These notes are taken from undigitized items in the collection Henry Maresh’s WPA Guide to Houston files at the Houston History Research Center at the Houston Public Library, MS 1470.

In particular, these are typewritten clippings from newspapers compiled by WPA workers (name of compilers in parentheses) for the Depression-era guide book to Houston. The folders are organized by year and by newspaper title.

1866

Houston Daily Telegraph

• September 24 (Charles Franklin) - “City Improvements.” Talks about the growth of buildings in the city, including “large, portly, roomy, suburban residences, built with a great regard to elegance and comfort combined. These mark the merchant prince. Others are neat box-houses, or cottages built on the Gothic style, painted in different colors, white predominating. These mark the industrious, hard-working man who works for his living by the sweat of his brow.” Conversely the Telegraph describes houses occupied by Black residents as “huts built by planking and waste timber” and often overcrowded, with “twenty or thirty congregated in a little hovel not over ten feet square.” But there were some, the paper admitted, “who have bought lots and erected thereon very nice cottages” and should be encouraged as “a good example to others.”

• October 27 (Charles Franklin) - “Negro Progressiveness.” The Telegraph notes, though in a mocking way, some recent organizations formed by Black Houstonians: a Debating Society that meets regularly on Saturday nights and has “drafted rules by which they were to be governed”; “The Free and Easy Club,” which was to host a monthly dance, and a Thespian Society. The Telegraph sees these as imitating white people.

• December 16, 1866 (Charles Franklin) - “The Freedmen’s Bureau Again.” Reports on an attempt by Sheriff Proudfoot to arrest a man, “Dick,” accused of shooting a white man in Grimes County. De Gress, the Bureau Agent, refuses to “give him up and informed the sheriff that the negro was at the Freedmen’s Hospital.” The sheriff tried to arrest him there but was “confronted by a guard of fifteen or twenty men, with bayonest on their guns.” According to another article on December 18, “Grand Parade,” an ambulance was spotted transporting “Dick” with a musket by his side, surounded by a guard of soldiers, up Main Street.

• December 23, 1866 (Charles Franklin) - “I’ll Holler.” The story of a Black woman accused of stealing clothes while doing laundry for ladies; when arrested by policemen, she said that she would “holler for the Bureau man,” but the policemen “bore her away to the calaboose” anyway.

Evening Star

Some of the notes in this folder mark issues with nothing of interest as “Barren.”

• May 10, 1866 (Charles Franklin, Ruby Maloney) - “The grand celebration of the n[—-] school this morning, was considerably dampened by the rainy weather.”

• May 24, 1866 (Charles Franklin, Ruby Maloney) - “The turn out of the colored population yesterday for the pic-nic was very large, and of course was a novel scene in Houston. They marched through Main street with great pomp’ [sic] richly attired in the finest and most costly apparel. As the day was a very unfavorable one, and our time was occupied with business, we did not attend the picnic, and can say nothing regarding the joyous scenes there. Late in the evening the procession again moved through our principal streets, led by Marshal music that sounded like the blowing of a whistle and beating on a dry goods box. We suppose that this soul inspiring music produced very patriotic feelings in the breasts of the sable patriots in attendance. This ‘Union forever’ is a glorious institution.”

• May 28, 1866 (Charles Franklin, Ruby Maloney) - “The colored Methodist church, which was so lately removed from the corner of Milam street, and Texas avenue, has been remodeled on Travis street, and the school formerly kept for the colored people in it, is again in successful operation at its present location.”

• May 29, 1866 (Charles Franklin, Ruby Maloney) - “We learn that there is to be a grand anniversary of the first annual round of the day on which the colored population of Houston were proclaimed free. We are told they intend giving a big dinner, to which they are going to invite their old masters and mistresses. This shows the respect in which they hold their former friends, and those whom they, as a class believe to be their true friends.”

• June 13, 1866 (Charles Franklin, Ruby Maloney) - “Colored Barbecue. A grand barbecue is to be given to the freedmen of Houston next Tuesday in commemoration of the first anniversary of the day on which they became a free people. We understand that great preparations are being made by them for this occasion; tickets are being circulated and purchased at the rate [of] one dollar each, and we are told the white people will also be invited to attend. Some of the colored people tells us that they understand many of our citizens who have freedmen and women hired, object to giving them the day that they might enjoy it to its full extent. This we think must be false. We do not believe there is a family in Houston who would refuse to give the colored people one day for the purpose of thanksgiving, Speech making and merriment. We do not think that the colored people as a class believe any such thing. We will endeavor to be there, or be where we can get a birds eye view of the affair.”

