Mount Pilgram Missionary: On Caney, before recorded history

   The story of the Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church membership began prior to the earliest recorded history – on the bank of Caney Creek, during a journey through slavery.     During the earliest period slaves who could, gathered to worship in their quarters or under trees.

Van Dorn was 1st elected sheriff of Matagorda County

   Isaac Van Dorn (Vandorn), one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists, was born in Pennsylvania about 1801.     At the age of fourteen he was indentured to a farmer for seven years, whom he eventually left.

Remembering when weather affected all

   EDITOR’S NOTE: Given the regular schedule of at least some rainfall, it’s interesting to note that wet weather has long been on Matagorda County residents’ minds.

"Getting Matagorda County out of mud" Compiled By Marin Brown McAllister Junior Historian 1973-74

   “Get a Horse!” was the half-serious jest for residents of Matagorda County in the early 1920s, when the motor car was fast becoming the most sought-after means of transportation.

1939: Coca Cola high in pure value contents

   Palacios Beacon, Oct. 19, 1939    The Coca Cola Bottling Company in Bay City on Highway No. 35 was built in 1934 and serves the entire coast line area from Freeport through Palacios reaching inland from 30 to 50 miles.

Bay City’s Coca Cola plant grand addition in 1934

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

Coulterville on prairie in late 1800s

   Coulterville, also known as Culver, was in Buckner’s Prairie, 15 miles east of Bay City in eastern Matagorda County.         In 1888 William D. Culver became the first postmaster, and by 1891 a community with two general stores, one owned by Culver, had developed.

Buckner Prairie namesake man of legend, fact

BUCKNER, AYLETT C. (1794?–1832).     Aylett(e) C. (Strap) Buckner, filibuster, Indian fighter, Old Three Hundred colonist, and folklore hero of colonial Texas, was the son of Aylett and Elizabeth (Lewis) Buckner of Louisa County, Virginia.

Local Santa letters from 1929-31 show different time

1929 Dear Santa Claus:    I am a little girl, eight years old. I am very glad to see dear old Santa come but so sorry to see him forget some poor little girl or boy who hasen’t got any money to buy them something nice for Christmas.

Lukefahr school also was the community

   EDITOR’S NOTE: A state historical marker for the Lukefahr School Community was dedicated March 19, 2009, at the intersection of FM 2540 and Bucks Bayou Road.     Lukefahr School Community, a rural agricultural community settlement is located on Bucks Bayou Road 10 miles southeast of Bay City.