Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 42, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 16, 1941 Page: 1 of 8
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For a Greater, Better Palacios Country—Agriculture, Industry, Commerce, Living
SUBSCRIPTION .$1.75 AND $2.00 PER YEAR
PALACIOS, MATAGORDA COUNTY. TEXAS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1941
VOLUME XXXIV NUMBER 42
^ City Council Refuses Street
Closing Request of FSA For
Recreation Building Site
James H. Shearer
New Manager Of
Gas Company Here
Property Owners
Protest Action
At Special Meet
Community Player*
Start Rehearsal*
On First Production
Due to the opposition expressed
by several interested owners of
property in the area affected, the
City Council Monday night in exec-
utive session refused to take action
requested by the Federal Security
Administration to close Third street
between Diison street and the South
Bay boulevard for the construction
of the proposed U. S. O. recreation
building.
Following the disapproval by the
FSA of the site originally planned
and tentatively approved by the
Federal government representatives
it was proposed by the FSA that
two lots on each side of Third street
be purchased as a site for the build-
ing. The government agreed to pur-
chase the lots if the city would close
the street.
At the special meeting called to
discuss the proposition O. E. Sailor,
Joe Feather and Ted Elder, repre-
senting property owners in that
section, appeared to protest the
closing of the street. The council
jieard R. C. Morrison, local field
representative of the FSA, present
the desires of that agency and also
the protests of the property owners.
The council expressed its willing-
ness to do whatever was possible
to cooperate with the government in
the matter but could not see fit
to go counter to wishes of the peo-
ple which it represents. As a result
it refused to close the street but
urged the reconsideration of the
original site over the water at the
foot of Fifth street.
It requested Morrison to report
to the FSA that such a procedure
would be contrary to the wishes of
the owners of adjacent property,
would cause a greatly increased cost
of construction because of the nec-
essity of caring for drainage waters
following heavy rains and that esti-
mates as to the cost of piling for
the proposed building were evident-
ly excessive in view of the cost of
similar construction at the time the
present pavilion was built.
As a result of similar action tak-
en by the Chamber of Commerce
directors the next night, telephone
communications with James A. Gar-
rison, regional director for the FSA,
were established Wednesday and re-
consideration of the original site
was urged. Mr. Garrison was re-
ported as having been extremely in-
terested in the drainage situation
and the estimate of piling costs of-
fered by a contractor which was
much lower than that submitted by
engineers. He was willing to give
the matter further consideration.
Although no final answer from
the FSA has as yet been received
it is believed that the chances for
ultimate approval of the original
site are very favorable. Final de-
cision as to the site and type of
building rest exclusively with the
FSA, it was pointed out.
Program Leader* Are £
Announced For Next
Quarter Of Rotary
Announcement of the schedule of
programs for the coming quarter
and the appointment of persons in
charge of each were announced at
the regular meeting of the Rotary
club Wednesday in the first meet-
ing since the Ladies’ Night held
last Thursday.
The balance of the program was
occupied by a round table discus-
sion of the needs of the club and
what should be done to make the
civic work of the organization more
effective and the various methods
whereby it could be of more benefit
to the community.
Suggestions made by the various
members ranged from nn increased
membership to completion of pend-
ing projects and the assumption of
several others. One suggestion, voic-
ed by several members, was that the
club should make it a regular policy
to invite high school students to
attend the luncheon meetings for a
series of four meetings, one student
to be selected for attendance at a
time.
Another suggestion was that cer-
tain days be set aside when each
member would bring another busi-
ast Is Almost
Completed For
Amateur Play
Third Street Only
Outlet For Water
Drainage 1* Claim
With six of the eight characters
already cast and the remaining
parts expected to be assigned with-
in the week, rehearsals for “Love
from a Stranger," the three-act
mystery drama by Frank Vosper,
to be presented as the first produc-
tion of the recently organized Pa-
lacios Community Players, are get-
ting under way in a very satisfac-
tory manner, Jack Stark, director,
announced this week.
Stark, a private at Camp Hulen
assigned to the Camp Morale office,
has had several years experience
participating in professional pro-
ductions and four years of directing.
He played in the stage version of
Kiss the Boys Gooy-Bye" and in
the first amateur production of
“Our Town” by Thornton Wilder
He also played in the Gilbert and
ness man of Palacios to the meet- Sullivan production“Patienee" and
Ninth District Convention
Scheduled To Bring Several
State Legionnaires To Palacios
ing as his guest.