Long discussion of the firemen’s procession in June 15 issue. Says that “Dixie” was played, and that the Hook and Ladder float with the “beautiful young girl, mourning for the ‘dead nation’ and its martyrs” was dressed in “red, white, and blue, with crape over the stars which represent the Southern States” and “gave some little offence to our military rulers.”

• June 18, 1866 (Charles Franklin, Ruby Maloney) - “The grand barbecue and anniversary of the colored people comes off tomorrow. Our streets are thronged with colored visitors from the country who have come in to enjoy the festivities of the day. We trust they may have a merry time, and that nothing will come up to mar the peace and pleasures of the occasion.”

• June 18, 1866 (Charles Franklin, Ruby Maloney) - “We learn that there is a school mistress, an Anglo-American, engaged in teaching the young ideas of our African population how to shoot, on the north side of the bayou, who has a good school of both large and small, and is doing well, boarding and lodging at the popular boarding house of Calvin and Eliza—no better negroes in the city, who are accommodating and clever, and the number of boarders they have speaks well for them, they all being of African decent [sic], but the school mistress. While we approve of the education and dissemination of knowledge among the colored population, still we cannot approve of the social mixing of the races, so diametrically opposed to each other as are the American and African races. Hope she will do well, and her shadow never grow darker.”

• June 20, 1866 (Charles Franklin, Ruby Maloney) - “Freedmen’s Celebration–The Procession” - “The procession was formed at the colored Methodist church, on Travis street, under Elias Dibble, as president; Sandy Parker, Marshal, and Richard Sessums, Deputy marshal. They marched in regular order from their church to Main street, under the protecting folds of the American flag, which waved majestically over them. The day was very fine, and the officers were appropriately dressed for the occasion. The Order of the March.–The order of the march was judiciously arranged, and made a fine appearance. The draymen of the city were in front, mounted on horse back, then came the old colored people, next the Freedmen’s Mutual Aid Society, then the Debating Society, next the Baptist Mutual Aid Society, after which came a promiscous [sic] class of persons, male and female, old and young, large and small, and in this order they marched down Main street to Congress, thence on through Congress to its terminus, and from there to a beautiful grove of trees near Mr. Lockhearts [sic].¹ Arriving at this beautiful retreat, chosen for the barbecue, they marched round and round in several different forms for some minutes, when in the centre was erected a United States flag, around which a large crowd gathered to hear some orations from the freedmen. Not exactly understanding the order of the day, we were not on this part of the ground in time to hear the speeches so as to get the pith of them, therefore we shall pass them by. The Crowd.–The concourse of people here was very large, covering a space of several acres of ground. We could not form a correct estimate, but suppose there were at least 3,000 or 4,000 people present at this grand jubilee; and be it said to their great credit, of all the vast assemblies that we have had the pleasure of meeting with in life, we have never met one of this bulk, where there was so much harmony, unanimity of feeling and sentiment; nor have we met a people, who, to all appearance, could more truthfully and feelingly repeat the following: ‘Go ring the bells and fire the guns, / and fling the starry banner out; / Shout freedom, till your lisping ones / Give back a general cradle shout.’² The Dinner.–Just before the dinner came on, while the good sisters were singing their spiritual songs, for nothing else was allowed to be sung by them,—some two or three freedmen got into a little quarrel, and made some severe threats toward each other, which we believe was about all that in the least marred the pleasures of the day. This however, was soon quelled by the principal belligerent finding himself in the hands of the law officer.” The article goes on to describe the dinner of pork, beef, and mutton (of which the reporter partook), served by table managers and overseen by the officers of the day: “This was truly a bountiful dinner, and was magnificently conducted by our colored friends, the most perfect order and good behavior prevailing up to the time we were ordered to ‘pitch in.’ … Having abundantly satisfied ourselves that none need go away empty, we left for home, revolving in our mind the fact that it was the most novel, yet most harmonious meeting of the kind we ever attended.” A dance continued on the grounds after the reporter left. “Late in the evening the procession was again formed, when they marched back to Main street, and up it several blocks, where the whole body dispersed, apparently well satisfied with the days proceedings.” The day closed with a ball “in the room which was formerly occupied by Messr’s. W. T. Austin & Co., under Perkins Theatre. … May each returning anniversary of their freedom, find them better prepared to enjoy its blessings, appreciate its privileges, and discharge its responsibilities, and learn that ‘Humble toil and heavenward duty / These will form the perfect man.’”

