A flood in 1886 destroyed the original falls on the Wichita River for which the city is named. After nearly 100 years of visitors wanting to visit the non-existent falls, the city built an artificial waterfall beside the river in Lucy Park. The recreated falls are 54 feet high and recirculate at 3,500 gallons per minute. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know If the Falls in Wichita Falls are Real?
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Texas History – What Texas Governor Spent Only Thirty-Five Cents on His Campaign?
Texas governor Oran Milo Roberts (1879-1883) reported to have spent a sum total of only thirty-five cents on his campaign. After serving as Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court for four years, he received a unanimous nomination from the Democratic Convention to run for governor. In 1878, he was elected governor of Texas and served two terms. He was elected on a platform of post-Reconstruction fiscal reform. Both of his gubernatorial terms were marked by a reduction in state expenditures. … [Read more...] about Texas History – What Texas Governor Spent Only Thirty-Five Cents on His Campaign?
Texas History – Do You Know Who Was the First Pilot to Utilize Landing Wheels?
In 1910, at Fort Sam Houston, Lieutenant Benjamin Foulois became the first pilot to utilize the aeronautical innovation of landing wheels. While serving in the Aviation Section Signal Corps, Foulois was directed by the Army’s Chief Signal Officer, Brigadere General James Allen, to "teach yourself to fly." He did so on March 2, 1910, on the Arthur MacArthur parade field making four flights on a S.C. No. 1, which included his first solo takeoff, first solo landing and first crash. Fifteen months … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Who Was the First Pilot to Utilize Landing Wheels?
Texas History – Do You Know What Special Division of the Texas Rangers Was Formed in 1874?
In 1874, a special division of the Texas Rangers, called the Frontier Battalion, was organized to bring stability to the western part of Texas. The battalion consisted of six companies of 75 men each under the command of Major John B. Jones. This group played a major role in the control of ordinary lawbreakers as well as defense against hostile Indian tribes, which was particularly necessary in the period of lawlessness and social collapse of the Civil War Reconstruction period. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know What Special Division of the Texas Rangers Was Formed in 1874?
Dying Thoughts—What Do We Regret the Most?
Not surprisingly, most people start to ponder and analyze their life as they approach death. People start to think about regrets and what they would change if they had the opportunity. Of course people’s regrets are as individual as they are; however, it appears that there are some common themes surrounding the concept of regrets. Those themes are explored in the book “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying” that was written by a palliative nurse from Australia. The author of the book was a nurse … [Read more...] about Dying Thoughts—What Do We Regret the Most?
Texas History – Do You Know Who Was the First Woman to Receive the Distinguished Service Medal?
Houstonian Oveta Culp Hobby was the first woman to receive the distinguished service medal on December 31, 1944. During World War II Hobby headed the War Department’s Women’s Interest Section for a short time and then became the Director of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later the Women’s Army Corps), which was created to fill gaps left by a shortage of men. The members of the WAC were the first women other than nurses to be in Army uniform. Hobby achieved the rank of colonel and received the … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Who Was the First Woman to Receive the Distinguished Service Medal?
Texas History – Do You Know What Dallas Businesswoman Had the First Iron Bridge Across the Trinity River Built?
Sarah Horton Cockrell was a businesswoman and entrepreneur of Dallas. In 1860 she received a charter from the Texas Legislature to build an iron suspension bridge across the Trinity River. Construction was delayed due to the Civil War. It was not until 1870 that she found investors for the Dallas Bridge Company, in which she retained the majority of the shares. In accord with the social convention, she never served on the bridge company’s board but left formal membership to her son Frank and … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know What Dallas Businesswoman Had the First Iron Bridge Across the Trinity River Built?
Texas History – Do You Know Who Was the Only Woman Pictured on Confederate Money?
Lucy Holcombe Pickens, a Tyler resident, was the only woman pictured on Confederate money. Pickens was known during and after her lifetime as the "Queen of the Confederacy." She was described as "beautiful, brilliant, and captivating" by her male contemporaries and this perception of her helped shape the stereotype of the "Southern belle." Pickens is the only woman to be depicted on the currency of the Confederate States of America. She is on three issues of the $100 bill and one issue of the $1 … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Who Was the Only Woman Pictured on Confederate Money?
Texas History – Who Did Wyatt Earp Call the Most Dangerous Man Alive?
Wyatt Earp called Dr. John H. ("Doc") Holliday, the gambling gunfighter who practiced dentistry in Dallas at one time, the most dangerous man alive. As a young man, Holliday earned a D.D.S. degree in dentistry and set up a practice in Atlanta, Georgia. However, in 1873 he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, the same disease that had claimed his mother when he was 15. He moved to the American southwest in hopes that the climate would prolong his life. Taking up gambling as a profession, he acquired … [Read more...] about Texas History – Who Did Wyatt Earp Call the Most Dangerous Man Alive?
Texas History – Do You Know Who Drew the First Topographical Map of Texas?
Gail Borden, Jr. received his only formal schooling in Indiana during 1816 and 1817, learning the art of surveying. In 1822, Borden set out with his brother, Thomas, originally intending to move to New Orleans but instead, somehow ended up in Mississippi. Borden stayed in Mississippi for seven years working as the county surveyor and as a schoolteacher in Bates and Zion Hill. In 1829, Borden left Mississippi for Texas. As a surveyor he plotted the towns of Houston and Galveston. In 1835, he … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Who Drew the First Topographical Map of Texas?
