Tony.

What really makes the Horny Toad unique is a small monument that sits right out front of its façade.  According to Mike, in 1911 Runnels County voted itself dry, which was much to the chagrin of the Rowena population. “In protest, they buried a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of beer and erected a headstone that said Here Lies Our Liberty,” said Mike pointing to the monument outside his brewery.

Today  you can enjoy a delicious Texas beer while reminiscing about the history of prohibition in the shadows of that historical marker. “It’s kind of like a full circle moment. We went from prohibition to now having this awesome brewery right here in our town,” said Alisha Multer.

The Texas Bucket List – Stephen F. Austin Statue in Angleton

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Angleton – No matter what corner of the Lone Star State you find yourself in, you’ll always be right around the corner from some incredible Texas history. Brazoria County is no exception. It was here that Cabeza de Vaca landed in 1528 and three hundred years later, Stephen F. Austin was establishing a colony in these parts. But to hear more of this amazing story, just look for the sizable statue of one of the heroes of Texas.

“I do have people that come down here from Nacogdoches and they’re amazed when they see the statute, and they pull over and they have to get a picture, and they always tell me, ‘We’re coming back with all of our school gear, so we can take a picture. We didn’t know that we had a statute too.’,” joked James Glover, the historic site manager at the Stephen F. Austin-Munson Historical County Park.

When I first meet James, I wondered if he was a time traveler from the past. “My boss tells me that I was dug up from an 1835-time capsule,” joked James.

James is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to the incredible history of Brazoria County and here it’s all about Austin and his colony. “Of course, we’ve got a giant statute of the Father of Texas out front, so we have to focus on him. I decided our focus on this site is pretty much what the original brainstormers for this site had thought of, was the era that influenced what Austin did here, and how far his influence actually carried,” explained James.

The statue of Stephen F. Austin was built by famous Texas artist David Adickes, who also constructed the massive Sam Houston statue you can find in Huntsville. But, how does he compare to the Sam Huston statue in Huntsville?  “According to the sculptor, four feet taller. I haven’t gone out and measured the two, but I’ll take Mr. Adickes’ word for it, since he built both of them,” stated James.

While his statue may be a bit bigger, in James’ eye’s, Stephen F. Austin had a much bigger role in making Texas what it is today. “I would say, although I am a bit biased, infinitely more important,” said James.

Austin was instrumental in settling Texas and that all started in 1821. “He came in, took an area that didn’t have anything, nothing here, and turned it into the most successful financial, as well as tranquil community, or area of Texas,” explained James. “All told, it is said that Austin settled about 6,000 individuals in Texas before he died,” stated James.

The history of Texas centers around Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, two men with massive statues that might have had a bit of a rift once Texas won its Independence. “Two guys who really were not fans of each other,” said James.

“That’s exaggerated,” said Texas historian and businessman J.P Bryan. Mr. Bryan is actually related to Stephen F. Austin and has an incredible collection of Austin’s paperwork to settle Texas at the Bryan Museum in Galveston.

“They were, for two men who were ambitious, and wanted to have as much control as possible, over events of the time, politically, they were certainly not enemies. They had periods of time where they were very compatible, shared sentiments about the same thing,” explained Bryan.

And that shared sentiment set the stage for the reason we call Stephen F. Austin the father of Texas. “Two days after Austin’s death, on the 27th of December, Sam Houston wrote a eulogy and had it published in a Telegraph and Texas Register at the town of Columbia, and in it he says, ‘The father of Texas has passed.’ That was the first time he was called, The Father of Texas,” explained James.

So head down to Brazoria County to see the Father of Texas overlooking the lands of the Lone Star State and toast to his Texas sized accomplishment of making Texas, well Texas. “It does represent the Father of Texas and the guy who set up the first successful, Anglo Colony in Mexican Texas at the time, and actually has some very important sites for what later became the Republic of Texas, and ultimately the State that we now enjoy, and they get to meet me,” expressed James.

The Texas Bucket List – San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte

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La Porte – On the east side of Houston, along the bustling Buffalo Bayou, you’ll find the lively ship channel along a little section of La Porte.  With a rampant number of refineries in the area, it’s sort of shocking to come across one of the most sacred sites in Texas here. But when you see the spire of the San Jacinto Monument standing tall amongst the smokestacks, you know you’ve reached one of the most significant spots in the whole state, the San Jacinto Battleground.

“The battle that took place here had a big impact, and having people understand how one 18-minute battle here, really did impact the world,” explained Lisa Struthers, the library director.

