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May 31, 1975 |
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This annual event is sponsored by the Woman’s Club of Collegeport
with the cooperation of all the people of the community.
A covered dish dinner will be served at noon. The meat, coffee and
tea will be furnished so bring something that goes good with
barbecue. Come join the fun, renew old acquaintances and meet new
arrivals.
Collegeport was founded by the Burton D, Hurd Land Company, May 25,
1908, at which time a tract of land was deeded to W. A. Travis for
the building of a college of industrial arts and sciences, and for
the opening and development of waterways.
Collegeport Day was observed on the 25th of the month for more than
half a century. A few years ago the date was changed to the last
Saturday in May, making it more convenient for persons living away
to come and join the activities.
There are still a few pioneers in the community and some who return
each year who can recall the celebrations held at the pavilion, the
Collegeport Hotel and the Community Center (Presbyterian Church)
before the Mopac came into being during the depression years. On May 19, 1910, 36 of the ladies of Collegeport assembled in the spacious parlor of Mrs. Burton D. Hurd’s home (now the home of Mrs. R. E. “Bob’' Smith) for the definite purpose of forming an organization, the purpose of which was yet to be determined. The club sponsored many of the civic activities in the community and has sponsored Collegeport Day from its beginning. The year 1912 found a town of 496, a Business Men's League of 90 members, a Federated Church of 14 denominations, a Woman’s Club of 86 members and the first free library In the county.
Palacios Beacon, May 15, 1975 |
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Big Day set Saturday for Collegeport
Collegeport, founded by Burton D. Hurd Land Company on May 25, 1908, will celebrate its 67th anniversary Saturday, May 31.
This annual Collegeport Day celebration is sponsored by the Woman's Club, which was organized on May 19, 1910, when 36 ladies assembled in Mrs. Burton D. Hurd's spacious parlor.
Collegeport Day, held on the last Saturday of May the past several years, is a day residents and their families and friends get together at the Mopac House at noon and spend the rest of the day renewing acquaintances and talking over old times.
Did you know that Collegeport had the first free library in Matagorda County; or that in 1910-12 there was a bank there, also 2 hotels, a pharmacy, hardware store, lumber yard, book and stationery store, newspaper, planning mill and wood yard, printing house, 2 insurance agents, tonsorial parlor, cleaning and pressing shop and their own telephone company?
In those days, Jno. M. Hobbs was master of the Launch Lucy Lee and made three round trips between Collegeport and Palacios each day.
These will be just a few of the many things recalled Saturday during the Collegeport Day celebration. Join in the fun, you'll have a great day.
Palacios
Beacon, Thursday, May 29, 1975 |
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Collegeport Homecoming Set For Saturday Tombstone, Arizona, often billed as "the town too tough to die," has nothing on Collegeport. True, Collegeport has had its frustrations and the population has dwindled to less than 100, but the town still carries on, as evidenced by the 66th annual homecoming to be celebrated this Saturday at Collegeport's Mopac House. Collegeport began with great enthusiasm in 1908 when the Burton D. Hurd Land Company purchased 41,000 acres just across the bay from Palacios. Pioneers and settlers began arriving later that year. The town's location was selected by the land company because it seemed an ideal place to build bay shore homes and the rich black earth was sufficiently elevated above the bay for agricultural use. Plans were made for a college of industrial arts and sciences and the school opened on schedule with W. A. Travis in charge. 49 students finished the first year's work in 1910. The Gulf Coast University of Industrial Arts, as the school was called, had a plan for its students whereby they not only earned their educational expenses by doing college-related jobs, but were allowed to keep a percentage of their earnings for pocket money. By 1912, Collegeport had grown to almost 500 in population. The Woman's Club had 86 members, a Businessmen's League was formed and citizens established a federated church consisting of 14 different religious denominations. But then trouble set in. Mrs. Dean Merck, one of the original settlers of Collegeport explained that, "My father is an example. The first year he couldn't get any water for his rice crop and the second year all he had was salt water." Mrs. Merck emphasized that one of the major problems with Collegeport agriculture was "people coming from the north with agricultural techniques not well suited to this area. They just didn't know how to farm around here." As a result, she said many left Collegeport. She also mentioned that young people "couldn't get crop allotments from the government and many of them left town too." As the years passed, more and more people moved away from Collegeport. When Hurricane Carla nearly devastated the town in 1961 only minimal efforts were made to rebuild. The only original settlers still living in Collegeport are Mrs. Merck and her husband. She said "there's nothing left of the original town except for my husband and I, the Theo Smith home by the bay, and the Mopac building." The homecoming is celebrated on the last Saturday in May every year. Mrs. Merck said "we have anywhere from 200 to 400 people show up. But so many of the old-timers have passed on and now we only expect about 200." What the homecoming is she explains, is a "big get-together. People come from all over the state--some from out of state--and we reminisce, look at old pictures and have a barbecue." She added that the homecoming's tradition is so strong "that in the late 1930s only two people showed up and they came just to maintain the tradition. One of the worst rainstorms I've ever seen kept people away that year, but Mr. Seth [Corse], the postmaster, and Mr. Harry Austin Clapp kept the homecoming alive.' At last year's celebration Mrs. Roy Nelson, 92, was recognized as the oldest pioneer, but has since died. It's unlikely that the homecoming itself will die anytime soon. So in 1976 Collegeport will in all probability celebrate its 67th homecoming.
