HomeMy WebLinkAboutNotes Concerning College Station compiled by Bill Page Notes Concerning College Station
compiled by Bill Page
"Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas," Galveston Daily News, 23 July 1871.
"Some two thousand acres are prairie and the remainder wooded, chiefly post -oak land.
Along the ravines and valleys, elm, hackberry, persimmon, water and pin -oak and grape
grow. The soil is all good, some excellent, of the quality known as `black sandy prairie,'
with post -oak `openings', partly of like quality, but more sandy. On the Rector farm
about thirty acres of corn is now maturing that will yield some forty bushels of corn per
acre, without any special cultivation. The field is on the highest summit and thinnest soil
of the tract. The charge that it is poor land is unjust and unfounded. The whole tract is
what is called rolling land, neither level nor hilly, and no waste land on it ... There are no
perennial streams of water on the land, nor would it have been easy to secure such,
without a loss of some one of the great advantages possessed by this central locality.
Pools, which abound in this vicinity and are easily constructed, and cisterns must supply
all the water needed. A careful examination has proven that the great wish of the
Commissioners may be accomplished, and the buildings erected of stone. Two kinds are
found, the white and gray sand stone, in many localities within three to ten miles, and the
red sand stone or ferruginous brown sand rock, within five to fifteen miles, and both near
to the railroad. Brick has been made of pretty good quality, on the lands, within half a
mile of the College site, but I am not ready to recommend it. At about two and a half
miles southeast there is ample brick earth of the best quality ...."
We have received the following P.S. from Mr. J. Lamour, from Bryan, Texas, viz.: We
have the Agricultural and Mechanical College all nicely started with about forty -five
hands at work making brick, laying foundations and (unless blockaded by railroad) will
have eighty hands at work in less than two weeks ... Austin Daily Journal, 20 September
1873
"The Agricultural College at Bryan," (Austin) Daily Democratic Statesman, 17 February
1874, p.2, col.l . "It is mostly a black loamy prairie. Though the college is not located
near any running stream, water is easily obtained at a depth of thirty or forty feet below
the surface of the earth. The wells are very profuse in their supply of water. It is
therefore very reasonable to suppose that with an artesian well of proper depth a
sufficient quantity of water could be easily obtained for every purpose which might be
required."
Gathright, Thos. S., "The State College," Galveston Daily News, 29 August 1878, p.4.,
co1.4. "The complaint most current and most flippantly used against this college is, that
we have no agricultural or mechanical departments ... Struggling, however, to meet
every demand, we have planted 1000 apple trees, a number of peach and forest trees, and
are now attempting to make a garden ...."
"Report of the Outgoing Directors at the January Session of the [Texas A &M] Board,
1879," in Texas Senate Journal, l6 Legislature, 1879, pp.205 -208. "One thousand apple
trees have been put out, and most of them are in good condition, and ornamental trees and
shrubs to beautify the grounds have also been set ..."
"The Agricultural and Mechanical College," Galveston Daily News, 4 July 1879, p.2.
"During the present year experiments were had in wheat, oats and corn. The severe drouth
in the early spring prevented the growth of small grain. Composts have been made, a large
garden cultivated and four hundred trees set out on the grounds."
"Mr. Spinelli's Death," Dallas Morning News, 4 February 1886, p.l . "... During the
very cold weather in the middle of January Mr. Spinelli, while playing on a frozen pond
near the college in company with several of his comrades, broke through the ice. The
others immediately went to their rooms and changed their clothing; he alone remained at
the pond with his wet garments on ...."
Bryan, Tex., Dec. 12 ... The artesian well at the agricultural and mechanical college is
progressing very satisfactorily. A great quantity of water has been reached, so that it now
rises to within 100 feet of the top of the well. The water is heavily impregnated with oil.
It is now a matter of a very short time when the well will be flowing. Galveston Daily
News, 13 December 1891, p.13, co1.3
College Station, Tex., April 28 ... A terrific hail storm passed over College last Tuesday.
