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Collegeport, founded May 25, 1908, will observe its 67th annual homecoming on the last Saturday in May, the 31st.
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 a 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 the 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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For the past 86 straight years, they have gathered together on the final Saturday of May. This year will be no exception as current and former residents, friends and families gather this Saturday (May 27) at the Mopac House for the 87th celebration of Collegeport Days. The annual community gathering under the shade trees of the Mopac House marks the founding of Collegeport. The celebration will center around a barbecue meal and a wide assortment of covered dish selections at 12 noon. Special recognition will be given to the oldest and youngest persons in attendance, the most recently and longest married couples, and the person traveling the farthest to attend. The Collegeport Days homecoming has been held at the Mopac House for the last 60 years. Before that, the former Collegeport Pavilion, Hotel Collegeport and the First Federated Church had been sites for the event. According to the 1995 Collegeport Days Newsletter compiled by Collegeport historian and long-time resident Dorothy Merck and edited by G. W. Franzen, the Mopac House became that area's community house after St. Louis Railroad trustees in 1934 donated lumber from the soon-to-be demolished Collegeport railroad depot to the Industrial League. The only request made was that it be named Mopac House and attached to the Collegeport Library which had been organized by the Woman's Club of Collegeport and was the first free library in Matagorda County. In January 1935, the Industrial League conveyed the Mopac House and property to the Mopac House Foundation to be used as a place for entertainment, luncheons, meetings and gathered of civic and religious organizations. "The Mopac House has been a wonderful asset to the community," Mrs. Merck says in the newsletter. She noted that in the 1940s it was used as the school lunchroom and served as Red Cross kitchen for several weeks after Hurricane Carla devastated the area in 1961, as well as a temporary home for two families whose homes had been destroyed. "Of course the Mopac House is where we now gather each year to celebrate Collegeport Day," wrote Mrs. Merck. "Once, when the weather didn't permit the annual gathering, H. A. Clapp and Seth Corse walked to the Mopac to have their lunch in order to keep tradition." It's been a tradition that has lasted 87 years.
Palacios Beacon, May 24, 1995 |
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Over 200 celebrants at last Saturday's Collegeport Day reunion ate, laughed and visited with family and old friends. The following received special recognition from the crowd: Percy Corporon (94 years old-oldest man), Dorothy and Dean Merck (married longest-63 years), Ted and Diana Pennington (most recently married-six months), Fannie Stallard (93 years oldest woman), Alma Kuchar (traveled farthest-California), Ashley Hurlbert (youngest-six months), daughter of Matt and Heather Hurlbert. Ashley is also the granddaughter of Baker and Adele Wright.
Palacios Beacon, May 31, 1995 |
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 Al Hurta (cowboy hat), Percy Corporon (wheelchair), George Hejtmanek, Duane Corporon Standing: Charles Corporon, Dean F. Merck, Eugene Corporon |
 Sonny Brhlik, Margaret Lynn, Bill Lynn |
 Rosalie Nelson Ellis, Betty Canfield & W. L. Ellis |
 Ruby Brown |
 Duane Corporon (far left), Judy McClelland, Fern Harvey, Betty, Dovie Hejtmanek |
 Rev. John McClelland & Dorothy Corporon |
 Al Hurta & Bill Fehmel |
 Margaret & Bill Lynn |
 Working at the pit |
 Herb Henry, Bill Fehmel, Ruby Brown, Dean & Dorothy Merck & Clifford Franzen |
 Bill & Dorothy Jenkins |
 Bullington Sisters Daisy Thompson, Tootsie Gayle & Ruby Brown |
 Rev. Doug Blaton & Rev. John McClelland |
 W. L. Ellis & Billy Jenkins |
 Elmo Duke & Bob Trull |
 Rev. John McClelland & Dorothy Corporon |
 Ethel Holsworth & Ethel Williams |
 Ethel Sirman Holsworth & Dorothy Franzen Merck |
 Sonny Brhlik |
| Surnames for indexing: Franzen, Gayle, Merck, Corporon, Fehmel, Duke, McMillan, Hodge, Ellis, O'Brien, MacBain, Adams, Van Wormer, Clapp, Baldwin, Thompson, Hurd, Wilkinson, Corse, Angelo, Bowers, Corporon, Fulcher, Hale, Slone, Harmon, Highberg, Jackson, Jenkins, Law, Richardson, Smith, Weikel, Williams, Holsworth, Murry |
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