Museum Acquires Photo Collection

The Historical Society has just acquired the entire Wayne DuBose photo collection. It's quite a treasure trove of Skidmore History including photos, negatives, film, clippings, etc. If Mr. DuBose photographed your wedding, quinceanera, or other event, we will be happy to allow you to make new prints from the negatives.

Check out the Skidmore Museum on Facebook!

Historical Society members present at last Tuesday's museum meeting decided it was high time the society had an official Facebook page. Follow the Skidmore HIstorical Society & Museum as we share photos and tidbits about the colorful history of the little town of Skidmore, Texas!

50th Anniversary of First Man in Space

Yuri Gagarin, First Human In Space

Russian cosmosnaut Yuri Gagarin became the first in space on April 12, 1961, ushering the new era of human spaceflight.  The spacecraft, Vostok 1, reached unprecedented speed for human travel at the time.  It broke free of the Earth's gravitional pull and entered orbit around the planet, circling once before re-entering the atmosphere and landing back on Soviet soil.  Gagarin was in space for a total of 108 minutes, traveling around the Earth once at 17,500 miles per hour.

To learn more, visit 6 Surprising Facts About Yuri Gagarin's First Spaceflight.

Celebrate Like The Irish

The Irish have celebrated St. Patrick's Day on March 17th for over 1,000 years.  Celebrated for the patron saint of Ireland as a religious feast day on the anniversary of his death in the 5th century.  St. Patrick is one of Christianity's most widely know figures, but for all his celebrity his life remains a mystery.  Most of the popular stories, including the banishing of snakes, is the result of years of exaggerated storytelling.

It just so happens that St. Patrick's day falls during the Christian season of Lent.  Irish families traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon by dancing, drinking, and feasting.  With the Lenten prohibitions of eating meat waived, a traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage may be enjoyed by the Irish.  This St. Patrick's Day enjoy some classic and modern Irish food, follow these link for the recipes.

• Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
• Irish Brown Bread
• Corned Beef and Cabbage
• Champ
• Beef and Guinness Pie

There are many symbols we associate with St. Patrick's Day and Ireland itself.  Learn more about parades, shamrocks, and all things Irish; including leprechauns and the color green.  You might be surprised to find out which ones have roots in Ireland and which ones are purely American made.  Below are two of the most popular symbols we relate to St. Patrick's Day.

• Shamrocks - The sacred plant of ancient Ireland originally symbolized the rebirth of spring.  In the 17th century it became a symbol of Irish nationalism.  As the English began to seize Irish land and enforce laws against the use of the Irish language and Catholisism, the Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride.
• Leprechauns - It is believed to stem from the Celtic belief in fairies.  Leprechauns were protrayed as cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of other fairies in Celtic folktales.  However, in 1959 Americans were introduced to cheerful, friendly Leprechauns by Walt Disney in the film Darby O'Gill and the Little People.  The American version of the Leprechaun has become symbolic to St. Patrick's Day and Ireland.

Video on the History of St. Patricks Day.

For more information on St. Patrick's Day, visit History.com.

Happy 175th Birthday Texas!

Today is Texas Independence Day!

Sam Houston - 1st President of the  Republic of Texas

In 1836, settlers of the territory of Texas were in rebellion against Mexican rule.  A group of delegates met at Washington-at-the-Brazos and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836, marking the beginning of the Texas Revolution.  On April 21st of the same year, Sam Houston and the Texas army attacked Santa Anna in the battle of San Jacinto.  The battle lasted less than 20 minutes and the victory resulted in the independent Republic of Texas.     Sam Houston was elected the first President.  The territory officially became a state of the Unites States of America in 1845.

Battle of San Jacinto

Learn more about the Republic of Texas and the Battle of San Jacinto - here.
Learn more about Sam Houston - here.

Veterans Day Observed Today

What a wonderful sight this Veterans Day morning, a community coming together to honor the men and women who have served our country.  The Skidmore-Tynan ISD gym was packed with students, teachers, administrators, and the community.  All present to demonstrate our gratitude for our local Veterans.

Here in the United States, we have been observing Veterans Day since 1954.  Adorning scarlet poppies and decorations of red, white, and blue our hearts are heavy and filled with admiration.  The poem used as a popular tribute to the fallen comes to mind today...

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.  Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Courtesy of the Arlington National Cemetery Website

Historical Society Mailbox Bank Fundraiser

The Skidmore Historical Society's latest fundraiser offers you a chance to own a piece of local history. Museum members recently salvaged a bank of old post office box doors from Skidmore's original post office at the corner of Sullivan and 4th Street. The boxes are being converted into rustic cedar coin banks and are available for a $25.00 donation to the Skidmore Historical Society. Contact Carol DuBois at 287-3449 to place your order. If you are old enough to remember your old box number, you can request it on a first-come first-serve basis.

Historical Society Meeting Tuesday

The Skidmore Historical Society meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Skidmore Museum. Dick Segelkin informs the Signal there will be a special guest, old-time Skidmore resident Gene Herrmann, at the September 8th meeting. All are welcome to attend.