Turtle Bay Club News
The regular meeting of the Tur-
tle Bay Home Demonstration Club
was held Wednesday, October 8, at
the home of Mrs. C. A. Evans, with
Mrs. M. W. Brown, the president in
the chair. Reports of the Council
meeting were given by Mrs. Mike
Alessandro. After the business ses-
sion the hostess served dainty re-
freshments to those present, Mes-
dames M. W. Brown, C. C. Ramsey,
C. Prindle, H. S. Post, M, Alessan-
dro, John Musselman, Bon Gillespie,
Ed Buffaloe, John Beard, Mack
Moore and C. A. Evans.
The next meeting will be Wed-
nesday, October 22, at the home of
Mrs. Alessandro, at 2:00 p. m.
— Reporter.
Mrs. J. R. Pitman left Tuesday
for Waco to visit her brother, Mr.
S. T. Best.
Employ Hostess
As Greater And
Dues Collector
Employment of Mrs. Jack Niven
as official hostess for the Chamber
of Commerce was announced by L.
C. English, manager of that organ-
ization, Thursday morning follow-
ing the decision of the board of di-
rectors Tuesday night authorizing
such action. The new hostess will
also have charge of the member-
ship accounts and the collection of
pledges from the members.
As hostess she will call upon all
new businesses entering Palacios
and extend the greetings of the
Chamber of Commerce, offering
such assistance as is possible in
getting them started in business.
She will also devote considerable
time to the collection of pledges.
This latter duty has been made nec-
essary by several outstanding ac-
counts against the Chamber brought
about by members forgetting to
send in their pledges each month.
The balance of the meeting was
occupied by a report by the mana-
ger telling of the activities which
have been undertaken since the last
meeting of the directors and the
progress being made in each case.
These reports included the housing
survey made recently, the status of
work being done to secure improved
telephone service, the Town Plan,-
played opposite Sinclair Lewis in
“Substance and Shadows” and sev-
eral other well-known plays.
He has directed 12 successful pro-
ductions including, among others,
several Shakespearean plays. He
takes over the work of Sidney W.
Bell who assisted in the formation
of the Community Players but who
was discharged from the Army this
week and has left for New York.
It is expected that Bell might return
to Texas to assume the directorship
of the San Antonio Little Theatre
group for the coming season.
Both directors were loaned to the
Players by th Army because the
plays are to be presented at Camp
Hulen for the entertainment of the
soldiers. One presentation will be
given in Palacios to raise funds to
defray contingent expenses such as
royalties and stage property con-
struction. This construction which
will be done by members of the or-
ganization is expected to start with-
in the next 10 days, Stark said, and
will be done by members.
Tentative date for the first pres-
entation has been set for about No-
vember 12.
Sharks Take On
Class A Team In
West Columbia
Inexperienced And
Light Local Team
Is Tough To Beat
Palacios steps out of the “B”
class Friday night to take on the
, , I Class “A" Roughnecks of West Co-
Announcement is made by Cur- ,umb,a in another gridiron battle
tls H. Fisher, vice-president of the ln the Sharks home field aftel.
Houston Natural Gas Corporation, trouneinJt the hitfhly touted St.
of the appointment of James H. j h Acad “B” team from
Shearer as manager of the Victoria ,ast Frjd 20 t0 6
district for that utility. The district
embraces, besides Palacios, the j The Roughnecks have been run-
towns of Matagorda, Gulf, Bless-ining into varied luck so far this
ing and Midfield. season with a win over Hempstead,
Mr. Shearer assumed his new re- * wiLth Pasade"a and a, deeisi^e
sponsibilities last week and will be defeat,by Alv'n last week to the
joined by his family immediately. tune “ 38 to
Mr. and Mrs. Shearer have two Coach John Lowe has taken a
sons, James and Philip. team that, to all practical purposes,
Mr. Shearer, with the exception is totally devoid of experience, hav-
of one year, has been employed by ing only four players who have ever
the Houston Natural Gas Corpora- played before, and is developing a
tion since September 1, 1935. He team that gives promise of becom-
comes to Palacios from the Free- ing a mighty tough morsel fqr any
portr districts Tie succeeds Floyd team anywhere near its size. The
Joiner, who recently resigned his line deserves special commendation
position as local manager after sue- for the manner in which it puts up
cessfully serving in that capacity | a stonewall defense when threaten-
since December, 1988.
