The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 66, No. 54, Ed. 1 Sunday, January 3, 1988 Page: 5 of 30
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■ ■
65-year resident held many jobs
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J.O. Rhodes recalls life in Tri-Cities
i V
;y of
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i by
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By JIM KYLE A" stress ___ _____ _____
Goose Creek, Pelly and Baytown " ~ discovery well was 50 feet from
Baytown were oir the brink of big After nearly 10 years as a J.O. Rhodes’property on Bowie
things back in 1922 when 15-year- copk, Rhodes started working in Street,
old James 0. Rhodes moved to the oilfield. “People in the neighborhood
the booming Tri-Cities.
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ays
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During World War II, Rhodes
“I started out on my new job at____bought his own home on Bowie
Jack’s Cafe at the corner of Street near Lee brive in Pelly.
Defee and Main and after He named his place Twin Oak
washing a many a dish I moved Acre and built a modest frame
up to being the cook,” said the home. •“
80-year-old Baytonian ,: ^_______ What began with one house,
Rhodes’ eyes sparkled as he has grown to include four houses
recalled his early days here. as well as numerous garages,
“In Goose^ Creek everyone sheds and a recreation building
where neighborhood boys once
gathered to play pool, drink soft
drinks and talk.
“It kept them off-the street
and out of trouble,” Rhodes ex-
plained.
In 1947 he went to work for an
knew me as ‘Cotton?’ but in Pelly
and Old Baytown I was ‘James.’
“I guess I cooked at just about
every cafe in town back in those
days. Heck, I cooked two years
at the old Montana Cafe on the
corner of Main (now Harbor)
and Market in Old Baytown. I “oil company that was bought out
flipped many a hot cake and jusj by Colorado Oil in 1972. Rhodes
were very happy. They leased
their lots and land to the oil com-
panies. The wells they drilled
didn’t last long.
"The people that got oil wells
didn’t make the price of salt to
go in their bread.’? ____
The James Rhodes house on
Bowie Street has been a center
of attention each Christmas
season for nearly 15 y^ars, draw-
ing thousands of onlookers from
the smallest infants to senior
citizens.
For the sheer joy of it, Rhodes
has made his yard and house a
A-
bright lights plus Santa Claus in
hissigigh....
“My joy at Christmas has
been to see the faces of little
children when they see all the
lights lighting the sky for Santa
Claus to come to BaytOwn,” he
said.
- “This is the last year I can
decorate my yard. I’m just too
old now to keep it up. Can’t tell
though. Maybe someone will
come along and take my place.”
Twin Oak Acre never made a
rich man out of Rhodes in oil, but
the salt in his bread has come
from millions of gazing smiles
from Baytonians who he has
shared his holiday spirit for
these many years.
as many eggs at thp Tri-City
Cafe ip Goose Creek, too.”
Rhodes read from an Humble
Oil history book about how three
men from Humble, Texas, came
to Goose Creek in 1913; Their last
names were DeFee, Jack and
Murrill. All three now have
worked as a pumper in the pro-
duction department for 25 years
before retiring.
In his scrapbook, of articles
dating back to the 1940s, J.O.
Rhodes has printed on an inside
cover:
“Oil was discovered in the city
NOW PLAYING
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
'^|r by Judi Sheppard Missett ^
naamrtBt
J.O. RHODES still runs as good as his ’68 Chevy. Rhodes, who is 80,
has lived in Baytown since he was 15. (Sun staff photo by Jim Kyle)
BAYTOWN AREA
WOMEN S CENTER
Crisis: 422-2292
... *<■> ' ■
Office: 427-2421
Fttn Way to Fitness
1 FREE WEEK
for new students with this od.
☆ No contracts to sign
☆ Easy to follow routines
follows you to work at your own pace)
☆ All ages welcome
☆ Child care available
($1 per child)
☆ Join anytime
MON/TUES/THURS 5:30
SAT. 9:30 a.m.
