The History Museum and Plantation Site
continue to mix the OLD with the NEW
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Lake Jackson Historical Museum is open
Tuesday - Saturday from 10am to 4pm
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Prizes Donated by Downtown LJ Merchants: |
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Reagan Wins Again!
The Sign of the Times exhibit closed on August 15th. Visitors cast ballots for the campaign poster they thought to be the most impressive or eye-catching.
The "America Reagan Country" sign received 30% of the votes cast, making it the overall winner!
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New Exhibit.......
"Treasures from the Vault"
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Play ball! The Gators are back! Raise your glasses! The Dow Hotel is back!
Artifacts from these Brazosport
icons, as well as others, will conjure up fond memories. If you are a new resident, they will tantalize you with the area's history.
Come view treasures never displayed before. Exhibit opens mid-September.
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(left to right) Larry McGowan, Hayden Leus, and Speedy Bullard of the Lake Jackson Gators, July 1952. |
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OLD ITEM.........CURIOUS COLLECTION |
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This interesting photo was given to archaeologist Joan Few during the 1994 excavations conducted on the Jackson Historic Plantation Site.
The person who gave her the picture did not provide any information or explanation and immediately left the site after handing it to her. The sign in the picture reads “Lake Jackson Sugar House."
We do know that the Lake Jackson Sugar Company was founded in 1897/1898 by Rod Oliver. His company took over four acres of the plantation site which contained the sugar house (mill), cane mill sheds, cotton gin, saw mill, and blacksmith shop.
The main house (Jackson mansion) and sugar house (mill) were badly damaged during the 1900 hurricane, but the Lake Jackson Sugar Company continued to operate until its forced bankruptcy in 1904.
If anyone recognizes the man in the picture or knows anything about the sign, please contact the museum curator Angela Villarreal at curator@ljhistory.org.
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LJHA Welcomes New Staff Member |
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Cecilia Abad joins the museum staff as Digital Program Specialist. She brings experience from a variety of museums across the Houston area.
In her new position, she connects the Association to the Lake Jackson community through digital platforms. She maintains the Association's website, social media accounts, and creates online-exhibits and content.
Cecilia graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2016 with an M.A. in history. As a graduate student, she researched local Texas history, including World War I veterans and a historical African American college located in Conroe.
Cecilia is fluent in Spanish. On her time off, she enjoys walking her dogs and taking photographs of nature.
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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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OLDIE, but Goodie....First Pediatric Clinic
Dr. Oscar Johnson and Nurse JoAnn Forse
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The phone rang. “Hello…Granny’s phone,” says a friendly voice at a home on Carnation Street in Lake Jackson. JoAnn Forse, owner of the home, had stepped away. One of her many neighbors, who gathered in her home each evening to share neighborly friendship, answered the phone.
JoAnn has been the “caretaker” and “matriarch” of the 300 block of Carnation Street since 1957, when she and her husband, Clarence, moved in. 1957 also happened to be the same year that JoAnn began her 37-year journey as a pediatrician’s nurse.
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Her journey began when she was a young nursing graduate working at the Freeport hospital, a one-story structure. Dr. Oscar Johnson, the first pediatrician in the Brazosport area, walked up to her and said, “Would you be my nurse?” JoAnn decided to answer the call, and thus began a 27-year working partnership with Dr. Johnson. AND Lake Jackson's first pediatric clinic was born.
The clinic was originally located on South Parking Place, where the Cork Wine Lounge is currently located. Dr.Edwin Cook also practiced in the clinic, which later moved to a larger location on That Way. Changing Reflections Medical Day Spa now occupies that site.
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JoAnn recalls her original uniform as a white dress, white hose, and a white cap. When asked about the biggest difference vs. today, she said, “Back then, we would pick up the babies, hold them, give them shots, and then bring them back to their parents.”
The clinic’s waiting room brings back fond memories to many of us who grew up during the 1960’s and 1970’s, especially the mural of monkeys in a tree painted on the wall!
Although JoAnn retired from formal nursing in 1994, she continues that caring spirit through her lucky neighbors, who are blessed to benefit from her company and compassion on a daily basis!
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Trivia Answer:
The Enchanted Oak tree is about 154 years old. Its acorn took root in 1866.
New Trivia Question:
What is the oldest operating commercial building in Lake Jackson??
Check back next month for the answer!
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A Special Thank You to Our August Donors
Sherrie Ezell, John Fey, Fran Hammond, Susan Buell
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Angela Villarreal
Curator
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Cecilia Abad
Digital Programming Specialist
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