Fort Croghan Day

Fort Croghan Day is coming soon! Fort Croghan Day is a celebration of the original Texas settlers who were brave enough to make the sometimes dangerous yet stunningly beautiful rolling hills of central Texas their home. Fort Croghan Day is held at the Fort Croghan Museum in Burnet, one of the first four military forts built by the U.S. Army in 1849 during their efforts to protect settlers from attacks by the Comanche.

Fort Croghan is remarkably well-preserved. The sturdy, oak buildings of Fort Croghan once served officers and soldiers alike with a hospital and officer’s quarters. The buildings also offered the promise of protection for local residents during possible attacks. It was this promise of protection that helped establish confidence in the settlers that their families would be safe, and Burnet and the surrounding area quickly grew to such an extent that military protection was no longer necessary.

Fort Croghan was closed in 1853. It is now a museum with Old West artifacts including a 100-year-old square grand piano, an 1852 ballot box, saddles and old jail doors from the county jail. Most of the items on display date back to around 1875. There are many cabins still intact, such as the blacksmith shop, stagecoach house, powder house, and schoolhouse.

On October 10th, the Fort Croghan Museum will hold its annual Fort Croghan Day, a demonstration of how life was lived on the Texas frontier and specifically within the walls of Fort Croghan. There will be demonstrations by craftspeople such as blacksmiths and bakers, and lessons held in the classroom of the school house. There will also be live music and, as always, plenty of people willing to talk about the history of the area. Fort Croghan Day will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission and parking is free, though they do accept donations, which I am certain are greatly appreciated.

Fort Croghan is in Burnet, Texas at 703 Buchanan Drive, or Highway 29 West. It is open for visitors from April to October, Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. You can call them at: (512) 756-8281. Their web page is at: http://www.fortcroghan.org/index.htm

Old West Museum

When I was just a kid growing up in Colorado the most talked about event of the year was Cheyenne Frontier Days across the border in Wyoming. Rodeo, parades, concerts, food, and fun, Cheyenne Frontier Days had it all, and it still does, year after year. And year after year there has been dedicated people working behind the scenes to make Frontier Days special. On September 11, 2009, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum will hold its Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person and the seating is limited, so call them as soon as you can to make your reservation at (307) 778-7290.

I also recommend checking out the Old West Museum web page because there is just so much going on at the museum that you don’t want to miss. They currently have a retrospective exhibit of the art of sculptor Chris Navarro. I had the privilege of seeing his work displayed at Colorado State University once and it is outstanding. The exhibit will be on display through October 14th. The museums website is at www.oldwestmuseum.org/

Cowboy Poetry

I can’t think of anything more Western-romantic than cowboy poetry, which becomes more popular each year. In fact, the 24th Annual Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering will be held in Lewistown, Montana, August 14-16, 2009.

The goal of the gathering is to preserve the heritage of the open range with displays of the visual and oral cultural history of the West. According to the gathering’s organizers, 90% of the performers are ranchers, stockmen, and descendents of original homesteaders and settlers.

This is the oldest cowboy poetry gathering in the United States. The second oldest is held each February in Alpine,Texas. The Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering is listed as one of 1000 Places to See in the US and Canada before You Die in the travel directory by Patricia Schultz.

The Gathering offers poetry and music sessions as well as displays of western artwork, rope art, leather craft, and other vendor items. All of the day activities are at The Yogo Inn on Main Street in Lewistown. The Saturday night show, starring Baxter Black, Mike Logan and two kid radio contest winners, is at the Fergus Center for the Performing Arts, which is attached to Fergus High School.

A pin-pass for everything at The Yogo Inn is $8 per person. The night show is $17.50. Tickets may be charged with VISA or MC by calling 406-535-8278. The Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering is produced by the Lewistown Art Center, a non-profit organization and you will find more information on their website at: http://www.lewistownartcenter.org/5.html.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July! Today is the day we celebrate our independence on the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed, but to me, the Fourth of July also represents a time to reflect on all those men and women who put their lives on the line each day to protect that independence. Thank you to our soldiers and your families. Thank your for your sacrifice, your service, your dedication. As our county employees and volunteers struggle in the 104 degree Central Texas heat to prepare for tonight’s spectacular show, I am grateful that they are the ones sweating their fannies off and not me! But I am also very much aware of the fact that without our soldiers, we would not have the freedom to celebrate—or not celebrate--as we choose.