Lisa Struthers, David Avila, and Andy Smith took us on a journey of the San Jacinto Battleground where on April 21, 1836 General Sam Houston and 800 Texian soldiers defeated Santa Anna’s force of 1,400 and proclaimed Texas its own nation.

“Being a Mexican-American Tejano born here, I kind of thought, back then I’d probably go be on the Texian side, helping those men at the Alamo, or here at San Jacinto. I just always loved Texas history,” said David Avila.  David is the interim director of the museum and has been working here for 22 years.

“My father’s side of the family is from Zacatecas. Santa Ana was down there in Zacatecas before coming here to Texas, putting down a revolt over there. And again, for some reason I’m thinking, well, I probably would have been on that. I imagine my family being on that rebellion side,” said David.

“Interesting to hear the stories about people, why people did what they did, what their lives were like, just kind of really interesting to me,” said Lisa.

“We look at Texas history beginning with the Spanish conquest of Mexico, so some of our earliest things are pre-Colombian artifacts. Since the last veteran who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto died in 1913, we cover up through that time period,” explained Lisa.

“It kind of encompasses a lot of Texas right here,” stated site manager Andy Smith. Smith is a 5th generation Texan, Andy took us around the 1,200 acres of the battleground.  “The historic significance of it is outstanding, but it’s also natural beauty. There are spots where you can forget you’re in the middle of the metropolitan Houston area and actually transport yourself back to 1836 and you can kind of feel what those men felt like,” explained Andy.

During the battle, 9 Texian soldiers lost their life while 630 Mexican soldiers lost theirs, a lopsided win that sealed Texas’ Independence. “This is the Brigham Monument. This was the first real memorial placed here at San Jacinto. This was put up in 1881 on the grave of Benjamin Rice Brigham, but his compatriots that fell at the battle of San Jacinto were buried nearby. So this was to honor the men who died on the Texas side at the Battle of San Jacinto, or were wounded and died from those wounds a little bit afterwards and were ultimately buried here. So this is the oldest monument in the park,” explained Andy.

To honor the significance of the battle on its 100th anniversary in 1936, a large Obelisk was built in the middle of the battlefield and yes, it’s bigger than the Washington Monument. “Everything’s bigger in Texas, and nothing’s bigger than this monument. Nothing’s bigger than this battlefield,” stated Andy. “The blueprints say it is 570, but a survey done in 1990, I believe, showed that it is a 567. I don’t quite remember,” stated Lisa.

Inside the museum you’ll find all sorts of artifacts, with General Sam Houston looking over them in Stephen Seymour Thomas’ original painting of him that stands over 12 feet tall. “People started donating things to the museum. Things that their grandparents had collected, their ancestors who lived here during the Texas Republic had. And so it ended up that we had a good number of things that we can now show to the public,” explained Lisa.

“We have a ring that Sam Houston’s mother gave to him. When he was a teenager, he joined the army and his mother gave him two gifts, she gave him this ring right here, which is inscribed with the word honor inside. The reason it’s inscribed with honor, she said, ‘This should be a creed that you follow for the rest of your life.’ And he wore that ring until his death. But that’s a very nice piece of history that we have there,” explained David.

Now a trip to the San Jacinto Memorial wouldn’t be complete without getting a sky-high view of the battlefield. The Battle of San Jacinto didn’t just gain Texas its independence, it led to Texas becoming a state which helped the U.S. achieve its Manifest Destiny, completely changing the landscape of the world.

“If you’re a Texan, you got to come to San Jacinto. I don’t understand why this wouldn’t be first on your bucket list. If it wasn’t for San Jacinto, there would be no Texas. There’s just no two ways about it. We’d be part of Mexico. All the other battlefields are significant, but this is number one,” expressed Andy. Andy’s passion personifies how true Texans feel about this powerful place in Texas lore.  The commitment to freedom over tyranny.  The commitment to Texas independence.  A commitment to the ideology that is Texas and the people who fought for that as Sam Houston said on the night before the battle.

“We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest, and must conquer or perish. It is vain to look for present aid: none is at hand. We must now act or abandon all hope! Rally to the standard, and be no longer the scoff of mercenary tongues! Be men, be free men, that your children may bless their father’s name.” – Sam Houston

The Texas Bucket List – Deputy Bill Hardin in Cleburne

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Cleburne – The wild west was a lot different back in the 1800’s. The images we have of law enforcement prior to police cars can be somewhat preconceived. But if you head to the Chisholm Trail Museum in Cleburne, you can still get that western shootout show and get a look at what old school law enforcement was really like.