1867

Daily Telegraph

• January 12, 1867 (Charles Franklin, Charles C. Flescher, and Alfred E. Menn) - Includes a clipping “from yesterday’s Evening Telegraph” that relates a confrontation between “a gentleman” and a Black in his employ, when “the ‘N— Schoolmaster’ appeared on the ground and interfered, informing the white man that the negro was several degrees better than he was, and that he must not strike him. The gentleman withdrew his wrath from the negro, and concentrated it and a heavy spade upon the unlucky pedagogue, who was compelled to beat an inglorious retreat and save his bacon.”

• January 27, 1867 (Charles Franklin, Charles C. Flescher, and Alfred E. Menn) - “African Fair. The members of the African Methodist Church of Houston gave a fair last night for the purpose of building a gallery to the church,” but apparently (according to the reporter) there was some disagreement among the members about whether it was necessary and a belief among one who talked to the reporter that some of the church “wuz a gettin’ a little too high noshuns to sasheate wid de balance ob us” and wanted to look down from on high.

1868

Daily Times

• September 20, 1868 (Leonard J. Fohn) - “There has been built on Hamilton street, between Prairie street and Texas avenue, a lot of shanties, rented to negroes …”

• September 30, 1868 (Leonard J. Fohn) - “The loyal league negroes failed to overcome Marshal Lord, and therefore assembled en masse in one of their churches, and openly proposed to attack, sack, and burn the city. The armed body of whites frightened them into declining the attempt. The result is, the removal of Marshal Lord.”

• October 1, 1868 (Leonard J. Fohn) - “Hanna’s Nest. That is, the miserable nest of wooden shanties fronting on Main Street, and backing its dirty stern into the rear of the Hutchins House, where Hanna & Co. used to run their ‘chebang’ of a bogus freedmen’s bureau …”

Mentions a race and trotting course in Houston. (A later entry for Daily Telegraph for October 20, 1868 says it is “two miles due west from the city, on a nearly level prairie.”

• October 31, 1868 (Leonard J. Fohn) - “Several negroes have called a meeting of the colored people at Zion Church, in this city, on the 1st and 2d prox., to raise funds to buy lands to build school-houses. The government has offered to build the school-houses if the land is procured, and we are informed by the negroes making the call, that the white people of Houston have contributed $1300 already, but $1700 more are wanted. …”

Daily Houston Telegraph

• March 25, 1868 (Willie Cumbie) - “Our Own Correspondent.” - Complains about the Houston reporter for the Galveston News; says he is radical in politics and biased, giving as an example his letter of yesterday: “Great excitement and consternation prevailed amongst the negroes at the market Sunday morning; the market is the great rendezvous of the negroes, and Sunday mornings are the great occasions of assembling together. An old negro man, I believe they say his name is Goss, stood in the middle of a large group of the newly enfranchised, and in words of horror told of the appearance of the dreaded Ku Kluz [sic] Klan in Houston. He stated, with much earnestness, and called upon a half dozen to prove his assertations, that, as he was coming to town the evening before, with some companions, and had just reached a little pine thicket about two miles from town, a party of spectral, ghostly and gigantic forms rose up from the pines and stretched themselves up as high as sixty feet …” and more description of their monstrous form.

• April 4, 1868 (Willie Cumbie) - “Executing of Sam Johnson, Freedman Yesterday.”

• May 1, 1868 (Willie Cumbie) - “Colored May-Day Pic-Nic.—The teacher of the Colored schools of this city give a grand picnic today near the residence of Mr. Hardcastle….”

Weekly Telegraph

• May 28, 1868 (Alfred E. Menn) - announces purchase by Westheimer, Butts & Co., of a tract from W. R. Baker for the Trotting and Racing Park and Fair Grounds, containing 100 acres and “situated to the right of the line of Main street,” about two miles from the Court House.