The Fourth of July fireworks have always been one of my favorite ways to celebrate. I remember a time when I was a child and my parents dragged my bratty little brother and two fighting sisters up the side of the mountain to an isolated camping spot on the fourth of July. We walked at least half an hour at dusk to find “the special rock” a friend of the family had told us about, a place to perch and watch the fireworks display. I grumbled as much as my sisters, wondering how on earth we would possibly be able to see anything shooting off into the night sky when we were surrounded by towering pine trees and disgusting little biting bugs. When we finally reached the rock and situated ourselves, and I took the time to look out over the valley, I realized why my parents had struggled so hard to drag their four children up a mountain in the heat of summer. I could literally see for hundreds of miles. I swear I could see as far as the Wyoming border. I could see Kansas, New Mexico, even Texas—and I was just a tiny little girl on a rock in Colorado! There’s nothing like the American West to warm the heart and soul and remind you of the beauty of our world.

The fireworks in Denver were truly amazing that year. Moments I will never forget. According to the July 6, 1876 issue of the Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado held its first public celebration that same year. There were speeches and music provided by the Council Bluffs Band at a picnic held in a grove near the mouth of the Cherry Creek River, which is where the City of Denver also got its start so many years ago. Lawrence, Kansas held its first Fourth of July celebration in 1855 with a crowd of 1500. Helena, Montana held its first public Fourth of July celebration in 1865 at Owyece Park with a speech given by George M. Pinney.

When I was a child, I remember a few Fourths spent listening to speeches and music, but most of our celebrations involved lots of hot dogs, fresh fruit and lemonade, baseball games with the neighbors and swimming in kiddy pools. The Fourth of July to me is a time to celebrate with family, celebrate the beauty of our country, and celebrate our right to celebrate for any reason we choose. May you all have a happy Fourth of July!

Lithuanian Settlers in Texas

I love stopping at roadside markers and have always enjoyed reading about the early settlers of the Old West. One of the most fascinating aspects of the Old West is the diversity in its settlement. From the Germans—including my ancestors--who brought their families and fantastic cooking to Texas, to the Welsh, Irish, and Mexican miners who brought their skills and legends to the Colorado coal mines, and the Chinese laborers who built the American railroads at the cost of many lives, the story of the Old West is truly the story of a changing World.

There is one group of world travelers who settled in Texas in the mid 19th century with their families and friends whose contribution to the local culture was overlooked for many years. They eventually joined the many German families in the area to create a thriving community in the Yorktown vicinity of De Witt County, Texas. These settlers were from Lithuania, and they traveled to Texas to start a new life in the Old West, but it was very much a new world to them, and they settled in a new state, as well!

Texas was its own country from 1836 until it was admitted into the Union of the United States of American in 1845, but the borders of Texas were not formally established until 1850. According to the Texas Settlement Region website, the first Lithuanian family to arrive in Texas was most likely that of David and Dora (Scholze) Stanchos, who made their home near Yorktown in 1852. Undoubtedly, there were many other Lithuanian immigrants who followed their path. These early immigrants would have been drawn into the American Civil War in the 1860s and perhaps had family members fighting for both armies, as happened with many families during the Civil War, especially in Texas!

Twenty two years later an additional 70 immigrants arrived from Lithuania from the province of Gumbinnen, which was part of East Prussia at that time. These immigrants were likely trying to escape cultural and religious oppression in their homeland, which was torn apart during the Napoleonic Wars. These settlers reached the American shores at the ports of Galveston and Indianola. Most of the Lithuanian settlers made their living through farming. They and their families were buried at Jonischkies Cemetery.

There is now a roadside marker near Yorktown commemorating these early Lithuanian settlers. It is located at FM 119 and Alvis Road about 4 miles south of Yorktown near Royal Oaks.

Fort Croghan: A Fun and Fascinating Place to Visit

A visit to the Texas Hill Country brings many surprises. In addition to the amazing beauty of the rolling hills and fields bursting with spring flowers, there are also a large number of carefully preserved historic sites. Near the city of Burnet in central Texas lies the third of the first four military forts built by the U.S. Army in 1849 during their efforts to protect settlers from Comanche attacks.

Fort Croghan was named for Colonel George Croghan, who has a fascinating story of his own. Croghan was a military hero who fought in the War of 1812. As a 21 year old officer, Croghan successfully defended Fort Stephenson in Ohio in a battle with British forces led by General Proctor. Croghan was later promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Mexican War and later retired to New Orleans where he served as their postmaster.

