WELLS BRANCH NEIGHBORHOOD FRONTIER NIGHT October 2013

 

6:30 PM OPEN HOUSE at the Homestead with

 new curator, Brian Almon, on the 

FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD FRONTIER NIGHT

About 20 people came to see the Wells Branch Homestead

 a.k.a. the Gault Homestead at dusk.

With the beat of the Shaman drum, the presentation started at the Community Center with 1850-type refreshments of ginger cake, honey buns, and almond tea.

Virginia Almon, curator of Wells Branch in the line of past curator and resident liar Bill Todd - who taught that Wells Branch is different from Pioneer Farms; we are folkloric and do Education with Showmanship - opened with a saying from John Foster Dulles: 

If only we are faithful to our past, we shall not have to fear our future. The cause of peace, justice and liberty need not fail and must not fail.

Since it is somewhat unusual for a Municipal Utility District to be in the museum business, all present took a moment to recognize and thank the current Wells Branch Trustees, the Well Branch Homestead Board and donors to The Homestead for their support.

 The featured speaker from the Texas General Land Office, was Mr. Buck Cole, Education and Outreach Coordinator.  He began his outstanding Educational program Done with Showmanship on how early land grants from Mexico and Texas influenced the settlements in our area. 

Those present learned that Thomas Jefferson Chambers, in payment for his role as a Mexican supreme judge, was the first to claim a league of land on which Wells Branch and many others are now located.  However, due to the Texas Revolution and the quickness of squatters, Judge Chambers was unable to make claim on all his land.  This valuable information will not change the Wells Branch historical marker which shows a soldier of the Texas Revolution, J.P. Whelin first. Enlisting for three months, Whelin was given an honorable discharge in August 1836. In 1851 he was awarded a grant of 320 acres for his military service to the Republic of Texas.

Whelin made no improvements to his new property, but sold it the same year, through his assignee Francis Brichta of New Orleans, to Nathaniel C. Raymond (1820-1870.) Moving to Texas from Mississippi, Raymond owned the Whelin tract from 1851 to 1853, when he sold it to John M. Gault. According to family tradition, John M. Gault constructed the original section of the cabin on the Whelin grant.

In addition to original land grants, the TX General Land Office has love letters of married couples, and letters from soldiers and pioneers that have been preserved and typed out for ease of reading today.  Communicating back in the 1800s was very different from today.  Mr. Cole whetted our appetite to read or hear the love letters of married couples and concerns of past Texans. I wonder how we can be faithful to our past in this regard. Until we meet again, let us be faithful to the past by being present to those we love, attentive to their needs. 

Mr. Cole concluded his presentation with a drawing for three historical Texas maps.

 

Long-distance Intern and Day of the Dead

DAY OF THE DEAD TRINKETS FOR KELLY MATSOM, HOMESTEAD INTERN

Day of the Dead Lady




                                                       Day of the Dead Sugar Coffin   (see more trinkets below)

Long-Distance Intern Kelly Matsom, a student at University of Seattle who volunteers at the Burke Museum has been guiding Homestead archiving efforts through her volunteer experience at the museum in Seattle. Kelly has emailed the Excel format for artifact records and suggested the PastPerfect software when we are ready.  She is taking a new management class and has mentioned new tools forthcoming.   I wanted to send her a "thank you" and asked what she might want from Texas.  Without hesitation, she mentioned Day of the Dead trinkets. 

 DAY OF THE DEAD HISTORY

 More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death.



It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate, known as Day of the Dead

The ritual is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the United States. Although the ritual has since been merged with Catholic theology, it still maintains the basic principles of the Aztec ritual, such as the use of skulls.

Today, people don wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend, according to Mary J. Adrade, who has written three books on the ritual.

The Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during the ritual. The skulls were used to symbolize death and rebirth.

The skulls were used to honor the dead, whom the Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations believed came back to visit during the month long ritual.

"The pre-Hispanic people honored duality as being dynamic," said Christina Gonzalez, senior lecturer on Hispanic issues at Arizona State University. "They didn't separate death from pain, wealth from poverty like they did in Western cultures."

To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today.

Previously it fell on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar, approximately the beginning of August, and was celebrated for the entire month. Festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The goddess, known as "Lady of the Dead," was believed to have died at birth, Andrade said.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-history.html#ixzz2hijNRRMC



Last Saturday I went shopping in downtown Austin and found the trinkets:

 

Day of the Dead Tatoos and Skull

Day of the Dead Earrings



Day of the Dead Paper Alter



FRONTIER NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHT and FALL HAPPENINGS

YOU ARE INVITED TO HELP RESTORE

THE BRUSH ARBOR SOON

Richard Fadal with TexasScapes has donated new cedar posts to replace old ones and all we need now is FRIENDS to help take down the old and put up the new. 