Historical Society to Meet Tuesday

Regular monthly meetings of the Skidmore Historical Society begin Tuesday, September 9th, at 7:00 p.m. The Society meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Skidmore Museum at Sullivan Street and Hwy 181. All are welcome.

Conjunto Music Pioneer's Roots in Skidmore

Old-time Tejano/Conjunto music lovers may remember Santiago Almeida, but most local residents appear unaware of the man who is arguably Skidmore's most famous former citizen. Though Mr. Almeida's career peaked over 50 years ago, he eventually received great recognition for his role in the birth of Conjunto music.

From Wikipedia:

Santiago Almeida (born 1911, Skidmore, Texas) was a Texas musician influential in the development of the musical genres of tejano and conjunto.

Almeida grew up on a farm, and in his teens played the bajo sexto in his family's ensemble, La Orquestra Almeida. In the mid-1930s, Almeida began playing with accordionist Narciso Martinez at local dances and festivals. In 1935, Almeida and Martinez recorded a single for Bluebird Records, "La Chicharronera" b/w "El Troconal" (the former a polka and the latter a schottische). These are generally regarded as the earliest known recordings of conjunto music. The duo would record extensively for Bluebird, releasing some 60 additional singles for the label between 1935 and 1938. The pair's popularity grew as a result, and they performed extensively, both live in South Texas and on record as backing musicians for conjunto singers. In the 1940s, the pair continued to record for Ideal Records and Disco de Oro.

By the late 1940s, Almeida had amassed a large family and found his musical success more difficult to sustain. He moved to Sunnyside, Washington in 1950, working as an apple picker and music teacher. He continued to perform locally at gatherings and in churches for the next several decades.

In 1987, his contributions to music were recognized when he was inducted into the Conjunto Hall of Fame in San Antonio, and in 1993 he was awarded the Governor's Heritage Award in Washington."

More information:
NEA National Heritage Fellowships, Santiago Almeida
Governor's Heritage Award - Santiago Almeida
This Week In Texas Music History: Santiago Almeida (audio)

Thanks to David Dubose for alerting the Signal to this story. If anyone has further information on Santiago Almeida's family and their life in Skidmore, please leave a comment below.

S-T ISD Alumni Site Includes Section for Class Yearbooks

For those of you who have not signed up at the Skidmore-Tynan High School Alumni site, there is a section where you can upload scans of class yearbooks. So far, I've added partial yearbooks for 1949, 1951, 1961, 1971, and 1982 (my class). Click here to visit the new Skidmore-Tynan Alumni Site. A one-time registration fee of $10 gives you access to the entire site. The alumni site is not affiliated with S-T ISD or the Skidmore Signal.

Dee Descendants Descend on Local Museum

Pictured left to right: Margaret Annette "Sissy" Ross, Rosalyn Elizabeth Hardin-Kucera, Clifford Anthony "Tony" Hardin, Ada Jane Fox-Merritt, Barbara Claire Rochester-Amorin, Jamie Cathryn Roschester-Wehmeyer, Sandra Lee Beyer-Pentins, and Joy Elaine Fox-O'Neal. Photo courtesy of Barbara Amorin - taken in front of the old "calaboose."

Skidmore Historical Society member, Mrs. Carol DuBois, informs the Signal of a recent visit to the Skidmore Museum by descendants of former residents Lawrence "Lon" Dee and Margaret McFall-Dee. The group included a tour of the Skidmore Museum as part of their April 29, 2008, family reunion. All pictured above are descendants of Lawrence and Margaret Dee's daughters, Annette Dee Beyer-Fox, Catherine Dee-Rochester, and Maudie Elizabeth Dee-Hardin.

Historical Society Enjoys Annual Christmas Dinner

Historical Society members; Keith Petrus, Alma Gonzales, Delia Arismendez, Carol Dubois, Edwin & Jessie May Wallek, and Barbara & Dick Segelkin.

The Skidmore Historical Society broke with tradition this year and held its annual Christmas party at Shorty's restaurant in Beeville. In previous years, Mrs. Betty Strong served as hostess for the event at Papa's Market. With Papa's undergoing extensive renovations, the group opted to play it safe and opt for a temporary change of venue.

S-T High School Championship Photos Preserved for Posterity

Bi-District basketball Champs with a win-loss record of 25-6. Back Row: Gerald Holubec, Pablo Vela, Ysmael ViaFranco, Walter Jimenez, Felix Fojtik, and Garland Beyer. Front Row: David Hurst, Rudy Salinas, Dickie Hardin, Arturo Lara, and Sam Stewart. Not pictured: Henry Salinas and coach Wayne Dubose.

Alumni visiting Skidmore-Tynan High School often ask "What happened to the photos that used to line the hallways?" I turns out they are not quite gone and certainly not forgotten.

The photos were salvaged from the old gymnasium and placed on display at Saturday's All-School Reunion at the Tynan Recreation Hall. It appears the photos may have been removed from the high school hallways by former administrators during routine painting & maintenance and were simply never replaced.

