This Day In Texas History - June 30

[joe817]

1832 - In 1832, attorney William Barret Travis and his law partner were jailed by Mexican Colonel John (Juan) Bradburn, commander at the Mexican fort at Anahuac. Word of their arrest spread, and an uprising ensued. A prisoner exchanged was agreed to, and although the Texan insurgents release all nineteen of their prisoners, Col Bradburn refused to release Travis. On this date in 1832, the Mexican army drove the Texas insurgents from the city. Retreating to Turtle Bayou, the Texians drew up the Turtle Bayou Resolutions listing their grievances against Col Bradburn and giving their support to his rival party, the Federalists, led by Santa Anna (friendly to the Texans at the time). As time passed, and the insurgent forces grew, Col Piedras of the Mexican Garrison at Nacogdoches rode to the aid of Col Bradburn but was intercepted by the Texas insurgent force. Fearing he was outnumbered, Piedras agreed to relieve Bradburn of command and release his prisoners. The incident led to further skirmishes, and eventually the General Council at San Felipe. At this time, Texians (as Texans were called at the time) were more interested in forming an independant Mexican state, rather than independence from Mexico.

1875 - The Frontier Echo, a newspaper that followed cattlemen as they advanced the ranching frontier of West Texas, was first issued in Jacksboro, with R. Chandler as publisher and H. H. McConnell as editor. George W. Robson, a former sea captain, bought the Echo in December 1875 and with advance of the cattle frontier moved the plant to Fort Griffin, where, on January 4, 1879, it appeared as the Fort Griffin Echo. Three years later the frontier had marched west again. After a period of non-publication during the illness of the editor, the newspaper followed. It reappeared in Albany on January 6, 1883, as the Albany Echo. After about a year it was merged with the Albany Star to become the Albany News, which has retained the files of the early Echo.

1882 - Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African-American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, was dismissed from the service for "conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman." He accepted a commission as a second lieutenant and joined the Tenth United States Cavalry. He was eventually made quartermaster at Fort Davis, but Col. William Rufus Shafter relieved him in 1881; Flipper believed he was the victim of persecution and is said to have been warned by civilians at the post of a plot by white officers to force him from the army. The following year, when he discovered post funds missing from his quarters, he attempted to conceal the loss until he could find or replace the money. When Shafter learned of the discrepancy, he immediately filed charges against Flipper. A court-martial acquitted Flipper of embezzlement but pronounced him guilty of "conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman." He subsequently worked as a mining engineer in El Paso, Arizona, and Mexico, and later for the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Flipper maintained his innocence until his death in 1940 and waged a lifelong battle for reinstatement in the army. In 1976, when a bust of him was unveiled at West Point, the Department of the Army granted Flipper an honorable discharge, dated June 30, 1882.

1965 - On this date in 1965, the first hotel in America built on a pier, opened in Galveston. The Flagship Hotel is built on a 340 foot wide "Pleasure Pier", and extends a full quarter mile into the Gulf of Mexico. [ Is it still there? ]

1973 - On this date in 1973, the USS Miller was Commissioned. Built in Westwego, Lousiana, the Knox class escort ship saw duty in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea. Named for Doris "Dorie" Miller, who despite being untrained, manned an anti-aircraft gun during the attack at Pearl Harbor, and shot down at least two attacking Japanese planes. Dorie Miller has also been remembered from New York to San Diego, Washington to Hawaii in street names, parks, a housing complex, a community center, scholarships, veteran's parks, memorials, and at least four schools.
Miller died in 1942 in the battle of Tarawa. He was from Waco.

1982 - Future gold glove picther Kenny Rogers was signed by the Texas Rangers. Rogers was a 39th round draft pick on the June 7th draft. Rogers went on to be the only left-handed picther in American League history to pitch a perfect game on July 28, 1994.

[seamusTX]

On this date in 1965, the first hotel in America built on a pier, opened in Galveston. The Flagship Hotel is built on a 340 foot wide "Pleasure Pier", and extends a full quarter mile into the Gulf of Mexico. [ Is it still there? ]

Yes, but barely.