 BECOME a FRIEND OF THE HOMESTEAD

Send me your name, address, email and phone number so I can contact you with the date and time to "RAISE THE ARBOR and information about other fun events at the Homestead .  

Recent repairs to Homestead

LOOKING BETTER,  HOMESTEAD:  As you stroll around the Homestead grounds, you might observe new window wood and a new addition to the back siding.  The newly installed grayish board and window frame replaced rotten boards when a misguided stream of water from the sprinkling system kept them soggy.  At the same time, the back portion of the metal roof was repaired by Dennis Galleria; no more leaks, alleluia!  Rain is good, but not inside the Homestead. 

Not shown here, but the Bee Barn, which houses artifacts found onsite before the Homestead was restored, also has deteriorating boards.  A new board will be installed before the Girl Scout tour on Sunday, October 6th.  Old stuff teaches many lessons.

Did you know kids love to press sorghum or river cane in the cane press?  The wedge shown above was cracked and is now replaced and ready for the energetic ones to do the job. 

 Recent rains rushed by the Homestead near the above steps, exposing tree roots. A few well placed rocks and additional dirt, makes for a smoother walking path now.

Did you ever see such Okra?  The Homestead summer garden still has some Eagle Pass blossoms that promise good eats.  The fall garden has been planted before the rains came with lettuce, cabbage, cilantro, dill, fennel and more.  As soon as sprouts show themselves, I will paint new plant markers.  Have you seen the painted rock markers for the summer garden?    What do you think of them?

 NEIGHBORHOOD FRONTIER NIGHT -  and HOMESTEAD OPEN HOUSE
 Wednesday, October 23rd 6:30 -8:30 PM
 Community Center 
    
THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE presents  Buck Cole  with answers about what was here before Wells Branch with unique maps as prizes.  The Homestead will host an OPEN HOUSE beforehand at 6:30 PM for a walk-thru.  If you want to help greet people at the OPEN HOUSE and own a period costume to wear, please contact me, Virginia Almon at 512-993-7559.  Also, if you have any original documents or pictures of the Homestead restoration or about the beginnings of Wells Branch, consider bringing them too.  I hope to compile and scan them and return them to you as soon as possible.

LUMINARIES is coming.  Are you ready?   Check out the St. Nicholas Center.

The Real Santa Claus   www.stnicholascenter.org

• 
  
  The real Santa lived a long time ago in a place called Asia Minor. It is now the country of Turkey. His name was Nicholas.
  Nicholas' parents died when he was just a teenager. His parents left him a lot of money which made him a rich young man. He went to live with his uncle who was a priest.
  Nicholas heard about a man who had lost all his money. He had three daughters who were old enough to get married. But in those days young women had to have money in order to get married. This money was a "dowry" and it was used to help the new family get started. If you didn't have dowry money, you didn't get married.
  This family was so poor they had nothing left to eat. The daughters were going to be sold as slaves because they couldn't live at home any longer. They were very sad. They wouldn't be able to have families of their own. And they would have to be slaves—no longer able to decide where they would live or what they would do.
  The night before the oldest daughter was to be sold, she washed her stockings and put them in front of the fire to dry. Then all of them went to sleep—the father and the three daughters.
  In the morning the daughter saw a lump in her stocking. Reaching in, she found a small, heavy bag. It had gold inside! Enough to provide food for the family and money for her dowry. Oh, how happy they were!
  The next morning, another bag with gold was found. Imagine! Two of the daughters would now be saved. Such joy!
  And the next night, the father planned to stay awake to find out who was helping his daughters. He dozed off, but heard a small "clink" as another bag landed in the room. Quickly he jumped up and ran out the door. Who did he catch ducking around the corner?
  Nicholas, the young man who lived with his uncle. "Nicholas, it is you! Thank you for helping us—I hardly know what to say!" Nicholas said, "Please, do not thank me—thank God that your prayers have been answered. Do not tell others about me."
  