“This museum is dedicated to law enforcement. Originally, it was going to be about Texas Rangers. We were able to acquire a number of photographs that you see around the walls,” said David Murdoch.

David Murdoch is the chairman of the museum and the Chaplin for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, he was excited to showcase a unique section of the museum that tells about the life of a unique Texas lawman, 98-year-old Deputy Bill Hardin.

Now Bill’s not on any most wanted top 10 list but he does take the case when it comes to another title. “I’m the oldest working police officer in the world. I’ve been a police officer longer than anybody in the world,” stated Deputy Bill Hardin.

How long exactly? “I started February 1st, 1947. These stripes represent five years of peace. At 70 years worth of stripes, he’s got 74 years. And in June, we can add another stripe. So, he’ll have another five-year stripe,” explained David.

“Really been a pleasure, and I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve done with the exception of a time or two where things didn’t go just exactly right,” said Bill.

Born on March 1st, 1923, Bill joined the Fort Worth police department in the 40’s after spending his rookie years with Breckenridge PD and back then things were a lot different for those behind the badge.  Walking his beat was the norm and two-way radios were not a thing. “They had mailboxes on the posts, telephone posts, uptown. And you took the brass key, and when you opened the door and picked up the phone, the dispatcher answered you. You told him what you needed.  Usually, you had a drunk in one hand, and trying to hold him and talk to the dispatcher. That didn’t work out too well, but that’s the only communication they had,” explained Bill. Bill relieves his memories as a young policeman with vivid detail and crystal-clear clarity as if these events that happened a lifetime ago, took place just the other day.

While his days of dropping the hammer or throwing a bad guy behind bars are behind him, he still gets to work on cases thanks to having a mind that’s like a different kind of steel trap.  “I’m a reserved investigator. My office is right across from the secretary and the sheriff’s right over there. He told somebody he put me up there so he can keep an eye on me,” joked Bill.

“Bill is such a … he’s such a young-minded person in an old man’s body,” said David. “He recalls all of the stories. He recalls his career. He’s a great asset to the county because when something comes up where they need the information back in the day, they don’t have to go look in the archives. They can just ask Bill, and he usually has names, and dates, and places. It is. It’s amazing. It’s truly amazing,” explained David.

Why is he still doing it?  “I love people,” stated Bill. “That’s really what makes you like police work … when you’re able to save a life or help somebody. In my time, I have helped a bunch,” said Bill.

“I’ve had young people come to me. Like, the young girls that were into prostitution and doping. I’ve had those girls come in there … not one, but several, say, ‘Mr. Hardin? Do you remember me?” And I said, ‘No, I’m sorry. I don’t.’ And they tell me who they were. She said, ‘You helped me get off of drugs. I’m off of drugs and I’m married.’ Talk about making you feel good. It really makes you feel good,” expressed Bill.

Being able to hear Bill tells these stories of nearly a century of police work makes you realize the unreal things he has been a part of.  From busting up big drug rings, horrific cases of homicide, and even having to guard the grave of Lee Harvey Oswald.

“He’s a great representative for the law. He really is,” stated David.

What did Bill think about a museum for your service?  “Well, I’m humbled,” stated Bill. “It’s still the most rewarding job, and it’s the only job that I know of that you’re required to give your life to save somebody else. A fireman’s the same way. They have to do it. But everybody loves the firemen, but nobody likes the policeman because he gives you tickets,” joked Bill.

The Texas Bucket List – Mission Espiritu Santo in Goliad

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GOLIAD – Goliad is a sacred site for Texans.  Presidio La Bahia was our first stop on The Texas Bucket List a few years back, but across the river from the famed fort is another stone structure that was built at the same time back in 1749.

“In the 1700s, Spain came to Texas when it was wild land,” said Brenda Justice, Superintendent of the Goliad State Park and Historic site. “It’s a lot of fun working here. It is hallowed ground. It’s a very special, beautiful place,” said Justice.

The site includes Mission Espiritu Santo, the ruins of Mission Rosario, and the El Camino Real Visitors Center.  So, we think this place may require at least three or four stops on The Texas Bucket List!

It all starts on the banks of the San Antonio River with Mission Espiritu Santo which back in the 1930s was a pile of rocks until a local judge decided it needed to be resurrected from the rubble. “It was used for different functions until in the 1930s, when Judge White, our local county judge of Goliad County worked really hard to get the National Park Service to designate it a national park. When that happened, that is when the Civilian Conservation Corps- they were able to come in and restore it,” said Justice.