Daily Tribune, May 29, 1975 |
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Collegeport observed the 66th homecoming at Mopac house Saturday, May 31st, with friends and former residents coming from as far away as Oklahoma. The attendance was in the neighborhood of 300. Many, some who returned after years of absence, remarked "I believe this is one of the best homecomings we have ever had. The day was beautiful, following the terrible storm Friday afternoon, and the people seemed to have more time for visiting, enjoying the delicious covered dish dinner and the historical display in the library, which was very interesting. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Sjoquist of Houston brought more copies of the the "History of Collegeport" by Mrs. Burton D. Hurd, "M. A. Travis' Autobiography" and "The History of Collegeport Woman's Club," which were given in loving memory of Mrs. Sjoquist's uncle, Burton D. Hurd. If anyone in the area who was unable to attend the homecoming Saturday when the copies were distributed and would like to have copies, call Mrs. Dean Merck, club secretary, who has some extra copies. The Woman's Club president, Mrs. L. C. Smith, welcomed the guests and the Rev. Leslie E. Webb gave the invocation. While the guests were seated at the tables, Dean Merck acting as master of ceremonies, expressed appreciation to the club members for all the work they did to promote the wonderful day of fellowship; to all the community people who pitched in to help; to the local men who barbecued the beef; the meat donors; Mrs. Aaron Penland of Bay City and the Dean Mercks of Collegeport; Billy Boeker of Bay City for P. A. System; Glen Adams for welding the covers for the barbecue pit; to anonymous donors; to our county commissioner Billy Harrison who had a sign "Mopac House, Collegeport, Texas, Collegeport Day, May 31st" placed on the Mopac lawn and for the firewood. At the close, Mr. Merck remarked "With your help, we'll try to have even a greater day in 1976." The Holsworth family volunteered to furnish the meat in 1976, Ira and Chester Corporon and Sanford Crabill in 1977.
Palacios Beacon, June 5, 1975 |
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Registration List |
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Irene Stevenson, Palacios Alice Batchelder, Palacios Elroy Weikel, Palacios Lois Weikel, Palacios Irma Richman, Palacios Lillian Jenkins Dorothy Bullington Francis Rapstain James Slone Deanie Boy Merck, League City, Texas Arthur & Ruth Matthes Thomas Holsworth Willie Holsworth John T. Holsworth Phill Richman Mason Holsworth Margaret Corporon Sue Hodge Phyllis Derrick, Waco, Tex. Dale Callaway, Pal., Tex. Danny Morgan, Pal., Tex. Mr. & Mrs. H. L. Aten, Pal., Tex. Martin?, Pal. Tex. Mary Slone, San Antonio Jerry & Mamie Wells Dorothy Merck Vannie Penland Bobbie Slone & Son Bettye Wells Jesse Derrick Mr. & Mrs. Hubert Boeker Joe Frank Jenkins Luvy Bracken, Bay City Melvin Bracken, Bay City Mr. & Mrs. R. A. Fondon Walter Bowers Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Adams, Angleton, Tx Ira Corporon Barbara Hale T. P. Hale Mrs. C. D. Sanders, Palacios, Tex. Mrs. Pearl Clardy H. I. White Ruby Brown Daisy Thompson, Markham, Tex. Ida Mae Franzen, Collegeport, Texas Margaret Tate Blanch & Robert Louis Billy Harrison G. W. Franzen Joe Ducros, Bay City Sarah Osborne, Bay City Robbie Van Ness, Pasadena, Tex. Louise McCrosky, Bay City Josie