  Nicholas continued helping people. He always tried to help secretly. He didn't want any attention or thanks. Years passed and he was chosen to be a bishop. Bishops look after their people as shepherds look after their sheep. And that is what Nicholas did. When there wasn't any food, he found wheat; so no one went hungry. He always helped people in trouble. All his life Nicholas showed people how to love God and care for each other.
  Everyone loved Nicholas. After he died, they told stories of the good and kind things Nicholas had done. Sailors took these stories about Nicholas everywhere they went. Some of the stories were about his special care for children—helping and protecting them when danger threatened. And so more and more people learned about good, kind Nicholas. They wanted to be like him. He is an example of how we should live. And that is why he became a saint.
  This is the story of the real Santa Claus, St. Nicholas. To this day people say that St. Nicholas, or Santa, is the special friend of children.
  —Carol Myers
  Stories & More
| 
• Online Activities & Games
| 
• Activities to Print
| 
• E-cards

• Stories
• Poems
  • St. Nicholas Poem
  • Poem from Belgium
  • A Rhyme for Nicholas
  • Santa & St. Nicholas
  • A Song for St. Nicholas
  • St. Nicholas
  • Children's Lament
• Online Activities & Games
• Activities to Print
• More About
• Game
• Kids' Art
• Draw St. Nicholas

Select Language​▼

Santa Claus is round and plump;
St. Nicholas is tall and thin.

Santa Claus wears a stocking cap;
St. Nicholas wears a bishop's hat.

Santa Claus comes December 25th;
St. Nicholas comes December 6th.

Santa Claus is often seen in stores;
St. Nicholas is often seen in churches.

Santa Claus flies through the air—from the North Pole;
St. Nicholas walked the earth, caring for those in need.

Santa Claus, for some, replaces Jesus at Christmas;
St. Nicholas, for all, points to Jesus at Christmas.

Santa Claus isn't bad;
St. Nicholas is just better!

—C. Myers & J. Rosenthal

http://pinterest.com/stnickcenter/st-nicholas-activities/
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/kids-map/
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/ship-game/
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/draw-st-nicholas0/
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/puzzles/

FIRST Family Tour with Zac Egan (left) and T. Brian (right)

September 15th 2-4 p.m. 

 

 

CODE OF THE WEST-ten principles to live by

 While reading the Wall Street Journal, I was delighted to learn about the Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership in Austin. You can also check out the article posted in Cowboys & Indians Magazine (cowboyindians.com)and click on the photograph of Roy Rogers to reach the website. When I was five years old, I was in love with Roy Rogers; he's still my favorite actor. He is one of the most trusted Americans who ever lived. What a perfect person to illustrate this article. When I think of "cowboy ethics," I recall watching Roy Rogers on my black and white television. What a wonderful model he was for American children of my generation. To quote the magazine article, "He was as good as they come. He was a straight shooter and could sit on  horse as if he were born in the saddle. He could yodel like nobody's business. He walked the straight and narrow in his hand-tooled boots and lived by a code worthy of his white Stetson."

James P. Owen and the Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership focus on the values that are part of our heritage, "values all Americans can share, no matter what our politics, our religion, or our station in life." Cowboys are heroic - not just because they do a dangerous job, but because they stand for something. Principles like honor, loyalty and courage lie at the heart of the Cowboy Way.  Mr. Owen has written a best seller called The Try and has developed a program about cowboy ethics and how kids who use the ten guiding principles called the Code of the West actually can raise their GPA.

The Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership promotes the following ten principles to live by - good for students, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

1.  Live each day with courage.

2.  Take pride in your work.

3.  Always finish what you start

4.  Do what has to be done.

5.  Be tough, but fair.

6.  When you make a promise, keep it.

7.  Ride for the brand.

8.  Talk less and say more.

9.  Remember that some things aren't for sale.

10. Know where to draw the line.  

You can check out his website: http://www.cowboyethics.org/ 

Let's put America back on the right track.

The Gault Family History Find

	FOUND ON GOOGLE Subject:	Do you have information about Gaults?  Please contact me. John McCain GAULT Travis Co., Texas
	Post Date:	January 05, 2010 at 05:24:12
	Message URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/gault/messages/717.html
	Forum:	Gault Family Genealogy Forum
	Forum URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/gault/

John McCain GAULT moved just north of Austin, Travis Co., TX. His log cabin is still standing and has a historical marker. You can see pictures of the cabin here: http://impactnews.com/northwest-austin/history/703-wells-family-settles-walnut-creek http://www.flickr.com/photos/texashistoricalmarkers/378565324/ According to the marker, John M. GAULT died here in Travis Co. and was buried at the Merrilltown Cemetery nearby. The cemetery was vandalized and some markers taken in the 90s and John GAULT's stone is assumed to be one of the stolen stones. One of John M. GAULT's great-grandsons (maybe grandson) was Manny GAULT. Manny was a Texas Ranger and good friend of Frank HAMER and was one of the party that killed Bonnie and Clyde. Manny and Frank are buried next to each other.

 Gahagan, Mrs. R. E.: Gaddis, Eliza: Gaddis, Virgil: Gaddis, Wm. Gault, Effie: Gault , Fannie: Gault, Herbert: Gault, John M. Gault, Sarah I. Gebhart, Austin Gebhart ...