The History Museum and Plantation Site
continue to mix the OLD with the NEW
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Jackson Plantation Historical Site recognizes October as Archaeology Month
Open October 3, 2020 from 10 am to 6 pm.
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Joan Few
Photo Credit: Sue Turner
https://texasbeyondhistory.net/jackson/images/joan.html
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The excavation of the sugar mill. |
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Or, rather, she DUG it. In years 1994 and 1995, archaeologist Joan Few led two excavation projects at the Jackson Plantation Historic Site (JPHS). In collaboration with the Brazos Archaeological Society (BAS), Texas Archaeological Society (TAS), and the Houston Archaeological Society (HAS), she supervised archaeology students along with approximately 800 volunteers.
At the site, once owned by cotton and sugar cane farmer Abner Jackson, Few's team uncovered over 50,000 artifacts. Some of these finds, which date back to the period between 1843-1864, are on display at the Historical Museum. Articles of interest include medicine bottles, terracotta pipes, buttons, marbles, and fragments of children's tea sets.
Few's educational background was in anthropology and archaeology. From 1988-2008, she taught these subjects at the University of Houston at Clear Lake. She is also a published author, having written several articles on historic and prehistoric archaeology. Her book entitled, Sugar, Planters, Slaves, and Convicts, documents her dig at the JPHS.
In her book, she cites the importance of archaeological discovery. "The excitement is not in finding the 'thing,' but discovering what the 'thing' can tell us about the past. Every artifact has information...."
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New Exhibit.......
"Treasures from the Vault"
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Carl Wolfe, is the current vice-president of the LJHA and a 12-year volunteer at the Historical Museum. He stands next to an exhibit case featuring dinner and stemware from the dining room of the iconic Dow Hotel. Designed by Alden B. Dow, it was built within three weeks in 1940. It served as housing for early employees of the Dow Chemical Company. |
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OLD ITEM.........CURIOUS COLLECTION |
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Triminoes display at the museum. |
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Have you ever played with Triminoes, a popular pastime in the 1960's? The game originated right here in Lake Jackson, Texas, being the brainchild of Elmer L. Pendleton. Pendleton, who worked in the Research Department at Dow Chemical, and his four partners secured a copyright in 1962 for their invention.
A set was composed of 45 wooden tiles which were numerically dotted, similar to Dominoes. The pieces differed, obviously, because of their triangular shape. They were manufactured by a company in Angleton.
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One set is on display at the museum. A myriad of games described in the instruction booklet can be played with the Triminoes, including "Solitaire," "Bluebonnet," and even "Football."
If anyone has further information about the company which made the Triminoes, please contact Angela Villarreal, museum curator. If anyone has pictures of the game being played, please contact her as well at 979-297-1570.
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OLDIE, but Goodie....Lake Drug |
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In the year of Lake Jackson’s founding, 1943, the iconic Lake Drug began. Art Webb and D’Orville Evans opened the Proctor-Walgreen Drug Store that had a Humble Service Station attached. Soon after, they sold the service station to Burley Schmidt, which later became known as Schmidt’s Service Station. The drug store became known as Lake Drug. It served this young community well as a “hot spot” to gather, share gossip and stories, have a cup of coffee (5 cents – free refills), listen to the jukebox, and have a treat from the soda fountain.
According to early residents, the sign in the window read, “Open from 8 am till 10 pm seven days a week. Closed Christmas Day.” A later owner, Carlton E. Young, would even keep the drug store open during hurricanes in order to provide for Lake Jackson residents! The final location of Lake Drug was on the corner of This Way and That Way, now home to Tammie’s Touch.
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Many Lake Jackson pioneers have fond memories of Lake Drug:
(Quotes from The Lake Jackson Chronicles)
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Rebecca Fontaine: “Growing up in Lake Jackson in the 1940’s and '50’s meant going to Lake Drug, or going to the Lake Theater, then Lake Drug, or going to Lake Drug, then wherever…!"
Julia May: “That became everything to us. In the first place, it was beautiful. The booths were placed at the windows and overlooked a flower garden – small, but well-manicured. It wasn’t coffee we wanted, it was to see and talk to other critters. There was a sort of bulletin board out front – if you lost your cat or wanted to sell a pan or a diamond, you just scribbled a note and tacked it to the board.”
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Booths with the big windows. |
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Vince Roland: “The old Lake Drug Store – if you needed anything, any news of anything, that’s where you would go. They had a big plate glass window. And you could sit and drink coffee and look out at the squirrels and the armadillos. Dr. Beutel used to come to town every Sunday and he’d come to the old Lake Drug Store to drink coffee."
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Monroe Schrader: “Lake Drug was everybody’s favorite coffee shop. People used to stop there for refreshments and a chat. That was the place to go if you wanted to hear the town’s news. Since Lake Drug’s owner, Art Webb, was a big promoter of the Lake Jackson softball team, the Gators, the drugstore became known as the softball team headquarters.”
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L to R – Art Webb and his wife Elizabeth, Mrs. Hartman
and Mr. Hartman (pharmacist)
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Carleton Young, an early owner of Lake Drug. |
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Leave your lasting imprint AND support the LJHA at the same time.
Pave the walkway to the museum or the Jackson Plantation Historic Site with your personalized brick.Order a Brick here.
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The first winner was the Albarran family. They received a Downtown Tacos gift card. |
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The second winner was Marion Dornan who took home a gift card from Bodega. |
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A third winner, who wished to remain anonymous, was awarded a mug and gift card compliments of Brew-n-Bake. |
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Trivia Answer:
The oldest operating commercial building in Lake Jackson was occupied (until several weeks ago) by the Lake Econo laundromat. It originally (March, 1943) was the site of the Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store.
New Trivia Question:
Who was the first practicing physician in Lake Jackson?
Check back next month for the answer!
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A Special Thank You to Our September Donor
Pat Sury
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Angela Villarreal
Curator
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Cecilia Abad
Digital Programming Specialist
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