"Austin Wyche family: A long Matagorda County history"By Sessia Wyche Jr.

   Austin Wyche, a blacksmith born in Virginia in 1827, came to Texas in 1863 with his wife, Emma.     Their son Joshua Wyche was born in Texas in 1866.    In 1885, Joshua married Julia Stewart.     The minister was Orange Doss.

Drott Brothers arrived in early years of Collegeport

   EDITOR’S NOTE: This is first part of a stories about two brothers - carpenters - who left Sweden to start a new life in America, ultimately in Collegeport.

"Sweet water spring on bay" By Margaret Johnson

   Well Point, situated in southwest Matagorda County on Turtle Bay, received its name from the fresh water spring situated in this area.       Due to the erosion of the coastline, the spring is now in the bay.        This area was a favorite camping ground of the Karankawa (Carancahua) Indians.

Founding Bay City was Swickheimer’s biggest success

   David (Dave) Swickheimer, mining millionaire and owner of the Enterprise Land and Colonizing Company, was born near Dover, Ohio, on April 18, 1853, the oldest son of German immigrant parents John Thomas and Anna Mary (Ade) Swickheimer.

Braman: Matagorda mayor, county judge, popular author

   Don Braman - a Matagorda County Judge and Matagorda mayor - the oldest child of Andrew and Nancy (Hawes) Braman, was born in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, on September 21, 1814.     He attended the common schools of Providence, Rhode Island.

Luther Hotel opens for inspection

   People and experts supporting preservation of the Luther Hotel were allowed inside the locked gates surrounding the hotel on April 25.

Bay City’s Coca Cola plant grand addition in 1934

   EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story on the 81-year-old former Coca-Cola bottling plant was taken from the Matagorda County genweb page.     At the corner of Avenue A and Texas 35, the building now is mostly shrouded by overgrown trees and plants.