Legendary Watering Holes

Legendary Watering Holes
Author: Richard F. Selcer
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2004
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781585443369

Saloons, barrooms, honky-tonks, or watering holes--by whatever name, they are part of the mythology of the American West, and their stories are cocktails of legend and fact, as Richard Selcer, David Bowser, Nancy Hamilton, and Chuck Parsons demonstrate in these entertaining and informative accounts of four legendary Texas establishments. In most Western communities, the first saloon was built before the first church, and the drinking establishments far outnumbered the religious ones. Beyond their obvious functions, saloons served as community centers, polling places, impromptu courtrooms, and public meeting halls. The authors of this volume discuss both the social and operational aspects of the businesses: who the owners were, what drinks were typically served, the democratic ethos that reigned at the bars, the troubling issues of social segregation by race and gender within each establishment, and the way order was maintained--if it was at all. Here, the spotlight is thrown on four saloons that were legends in their day: Jack Harris's Saloon and Vaudeville Theater in San Antonio, Ben Dowell's Saloon in El Paso, the Iron Front of Austin, and the White Elephant of Fort Worth. Together with architectural renderings of the floor plans and old photographs of the establishments and some of their more famous customers, the history of each is woven into the history of its city. Fatal shootings are recounted, and forms of entertainment are described with care and verve. One of this book's most fascinating aspects is the sharp detail that brings to life the malodorous, smoky interiors and the events that took place there. Selcer and his co-authors are experts on their respective watering holes. They start with the origins of each establishment and follow their stories until the last drink was served and the places closed down for good. There are stops along the way to consider the construction of the ornate bars, the suppliers of the liquor served, the attire of the gentlemen gamblers, the variety of casino games that emptied men's pockets, and more. Through the wealth of detail and the animated narrative, a crucial part of Texas' Western heritage becomes immediately accessible to the present.

Montana Watering Holes

Montana Watering Holes
Author: Joan Melcher
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 171
Release: 2009-10-14
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 0762761628

In many small towns across Montana, the local bar is also the only restaurant and is an important part of community life. In larger towns and cities, gems from Montana’s Wild West past are still found. This book celebrates the quirky, unusual, and downright fun and entertaining saloons across the state. Montana Watering Holes features more than fifty of the best spots to stop for a drink (or a burger) scattered across Montana. From big-city spots like the Rhino in Missoula (with its 150 beers on tap) to the famous cheeseburgers at the bar in Pony (pop. 50), community spirit and tradition abound in the nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century buildings that have served as saloons, restaurants, and gathering places throughout the Treasure State. This book describes the best of the best, offering geographic diversity, anecdotes, and sidebars on local characters from the past. It is illustrated with archival and contemporary black-and-white photographs.

Spare Time in Texas

Spare Time in Texas
Author: David G. McComb
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Total Pages: 302
Release: 2012-10-05
Genre: History
ISBN: 0292748477

What do Texans' pastimes and recreations say about their characters? Looking at Texas history from a new angle, David McComb starts from the premise that how people spend their leisure time may well reveal more about their true natures and interests than the work they do or their family connections. In this innovative book, McComb traces the history of various types of recreation in Texas, gathering significant insights into the characters of Texans from the pleasures they have pursued. Reflecting the frontier origins of Texas, McComb starts with the recreations that were most popular with men in a crude, still-developing society—drinking, gambling, and whoring. He goes on to show how, as Texas became more civilized, so did its diversions. He describes how Texans have connected with nature in parks and zoos; watched football and baseball in great stadiums such as the Astrodome and Cotton Bowl; discovered the pleasure of reading in public and university libraries; and enjoyed radio, TV, movies, and live theater in places such as Houston's Alley Theatre. This recreational history reveals that Texans are open-minded and generous; that they respect the land; oppose prostitution but indulge in gambling and drinking; support racial and gender rights; love zoos; champion libraries; take pride in theatrical productions; and adore sports.

Literary Travel: Following in the Footsteps of Famous Authors

Literary Travel: Following in the Footsteps of Famous Authors
Author: Georgie Rogers
Publisher: Richards Education
Total Pages: 85
Release:
Genre: Travel
ISBN:

Embark on a journey through the world of literature with Literary Travel: Following in the Footsteps of Famous Authors. This comprehensive guide takes you on a global tour of the homes, haunts, and inspirations of some of the most celebrated writers in history. From Shakespeare’s England to Hemingway’s Havana, explore the places that shaped their lives and works. Discover the landscapes and cities that brought their stories to life, and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage that continues to inspire readers and travelers alike. Whether you’re a devoted fan of classic literature or a curious traveler seeking new experiences, this book offers a unique and enriching perspective on the world of literary travel.

The Ranger Ideal Volume 2

The Ranger Ideal Volume 2
Author: Darren L. Ivey
Publisher: University of North Texas Press
Total Pages: 818
Release: 2018-11-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1574417444

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the Lone Star State can certainly boast of immense ranches, vast oil fields, enormous cowboy hats, and larger-than-life heroes. Among the greatest of the latter are the iconic Texas Rangers, a service that has existed, in one form or another, since 1823. Established in Waco in 1968, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum continues to honor these legendary symbols of Texas and the American West. While upholding a proud heritage of duty and sacrifice, even men who wear the cinco peso badge can have their own champions. Thirty-one individuals—whose lives span more than two centuries—have been enshrined in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. In The Ranger Ideal Volume 2: Texas Rangers in the Hall of Fame, 1874-1930, Darren L. Ivey presents capsule biographies of the twelve inductees who served Texas in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Ivey begins with John B. Jones, who directed his Rangers through their development from state troops to professional lawmen; then covers Leander H. McNelly, John B. Armstrong, James B. Gillett, Jesse Lee Hall, George W. Baylor, Bryan Marsh, and Ira Aten—the men who were responsible for some of the Rangers’ most legendary feats. Ivey concludes with James A. Brooks, William J. McDonald, John R. Hughes, and John H. Rogers, the “Four Great Captains” who guided the Texas Rangers into the twentieth century.