211th Leaves Again
For Maneuvers A*
Rumor* Are Verified
Its off to the “wars” again for
the energetic 211th Coast Artillery
(AA) regiment with orders to leave
the last of October for the Caro-
lines definitely verifying persistent
rumors that have been circulating
for the past two weeks.
This time the 211th will be ac-
companied by a sister anti-aircraft
outfit, the 105th C. A. (AA) Sep-
arate Battalion, and it will be the
first time that the Louisiana Bat-
talion has been ordered into the
field for any extensive maneuvers.
The two units w ill move out en
masse with only small guard de-
tails being left in camp to keep
watch on the respective areas. The
211th is expected to employ approx-
imately 300 vehicles while the 105th,
being a battalion, will have approxi-
mately half that number.
Hulen trops are expected to spend
less than 30 days in the battle area,
and should return home on or about
December 1.
THOUGHTS..
Of the Moment
ning and Zoning ordinance, the U.'' day-
S. 0. and the Y. W. C, A., Greens
Bayou and present status of the
Recreation building project.
A resolution was also authorized
to be presented at the meeting of
South Texas Chamber of Commerce
managers at Corpus Christi Novem-
ber 8 urging that some method be
adopted to prevent the circulaztion
of erronious reports detrimental to
South Texas interests. This action
was taken as a result of the highly
colored stories originating in Pa-
lacios and other coast towns con-
cerning the extent of the damage
being done during the course of the
recent tropical storm.
Manager English and Carlton
Crawford were named to confer
with Federal Security Administra-
tion officials to urge the re-con-
sidoration of the original site over
the bay for the proposed recreation
building. They were instructed to
point out the additional costs which
would be made necessary to handle
the drainage waters now carried by
Third street during heavy rains.
It was also decided to hold one
meeting every month especially for
the general membership. This, it
was emphasized, was in addition to
the fact that the meetings of the
directors were also open to any
member desiring to attend.
Engineering Short
Course Offered To
Meet Army Demand
AUSTIN, Tex.—To meet increas-
ed demands for Army camp sur-
veyors, a new University of Texas
defense engineering short course
will be offered in surveying and
mapmaking, it was announced, to-
The course will start about Oc-
tober 27 and run eight weeks, Phil
Ferguson, professor of civil engin-
eering, announced.
High school graduates with alge-
bra and geometry credits are eligible
for the course, which will qualify
students for government and priv-
ate defense surveying positions.
Surveying, topographic mapping,
and general drafting will be includ-
ed, to qualify men for both field
and office work, Ferguson said.
After similar courses offered last
summer at the University, A. and
M. College, S. M. U., and College
of Arts and Industries, there was
100 per cent employment of stud-
ents who finished, and this did not
fill the demand, he pointed out.
Twenty enrollees will be accept-
ed for the course, to be supervised
by Leland Barclay of the University
engineering faculty. To insure ac-
ceptance for the course, men inter-
ested should mail preliminary ap-
plications to the University dean of
engineering at once, Ferguson said.
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Rioux are
home after spending four weeks in
Corpus Christi with their grandson owned by the city being disabled. It
Although press reports state
that Palacios has been named for
“priority in privately financed de-
fense housing units” these reports
are apparently premature. A letter
from Senator W. Lee O’Daniel with
a copy of a letter from some gov-
ernment official states that Pa-
lacios is “now being considered” for
such designation. Even so that still
does not give Palacios investors the
privileges of Title VI under the
FHA and the government has as
yet failed to designate Palacios as
a Defense Area. Priority has been
secured on several individual items
but financial assistance under Title
VI is still unavailable for building
purposes.
• * •
The War Department has recom-
mended the extension of the Intra-
coastal Canal from Corpus Christi
to Brownsville but according to Ray
Leeman, executive vice-president of
the South Texas Chamber of Com-
merce, it is expected that any con-
struction may be delayed until af-
ter the period of emergency is pass-
ed as it is npt considered as being
of a national defense character.
. • * a
J, B. Bludua has been transferred
from Halletsville So the Palacios
office of the Grant Lumber Com-
pany and has assumed his new du-
ties as bookkeeper for that con-
cern. He takes the place of Harry
Ward who has gone to work at
Camp Hulen. THOUGHTS wel-
comes hin) to Palacios.
