Rockdale Reporter
Thursday, June 1, 2000
You can go home again!
by Dr. Lucile Estell
My Hometown . . . When I return . . . the main street still is filled with pleasant faces and glad hellos . . . with an atmosphere of calm . . . with time for neighborly concern . . . with joy in sharing another's fortune . . . or heartfelt words to one who mourns. . . . Hometown is more than just a town . . . it is a way of life, a place of peace and quiet . . . and when I return it is as if I have never been gone . . . and in my heart I have not. . . . by Craig E. Sathoff
Some learned person once wrote "you can't go home again." That's a saying I've heard all my life. I'm not sure I agree with it.
Rather, I believe that a desire to return home, go back to your roots is a desire that most of us feel at some time. The feeling intensifies around this time of year as Rockdale, like many other communities all over Texas, approaches its annual homecoming celebration.
I had an occasion this past week to step backward about 50 years to a place which was my home for two years.
As I turned down a familiar street, past familiar structures -- yes, a school was there -- I slipped into the evening of my memory and there once again saw familiar faces, young and enthusiastic, eager to learn.
I saw the smiles of the human landscape, the people who then composed the fabric of my life. I recalled so many names, Robert, Peggy, Juan, Andrea, so many others, and for a few special moments I was there again.
These memories are a part of my life, a part of what makes me who I am, a part of the fabric of my life.
As we approach this homecoming in Rockdale, I hope that you can take the time to go back in your memory and think of the people and events which have made Rockdale great.
- Go down to the old depot and remember the days when it was an active place. Hear the hustle and bustle as the trains come and go.
- Walk north on Main Street from the depot and perhaps you'll see Dr. Barkley walking toward his office.
- You may see the activity of stores opening at Vogel's or Stricker's.
- Look across Cameron Avenue and see what's playing at the Dixie Theatre.
- Move on down Ackerman Street and see (in your memory only) the old Lockett home, residence for many years of Mrs. Sledge who wielded such a powerful influence over so many young people as she taught them piano.
- Look toward Main Street and you will still see standing the garage of Buck Henry, who for so many years epitomized the values which are Rockdale.
Think of those many friends who are no longer with us and remember the part they played in weaving the fabric of your life.
If the things that you see, and the emotions that you feel, make you happy, bring these with you to the annual homecoming on the 2nd Sunday in June.
What you bring with you will combine with what others bring and assure that we will have the best homecoming ever.
You can go home again.
The following article was written by Dr. Lucile Estell, and was published in the May 23, 1996 issue of The Rockdale Reporter. Mr. Bland's model was the central focus of the Rockdale historical display which was set up at the Rockdale Homecoming on Sunday, June 13, 1999. At that time, it was intended that the model would find a permanent home in the restored I&GN Depot.
Nolan Bland's model
of downtown Rockdale . . .
a trip back in time
Backward, turn backward,
O time in your flight,
Make me a child again, just for tonight!
These words, penned in 1860 by Elizabeth Akers, describe in part the feeling which engulfed me as I crossed the threshold of Nolan J. Bland's workshop to view the model of Rockdale, circa 1928.
The model came to life as I examined sites which were among my first memories growing up in Rockdale in the early 1930's. The feelings were so real that for a fleeting moment I felt that I had been once more at Mr. C.W. Matson's Dixie Theater, followed by ice cream at Mrs. Hill's.
The model of Rockdale is the work of Nolan J. Bland. According to Bland, the idea for such a model had been in his mind for a number of years. After his retirement, he decided to make the model a reality. He began its actual construction more than a decade ago, using as a basis a 1928 map of Rockdale. He laid off the streets first, presenting them in the unpaved condition which existed in 1928.
Construction of buildings came next. Bland used old photographs as well as his own important mental images of Rockdale in this early period. "I remember all of this," he said. "I was born and raised right here," he added, pointing to a site southwest of town. In the beginning, his work was on a scale of one foot to sixteen inches. However, he altered this in some instances in order to make the buildings look more realistic.
As his dream took physical form, Bland enlisted help in identifying buildings and ensuring the accuracy of the model. Part of this assistance came from his wife, Leona Gest Bland. She is a native of the Gay Hill community and strong supporter of the project. A major role in this identification process was played by E.E. "Buck" Henry, who assisted Bland in this important phase.
The first area that Bland constructed was south of the railroad tracks in the booming industrial section of Rockdale. This is the area near the first city water tower, shown on the model.
Featured here are...
- the ice plant
- the cotton oil mill, including garage & scales
- the lumberyard
- Farmer's Union Store & Warehouse
- Blackburn's Electric Gin
- Sinclair Oil
- Gulf Oil
- the swimming pool
- railroad houses
- William Cameron Lumber Yard
and other structures. Also seen on the model is the office of the cotton buyer, a man named Vinton.
Moving on toward "downtown" Rockdale, one sees both the passenger and freight depot of the IGN Railroad. The town was thriving. Persons looking for a residence, temporary or permanent, might select from...
- the Larue (formerly Wolf) Hotel
- Mrs. Queen's Room & Board
- Wilson's Boarding House
- or the Hale Hotel
Those wanting to eat had a broad choice, including...
- Scheihing's Restaurant
- Carrol Robison's Hamburgers
- Albrecht's Hamburger Shop
- Owl Cafe (Mr. Landis)
- Peveto's Restaurant
- Mrosko's Cafe
- Elite Cafe (Ryan & Vogel)
- Dad Griffith's Cafe
If there was a sweet tooth to be satisfied, there was also a broad choice...
