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May 25, 1974
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Reunion Held Young and old, from far and near--they all flocked to Collegeport over the weekend. They all had one thing in common. It was homecoming time. Since 1910 the Woman's Club of Collegeport has sponsored a special day for former residents and the descendants of the early pioneers to gather. The function featured a covered dish dinner at the Mopac House, focal point of all Collegeport activities. Inside the house, in the library, a special display had been set up, featuring pictures of turn-of-the century activites and copies of the Collegeport Chronicle, one of the early newspapers of the area. Each person who attended was given several documents. They included a copy of the history of Collegeport, prepared by Mrs. Burton D. Hurd in 1934; a history of the sponsoring Woman's Club, and the life of M. A. Travis, a pioneer settler, a publisher and early preacher in the area. These three items were printed by Hurd's niece, K. Sjoquist of K&R Reproductions of Houston. Hurd, of course was the primary figure in the settlement of the area early in this century. A fourth document, which those attending indicated they would cherish as a souvenir, was a reproduction of an early business directory. The directory listed exactly 28 phone numbers in the Collegeport area and had ads by such firms as Avenue Hotel, Collegeport State Bank, Collegeport Book and Stationery Store, Thos. M. Clark Groceries and Grocers and Gents' Furnishings at the establishment of D. H. Morris.
Daily Tribune, May or June 1974 |
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Many former residents returned to Collegeport Saturday to celebrate the 66th anniversary of the founding of Collegeport, May 25, 1908. The Mopac House and Library accommodated more then 250 guests who registered. Due to the death of Mrs. Dewey Bullington, a former resident, who had numerous relatives and friends in the community, many who had planned to come to the annual homecoming were unable to attend. The funeral was at 2:00 on Saturday. Promptly at 12 o'clock, Dean Merck, master of ceremonies, welcomed the crowd. The Rev. Leslie E. Webb, Jr., moderator of the Collegeport Presbyterian Church, gave the invocation. After the folks had filled their plates with barbecue and the many good things from the covered dishes, Mr. Merck, in behalf of the community and the Woman's Club which always sponsors Collegeport Day, expressed appreciation to all who had give so freely of their time and resources. Special thanks were extended to the meat donors: Mrs. John Merck and John Merck, Jr., Mrs. Roy Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Ellis and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Williams. Mrs. Roy Nelson, who celebrated her 92nd birthday in March, was given special recognition--the only pioneer of 1909 still living in Collegeport. Also recognized was Mrs. Weldon Sullivan of Bay City who had helped laminate Collegeport Chronicles of 1910 and 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Sjoquist of Houston were introduced and given a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks for their contribution to the day. Mrs. Sjoquist, the daughter of Mrs. Nora Belle Culp--music teacher in the Gulf Coast University and the niece of Burton D. Hurd, printed the History of the Woman's Club, Mrs. Hurd's History of Collegeport and Chapter VIII of Rev. M. A. Travis' Autobiography. The above mementoes and a copy of The Collegeport Directory were distributed to all the families present. Mr. Merck told of the many years that Mrs. Fred Law had given as leader of the Girl Reserves and as president of The Woman's Club. He introduced the new president, Mrs. L. C. Smith, who presented a plaque to Mrs. Law, given in appreciation of her many years of devoted service by the Woman's Club. The guests were reminded to visit the library where pictures and Collegeport Chronicles, New Era Papers, Hotel Register, etc., were displayed. Mr. Billy Boeker of Boeker TV of Bay City provided the public address system for the day. Collegeport has sent out into the world lawyers, teachers, preachers, engineers, farmers, doctors, accountants, executives, etc., but still has retained a nucleus of the people in the world. The following footnote might be added to Mrs. Hurd's History of Collegeport. The name of R. "Bob" Murry was omitted from the history. Abstract titles show that R. D. Murry, father of Jimmy Murry and Mamie Murry Pennington, signed an affidavit October 5, 1907 stating that he was familiar with the land embraced in what is commonly known as the A. B. Pierce Ace of Clubs Ranch...that he had known such land for more than 25 years. Jimmy Murry told this reporter that his father worked on the ranches owned by the Pierce Brothers and later for John Pierce. His father had told him about the early settlement in Portsmouth, formerly Palacios. Lumber from dismantled buildings was loaded onto a raft and pulled by boat to Pilkington Slough where it was loaded onto an ox cart to the location of the Slough Ranch. The lumber was used to build the home and camp houses around 1890. Among the pioneers returning for the annual homecoming were: Victor Yeamans, Charles Yeamans, Dale Welsby and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Heemer, Mr. and Mrs. Kay Legg, Mrs. J. F. (Merck) Kilpatrick, Mrs. R. (Merck) McRee, Mrs. C. E. (Merck) Wilson, Mrs. M. Jack (Merck) Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Merck, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Smith.