Some of the stones weighed more than a pound. No damage, as the stones fell very
scattering. Galveston Daily News, 30 April 1894, p.5.
1895: February — "... a massive snowball fight took place on the A &M College campus
in February 1895. A heavy snowfall had occurred, always an unusual event in Brazos
County, and the college cadets engaged in a huge snowball fight. At one point in the
fight the students mounted a sustained attack against Gathright Hall, and during the
struggle the stairway and galleries "were much battered.' The next day, there were sixty -
one names on the sick list at the College." (See: Burgess, Austin E., A Local History of
Texas A.& M. College, 1915, p.14, as described in Brazos County History — Rich Past,
Bright Future, p.350)
"New Features," Battalion, Sept./Nov. 1899, p.23. "To give some idea of how much the
school has improved since its foundation ... I will quote Judge Charles Rogan, one of the
first graduates of the college ... He says, when he arrived at College, "The only buildings
on the grounds were the Main Building and the Mess Hall. The campus extended from
the Main Building to the Brazos river. Sage grass and broom weeds took the place of
lawns, walks, drives, shrubs and ornamental trees. There was no enclosure to turn
trespassing sock or jack- rabbit hunter ..."
Claude Boyett, son of Mr. W.C. Boyett, of College Station, was bitten on the arm at the
wrist by a ground rattlesnake Tuesday night. He was attended by Dr. Raysor and
reported getting along all right yesterday. Bryan Morning Eagle, 14 August 1902, p.3
"Walks," (Texas A &M) Long Horn, 1903, pp.131 -133. "... This is a monotonous rolling
prairie country, with post -oak barrens to vary it ... The Campus itself is as pretty a bit of
`flower prairie' as you will find anywhere about. We all know how gorgeous it is from
February until June or later, with its carpet of chaning colors — red, yellow, white, violet,
and rose. Nowhere will you find more plentiful or in richer color, anemones, buttercups,
gromwells, "Indian blankets," and primroses. But you must go to the woods for violets
and saxifrage, and to sandy woods and fields for `blue bonnets,' and to the `bottoms' for
ferns and cardinal flowers ... The walk down the other railroad is more varied, because it
cuts newly across fields and woods, and is filled in with gravel brought from the bottom,
full of pebbles, fossil shells, and seeds of weeds that do not naturally grow here — prickly
poppies and verenas and a host of spreading, lace -like things that make beautiful pattersn
on the bare clay. Turning off from the railroad just this side of the first trestle, you find a
footpath through the woods, skirting the College pasture for about a mile; and here are
wild violets and lichens and fungi in quantities. The path goes to the head of the ravine
called White's Creek, and on, past several Negro cabins, to the Fish -Tank. This is a
fairly large pond, by comparison with the ordinary pasture tanks about here. It is kept up
by a club of sportsmen in Bryan, who usually have a boat or two on it. It is a good
swimming pool, for the water is not dangerously deep, though very cold below the
surface. The bottom is a stiff white clay. Reeds at one end and youquapin liies, with
their large bowl- shaped leaves, give is some picturesqueness. There are trees enough for
shade in case we care to picnic here, and the tank water is cool and fresh, for it is fed by
springs. In the woods below the Tank White's Creek runs into deep canyons, wild
enough, especially at night, on a coon hunt when you may seen them by the light of a tall
moss - covered tree, aflame to its tip ... Should you leave the campus by either of the side
gates opening onto the Long- Lane - That - Has -No- Turning, north of the College grounds
you will find that a short walk across one of the fields behind the butcher's cottage, will
bring you to a very pretty bit of woods, with large oaks and elms, mossy banks of a small
stream, tangles of vines, and open glades. Here is the place for wood - violets — two kinds
of them. Follow the little stream and you will come out on the Sulphur Springs road,
which bounds College property on the east. From this road there leads off to Carter's
Creek several lanes. We follow them between fields and through post -oak woods for a
good two miles to reach at last the prettiest woods we shall find about here — tall
cottonwoods, elms and oaks, moss -hung and vine -clad; a tangle of stretch -briar and deer -
vine, casino and youpon and holly, making walking rather hard; but we don't mind, for
these woods are worth exploring. The professor of botany will tell you that he finds their
flora quite different from that of the Brazos Valley, and far more interesting. Here, in
midsummer, the cardinal flower blooms; here are ferns and mosses, and sassafras. You
may follow the creek for miles, coming at last on Boyle's Lake, an old fishing ground.