The craftsmen who came to restore the mission were predominantly World War I veterans and first built the cottage to have a place to stay and to brush up on their Spanish architecture.  “This is The Keeper’s Cottage. Construction was finished in 1937, and this is where the architects of the Mission Espiritu Santo Reconstruction worked.  They lived here and this was actually in essence their proving grounds. They got to experiment on architectural style and practice their trade before they went and lay their hands on the historic Mission Espiritu Santo,” said the parks lead interpreter Cody Edwards. “What you see here is the culmination of visits throughout our nation and even into Mexico of Spanish Missions. This is where they experimented with their craft before moving onto the real deal,” he said.

It took six years to finish the mission, but once completed the site had the same sacred feel as it did back in 1700s.

“The Spaniards, the Franciscans especially, had a very particular style. I think you can see it in the arched rooms and even the roped walling up there. Arch supports and things of that nature, they tended to be very ornate, and that is definitely something that’s visible here too,” said Edwards.

The mission was home to the Aranama Indians. “Their reconstruction efforts really gave us a better view, a broader view of what life in the Mission might have been for Aranama Indian,” said Edwards.

“When Mission Espiritu Santo was built here in 1749, at its height it had over 300 or so natives living in the site. It was kind of like its own little town. They did all kinds of spinning and weaving and whatever they needed, like a little city to survive. They taught them their way of life, the Spanish way of life, and they provided food for their families. They had a shelter over their heads. There were incentives to stay in the Mission. When it was good times and the animals were abundant, the hunting was good. They could leave and they just wouldn’t come back,” said Justice.

Converting the natives to Catholicism and providing them a place to stay was not the only function of the facility.  Mission Espiritu Santo also happened to be the first mega cattle ranch in Texas. 40,000 heads of cattle grazed around the mission in an area bigger than Delaware. “That’s really interesting. You never think about missions and cattle herding,” Shane McAuliffe, host of the Texas Bucket List said. “That’s true,” Justice said. “That’s where they had Vaqueros, the Indians and the natives that learned to be vaqueros and cowboys, and they would go out and take care of the cattle and such,” said Justice. “They were strong and rugged cattle that … today you see Longhorns, which were kind of the remnants of that Spanish cow that they brought over from Spain,” she Justice.

The mission closed in 1830 and lasted 81 years but connecting to this part of Texas history helps you understand just how long the Lone Star State has been explored by European settlers and how they helped shape our identity as Texas. “To know that this was one of the first places that Europeans came through, and they tried to establish colonies and such and mission sites-That’s my favorite part. I love it,” said Justice.

“Goliad’s State Park & Historic Site to me is all about identity and protecting the legacy of what came before us. That is central to being Texan,” said Edwards.  “To me personally and professionally, this is a bucket list park for me to work at. To know this site is to be a better Texan, in my opinion.”

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – Charles Goodnight Historical Center in Goodnight

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Goodnight⁠—40 miles southeast of Amarillo is the small community of Goodnight. Only about 20 people live here today, but before the yellow city was painted on the map, Goodnight was a good-sized town of about 300 folks who flocked here thanks to Charles Goodnight.

“Charles Goodnight may be the perfect icon for Texas. Great…in ideas, and stature, and success,” said Karli Fields. Karli guided us around the home that Goodnight built for his wife Mary Ann back in 1887. “Without Charles and Mary Ann being here in the 1800s, people probably would not have settled here. It’s a harsh terrain, and without anyone being established, I don’t think anyone would have survived. And we’re right on the edge of what was Comanche territory,” said Karli.

Charles Goodnight is known as the father of the Texas Panhandle. He helped established the Goodnight-Loving Trail, invented the chuck wagon, founded the JA Ranch in Palo Duro Canyon, and thanks to wife, saved the Southern Plains bison. “He didn’t understand what ‘take a break’ meant,” said Karli.

The historic homes sits less than a mile from the rim of Palo Duro Canyon, a place Goodnight spent a great amount of time during his cattle career. He was constantly out on cattle drives, so Mary Ann held down the fort in his absence. “They called it the Castle on the Prairie. And to imagine being out in our very flat landscape, riding in your wagon for days and days and seeing absolutely nothing. And then coming across this house with a nice woman that would keep you and feed you, would be a send out here in the plains. In the middle of nowhere, then this big gorgeous house,” said Karli.