A company that leased it for a number of years did not maintain it. The one time that I set foot in it was enough. It was severely damaged by Ike and never reopened.

Landry's owns the hotel now. Rumors vary on whether the hotel will be restored or demolished.

This is what it looked like 2008-ish, before Ike:





In 2002:



I can't find any photos from the 1960s online.

- Jim

[joe817]

I can't find any photos from the 1960s online.

As I remember it from back then, it pretty much looked the same to me. But that's been a few years.

Jim, there was the old Coast Guard compound barracks right on that road not to far from there. Beautiful old residential buildings. It looked like either 1920's or 1930's construction. The entire compound was for sale the last time I was down there in the summer of 2001.

Did they survive? I kept thinking while looking at them, that would make a fantastic rehab job and turn them into inexpensive condos, while preserving the historic exteriors.

[seamusTX]

I hate to have to tell you this, but the old Coast Guard residences in the 40s (street addresses) are most likely beyond recovery. They have breached roofs and walls, broken windows, and deteriorating siding. I don't know how much vandalism has occurred, but obviously some has. No one has been maintaining them, and I'm sure the termites and rats have not been idle.

The federal government decomissioned that facility in the late 1990s. It was tied up for a couple of years because non-profit groups are supposed to have the first opportunity to buy facilities of that sort. One charitable group tried but could not come up with the minimum bid. By the time that was settled, the economy was in the tank.

An investment group bought it but has not done anything with it. It's still for sale.

This article is from 2007. It's the last that I have heard.
http://galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=8dec2a2579dc8eb4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Google Maps street views of 4302 Seawall Boulevard and 4201 Avenue U, Galveston, TX, show up-to-date photos.

- Jim

[joe817]

*sigh* Thanks Jim. I thought that might be the case. I hope some of the buildings can be saved, for historical significance sake.

[seamusTX]

Unfortunately, sites like this are white elephants.The land is extremely valuable. The buildings would require a lot of money to restore and maintain. There would be little chance of making them "pay their own way" by charging admission for tours or renting them out for special events or movies (as many historic buildings do).

Someday Ft. Crockett will be nothing more than a name known only to Jeopardy players and a few historians.

- Jim

[USA1]

I really need to take a trip to Galveston. I haven't been since before IKE.
My wife and I have always enjoyed the historical sights, museums, and attractions.

As a kid growing up in Houston, my family and I would go many times during the summer...I miss that.

[seamusTX]

So what's stopping you?

- Jim

[USA1]

So what's stopping you?

Come to think of it...nothing. I'm doing it!

[seamusTX]

If you can come Monday through Thursday, the traffic is light, everything is less crowded, and hotel rooms cost less. The weekends can be pretty frantic here.

- Jim

[joe817]

USA1, you lazy dog you. Isn't Galveston only about an hour away from you?

If I lived that close my entire family would be down there just about every weekend. But I'm about half way on the other side of the State, so the drive is about 5-6 hrs for us.

[LarryH]

USA1, you lazy dog you. Isn't Galveston only about an hour away from you?

If I lived that close my entire family would be down there just about every weekend. But I'm about half way on the other side of the State, so the drive is about 5-6 hrs for us.

I don't think you'd really want to make that drive on a weekend.

The Gulf Freeway is a traffic nightmare on Saturday and Sunday.

[USA1]

USA1, you lazy dog you. Isn't Galveston only about an hour away from you?

If I lived that close my entire family would be down there just about every weekend. But I'm about half way on the other side of the State, so the drive is about 5-6 hrs for us.

I know. It's inexcusable.

[joe817]

USA1, you lazy dog you. Isn't Galveston only about an hour away from you?

If I lived that close my entire family would be down there just about every weekend. But I'm about half way on the other side of the State, so the drive is about 5-6 hrs for us.

I know. It's inexcusable.

Just joshing with ya! *tickle,tickle*

[seamusTX]

I don't think you'd really want to make that drive on a weekend. The Gulf Freeway is a traffic nightmare on Saturday and Sunday.

It can be bad during the days, but if USA1 left Tomball at 5 a.m., he could be having breakfast with me at 7.



- Jim