• • •
R. P. Newsom, superintendent of
schools, is in Washington, D. C., on
business connected with the new
school building project. As so often
happens with things connected with
bureaucratic methods and red tape
it sort of “bogged down” and needs
a little enlivening by interested par-
ties. Hope he succeeds as Palacios
is in real need of additional school
facilities. The need will grow worse
as time goes on and more people
come to Palacios to live.
« • •
Delivery of a Diesel powered
street maintainer ordered by the
City Council during the past week
is expected about the first of the
month. Priority haa already been
secured because of the urgent need
of street work which was impos-
sible because of the tractor now
ed. The back-field is doing a fairly
good job considering their inex-
perience as it takes a lot of work
to make a smoothly clicking ma-
chine of several individuals.
•
John Grubbs at right end has
been doing an excellent piece of
work in carrying the ball for the
Sharks and his speed on foot prac-
tically assures a touchdown or at
least a long gain, once he gets in
the clear. Jack Lipscomb at quarter
also is doing good work in calling
the plays in order to take advant-
age of any apparent weakness in
the opposing line-up.
The team while very light, rang-
ing from 115 pound Lipscomb to 178
pound Glen Buffaloe, with most of
them weighing around 120 to 130
pounds, is fast and, what is still
more important, fight to the last
minute of play. Spectators are al-
ways assured of a real football
game when they turn out to see the
Sharks in action. Attendance has
been increasing at each game. Even
the game last week was fairly well
attended, considering the fact that
the first half of the game was play'
ed in the rain.
Mrs. Margaret Vandivert, a val-
ued assistant at Brandon’s Store, is
off for a two week’s vacation, a
part of which will be spent in the
vicinity of Kerrville.
Ladies' Night
Is Big Success
For Rotarians
and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Fetzer.
will be hard on garage owners as
(See “THOUGHTS,” Page 4)
County Local Draft
Board Selects Pat
Thompson, President
At a recent meeting of the Mat-
agorda County Local Board, Selec-
tive Service, Mr. Rowland Rugeley,
who has served as chairman since
the Board was organized October
16, 1940, tendered his resignation
effective October 16, 1941 and Mr.
Pat Thompson tendered his resig-
nation as secretary, where upon Mr.
Thompson was elected Chairman
and Mr. Rugeley, secretary. This
exchange of offices was for the
purpose of equalizing the duties and
responsibilities among the Board
members, It had also been found
practical to confine the officers of
the Board to the Bay City members,
who are available at any time on
short call, when the occasion de-
mands.
The Board is now constituted as
follows: Pat Thompson, Bay City,
chairman; Rowland Rugeley, Bay
City, secretary; Duncan Ruthven,
Palacios, member. Miss Ndncy Har-
ris and Mrs. Nan Broughton arc
clerks, and the office is maintained
in the Bay City Post Office Build-
ing.
Mr. and Mrs. Cornell Prindle left
Sunday for Manlo Park, Calif., driv-
ing a car for S. D. Kynerd, a son
of the late G. R. Kynerd. Mrs. Prin-
dle plans to spend some time there
visiting relatives but Mr. Prindle
will return as soon as convenient by
bus, having only a few days off
from duties at the Post Office.
With practically a 100 percent
attendance, there were only four
absentees and they were unable to
attend because of business or ill
ness, members of the local Rotary
Club held what was acclaimed the
most successful Ladies’ Night since
the club was organized last Thurs-
day at the Green Lantern Inn when
the Rotary Anns were given an op-
portunity to witness the induction
of G. J. Smith as a'new member,
while Mrs. T. S. Brandon told of
Rotary from the point of view of
the Rotary Ann.
Formal address of Mister and
Missus were taboo and first names
or nick-names only were permitted.
In order to faciliate acquaintance-
ship all Rotary Anns marched
around the table at the end of the
banquet to find seats other than
those originally occupied. This caus-
ed considerable amusement to all
concerned.
Miss Dorothy Lee Curtis sang
two numbers accompanied by Miss
Wanda Gray for which they receiv-
ed the thanks of the club.
After the talk by Mrs. Brandon
in which she explained that Wed-
nesday noon luncheons gave the
wives of Rotarians a relief from the
daily drudgery of preparing lunch
and how she kept track of the pro-
grams and who had charge of the
programs the induction of the new
member was presented with ritualis-
tic form. Mrs. Brandon’s talk re-
ceived the concurrance and approval
of the other ladies present.