Although the house sits out on the prairie, the Goodnights spared no expense. The immaculate home includes fine furnishings, decor and even stained glass. “I’m not sure how much it cost to build this home, but it is a 2,900 square foot home,” she said. Charles did not spend much time indoors, even when it came to sleeping. “I love the sleeping porch upstairs. It’s such a unique feature. It’s a perfect view, as well, of the Palo Duro Canyon,” continued Karli, “Old cowboy, being indoors was probably a little tight for the man because he was over six feet tall and he always stayed outdoors. I’m sure he had a nice buffalo robe.”

Mary Ann made sure the home had fine furnishings, but just like any good ol’ boy, Charles had a man-cave. “This is Charles Goodnight’s den or his office, and there is no sissy wallpaper back here. This was his man cave. Charlie would sit back here and smoke his cigars,” said Karli. “He also sat back here to be interviewed by J. Evetts Haley and Laura V. Hamner. Let’s see, Quanah Parker has been here to visit him, and they did end up being friends.”

It’s been said that behind every great man is a great woman, and for Charles, it was Mary Ann. “She saved the bison. She was an amazing woman. She was tough. She was dedicated. She lived in a dugout with the man, even though she was from a wealthy family. She educated her cowboy. She loved her cowboy. She treated each and every challenge she met on the High Plains, as the only woman and the only person here for many years, with the open and happy heart. With her little bitty, five feet tall, she was tough,” she explained.

These two icons who set up shop in one of the most desolate parts of Texas, made the most of their short time here in the Lone Star State.  Today, you can find Charles and Mary Ann in a family plot just down the road from their historic home. Seeing how they lived and imagining what it was like all those years ago makes the Castle on The Prairie a royal relic on The Texas Bucket List.“I think it’s important for everyone to come visit here, especially Texans, because I know we all love Texas, and we’ve got to see every little piece of it,” said Karli. “This is a huge part of the panhandle. It’s a huge part of our history.”

The Texas Bucket List – Ragland Piano Company in Texarkana

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Texarkana—Though you may not know the term Ragtime, chances are you’ve heard The Entertainer, a tune with roots right here the Lone Star State. The Entertainer is one of 44 original ragtime pieces penned by Scott Joplin, a composer born in Texarkana in 1868.

Howard Gustafson III is piano technician and owner of the Ragland Piano Company in downtown Texarkana. He understands and appreciates the legacy Joplin left behind. “Scott Joplin gave us an entire genre of music that it crosses racial barriers, age barriers, time barriers. It’s wide appeal. So, certainly being a part of his formative years, Texarkana can lay claim to bringing the world that style of music,” said Howard.

It’s fitting to find Howard in this old piano store doing things with pianos Joplin would never believe. What’s crazy about Howard’s piano pursuit is that there’s no strings attached. “It’s kind of interesting. What we do here is kind of two extremes. A hundred year old technology, cutting edge technology, very little in the middle,” he explained. 90% of Howard’s business at the Ragland Piano store doesn’t involve tuning or tightening strings, but rather replacing them all together. “Here’s an example of a high end digital mechanism that we’ll incorporate in some of our custom built… This will actually be put inside a piano shell, whether an upright or a grand piano,” he said.

 

“We went through this phase where we’re like, we have all these pianos nobody wants. Let’s make other stuff out of them, and that has transitioned into, hey, we can still make them musical instruments. So, now let’s repurpose them as digitals,” Howard explained. Hitting the right note doesn’t take precise measurements with ears anymore, which is a good thing for Howard. “I tell people, as you see me shuffling around right here, I can’t really sit still long enough to tune a piano. I have to be taking something apart or putting something together,” he admitted.

This is somewhat new to this piano technician that got his start with his father back in 1985. “There’s always been piano players in the family, instrument players in the family. My father is probably most responsible for me being a piano technician today because we took the family piano apart. He had an interest in how pianos worked and so I helped him do that. We vacuumed it out and kind of peeked inside of it, found some old coins underneath the keys,” said Howard. “Between what I learned with him in the shop behind the house for a dollar an hour, I kid you not, and then working at that music store, it kind of built the foundation to move to Texarkana and then open a piano store.” Howard honed his ability to repair pianos because for him, it wasn’t too tough. “One real benefit of working on pianos is if you know how to fix one note, you can fix the other 87,” he said.

Playing the instrument was a whole other ballgame. His parents weren’t sure it was the right path for Howard so he started teaching himself and you’ll never guess the first piece he picked up. “First song I ever learned was by Scott Joplin,” said Howard. “As a 14-year-old kid wanting to learn piano lessons to convince his parents, I picked up a book of the collected works of Scott Joplin, picked out a song and played it. That’s in Memphis, Tennessee, 300 miles away. I had no idea what Texarkana was.”