1869

Daily Telegraph

• April 22, 1869 (Etta Williamson) - “The Races.—Ho for the Races.” Says that a “Grand State Fair will come off the week after the next Spring Races, on the same grounds near this city. It will be THE occasion of the State; when the mechanical inventor from New England, and the farmer and stock raiser of the North-west, will meet a vast concourse of our people from all parts of Texas, face to face. Our Houston Jockey Club, and Trotting Park Association, will be the foundation of a grand State Fair Organization.”

• May 2, 1869 (Etta Williamson) - “Freedman’s Sunday School Taught by White Teachers.” Excerpts from a letter to the editor about an effort by “a few of the white friends of the colored race in this community” to start “a colored Sunday School, to be taught exclusively by white teachers.”

• May 4, 1869 (Etta Williamson) - “We were surprised yesterday at seeing a procession of colored people marching from the railroad depot into and up Main street attended by a band of music. The men were dressed with mourning badges and their march orderly. Upon inquiry, we learn that the object was to receive the remains of Daniel Johnson, the colored man who was killed a few days ago near Hempstead, and that there is much excitement among his color here in reference to his death. …”

• May 7, 1869 (Etta Williamson) - Reports a meeting of the Republican Club “in the concrete building.” (Another clipping from 1871 identifies this building as “at the foot of Fannin street.”

• May 7, 1869 (Etta Williamson) - Mentions a school pic-nic for Mrs. Rottenstein’s school “on the beautiful grounds of Theodore Lubbock, on the Harrisburg road,” whereas “Mrs. Wynn’s school, in the 4th Ward, had their pic-nic in a beautiful grove near Camp Lubbock, beyond the residence of George Baker, Esq.Rev. Mr. Braun’s school will celebrate the May Day on Saturday near White Oak Bayou, not far from Beauchamp’s Springs.”

• June 1, 1869 - mention of W. E. Wood’s new map. Wood is “formerly City Engineer.”

• June 10, 1869 - apparently a call for “Permanent Pleasure Grounds” based on success of Volksfest which attracted “not less than seven thousand persons”

• August 31, 1869 (Ann Wellington) - “Col. F. A. Rice informed us that the Central Railroad Company have now, on the branch road to Austin, 219 able-bodied convict laborers at work, and he is well pleased with their labor. Quite a number of these convicts proved inefficient and were returned to the penitentiary …”

• November 11, 1869 (Ann Wellington) - “The Coming Fair. At a meeting of the Directors of the Agricultural, Mechanical and Blood Stock Association, held Oct. 11, 1869, the following proceedings were had and adopted: …” that the association would “hold its first annual State Fair for the competitive exhibition of the best specimens of the products of industry as may be presented from the agricultural, mechanical, manufacturing and live stock interests of any portion of the UNited States” and would commence on May 16, 1870. (It seems from other clippings that the same organization ran the Fall Races in Houston.)

• December 3, 1869 (Ann Wellington) - “Editor of the Telegraph:–The Fair for the benefit of the Methodist Episcopal Church (colored) was a complete success, and netted the handsome sum of $267.85 specie, and $35.65 currency. … Respectfully, D. GREGORY, Pastor.”

Galveston Daily News (Houston Research)

Contains long transcript of an article about radical convention in Houston in October at which Black delegates wanted to nominate a Black candidate like Richard Allen for sheriff, whereas the white delegates assumed it would be “A. B. Hall, the military appointee)

Houston Daily Times

• January 9, 1869 (Ruth Denny) - “I offer ten cents, coin, for all full grown live RATS delivered to me at the Rice Building, in the cock-pit from this time until the demand is supplied. Up and after them, boys! WM. H. BYNE.”

Scanned some other clippings into Box that I need to transcribe.

1870

Houston Weekly Telegraph

Some clippings about Chinese laborers on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. (Also in Daily Telegraph file, different articles about the same subject.)

• May 6, 1870 (William Dillard) - “The State Fair. … The Fair is not a local organization but chartered by the Legislature as a State institution. Its corporators live all over the State, residing in different counties, as do the stockholders, and they have a right to hold a fair in any part of the State. The first meeting of the State Fair will be the nucleus around which to build up local Fairs all over the State.”

• August 11, 1870 (William Dillard) - Clippings about Jake Johnson and also about “Home Made Ice,” advertising 2,000 pounds of ice in a solid block “made at the manufactory and Beef Packery of Perl & McDonald” (an August 5 clipping in the Daily says it was made by “Carre, Mignon & Rouats Refrigerating Apparatus,” manufactured by M. J. Bujac of New York.