Mr. Smith, the new band director
at the high school, who had been
recently taken in as a new member,
was requested to retire to another
room while the room was darkened
in preparation for the induction
ceremony, A large cogged-wheel of
Rotary had been placed over the
head of the table and as the prin-
ciples of Rotary were explained to
“Neophyte” Smith the different
parts of the wheel corresponding to
the principles being expounded were
lighted.
L. C. English, chairman of the
program committee, arranged the
details of the event and received
several expresisons of commenda-
tion from Rotarians and Rotary
Anns alike.
Due to the illness of Rotarian
Ernest Wehmeyer a motion picture
film showing fishing in Matagorda
Bay could not be secured.
Public Invited
To Attend Meet
Sunday Moving
Olin Culberson
To Be Principal
Speaker At Meet
Plans for the handling of some
2000 or 3000 American Legion-
naires of the Ninth District of Tex-
as who will gather in Palacios Sun-
day for their quarterly convention
and business session are practically
complete, Bill Elder, commander of
the local Post announced Thursday
morning. The program has been ar-
ranged with several prominent
speakers scheduled including Olilt
Culberson, state railroad commis-
sioner, Lt. Col. Cliff Titus, public'
relations officer of Camp Hulen,.
and Brig. Gen. William George
Gilks of the Salvation Army and
Past National Chaplain of the
American Legion. General Gilks is
also a Lieutenant-Colonel in the
ganized Reserve.
Mayor A. G. Skinner will givtf
the address of welcome and Major
Rackley, of Alvin, District Com-
mander, will reply. Miles Wasson,
assistant state service officer, will
talk on the subject of “Rehabilita-
tion” while other speakers will in-
clude, Fred Young, department ad-
jutant for Texas, and representa-
tives of the American Legion Auxi-
liary including State President Di
Wood.
The opening session will be he!
at the Capitol Theatre beginning
with the registration at 9 a. m. As-
sembly will be sounded by Sgt. Rob-
ert Raynes at 9:59 a. m. and th*
meeting will be called to order at
10 o’clock, sharp. The morning ses-
sion will be open to the public. Com-
mander Elder stated, and all inter-
ested persons are urged to attend.
In the afternoon the business ses-
sion of the Legion will be held at
the high school auditorium while
the Auxiliary will meet in the Bap-
tist church.
Dinner which will be served inr
the City Park consisting of fried,
oysters and boiled shrimp with all.
the necessary adjuncts will be under
the supervision of George Hunter.
At the business session L. L. B.
Hofer, of Victoria, district adjutant
will make a report on the National.
Convention held recently in Mil-
waukee, Wis.
Mrs. John C. Richards and little
daughter, Lynn, went to Houston
Sunday to spend a week with her
parents.
Mrs. Ney Oldham, Sr.
Brief mention was made in that
week’s Beacon of the passing of:
Mrs. Ney Oldham, Sr., but this ad-
ditional word comes from those wha
attended the last rites held in San
Marcos, Friday, October 10.
The services were conducted in
the A. B. Rogers Funeral Home,
by Rev. L. W. Crouch, of Palacios,
assisted by Rev. J. M. Phillips, of
the First Baptist Church of San
Marcos, in the bringing of words of
consolation. The pallbearers were
men from that city and ranchmen
of the community around, who
wqre friends of the family acquired
during the many years San Marco*
was their home. Several Palacioa
friends made the trip along with
the Baptist pastor and a great com-
pany from San Marcos, were in at-
tendance expressing their sympathy
for the family.
Mrs. Myrtle Cox Oldham was
born July 15,1889 at Forney, Texas.
On September 16, at Tolar, Texas,
she was married to Mr. Ney Old-
ham. Early in her life she became a
Christian and a member of the
Baptist church in which she served
devotedly for these many years.
She is survived by her husband,
Ney Oldham, Sr., her son Ney, Jr.,
her mother, Mrs. M. J. Cox of Pa-
lacios, and a brother, Frank B. Cox,
of Nebraska.
Mrs. Maggie Fetzer has return-
ed from a two months visit with
relatives and friends in Shreveport,,
Louisiana.
Buy from those who advertiwb-
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Niven, B. C. Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 42, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 16, 1941, newspaper, October 16, 1941; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth726439/m1/1/: accessed June 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.