“Over the summer, I learned how to play the first part of Scott Joplin’s Entertainer….” he said. “I had enough musical knowledge that I would count up the staff and say, okay, that’s an A and I put my finger on the A. I’d count and find the next note and I would learn what chord that was and then I’d just progress through the first movement or two of The Entertainer. That persuaded my parents to let me take piano lessons and get some degree of education, which of course has benefits me today.”

The legacy that Joplin left behind and Howard’s love for music, push him to keep his hankering for harmony and plead to parents to never let their children refrain themselves from learning a refrain. “That’s where part of the music business has gone is parents don’t give them that little nudge and say, yeah, you’re going to take a year of piano lessons. We’re all like letting little Johnny and little Susie pick out what they want to do. Oh, we don’t want to crowd them any,” claimed Howard. “People need to encourage their children to take a step that’s uncomfortable and they’re going to expand their boundaries and music is part of that.”

This piano man practices what he preaches by passing along his passion to his three boys. “They are actually in college. Did not cost dad one penny. Thank you boys,” he continued, “…When I would drop them off at their mom’s house and I’d be getting their instruments out of the car, I would hand one of them an instrument. I’d say, ‘What is this?’ The proper answer was not my trombone or my saxophone. The proper answer was my ticket to college and it worked… Music has some real benefits and piano was the foundation for that for them.”

Howard keeps plugging away on the pianos with the knowledge that history and technology are behind him. “Anytime a family comes in and they’re buying a child a starter instrument, I think somebody showed Scott Joplin his first piano. What if that had never happened? Arguably would we have jazz because that’s kind of a derivative from ragtime,” he said. “I’m very conscious of what I’m part of…It’s an honor to be part of that progression in that person’s life and their musical journey.”

The Texas Bucket List – The Roadside America Museum in Hillsboro

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Hillsboro— Smack dab between the Metroplex and Waco, you’ll find Hillsboro, which also happens to be the home of some very nice billboards for our favorite rest stop in West. Before we buy a bunch of kolaches at Slovacek’s we got our fill of Americana at one awesome stop. “Welcome to Roadside America… in Hillsboro, Texas. I’ve got some pretty interesting things, I would say,” said Carroll Estes. Carroll is the curator at the Roadside America Museum.

Originally from Dallas, Carroll bought the old Ford Dealership in Downtown Hillsboro and converted it to a showplace for all his possessions.“It’s mainly a hobby turned into what people started calling a museum. So, I started calling it a museum too,” he explained. A lover of all things 50’s, Carroll has been collecting a curious assortment of anything that makes him feel like he’s a kid again. “I wish I had a time machine. I’d go back to 1959 and stay there forever… Reason I picked 1959 I wouldn’t want to miss the fins on ’59 Cadillac,” said Carroll. “Such a simpler time. Before the computer age and all that stuff took over. And the cars, the cars of the 50s, come on, that’s all I need to say.

Vintage records, vintage remedies, and vintage road signs are just a few of the retro things Carroll collects. He searches the state looking for this stuff, but also finds some of it on the internet. “I do find things on there now from time to time… I guess… there’s some advantages [with computers]. The spell check is good,” he commented. Fortunately, U-S-A is easy to spell and this place sure showcases that it’s proud to be American.

“I know some collectors they collect great stuff, but they just build rows of shelves and stick things up on shelves… But you could give some personality,” he said. Carrol’s collection includes massive cartoon characters that are colossal in size. Pepe Le Pew, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Sylvester the Cat! “My goal is to get the entire Looney Tunes cast someday…Foggy, you got to have Foggy [Foghorn Leghorn]. I’m looking for a Foggy,” he said. “The eight foot Big Boy over here, which was my first fiberglass statue…I just found out a couple of years ago that he came from one of the first two Big Boy restaurants,” said Carrol.

Grape soda known as Grapette also means a great deal to this gatherer of all things 50s.“I got what I think may be the largest Grapette soda collection in existence,” he claimed. “I got started on the Grapette because that was my favorite drink as a kid, for one thing. I was 12 before I knew my tongue wasn’t supposed to be purple.” Carroll’s colossal collections of grape soda and Looney Tunes are impressive, but there is even more out back.

“I’ve got an old general store out back…it’s a display. It’s not for selling. It’s for showing… Built it out of 100% old rustic materials. It’s pretty cool. Stocked up with any kind of old store stock like stepping back into the forties…It covers a few decades, but it goes from all the way to turn of the century up probably,” he said.