If, again, you leave the campus by the south -side gate, from the Professor's pasture, you
find yourself in Vannay's Lane. Crossing that, where the big pecan tree stands, carved all
over its trunk with cadets' names, some of them of ten or fifteen years back, you walk
through a pasture and emerge on another lane, on the other side of which stands the
Bohemian Dance Hall. This walk is a favorite one, on Saturday nights after taps. But
`that's another story'."
Parties in town from College yesterday reported a heavy wind struck that place about 5
o'clock yesterday morning and made things exceedingly lively for a few seconds. The
big wareroom near the standpipe was demolished, tin roofs injured, chimneys and flues
blown down. The house occupied by Agent Donaldson of the I.& G.N. was blown off
the blocks. The loss will aggregate several thousand dollars. Bryan Daily Eagle, 27
February 1903, p.3
College Station, Tex., Feb.26 — After carefully investigating the damage done to the
buildings of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, it has been found that the damage
is considerably more than at first thought. Several roofs have been ruined and the sheet
iron storehouse was torn to pieces. The local damage will amount to something like
$7,000, if the property is repaired. Dallas Morning News, 27 February 1903, p.9.
A report from College places the damage of the storm Thursday morning at $7000. The
wind ws very heavy for a short time and occasioned much alarm. Bryan Daily Eagle, 28
February 1903, p.3
College Station, Texas — Dear Happyhammers: Here I come to chat a while with you all.
It is wet here now. A mad dog came into the yard last week and papa went out to kill
him, but the gun snapped. There was not a load in it, so the dog got away. I got my seed
on January 19 and was glad to get them. [signed] A true Hap, Abney Garrison. Houston
Post, 1 March 1903, p.39
The snow, which was the heaviest for several years and fairly covered the ground,
disappeared rapidly under the influence of fair weather and sunshine. There was some
"snowballing" here but not as much as usual. At College the boys made it lively for
anybody appearing on the grounds. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 4 February 1904, p.5, col.1
"At College Station," Dallas Morning News, 6 June 1904, p.9. "This, the first day of the
Agricultural and Mechanical College commencement, has been one of varied sunshine
and shadows. The weather was perfect during the morning, but about 5:30 o'clock a
heavy wind and rainstorm came up and cut short the open -air concert being given by the
college band."
"Typhoid at College; Total Twenty -Five Cases," Dallas Morning News, 25 May 1907,
p.9. The semester was ended early because of the outbreak; "it is believed that the source
of infection is the water of an underground cistern, probably contaminated during the
recent heavy rains ... distilled water is now being used at the barracks and boiled water at
the mess hall ...."
"A. and M. College of Texas," Houston Daily Post, 10 November 1907, p.35. "The
authorities of the college have taken time by the forelock and are now preparing to
obviate the necessity of fighting mosquitoes next spring. All possible breeding places
have been done away with and the outlet of the sewer is now being made perfectly
sanitary ..."
College Station, Tex., Nov. 11 — A flurry of snow fell here this afternoon at 5 o'clock. It
is sleeting heavily. Dallas Morning News, 12 November 1907, p.2.
"College Station Events," Dallas Morning News, 17 November 1907, p.3. "A 10,000
gallon cistern has been removed from the mess hall and placed near the new well. The
water from this cistern is pumped from the flow well and is distributed to the barracks for
drinking purposes by a special system of pipes."