Whatever the reason for their disappearance, we are certainly happy the photos are being preserved in recognition of the accomplishments of Skidmore-Tynan alumni. Click here to view the full collection of UIL Championship photos at Shutterfly.com. Special thanks to S-T ISD alumnus Richard Bryan of Kenedy who assisted in the duplicate photography of the photos.

A.F. Lutts Token Sells on Ebay

A rare "A.F. Lutts" token recently sold for $54.11 on eBay, the popular online auction site. "A.F. Lutts" was one of Skidmore's first general mercantile stores. It was among 18 local businesses destroyed by fire back in 1919. The proprietor, Mr. A.F. Lutts, later served as mayor of Beeville in 1912-13. Mr. Lutts died in 1933 and is buried in Beeville's Glenwood cemetery.

The "Beeville Bee" reported on the fire that destroyed the A.F. Lutts store and others:

Fire Wipes Out Skidmore's Principle Business Section - Blaze at Early Hours Yesterday Morning Razes Eighteen Frame Buildings

THE BEEVILLE BEE, May 29, 1919 - Beeville's Motor-Driven Equipment Taken to Scene of Conflagration. Fire yesterday morning at an early hour wiped out the principle business section of Skidmore. Bee county town of 1500 people, eleven miles south of Beeville. Eighteen frame buildings were razed by the flames. No estimate of the loss has been made. Little insurance was carried, as the rate for he district was almost prohibitive - the risk on account of the frame structures closely clustered being unusually hazardous. The heaviest losers, doubtless, were M. J. White, who conducted a general merchandise store, and J. B. Hollingsworth, proprietor of the Worth Drug Store. Much of the merchandise and fixtures were saved from the buildings. Aside for the Messrs. White and Hollingsworth other losers were: Titus Boerm who conducted a pool hall; Hugo Russek, restaurant; Howard Faupel, barber shop and Hill & Konce, K.T. Garage. some of the owners of buildings which were destroyed were E. B. Kessler, A. F. Lutts, Doubrava & Bohac and Mrs. Emil Eichblatt. The origin of the fire is unknown. It started in a building that had been vacant for many months. In some quarters it is believed it was of incendiary origin.

New Addition to Museum Collection

The item above, originally belonging to the late Justina Petrus, was donated to the Skidmore Historical Society by Robert Sugarek and Grace Petrus-Smith.

It is obviously an advertisement for "H. R. Michalke Furniture and Crockery" but can you guess its purpose? It hangs on the wall and has two sandpaper-like strips on either side of a small 2" cup. A label or metal plaque appears to be missing from the bottom portion of the item. Give up? Mrs. Smith says the little cup held matches, which were struck on the two sandpaper strips - most likely for lighting the "Oil, Gas, and Garland Stoves" advertised on the plaque.

Old Skidmore Cotton Gin Postcard Listed on eBay

Another vintage Skidmore postcard has appeared on the online auction site "eBay." The postcard features the Buerger Cotton Gin originally located on the corner of present day Main Street and 3rd, just east of the old railroad tracks. The gin was later purchased by J.C. Beyer, George Black, and C.L. Blaschke. The postcard shows the gin as it would have appeared if you were standing on its southeast side looking northwest toward the railroad tracks. A railway "spur" connected the gin to the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad. A copy of this postcard displayed in the Skidmore Museum suggests the photo was taken around 1915 but the eBay seller claims the postcard is postmarked in 1908.

If you care to bid on this bit of rare Skidmore memorabilia, click on Skidmore Cotton Gin, courtesy of eBay.


Adding an extra touch of intrigue, the postcard is addressed to a "Miss Jettie Clare" (spelling?) from a mysterious "A.M." Is there a Signal reader who might shed light on the writer and recipient?

Annual History Trail Celebration Seeks Participants

The fourth annual “Back Thru Time History Celebration” is planned for the month of June 2007 at sites located in the rural triangle lying between Corpus Christi, Victoria and San Antonio. Sponsored by the South Texas Back Thru Time Historical Association, the event is designed to celebrate local history, increase tourism, and enhance the economy of the target area.

Businesses, museums, libraries, Main Street programs, cities, counties, nonprofits, and those interested in history in general are invited to participate. To obtain an application, please call 361-375-2558. Deadline for submission of applications is January 9, 2007.

Baked Goods and Antiques Featured in Annual History Celebration

Mrs. Carol Dubois informs the Signal the Skidmore Historical Society will hold a Bake Sale Saturday, June 17th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The Skidmore Museum and Hen House Antiques will each be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday as part of the annual Back Through Time History Celebration. Mrs. Annette Griffith, proprietress of the Hen House, has put together a display of "mint condition" Fiesta Ware. The Back Through Time History Celebration is a "can't miss" event for local history buffs!

1930's Skidmore Depot Postcard

The postcard pictured above sold for a whopping $33 on Ebay recently. This is the first I've seen of this particular postcard and I wonder if any Signal readers have seen the card before?