Daily Telegraph

• January 20, 1870 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “Colored Concert. A number of our colored citizens held a concert last night in hall on Fannin street. Negro minstrelsy formed the staple of the entertainment. …” (Also noted in January 21 issue of Tri-Weekly Telegraph, with longer clipping.)

• February 20, 1870 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “Within the limits of the city of Houston there are seven organized colored churches, owning five buildings, and containing in the agregate [sic] a membership of 650 communicants. Five of these churches have pastors who receive a partial support from their people and one is self supporting. … [ellipsis included.]”

• February 20, 1870 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “FREEDMAN EDUCATIONAL STATUS IN HOUSTON AND VICINITY.- In the city and vicinity there are four freedman’s week-day schools, besides the Brick Academy [Gregory Institute]. In these four schools the aggregate number of scholars is about 140. In the Academy the number is considerably over 200, making, in all, 340 in school. In the various Freedman’s Sunday Schools within the above indicated limits, are about 275 scholars. In addition to the above, the freedmen sustain two night schools. … [ellipsis included.]”

• May 11 - Mentions an ice machine at the Hutchins House

• May 17 - Discussion of the State Fair notes that the organization was incorporated by Legislature of 1866 “under the joint auspices of John T. Brady and Ashbel Smith, the Representatives of Harris county.”

• June 11 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “The Volksfest, and the Legislature.—The action of the lower House of the Legislature in rescinding the resolution adopted to send a committee to attend the Volksfest because the managers were not willing to receive negro members as part of the delegation has only done discredit to the members who voted to rescind, and brought their action into public contempt…. [ellipsis included].”

• June 22 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “The colored people terminated the festivities of yesterday, by a grand ball and collation last night at the Courthouse. The large and commodious court room makes a splendid dancing hall, and the affair was really well arranged and successfully managed.”

• June 22 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “After a procession through Main street, the colored celebrationists, about noon yesterday adjourned to Hangman's Grove, as it is called, upon the Southern limits of the city. The day trains brought in fresh accessions to their numbers which could not have been less than 20,00 [sic]; at the grove numerous tables of confections and eatables were spread; and a stand was there erected for the orators for the day. ‘Dancing on the green’ was about the first thing commenced; and after some airs from the band in attendance, a prayer was offered, and the exercises of the programme begun. We learn there were several addresses and everything passed off without an unpleasant occurrence. About sundown the celebrationists marched back down Main street, preceded by the same band, and carrying the same colors as in the morning.”

• June 28 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “Shade.–No place is better supplied with shade trees than Houston. Many squares in the southern sections of the city are delightfully shaded. … [ellipsis included]”

• July 6 (Frances Carey) - article on the Fourth states that “We had thought the freedmen, if nobody else might make some attempt to celebrate the day in Houston, but it seems, they intend in Texas, to erect the 19th of June into a great day of annual rejoicing and festivity, leaving the Fourth to whoever will take it.”

• October 4 (Frances Carey) - “PLEASURE GARDEN.—My Pleasure and Beer Garden, on the Beauchamp Springs Road, will be opened this afternoon. At night there will be an elegant display of fire works, a concert, dancing, and other amusements. This place of pleasant amusement will be open for the public every Sunday evening. H. Fassbender.”

• October 9 (Frances Carey) - “squad of colored militia” sent below Harrisburg for quarantine duty; they appeared in mayor’s office to demand pay and file suit for damages, but left empty-handed; a later article about this appears on October 12 with a letter from the governor saying city or county must pay, but that state will assess the amount if local authorities fail"

• November 27 (Ann Wellington) - excerpt of a story about the purchase of the Fair Grounds

• December 4 - note that Richard Nelson elected justice of peace in Galveston

• December 31 - notes that a “Colored Farmer’s Convention” was held in the “colored Baptist church on Rusk street.” Lots of ellipses.

1871

Weekly Telegraph

• May 18, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “Mingo.–This Indian chief, belonging to the Indian settlement still in existence on the Middle Trinity, whose presence in the city we noted yesterday, has returned to his people; not, however, before promising to bring down to the Fair next week a squad of his brethren including sixteen young maidens.”

• June 22, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “Educational–Col. De Gress, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, has appointed Erastus Carter, colored, of Houston, supervisor of Education for Harris and Montgomery Counties.”