"College Station Affairs," Dallas Morning News, 24 November 1907, p.32. "President
Harrington announces that the new well for the college has been completed. It is 350 feet
deep. For 178 feet it is cased with six -inch casing, the remaining distance with four inch
casing. The water is of a good quality and the amount much greater than is necessary for
drinking purposes."
The home of Prof. Fermier of College was struck by lightning during the storm
Wednesday night. The chimneys were knocked off, stoves in the house disturbed, and
other slight damage. But fortunately, no one was injured. Bryan Morning Eagle, 15 May
1908, p.3, co1.2.
"Plans for A.& M. College," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 16 July 1908, p.2, col.l . "Directors
Green, McInnes, Milner and Poteet in counsel with President Harrington decided today to
provide a huge pool for water sports at the A. and M. College. They will throw a dam
across a ravine that runs past the college, distant a half mile, and will impound water
enough to make a pool half a mile long, straight away, 50 to 100 feet wide and from 10 to
20 feet deep. They ordered a survey today and expect a report at the August meeting of
the board orpus Christi. It is their purpose to have the pool ready for use late this year.
They will stock it with fish and afford the college boys a new and healthy outlet for some
of that surplus physical energy that has heretofore been worked off in melodramatic
rebellion."
"A. & M. College News," Dallas Morning News, 24 January 1909, p.12. "Prof. C.H.
Alvord of the Agricultural Department is now using a herd of goats to clean up the
college lands. There is much of the 2,416 acres of college land in Brazos County that has
had timber on it. Gradually this timber has been cleared off, but there is a growth of
grass of various kinds, small shrubs, etc., and the goats are grazing on this land to clean it
thoroughly ... The goats eat clean. Where they graze there is not a sprig or a growth
left."
College Station, Tex. ... August Thompsen, florist at the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Texas, has within the last few weeks put out about 300 trees on the college
campus. These are oaks and they have been so distributed as to beautify the grounds.
The trees were transplanted from the woods near by, and so far they have withstood the
cold spell which struck the State very recently. Mr. Thompsen has charge of walks at the
college, and has recently been putting in new graveled places for the convenience of the
student body. Dallas Morning News, 2 January 1910, p.27.
College Station, Tex., Feb. 24 — The sophomore class of the A. and M. College
Wednesday planted its class tree on the college campus. The tree planting by the various
classes of the college was inaugurated this year. The senior class proposed and planted
its tree, and the plan is for the seniors, juniors and sophomores to each a plant a tree this
year and hereafter the tree will be planted each year by the sophomores. Next Saturday
the juniors will plant their tree. At the exercises this afternoon Cesar Hohn, president of
the sophomores, led a procession of his class to the spot where the tree was ready. The
student band accompanied the class and played during the exercises. There was an
address by President Hohn, the band played, then the committee on tree planting set the
tree. The class marched around the spot and each member deposited some earth at the
roots of the tree. The address of the occasion was delivered by James Hays Quarles,
librarian of the college, who is in his second year as an officer of the college, and who
has been elected an honorary member of the class. There was a large attendance.
Dallas Morning News, 25 February 1910, p.14
Section Foreman Hewett of near College Station, lost a fine Jersey heifer today from
hydrophobia. She was attacked during the morning and tore down several fences and
finally became so violent that she had to be shot. She was a fine animal and the loss is
quite heavy. Bryan Daily Eagle, 4 August 1910, p.3
The Eagle received by mail this morning from Mr. R.R. Royall of Union Hill an ear of
pop corn that had been popped by the heat of the sun, on the stalk. It was grown by Ab
Carson and nearly every grain on the ear was popped when found. Bryan Daily Eagle, 30
August 1910, p.l
"A.& M. Campus Flooded," Dallas Morning News, 11 April 1911, p.10. "With a crash
that was heard all over the campus, the storage tank at the steam plant of the Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Texas collapsed last night ... There are two deep wells at the
college. One of these is heavily impregnated with sulphur, and while it is not distasteful
for drinking, some people do not like it. This well is pumped into the big standpipe. The
other well has no sulphur taste or smell, and the water from it has been pumped into a
large galvanized tank and distributed from there to the mess hall for the use of the
students ..."