The Texas fort served the local residents well. It had a large, four-room log building to serve as a hospital. It also had four log buildings serving as officer’s quarters and many other buildings. All buildings were made of oak, which is the logical choice in the Live Oak-covered hills of Texas. In 1852, the fort became the headquarters of the Second Dragoons. The presence of the soldiers in this area built confidence in settlers and soon, Burnet and the surrounding area was large enough to establish its own county. As the town and county grew, the need for protections provided by the fort diminished. In 1853, the U.S. government decided there was no longer a need for soldiers in the area and Fort Croghan was closed.

Fort Croghan now has a museum with a collection of Old West artifacts that includes a 100-year-old square grand piano, "pump" organs, and an 1852 ballot box. There are saddles and side-saddles, and old jail doors from the county jail. Most of the items on display date back to around 1875. In addition to the many cabins still intact, there is also a blacksmith shop, stagecoach house, powder house, and schoolhouse.

Fort Croghan is in Burnet, Texas at 703 Buchanan Drive, or Highway 29 West. It is open for visitors from April to October, Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. You can call them at: (512) 756-8281. Their web page is at: http://www.fortcroghan.org/index.htm

Foot-Stompin' Music

I love music, but I must confess that as a history writer I do not explore the music world as much as I do the world of the past. I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across the myspace page of Curbside Jimmy and Washboard Jean and listened to some of their songs. Their rendition of “Will the Circle be Unbroken” reminded me of a childhood Sunday morning. Their music has a down-home, country feel that left me tapping my feet, humming and smiling. I was equally surprised that I somehow managed to catch Curbside Jimmy for a quick interview, and at the end of the interview, he made some interesting comments about history, as well!

DSD: Jimmy, your website identifies you and Jean as the sole survivors of the Curbside Jug Band, a popular San Antonio band from the 1990s. Can you tell us a bit about this group?

Curbside Jimmy: It is true that we played out of San Antonio. However, we weren't popular. We always got a good response wherever we played but we were never well known. Live music is not popular. Most live music venues end up being musicians watching other musicians. The band started in 1999 when I was a cab driver. I kept a guitar or banjo in my car. Over time several of us began playing at cab stands when we were waiting for fares. Hence the name curbside. That’s where we started, on the curbside.

DSD: When did you first start playing music?

Curbside Jimmy: My grandmother gave me a harmonica when I was about 12. I have carried one ever since. I started playing guitar as a young teenager. In the 60's I played bass with a band rock and roll band called the Runaways. Also as a teenager, I played bass with a country band at an ice house on Sunday afternoon. I got paid $8.00 for 4 hours and that was good money for a kid on Sunday. The rock and roll band paid better. We each usually got $25.00. The rock and roll band actually was popular.

DSD: How would you describe your music, and what attracts you to this particular style?

Curbside Jimmy: What I play now is raw and unpolished blues and old country. I am a minimalist in everything I do. The music sounds the way it does mostly because I am slightly awkward, and not good at copying others. With a lot of practice I have become little less awkward, so it comes across as relaxed I guess. My mistakes have started sounding like they belong in the music.

DSD: How does one learn how to play a “jug?”

Curbside Jimmy: It helps if they have played bass and have bass lines rolling around in their head. The jug is played by vibrating the lips while blowing into the jug. The most important thing is knowing what a bass part sounds like. The technique takes practice.

DSD: You play the Guitarron, as well. What exactly is a Guitarron and how does the sound add to your music? Is it difficult to play?

Curbside Jimmy: A guitarron is a bass instrument that is made in Mexico and played in different types of Mexican music. It serves the same function as a string bass. I find that it has a stronger presence acoustically than a string bass.

DSD: You apparently have strong feelings about electronic sound tracks and virtual instruments. Could you explain that for us?

Curbside Jimmy: I don't have any feelings about it. If someone makes music by programming a machine that is real skill. Most people love electronic drums. They are used in most commercial recordings. Virtual instruments offer a degree of precision that persons such as I can't match. But there is a warmth and a sense of sincerity that is lost in virtual music. I can offer warmth and sincerity in my music. A musician has to trade one for another. Both goals are worth while.

DSD: How do you feel about musicians who record their own music?

I must like them because I am one of them. Any other song I record is public domain.

Jimmy: I need to say something about music and history since you are a history person. Music gives a very accurate account of history as experienced and perceived by the poor and middle class. A person could read a book and find out how dangerous train travel was 100 years ago and back. The same person could listen to the "Wreck of The Old 97" and get a clear picture also.


The myspace page for Curbside Jimmy and Washboard Jean can be found at: http://www.myspace.com/curbsidejimmyandwashboardjean