Daily Telegraph

• February 10, 1871 (Thelma Harris) - “Board of Aldermen. … State Fair Appropriation. A special committee reported in favor of the city subscribing to 200 shares, or $10,000 of stock of the State Fair Association. An Ordinance was subsequently introduced and adopted.—all aldermen voting in favor, to except three colored members [sic]—to that effect, with the provision that said stock be paid for in city script to be taken at par.”

• March 21, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “The colored policeman in charge of the ‘chain gang’ yesterday was having the work of digging out the gutters performed with a promptitude equal to any squad of hands on the railroad. The squad, yesterday, were mostly colored prisoners, and they were at work on the drain on Main street, between Prairie and Texas Avenue.”

• April 9, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “BOARD OF ALDERMEN. …” Volksfest requests special policemen to be sworn in to keep order at the celebration at Lubbock's Grove on May 5-6, and that “four city policemen” also be detailed there on that day. The City Council receives an invitation from the State Fair Committee to mark in the procession at the fair, which the council accepts.

• May 17, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “The Fair of the colored people at the courthouse last night, seems to have been a success.—the spacious courthouse was crowded with the bon ton of our colored population. The proceeds of the Fair for the benefit of the colored brass band, promises to be by no means meager.”

• May 23, 1871 - mentions “Street cars from Courthouse Square every fifteen minutes for the Fair Grounds.” Also “Omnibuses will run To and From the Fair Grounds Daily during the State Fair,” from Main and Congress, for 25 cents.

• June 9, 1871 (J. Therrien) - mentions the “colored Labor Convention” that met the day before, for teh election of the delegates to Columbia, S.C., labor convention.

• June 20, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “Emancipation Celebration,—the ceremonies and pleasures of the Emancipation celebration was inaugurated by the freed people yesterday by a procession which was commenced at the Courthouse square at 10 a.m.—the procession took its way into Main street by way of Congress and thence out to the State Fair Grounds where the doings of the occasion were to come off. The following was the order of procession: Marshal of the day, attended by the [second page much later in the folder] Presidents of the Draymen’s and Beneficial Clubs. The Draymen’s Club, The Beneficial Club, Young Colored Men’s Base Ball Club of Houston, Benevolent Society, Grant’s Flower. Colored Citizens from the City and distance on horseback.—The celebration exercises will close today by a base ball match and tournament, commencing at half past one in the afternoon.”

• June 27, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “City Railway.” Discusses plans to lay track on Travis street, from the bayou to the Fair Grounds.

• June 28, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “Dashes in the Wards.” States that German citizens are proposing to buy Lubbock's Grove and turn it into a “beautiful park.” Mentions, in the section on the Third Ward: “The belt of forest encircling the city on the southeast, looks at sunset like the back ground of a painting by Guido or Murillo.” Also praises the Gregory Institute in the Fourth Ward as “one of the best educational edifices in this city.”

• July 12, 1871 (J. Therrien) - new officers of the State Fair Association elected: S. S. Munger, president; F. A. Rice, Vice-President; James F. Dumble, secretary; A. S. Burke, Treasurer; with Munger, John Shearn, and F. A. Rice forming the executive committee.

• July 26, 1871 (J. Therrien) - Reports on a meeting to organize a Lyceum and Library Association, called together by the State Fair secretary James F. Dumble and held in the “State Fair office, Gray’s building.” Officers of the company were Thomas H. Scanlan, A. Pillot, John W. McDonald.

• August 4, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “The Colored Labor Conventionists,—presided over by G. T. Ruby, and John Lippard as Secretary, met in the concrete building on Thursday forenoon to send Dick Allen, Bill Cuney, Jim Green, W. Mann, and Johnson Reed, a[s] delegates to the Southern Labor Convention, at Charleston, S.C.”

• August 9, 1871 (J. Therrien) - Reports on “Great Democratic Mass Meeting” held the previous night, when “the Third Ward Club descended from their room in Gray’s Building, and took position at the Northwest corner of Market Square, with a number of transparencies, and the crowd began to assemble… Among the inscriptions of those of the Third Ward were ‘Irishmen, your cause has ever been defended by Democrats.’ ‘Carpet baggers to your holes;’ ‘Greeley on Carpet baggers’; ‘No taxes for Radicals to live on; Down with the chicken pie party.’”