It’s been said that as you get older, three things happen. First your memory goes and the other two, well I can’t remember the other two, but not Carroll. He is too busy remembering the 50’s because that brings him back to a joyful time in his life, a joy he wants to share with Texas.

“If you grew up in this area, it will take you back to a time that just makes you feel good… It was just a time in history I think everyone should either relive or at least learn about,” he concluded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – Number 1 British Flying Training School Museum in Terrell

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Terrell – Terrell, Texas feels like your typical town here in the Lone Star State. Its historic downtown is usually buzzing with business, but back in the early 1940’s, it was a plethora of planes buzzing the sky that created commotion. To learn more about why this area was so active with airplanes, we headed where else but the airport to visit the Number 1 British Flying Training School Museum.

“I like history. I’m passionate because Terrell is my hometown and I didn’t learn about the school and the people here until I came after I retired… That it affected so many people that I knew,” said Rudy Bowling. Rudy is the executive director of the Number 1 British Flying Training School Museum, and he grew up in Terrell when this school played a vital role in World War II.
“This is a four year period that was very important to Texas, and the United States and Great Britain,” he explained.

This small airport was constructed back in 1941 to train British cadets how to fly. It was built before the United States involvement in the war through the Lend Lease Act, which allowed the US to supply military aid to foreign allies while remaining neutral in the conflict. More than 2,200 Royal Air Force pilots earned their wings here.“We were a microcosm of two cultures coming together. The young men that came from 3,000 miles away to a place that they thought still had Indians and Cowboys everywhere. They were a little disappointed when they got to Terrell,” said Rudy.

But the cadets where not disappointed by the Texas hospitality. “The locals took them under their wing. They knew they were far from home, so they tried to give them something to do on the weekends. They supported them. So, there’s a real connection between the culture of England and the culture of Terrell, Texas,” he explained.

“Everybody we know, our grandparents were involved, they were helping train British soldiers go and fight,” said local, Kaitly Bray. “They were thousands of miles away from home and the people of this town opened their homes and their hearts and treated them like their own children,” added another local, Beverly Mardis. “To Terrell, it means quite a bit,” said Army veteran, Carl Nelsson.
“We brought them into our homes. We shared holidays with them, we taught them to fly and to defend their homeland. And they needed that ally and we were there for it,” said Kaitly.
“I’m so proud of the hospitality that this town showed during that time,” Beverly expressed.

Cadets trained in PT-17s and the AT-6, which is a plane appropriately named the Texan. For six months, they were taught by civilian instructors. Some of the cadets that came through here included men such as Robert Hardy, who would later become an actor in movies like Harry Potter, Thomas Round who would end up being a opera star and even a few Americans trained here like Lieutenant Richard Hill who had the unique distinction of earning two sets of wings. “I want to show you this very unique situation here. This is a uniform coat from an American cadet here at the school. His regular Army Air Corps uniform. And if you’ll notice it has two sets of wings on it. The American set and the English. And the reason for that is that this school taught under the British Syllabus. And if he learned under the British Syllabus, they decided, the powers that be, that he could wear the British wings on his other pocket. And it was kind of a mark of honor for them to get to do that,” explained Rudy.

When you look at the faces that came here you realize how young these brave men were. “They were very young, they were very young,” confirmed Carl. “I look at the faces of the kids, literally kids that were here. All of those cadets that were here and they’re my grandchildren’s age… My heart just clutches every time I think about my kids going off to do the things that these men did,” said Beverly.

When these pilots flew down interstate 20, they had to put themselves in another place in order to get an idea of what it would be like flying over Europe. The school made a map that would represent that distances between cities in the old world with towns here in Texas and close by. “This is a representation of a training map that they used here at the school, during the war. And on it, Terrell represents London…Terrell to Berlin, which is very close to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. And that gives people, especially visitors, an opportunity to make it relative… [From Dover to Dunkirk] 15 miles…Very, very close,” said Rudy. “And you’ll notice that England fits nicely within the state of Texas with a little overlap into Oklahoma [and that is starting in between Waco and Dallas].”

Getting such a detailed look at this little-known story of World War II is an inspiring tale of true courage. Many of the men who went on to fight in the war, sacrificed their lives to preserve their way of life and it all started right here in the Lone Star State.

“My respect for them knows no bounds,” said Beverly. “It’s not just a story about England and Texas, or England and America, and it’s a story about people,” Rudy explained. “They were being devastated in a faraway land, we made them feel at home. We made them comfortable. We brought them into our homes and celebrated holidays with them. And then we trained them to do their best to fight the war. We were their allies,” said Kaitly. “They felt empowered to go fight the war because they felt they had been trained well while they were here in Terrell, Texas,” confirmed Rudy. “It’s another level of pride in who we are as Texans to know that we participated in this,” added Beverly. “Thank you, for what they did,” concluded Carl.