Tall Walls and High Fences

Tall Walls and High Fences
Author: Bob Alexander
Publisher: University of North Texas Press
Total Pages: 601
Release: 2020-10-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1574418165

Texas has one of the world’s largest prison systems, in operation for more than 170 years and currently employing more than 28,000 people. Hundreds of thousands of people have been involved in the prison business in Texas: inmates, correctional officers, public officials, private industry representatives, and volunteers have all entered the secure facilities and experienced a different world. Previous books on Texas prisons have focused either on records and data of the prisons, personal memoirs by both inmates and correctional officers, or accounts of prison breaks. Tall Walls and High Fences is the first comprehensive history of Texas prisons, written by a former law enforcement officer and an officer of the Texas prisons. Bob Alexander and Richard K. Alford chronicle the significant events and transformation of the Texas prison system from its earliest times to the present day, paying special attention to the human side of the story. Incarceration policy evolved from isolation to hard labor to rodeo and educational opportunities, with reform measures becoming an ever-evolving quest. The complex job of the correctional officer has evolved as well—they must ensure custody and control over the inmate population at all times, in order to provide a proper environment conducive to safety and positive change. Alexander and Alford focus especially on the men and women who work with diligence and dedication at their jobs “inside the walls,” risking their lives and—in too many instances—giving their lives in a peculiar line of duty most would find unpalatable. Within these pages are stories of prison breaks, bloodhounds chasing escapees, and gunfights. Inside the walls are deadly confrontations, human trafficking, rape, clandestine consensual trysts, and tricks turned against correctional officers. Famous people and episodes in Texas prison history receive their due, from Texas Rangers apprehending and placing outlaws in prison to the famed gunfighter John Wesley Hardin’s time in and out of prison. Tall Walls and High Fences covers numerous convict escape attempts and successes, including the 1974 prison siege at Huntsville and the 2007 prisoner gunfight and escape at the Wynne Unit. Throughout this long history Alexander and Alford pay special tribute to the more than 75 correctional officers, lawmen, and civilians who lost their lives in the line of duty.

America Walks into a Bar

America Walks into a Bar
Author: Christine Sismondo
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 333
Release: 2011-10-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 0199753164

When George Washington bade farewell to his officers, he did so in New York's Fraunces Tavern. When Andrew Jackson planned his defense of New Orleans against the British in 1815, he met Jean Lafitte in a grog shop. And when John Wilkes Booth plotted with his accomplices to carry out an assassination, they gathered in Surratt Tavern. In America Walks into a Bar, Christine Sismondo recounts the rich and fascinating history of an institution often reviled, yet always central to American life. She traces the tavern from England to New England, showing how even the Puritans valued "a good Beere." With fast-paced narration and lively characters, she carries the story through the twentieth century and beyond, from repeated struggles over licensing and Sunday liquor sales, from the Whiskey Rebellion to the temperance movement, from attempts to ban "treating" to Prohibition and repeal. As the cockpit of organized crime, politics, and everyday social life, the bar has remained vital--and controversial--down to the present. In 2006, when the Hurricane Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act was passed, a rider excluded bars from applying for aid or tax breaks on the grounds that they contributed nothing to the community. Sismondo proves otherwise: the bar has contributed everything to the American story. Now in paperback, Sismondo's heady cocktail of agile prose and telling anecdotes offers a resounding toast to taprooms, taverns, saloons, speakeasies, and the local hangout where everybody knows your name.

Moon Dallas & Fort Worth

Moon Dallas & Fort Worth
Author: Jonanna Widner
Publisher: Moon Travel
Total Pages: 243
Release: 2014-05-13
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 1612385273

Fort Worth native Jonanna Widner covers the best of the Dallas & Fort Worth area, including the South Lamar District, Lakewood, Frisco, the Metroplex, and Arlington. Widner provides a variety of unique travel strategies, including Eat Like a Texan, Drink Like a Texan, and DFW: History Buff's Dream. Including expert advice on the ritziest Park Cities shopping, the historical sights of Central Dallas, and where to dine on the best southern cooking in Uptown, Moon Dallas & Fort Worth gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Ramble Texas

Ramble Texas
Author: Eric Peterson
Publisher: ReadHowYouWant.com
Total Pages: 398
Release: 2011-01-19
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 145873000X

Every Texan has a personal vision of the true Texas. The problem is every Texan has a different personal vision of the true Texas. An outsider is free to see the many sides of the Lone Star State, and seasoned travel writer Eric Peterson bellies up to do just that.Combining classic guidebook fare with lesser-known destinations, Ramble Texas creates a unique approach to travel. From eating mesquite-smoked BBQ on the border, tracking the Texas Chupacabra (a vampiric legend known for sucking goats dry), and sipping a Shiner under a two-headed calf at the Buckhorn Saloon to visiting the Cockroach Hall of Fame and Museum, Ramble Texas provides plenty of ideas for how to spend your time. In between the state's regional chapters, Peterson's travelogues recount adventures and encounters, such as ''Oil, Power, and Money''in Houston; ''Border Run''along the Rio Grande; and ''lone Rockstar Tour,''a musical road trip from the Panhandle to the heart of Austin.