Lenz, Palacios, Texas Kay Sjoquist, Houston Roy Sjoquist, Houston Nellie Lee Byrne, Houston Bryan Flewellen, Houston Clara Jenkins Mr. & Mrs. Tony L. Poncik Laverne Flewellen, Houston Julian & Betty Blackwell Pat Cheely & Cindy Jo, Okla City, Oklahoma Audrey Blackwell, Collegeport Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Williams, Midfield Sanford Crabill Melanie Graf Monk and Lula Grace Chiles Edwin Holsworth Pat Richman Rocky Flewellen Jim Murry Ethel Holsworth Rev. and Mrs. Leslie E. Webb Roy & Ethel Williams Beatrice E. Rucker, Collegeport John Edward Rucker, Collegeport Mr. & Mrs. Earl Adams, Jr., Blessing, Tex. E. R. Adams, Sr. Bessie Sue Wilson, Dallas, Tex. Jessie Mildred Kilpatrick Marian Slone (Mrs. J. C.) Jackie Braudrick (Bullington) Bobby Braudrick Ruby Penland Sharon Penland Linette Holsworth Victor Corporon Hazel Merck Paul Lipinsky, Houston Tommy Ellis Pat Ellis Tommie Lynn Ellis Mr. & Mrs. L. W. Corporon Mr. & Mrs. Hubert Boeker Mrs. Jim Penland, Bay City, Tex. Ted and Pauline Dannels Tommy Corporon, Collegeport Mr. & Mrs. Ottmar Schimek, Bay City Mr. & Mrs. Ottmar Schimek, Jr., Anahuac
Mr. & Mrs. Charles
Corporon, Wichita Falls |
Mr. & Mrs. H. F. Goff, Houston Sandy Frank, Danbury Marjorie & Galen Savage Walter & Marjorie Wilkinson, Jr., Bay City, Texas Tony L. Poncik, Bay City Dewey Bullington Margaret Ann Hodge, Katy, Texas Gussie Slone, Bay City Carmilila English McCune Connie McCune, Angleton, Texas Tootsie & Frank Gayle, Markham Phill, Marilyn, Kevin, Patrick & Michael Richman, El Campo Mrs. R. T. Sirmon, Markham, Katy Pat & Lillian Richman, Palacios Bill Hodge, Katy, Texas Lyn Bullington Leftwich Chester Corporon Russell Merck, League City DeDe Penland Betty Morgan, Palacios Terri Franzen, Collegeport Meloni Wells, Palacios Jan Romine Goose Franzen, City V. L. Bowers & Elva Julius Ledwig, Collegeport Bruce Kay, Collegeport R. A. Lonis, Alvin Vlasta Ledwig, Collegeport Jay P. Scott Ledwig, Collegeport Gerald Wells, Jr. Collegeport Dean Merck Noel E. Adams Wesley Franzen Lynda Lenz Traylor Lenz Garrett Lenz Buddy Lenz Ellen Franzen Bryan John H. Adams Marguerite Arlla Derril Franzen Susie White Florence Ellis Ellen & Billy Bryan Aaron B. Penland, Jr. & Family (4), Bay City Minnie Slone Harmon Lolalita Cockburn A. A. Penland Jack Martin, Jr., Houston Edna Martin, Houston Elve Merck Martin Neil Blackwell James Romine, Collegeport Harry Smith, Bay City Mrs. Harry Smith (Lizzie W. Morris Smith) Bill Boeker Su Su Holsworth, Collegeport Bob Penland, Deer Park Mr. & Mrs. Edward Mondrik & Donald, Palacios Fawn Blackwell, Collegeport Wade Blackwell, Collegeport Hollis L. Lund, Collegeport, Houston Minnie Mondrik, Palacios Earl Cockburn Lolalita Cockburn Mr. & Mrs. P. V. Corporon Mrs. H. C. Puckett Theora Merck McRee, Houston Edna Burleson, Houston Mrs. Aaron B. Penland, Sr., Bay City Mr. & Mrs. Clifton Frank, Danbury Carol Frank, Danbury John Merck, Bay City C. L. Chambless, Bay City John W. Rucker, Collegeport, Texas Charlene Corporon Mr. & Mrs. Weldon Corporon, Brian & Terry Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Jurek, Jonathan & Sarah Beth Galen Merck Pete Atkinson, Houston Bessie M. Ware Thelma Batchelder Nelda Merck Mark Merck Roy Morgan J. M. Bullington Priscilla Richman Rick Owen Susan Richman Dianne Derrick Keith Wallis Andy Louderback Carl Corporon Paul Penland Tibbie Saha Norene Murry Mary Halfen Mike Jenkins & Mabel & Baby Ray Lee Penland
Cullen Smith |