The Texas Bucket List – David Adickes Art Studio in Houston

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On an overcast Houston morning, the towering skyscrapers of the space city seem to reach for the stars, through the clouds, as the rush hour commute commences.  In a town where bigger and bolder go together, the skyline has some amazing architecture and it pairs perfectly with some huge works of art that are hard to hide. History is a huge part of the Lone Star State’s pride and culture, and for those who also subscribe to the adage that everything’s bigger in Texas, David Adickes’s art studio in Houston is the perfect destination. Showcasing some of the most massive sculptures in all of America, the studio is an outdoor exhibition comprised of hand-sculpted busts of some of America’s most iconic former presidents. “It’s hard to get rid of them. Yeah. Can’t bury them, got to have a big hole”, joked Adickes.  Texas artist David Adickes created these huge heads of state and has them stored at his studio which happens to be completely surrounded by superhighways, making it feel like you’re in a fish bowl.  “I feel like that also. It’s the noise that gets me, but inside you don’t hear it that much”, said Adickes as we moved into his building.

Born in Huntsville in 1927, David’s art has been around the block for a while and we’re not just talking heads. David’s talents have taken him all over the world and even earned him a personal friendship with President George H.W. Bush.  “I spent the night in the Lincoln bedroom as president Bush 41’s guest”, reminisced David. “Oh yeah. I saw him a lot, a lot of letters exchanged back and forth”, he said fondly.  David created the bronze of former President Bush that sits in the airport, but his art is not all about the biggest office in the land. He likes to create all sorts of sculptures, which has kept his long career busy and eclectic.  “Well, I have a condition called ‘bitimus chewicus’. Means biting off more than you can chew”, he joked.

If you’ve ever explored H-Town you’ve probably come across David’s art. The Virtuoso in downtown, the Big Ol’ Beatles at the 8th Wonder Brewery, as well as the “We Love Houston” sign are all signature Adickes’ pieces and are also some of the most instagramed sites in the city. “Are you on Instagram at 93,” I asked him during the interview.  “I don’t think so. I don’t know what it is”, David replied with laugh.

 

David’s biggest accomplishment, is just that. BIG. In his hometown of Huntsville stands a 687-foot-tall statue of Sam Houston, staring down the constant stream of SUVs on Interstate 45. It’s the tallest statue of an American anywhere, and it’s the tallest standing sculpture in the United States of a real person. “Why was it important for you to make Sam so big? Just because he’s bigger than Texas, I joked. “That’s part of it”, he said. “Plus we wanted to be impressive. We wanted to be iconic, so it is an icon”.

David graduated with a degree in mathematics and physics from the Sam Houston State Teachers College, now known as Sam Houston State University. He served in the Army Air Corps at the tail end of World War II and spent two years in France from 1948 to 1950.  It wasn’t until he spent this time abroad and saw the incredible art and architecture there that he knew he just had to try his hand at sculpting.  “That changed everything. I learned to speak French and chase French girls and caught a few”, he said with a reminiscing smile.  “Sounds like a horrible way to live”, I joked. “Terrible”, he responded quickly.  “How far out is your schedule right now? How many years in advance are you having work”, I asked considering his age. “From now? Oh, 10 or 15 years”, he said.  “So you’ll finally be done when you’re 108″, I joked. “I don’t do the math, but yeah”, he said with a smile.

Despite being 93 years young, David still makes his way up the stairs of his home to his artist studio to paint every day.  His sculpture work has slowed down significantly, and eventually his collection of heads will head to Huntsville for a permanent display. But for as long as he can, David plans on keeping his studio open, free of charge, to curious crowds looking to walk amongst his king-sized Commander-in-Chiefs.

“I’m flattered when people come and look at them. The whole point in doing them is that they are to be seen. If they were hidden someplace, there would be no point in doing them. Same with art, painting. As long as it’s in your closet at home, what good is it to anybody? You’ve got to get it out and be seen”, he said.  “It’s like reading a good book or hearing a good joke or hearing good music, it gives you pleasure. The pleasure is mine”.

So if you’re meandering around Houston anytime soon, make sure to check out the David Adickes Art Studio, and keep your eyes peeled for the rest of his iconic creations around town. As always, tune in with us next week for more must-see places, people, art, and music right here on The Texas Bucket List.