• August 10, 1871 (J. Therrien) - “Houston, Radical Ring.—The little coterie in the City of Houston which has given law to the Radical party of Texas, are at this time intensely elated. Houston has been the Mecca of the hopes of Radical tricksters and aspirations. The Clique here have had the managing brains of the party, and though they obtained them from renegade Confederates, they have used them with effect in past elections. …”

• August 17 - check microfilm for this issue, as it reports various citizens meetings.

• August 18 (J. Therrien) - “Some two hundred freedmen with torches, 9 brass bands, and a dozen transparencies, engineered and marchalled [sic] by two or three white men, formed in procession last night in front of the Courthouse after several halts, the procession moved into Franklin street, thence up Main and finally returned to the Courthouse at 9 P.M. On the platform were seated, besides Gov. Davis, Gen. Clark, Col. Tracy, and other Republicans.—”

1872

Houston Daily Telegraph

• February 3, 1872 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “Calaboose. The old calaboose, alias City Prison, which formerly stood, or rather rotted, at the northeast end of the Market House, constituted the ground story of the Recorder’s office, was unique. There wasn’t anything like it this side of El Paso. … [Ellipsis in original.] But the new City Prison? This is to be built soon in the rear of the Bell Tower, Market Square, and will be a temporary structure. Let us hope it will be stronger than its predecessor, from which the prisoners frequently escaped. All they had to do was to knock off a plank or planks with the fist.”

Scanned parts of this folder that referred to an investigation about armed Democratic intimidation (including by Robert Lockhart and others) at the recent disputed election.

• April 9, 1872 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “A meeting of the colored people was held some days ago at the Concrete building. They have the plan of getting up a company of what they call the State Guards, or militia, with quartermaster, etc.”

• April 16, 1872 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “FAIR PARK. … [sic] The revivifying touches of beautiful Spring have transformed the grounds into one of the most beautiful and lovely spots about the city. Not even Glenwood, with its attractions of glen and dell, looks so far now as Fair Park. … [sic, ellipses in original].” A later clipping reveals that Glenwood was dedicated on June 12, 1872.

• May 3, 1872 (Ava Jo Nowlin) - “The colored pupils of Gregory Institute had a picnic yesterday at Lubbock's Grove. About 10 a.m. the procession preceded by the colored brass band of this city, marched down Main street, turning into Franklin, and thence to the Grounds.”

Several issues in this year referring to Longbridge across the bayou, a wooden structure, as a nuisance.

• July 9, 1872 (Ruth Denny) - New State Fair officers elected: E. Q. Taylor, president; E. H. Cushing, vice; J. F. Dumble, secretary, A. J. Burke, treasurer.

• July 19, 1872 (Ruth Denny) - “Mammoth Picnic of the Colored People” in Harrisburg. See scan, as well as microfilm (lots of ellipses).

• July 27, 1872 (Ruth Denny) - “The dedication of the Colored festival grounds, half a mile east of State Fair park took place the other evening. …” (Ellipses in original). Referring to Emancipation Park.

• August 16, 1872 (Ruth Denny) - Fair Grounds going to be open daily from 4 pm till dark “for the benefit of the public—FREE. The Directors reserve the right to exclude such persons from the Grounds as they may deem proper. Jas. F. Dumble, Secretary.”

• August 30, 1872 (Ruth Denny) - Reporting a camp meeting “of the colored people of the M. E. Church, Colored, in Fifth Ward,” held on Liberty Road, two miles away.

1873

Houston Age

See scans.

Houston Daily Telegraph

• May 10, 1873 - notes that “street railway to the Fair Grounds is nearly complete. It starts from Texas Avenue and runs along Travis street. The rails are of wood, and the cars will be improvised for the occasion.”

• August 24, 1873 (Lorraine McRight) - “Colored Caucus. … It is reported such a caucus will be held, at which no white men will be admitted, and whose object is to deliberate whether the colored voters are longer to be made mere catpaws for Carpetbaggers and Scallawags, or whether they shall continue, at least in Houston, to support and keep alive a party solely for the benefit of adventurers, who care no more for the ‘colored man and brother’ than for the dwellers of Madagascar. The colored men of this city hold the balance of power. …”

1874

Houston Daily Age

• April 25, 1874 (Lorraine McRight) - “The Travis street Railway is finished to the Fair Grounds, all except the tramway, which has been laid a good part of the distance.”

