"Allenhurst was 1st new townsite east of Bay City" By Mary B. Ingram

   In 1905 Allenhurst was the first new townsite east of Bay City on the newly-completed St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway (SLB&M).      The townsite was named after Allentown, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Jeff N. Miller, vice-president and general manager of the Brownsville Railway.

Mt. Zion Missionary

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church (Thomas M. Duke League) Compiled by Vera Rugeley King    Information for the now defunct, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church located in the Allenhurst Community was provided by Mrs. Vera King in 1992.    Also, Mrs. Alice M.

Four cemeteries part of Blessing history

Hawley Cemetery     Hawley Cemetery, first known as Deming’s Bridge Cemetery, was established in 1854. It is located on Tres Palacios River, two miles east of Blessing, in the Thomas Jamison League of Matagorda County, Texas.

Samuel Rhoads Fisher helped create 1st Texas Navy

   Samuel Rhoads Fisher, born December 31, 1794, in Pennsylvania came to Matagorda County with Stephen F. Austin's third colony in 1830.

Dallam’s descendants present for marker dedication" By Wilmer Dallam Masterson

   Thank you, Chairman Gibbs, the Matagorda County Historical Commission, and the Cemetery Association for creating the marker and hosting today’s event.    And thanks to everyone for coming, especially my fellow descendants!

Colorado raft once stretched from Matagorda past Bay City

   Before 1900, the Colorado River used to flow into Matagorda Bay, which was not separated into an east and west bay as it is today.

Keelboat ‘David Crockett’ first large craft to navigate Colorado

   In 1838, the keelboat David Crockett, reportedly the first large craft to navigate the Colorado River, arrived at the head of “the raft on the Colorado.

Kate Ward river’s first steamboat

   The Kate Ward was the first steamboat to operate on the Colorado River.      In June 1844 the La Grange Intelligencer announced that a local merchant, Samuel Ward, was to build a steamboat for use on the Colorado.

"Sweet water spring on bay a big plus" 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.

Naval shelling of Lavaca

   While the Bay City Sentinel history page normally concerns itself with Matagorda County history, a recent trip to Port Lavaca turned up something interesting.