Palacios Beacon, May 30, 1974 |
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Hollis L. Lund Buddy & Rose Conover, Brazoria, Tex. Derril Franzen, Collegeport Lamar Kay, Collegeport Mr. & Mrs. Verner Bowers, Palacios, Tex G. W. Franzen, Collegeport Harry Smith, Bay City, Tex. Mr. & Mrs. Joe Bagley, Collegeport, Tex. Dorothy Merck, Collegeport, Tex Margaret Lawson, Bay City Peggy Pittman, Palacios Juani Pittman & Charles Meloni Wells John Rusk Ira Corporon Jesse Ellis, Port Lavaca, Texas Mrs. G. A. Sholar, Rosharon, Tex. Mrs. Frank Knight, Alvin, Tex. Edwin Holsworth Mr. & Mrs. Glen Hutson, Palacios Bonnie Washington, Brazoria, Tex. Marilyn & Jerry D. Washington, Brazoria, Tex. R. L. Corporon, Citrus Grove, Tex. Mr. & Mrs. A. B. Penland, Bay City Eugene Corporon, Conroe, Texas Mr. & Mrs. Jim Penland, Bay City Mr. & Mrs. Tony L. Poncik, Bay City, Texas Laverne Flewellen & 4 boys, Houston Earl Bonner, AP Ranch Angie Perry Pat Richman Mr. & Mrs. Jim Bob Murry, Lake Jackson Phill, Marilyn, Kevin, Patrick, & Michael Richman, El Campo, Tex. Mr. & Mrs. Harold Hunt, Tommy & Kelli, Palacios, Tex. Mamie Pennington, Collegeport Teddy Pennington James & Beverly Penland, Palacios Amy Holsworth Mrs. Roy Nelson, Recognized as oldest pioneer, age 92, came in 1909 Rosalie Ellis Joe Frank Jenkins Ray Rusk Geren Rusk Mrs. Gus Franzen (Ida Mae), Collegeport, Texas Roland Fondon, Citrus Grove Jeanne Fondon, Citrus Grove Rosalie Ellis Carrie Nelson Ma Landers, Blessing H. T. Walters, Blessing Mrs. H. T. Walters, Blessing Reba Corporon Price, Freeport, Tex. W. Herbert Price, Freeport, Tex. Lizzie Will Smith (Morris) Bay city Mr. & Mrs. Crayden Dennard, Houston, Texas Mrs. R. L. Corporon Ethel Nelson Williams, Bay City, Texas Percy Ellis Leonard & Margaret Heemer, Carmine, Tx. Allen N. Corporon Lex and Ruby Lechtenberg Linette Holsworth Kathy Lewis, Palacios Kristi Lewis, Palacios Robby Lewis, Palacios Lynda Lenz, Collegeport Traylor Lenz, Collegeport Garrett Lenz, Collegeport Mr. & Mrs. P. V. Corporon Mr. & Mrs. Carl Ackerman Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Lonis, Manuel, Texas Mrs. W. E. Sullivan, Bay City Jack & Edna Martin, Houston Robert, Joy, Kathy & Kay Kezler, Point Comfort Brian Bowers Helen Bowers Helen & Ray Bowers Mr. & Mrs. Roy Corporon & Family (5), Victoria Kim Corporon Mr. & Mrs. W. H. Boeker, Sr. Theora Merck McRee Kenneth Kay Leslie E. Webb, Jr. Leslie Webb III Ralph Webb Terri Franzen Tena Shimek Marguerite Penland Bettye Wells Robbie Jurek Irene Stevenson Lois Weikel Denise Penland Robert Boeker Ruby Penland Robert & Paul Murry, Lake Jackson Lillian Richman, Palacios Pat Richman, Palacios Mrs. Sid Rickman (Irma), Palacios Susan I. Richman, Palacios Russell Law & Robin Vadis Corporon Tish Corporon Victor Corporon R. A. Lonis J. C. Slone Marian Slone Harold Bowers Walter Bowers Wayne Bowers Mark Koening Sandi Freeman Kay Sjoquist Roy Sjoquist Sarah Beth Jurek Dale Corporon Todd Corporon Norene Murry, Collegeport Mark Murry Fawn Blackwell, Collegeport, Tex. Beryl & Fred Law H. I. and Susie White, Bay City, Texas Mr. & Mrs. Jessie Ellis, Port Lavaca, Texas Jesse Lee & Mark Ellis W. T. McKissick Cathrine Warren, Austin, Tex Mr. & Mrs. M. A. Ellis, Collegeport Mr. & Mrs. Dale Welsby, San Antonio, Texas Mr. & Mrs. Robert Louis Mrs. Luby Christmas Magdalene Halfen Mr. & Mrs. A. A. Penland Chas. V. Yeamans, Bay City Priscilla Richman Rick Owen, Waco Dianne Derrick, Waco Mrs. Jesse Derrick (Phyllis), Waco Jesse Derrick, Waco Bill Boeker, Bay City Panola Merck, San Antonio, Tex. Jerry Merck, San Antonio, Tex. Elve Merck Martin, Houston, Texas Bessie Merck Wilson, Dallas, Texas William Edwards, Wharton, Tex. Peggy Edwards, Wharton, Tex. Ottmar Schimek, Bay City, Texas Thelma Batchelder, Palacios, Tex Mr. & Mrs. Tony L. Poncik, College Station Mr. & Mrs. James E. Penland & 2 children, Bay City Mr. & Mrs. Mike Jenkins Sandy Hurta & Scott Ledwig, El Maton & Collegeport Keith Penland Edwin Bowers, Palacios Janet Bowers, Palacios Mr. & Mrs. Weldon Corporon, Terry & Brian Mittis Bowers, Palacios Ray Rusk Fred Law, Jr., Sugar Land, Texas Fred H. Law, Sugar Land, Texas Allen Law, Sugar Land, Texas Goose Franzen Wesley Franzen Dean Merck Gerald Wells Gerald Wells, Jr. Sue Hodge Glenn Jurek Jonathon Jurek John John Rucker Noel Adams Ethel Holsworth Mason Holsworth Linette Holsworth Jay Romine Jan Romine Suzanne Holsworth Mr. & Mrs. Homer Goff Victor Yeamans Mr. & Mrs. Dan Tucker & 3 children, Palacios Tom Jones W. L. Ellis Bettye Wells Meloni Wells Mr. & Mrs. Pat Mahuran, Houston
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