• April 29, 1874 (Lorraine McRight) - “Market Notes. … Many improvements have been made in the market. … among the improvements … is the new colored cafe, at the northern angle of the market.”

• May 13, 1874 (Lorraine McRight) - “Ice Cream. On Franklin street next door to the temple of fashion of T. J. Brown, the popular barber, his wife Mrs. Caroline Brown, has opened an Ice Cream saloon.”

• June 20, 1874 (Lorraine McRight) - “Ninth Natal Day of Freedom–The Colored People Celebrate. …. [sic] The procession was a fine and large one. A colored brass band led the procession. …. [sic] The Baptist Benevolents of Houston, in uniform, with a beautiful banner bearing the inscription: ‘Baptist Benevolent Aid Society. …. Organized June 1st, 1872’ came first in the procession. They were followed by the ‘Navasota Beneficials’ in appropriate uniforms. … [sic] Next was the ‘Young Men’s St. Paul’s Association,’ in full uniform. … [sic] Then came the ‘Union Guiding Stars’ uniformed and with banners. …. [sic] Following this organization was the ‘Universal Benevolents’ also uniformed and with banners. ……. [all ellipses in the original] The Grounds are about two miles from the Market House to the left of Main street, nearly opposite the Fair Grounds. The grounds belong to the colored people…….Col. J. G. Tracy was the orator of the day. …. The very best of order was maintained all over the grounds…….”

Houston Daily Telegraph

• May 27, 1874 (Frances Carey) - “The State Fair Park.—We are glad to know that the Board of Directors of the State Fair propose to lease the various privileges upon the grounds for a term of six months, in order to popularize the park and make it a place of public resort. The dancing, ice cream, wine and beer privileges will be the ones let out…. [sic]”

• June 11, 1874 (Frances Carey) - “The Colored People’s Festival Association of which the late Hon. Richard Allen is chief. . . . [sic] has purchased ten acres of land near the southeastern limits of the city, for a festival ground. … [sic]”

• June 21, 1874 (Frances Carey) - “Negro Policemen were put on duty at the Emancipation festival.”

• June 28, 1874 (Frances Carey) - City Council hears a report recommending that it appropriate $1500 for making the Fair Grounds open to the public and maintaining it as a “city park from and after four o’clock P.M. daily, until July 1, 1875, excerpt during the continuance of the State Fair, or races under the auspices of the Jockey Club.” Motion adopted.

• July 24, 1874 (Frances Carey) - reports on the Fair Grounds Park, open for free, with refreshments upon the grounds.

• September 16, 1874 (Frances Carey) - “The Old City Limits.” Notes that the new City Charters reduces city limits back from 5 miles to 3 miles, and now some people in the central city are upset about having to pay more to deal with Radical debt than the “outsiders.”

• October 31, 1874 (Ann Wellington) - “Five or six brace” of Black convicts from the penitentiary “were crowded into a Congress street car yesterday, for transportation to the International depot. Much indignation was expressed by parties who wished to ride in the car, and were compelled to wait or walk. …”

1875

Houston Daily Telegraph

• April 10, 1875 - Ward, Dewey & Co. have applied for the same space on the Fair Grounds to exhibit goods, especially furniture, that they used the year before during the State Fair.

• April 14, 1875 - Fair Grounds has a Floral Hall.

• May 9, 1875 - City Council extends city greetings to Jefferson Davis for his visit to the State Fair. He addressed the fair on May 11.

• May 27, 1875 (Johnnie Therrien) - “A company of negro volunteers has been organized in this city, and are being regularly drilled in Upton’s tactics. They will be uniformed with blue, and armed with muskets, and expect to make their first public parade on” ’mancipation day," June 19. They will be joined by another company from Ft. Bend County……. [sic]."

• June 8, 1875 - a civil rights case in the US District court concerns refusal of Henry Greenwall, manager of the Tremont Opera House, to see “two colored women” in the Opera House parquette.

• June 9, 1875 (Johnnie Thierren) - “The sale of stands, on the colored people’s festival grounds, in the neighborhood of the Fair Grounds, will take place Thursday afternoon, at 3 o’clock, under the rules and regulations of the State Fair Association.”

• June 20, 1875 - see scan for Juneteenth clipping