History

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Confederate defenses at mouth of Caney Creek

News Staff
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
The specific actions at the mouth of Caney Creek occurred in January and February of 1864.      A Confederate force of 4000 to 6000 men occupied a fortification and camp consisting of a main sand fortress, rifle pits, trench works and several redoubts.

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Collegeport pumping plant linked river water with canals

News Staff
Thursday, June 2, 2022
Collegeport Irrigation Company began to build a pumping station on the Lower Colorado River to the East of the Collegeport area in 1909.     Canals were constructed using mules and fresnos (ash trees).     The first year rice crops were lost due to the system being incomplete.

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Collegeport began with promise of development

News Staff
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Jonathan Edward Pierce and Abel Brown Pierce hired land developer Burton D. Hurd to sell off 9,000 acres of their ranch lands in 1908.     The agreement with Hurd called for the development of a town that would include a college and a port on Trespalacios Bay.
Contributed photo Matagorda County Historical Commission members pictured on the front steps of Palacios’ Luther Hotel show that they believe “This Place Matters.”

Contributed photo Matagorda County Historical Commission members pictured on the front steps of Palacios’ Luther Hotel show that they believe “This Place Matters.”

"MCHC meets at the Luther Hotel" By Carol Gibbs

News Staff
Thursday, May 19, 2022
The Matagorda County Historical Commission celebrated History Appreciation when they met at the historic Luther Hotel in Palacios on May 14.

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Hawkins Lake House completed in 1854

News Staff
Thursday, May 5, 2022
EDITOR’S NOTE: We came across this article by Mrs. McElrath that was published in 1956 in the Bay City Herald about the Hawkins Lake House.The articles and phohos of this Matagorda County landmark are found on the Matagorda County History & Genealogy website...
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Janacek Roe Cowboys mount up for next step in the Spring Huebner cattle drive across Colorado River.

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Janacek Roe Cowboys mount up for next step in the Spring Huebner cattle drive across Colorado River.

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"Huebner cattle crossing for Spring drive " By Simon DeSoto

News Staff
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Cattle have been crossing the lower Colorado River just above where it enters the Gulf of Mexico for just over 100 years now.     The Huebner family has been swimming their herd of cattle each spring and fall at the mouth of the Colorado since about 1919.
Mount Zion Baptist Church Number One, also known as Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, was across the road from Allenhurst Cemetery. The church above, with windows shown at right, no longer stands. Photo courtesy of Matagorda County Museum

Mount Zion Baptist Church Number One, also known as Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, was across the road from Allenhurst Cemetery. The church above, with windows shown at right, no longer stands. Photo courtesy of Matagorda County Museum

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Allenhurst 1st new townsite east of Bay City

News Staff
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Allenhurst Community and Cemetery    In 1905 Allenhurst was the first new townsite east of Bay City on the newly-completed St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway (SLB&M).
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