When this writer (Peggy Weyel) was 3 or 4 years old (about 1950) we went to visit my dad’s (Jesse C. James) aunt Florence and uncle Frank McCoy at Christmas time. Aunt Florence McCoy had a beautifully decorated 6 foot tree with real, live, burning candles on most of the branch ends. I remember bouncing up and down to make the candles really flicker. Then mom tapped my behind to tell me NO jumping. She showed me the lit candles and said that I could have caused a fire. I never jumped again, but the beautifully decorated tree with the lit candles fascinated me. And, I never saw another candle lit Christmas tree…to this day. Dad’s Recollection Begins Many years later (1990s) I asked dad […]
Yearly Archives: 2019
20 posts
I can’t fly, but I can fly a Kite. slow and gentle through the breeze or fast and swift directly into a tree. I see the tail up in a branch What a short life had my new kite. No puedo volar, pero puedo volar un papalote. Lento y ligero en la brisa, raudo y veloz contra el árbol. Alcanzo a ver la cola en una rama. ¡Este papalote, no hadurado nada!
While this isn’t EXCTLY Somerset, Texas history, it is a history of the land that became part of early Bexar County then Texas. This was originally published in the Somerset Historical Society’s historical newsletter, Crossings, the November 2015 edition. SPANISH FAMILIES BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY NORTH Juan Oñate, born in 1550 in Zacatecas, New Spain, of a prominent Spanish family ( his wife was the granddaughter of Hernan Cortez), was awarded land along the northern Rio Grande Valley where the Pueblo Indians lived. Here he expected to find gold like his father who had made a fortune in silver in Zacatecas. In the summer of 1597 he, with more than 500 followers, including 400 soldiers, of whom 130 brought their families of wives and children, and […]
One of Dan Winans’ copyrighted art designs reminds us our long-time worship of God. From the Biblical-historical record, it’s been about 4000 years since Abraham became God’s chosen patriarch whose family story of faith would be shared with all who would hear. God’s love is meant for each of us and for us to share that message of love and hope with others. The Bible passage shared here is from Old Testament, Psalms:33:21. “For our hearts shall rejoice in him because we have trusted in his hold name.” (If you are interested in Dan’s art, Dan can be contacted: TEXAS BOOGIE DESIGNS; P.O. Box743; Somerset, TX 78069.) “Smile. Jesus Loves You” is another one of Dan Winans’ copyrighted works that he is sharing with us. […]
UNCLE LUTHER’S WOLF HOUNDS 1933 “Yes, ma’am, Aint Allie. Mom (Clara McCoy James) has enough eggs to share for your bakin’. I’ll be sure to tell her you need some purty quick.” Jesse Columbus James, aka 10 year old “Sonny,” sat down on the front porch with his “Uncle” Luther. Luther was actually a older cousin to Jesse’s dad, Jesse Garfield James, and husband to “Aint” Allie Beard James. Luther started askin’ his “nephew” how things were going, but living across James Road from his cousins he pretty much knew things were just fine. Fine enough to ask if Sonny-Jesse C. wanted to do some wolf hunting come the evenin’. “Sure, if mom says it’s ok. Dad’s down at Old Man Witherspoon’s ranch, so he […]
Brother Melvin Schupp, supported by his beloved wife Bernice Hicks Schupp, pastored Old Rock Baptist Church for many years. He has preserved much of that church’s history in binders filled with images, stories, and documents. Melvin share his beloved church with members of the Somerset Historical Society at their September, 2019, meeting.