Skate Machine
607 Baker Rd., Baytown
422-7904 or 488-8734
w
BRUCE JAMES
Evangelist
You are cordially
invited to attend
all of our services
Satiday Bible Classes......10 am
I ft! 07 OH .........iOK air
4Z/-0/Z9 sa j:
' Ved. Vom. Bible Classes tdam
JUST A MOMENT!
“AMERICA IS GREAT BECAUSE,
enabled a Handful of people to defeat the mighty British Empire was “that ti ,
across1 America were "aflame with righteousness." He then issued this warning:
"AMERICA IS GREAT BECAUSE AMERICA IS GOOD, AMD IF AMERICA CEASES
TO BE GOOD. AMERICA WILL CEASE TO BE GREAT."
(Of the many civilizations that have existed only a few remain. Mo doubt. God has
blessed the USA. But our greatness is not in silver and gold, rivers and forests, nor mus-
cles and missiles,Greatness is an inner quality, found in what we are. not in what we
have. Goodness and greatness are inseparable. If it is to continue, we must practice at
least three things:
1. We must resolve to serve one another humbly. Old fashioned concern for others is a
quality that makes a nation great. How we need to PICK IP 01R TOW EL and wash one
another's feet as Jesus did in John 131
2. We should resolve to be totally honest and courageous. A math teacher once told his
class that he was giving 2 tests, one in Algebra and the other in honesty. He said. “I hope
you pass them both. If you must fail one. fail algebra. There are many good people whir
can’t pass-algebra, but there are nogood people who can’t pass the exam ol hones
can t pass algebra. I
Mow read Eph. 4:28.
3. We must acknowledge God as Sovereign. Any prosperity must be based on right-
eousness. "Righteousness exalts a nation, nut sin is a reproach to any people" IProv.
14:341.
Todav. it's almost like we accept and even institutionalize sin. ARE WE LOSIMG
OUR GREATMESS? cam the trend be reversed? it cam if we will re-
tlrm TO GOD THROUGH OBED1EMCE TO THE GOSPEL. COURAGE. INTEGRI-
TY , HONESTY. HUMILITY — these are the things that make a nation great!
f---. ! \ **.l ■'
ATYOUR
FAVORITE
MALL
- . ........
8th Annual Chili
when it’s Chilly
l& Bar-B-Quel Cook-Off
Sat.. Jan. 9,10 am
4
\w
T .t's that time, of year again! Time for the
I chiliheads to celebrate the rites, of spring
■ with their chili. Naturally, they all think that
their’s is the best chili in the world, hut we’ll
leave that for you and the judges to decide.
Championship show teams from Texas and
neighboring states have been invited to compete in
this exciting chili and bar-b-que cook-off. ]
Last year, over 100 great chili chefs competed so
it’s bound to be even better this year.
* , O ' ’
MAKE A DAY OF IT! • T
You’ll probably want to plan on spending the day,
because in addition'to great and bar-b-que,
showmanship^ teams will provide entertainment all
day long.
At 1:30 pm there will be a margarita mix-off that's 1
bound to add to the fun.
Winners of the chili and bar-b-que competition will
be announced at 3:00 pm,.
The cook-off‘is sponsored by the Baytown Go-
Texan Committee in association with the Houston
Livestock Show (S Rodeo. Proceeds from this year’s
Baytown Go-Texaij Committee will go to the
Houston Livestock Show <$ Rodeo for youth scholar-
ships.
Entry to the cook-off site is free to the public. For
more information, contact Mickey Pillow at 421-2521
or Jody Haggard at 492-041 i.
,San Jacinto mall
. ■ AM'
1-10 East at Garth Road in Baytown.
Mall Hours: Mondav-Saturdav: 10-9
Sunday: 12-5.
Foley's. Mervyn's, Montgomery Ward.
J.C. Penney. Sears. Service Merchandise.
The Fair. Craig's. Palais R oval
and over 150 Specialty Stores.
\J.'
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Brown, Leon. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 66, No. 54, Ed. 1 Sunday, January 3, 1988, newspaper, January 3, 1988; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1074756/m1/5/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.