College Station, Tex., Jan. 12 — Official records here are that the temperature dropped
from 75 yesterday to 11 above zero today. The Agricultural and Mechanical College is
situated on the crest of a wide divide and the strong north wind had a clear sweep and it
was keenly felt. The students are comfortable, however, as fuel is plentiful and there is
no restriction upon its use. Dallas Morning News, 13 January 1912, p. l l .
A.A. Snell, manager of the Bryan Gas & Oil Company, which concern is drilling for oil
two miles south of College Station, was in the city today, and in talking of his wells said
that in well No.1 hot water in an inexhaustible supply had been struck at a depth of 1500
feet. In commenting on water conditions in Bryan, Mr. Snell remarked that he did not
see why a deep well might not be drilled in Bryan and that there were fine indications of
securing hot water, in which case Bryan might enjoy the same advantages as Marlin in
this line. At any rate, it could secure a sufficient quantity of water to sprinkle the streets
and avoid other inconveniences caused by a scarcity of water. Bryan Daily Eagle, 21
September 1912, p.l
The Eagle was informed by phone today by John Tauber of near College, that the tailor
shop of John Konecny, his son -in -law, at the entrance to the College campus, was struck
by lightning during the rain early this morning. Mr. Konecny was in the shop at the time,
and while badly shocked, was not seriously injured. He was sitting at his sewing
machine and the needle on same was melted and a lamp near him was broken, but,
outside of that, but little damage was done. It was a close call for Mr. Konecny, and an
experience he will no doubt remember as long as he lives. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 4 May
1916, p.l, col. 3.
College Station, Texas, May 10 — A large temporary frame building housing about
$15,000 worth of farm machinery used in the instruction of agricultural students at the A.
& M. College was destroyed and the machinery damaged to the extent of $500 by a swift
rainstorm that accompanied a heavy rain here yesterday afternoon at about 5 o'clock.
The wind lifted the roof of about 9,000 square feet area and with it clinging in its original
form with gables attached, raised it to a height of forty or fifty feet, passed it over the top
of another building of about that height situated about 200 feet south and transported it a
distance of another 1,000 feet, where it struck a brick building and was shattered. After
the roof was lifted the walls of the structure collapsed and lumber and machinery
wrecked together. Dallas Morning News, 11 May 1921, p.5
Bryan, Texas, Feb. 9 — Brazos County has organized a Forestry Association to make a
demonstration on farms at city homes of tree planting, and the following general
committee has been appointed: Miss Dora Wilson of the Bryan Reading Club, Mrs. J.
Webb Howell of the Bryan Woman's Club, Mrs. S.C. Williams of the Parent- Teacher
Association, City Manager E.E. McAdams, Representative Lee J. Rountree and County
Agent C.L. Beason. It was agreed that a movement would be started at once to plant
trees along the paved highway from College Station to Bryan, a distance of five miles,
where the Bryan Country club and many of the finest residences in Brazos County are
located. Major W.R. Cavitt was chairman of the meeting and C.L. Beason, secretary.
Dallas Morning News, 10 February 1922, p.5
College Station, Texas, July 19 — The contract for a new water well at the A.& M.
College of Texas has been let to Layne & Bowler of Houston. Funds for sinking this well
were allowed by the Legislature in the emergency appropriation bill which was recently
passed. The contract provides for a well with a minimum capacity of 420,000 gallons
every twenty -four hours. When this well is completed it is believed there will be an
adequate supply of water to meets its need for several years. Dallas Morning News, 20
July 1923, p.17