- Bob Reagan's Confectionery*
- Hill's Confectionery* & Book Store
- Stein's Bakery
- Henning Root Beer & Gas Station.
*A place where confections, ice cream and cakes are made or sold; a candy shop.
Those persons needing or wanting to purchase groceries could go to...
- Cannon's Grocery
- Ray Ead's Grocery
- Noack's Grocery
- Marshall's Meat Market
- Backhaus Brothers Grocery
- R.L. Orr's Meat Market
- H&L Hudson Grocery
- Jim Hamilton's Meat Market
And the model shows stores and services of other varieties. I noted with pleasure Dora Poole's Millinery* (my maternal grandmother), and Estell's Tin Shop (my paternal grandfather).
*The business of making, trimming or selling women's hats.
There was...
- Ousley's Variety
- Cone's Dry Goods
- Perry & Quebe Drug Store
- Lowenstein's Merchandise
- Pruett's Feed Lot
- Coffield Hardware
- Henne & Meyer Hardware
- Baldridge Brothers Drug Store
- Stricker's
- T.B. Kemp Insurance
- City Panatorium*
- McCawley's Saloon
*Have been unable to find a definition for "panatorium", but did find a description of another turn-of-the-century business which describes "The City Panatorium" as a " . . . cleaning and dying establishment. . . . where garments are cleaned, pressed, repaired, and dyed and a specialty is made of dry cleaning...."
Rockdale was progressive, with...
- a newspaper, The Rockdale Reporter
- a Masonic Lodge
- Dr. I.P. Sessions
- Dr. T.S. Barkley
- at least one dentist and one lawyer
Rockdale had two banks, Rockdale State Bank and Citizens Bank. There were other amenities...
- B. Regenbrecht, Jeweler
- Moultrie's Blacksmith Shop
- Phillips & Luckey, undertakers
- Gaither Motor Company
- Texas Power & Light
- W.E. White Dry Goods
- Scarborough & Hicks
- Louie Gest Chevrolet
- B. Ashby Gas Station
- Schubert's Shop & Shoe Repair
- Franklin's Filling Station
- Strelsky's Gas Station
- W.P. Henry's Garage
Reflecting on these years and on all the years between, we should remember most of all that this was a town filled with hope and promise and compassion -- a town filled with people, some of whom would remain in this central Texas location and some (such as George Sessions Perry) whose influence would span the world and future generations. The model is a treasure beyond words, a pleasure to view, and perhaps most of all -- a gentle reminder of who we are and from whence we came.
Below is the list of buildings on Nolan Bland's model, as prepared by Peggy (Skinner) Wright. At one time, the buildings were numbered to correspond to this list.
- IGN Railroad Depot (R) Passengers (B) Freight
- Cannon's Grocery ~ Peveto's Restaurant
- Mrs. Queen's Room & Board
- Ousley's Variety Store
- Cone's Dry Goods
- Scheihing's Restaurant
- City Pantatorium (Dry Cleaners)
- Dad Griffith's Cafe
- Ray Eads' Grocery
- Carroll Robison's Hamburger Shop
- Rockdale State Bank (doctor, dentist, lawyer upstairs)
- Coffield Hardware
- Border State Grocery
- Larue Hotel (Formerly Wolf Hotel)
- Rockdale Furniture
- Albrecht's Hamburger Shop
- Owl Cafe (Mr. Landis)
- McCawley's Saloon
- Perry & Quebe Drug Store
- Loewenstein's Merchandise
- T.B. Ryan's Shoes
- Jack Pamplin's Confectionery
- Mrosko's Cafe
- Noack's Grocery
- Marshall's Meat Market
- Stein's Bakery
- Backhaus' Brothers Grocery
- H & L Hudson's Grocery
- W.P. Henry's Garage
- Henry Barnhouse Home
- Colored Barber Shop
- Moultrie Blacksmith
- Pruett's Feed Lot & Livery
- Menn's Monument Works
- Estelle's Tin Shop ~ Woodmen's Lodge ~ JP Hillyer
- Preston Perry (vacant lot)
- Harness Shop
- Billy Richard's Garage
- Moses' Livery Stable (rear)
- T.B. Kemp Insurance
- Henne & Meyer Hardware
- Phillips & Luckey Undertakers (upstairs)
- Furniture Store
- Dixie Theater (C.W.Matson)
- Citizen's State Bank ~ Southwestern Bell (upstairs)
- Elite Cafe (Ryan & Vogel)
- Strelsky's Gas Station
- Gaither Motor Co.
- Texas Power & Light
- Wilson's Boarding House
- R.L. Orr's Meat Market
- W.E. White Dry Goods
- Baldridge Bros. Drug Store ~ B. Regenbrecht, Jewelers ~ (doctor & dentist offices upstairs)
- Arch Holley Barber Shop
- Hill's Confectionery & Books
- Scarbrough & Hicks Co.
- First National Bank
- Horton's Barber Shop
- Bob Reagan's Confectionery
- Dora Poole's Hat & Dress Shop
- Schubert's Shop & Shoe Repair
- Jim Hamilton's Meat Market
- Stricker's Variety Store
- Rockdale Reporter (downstairs) ~ Masonic Lodge (upstairs)
- Rockdale Post Office
- Franklin's Filling Station
- Louis Gest Chevrolet
- B. Ashby Gas Station
- Claude Ashby Pool Hall
- Moultrie Blacksmith
- Hale Hotel
- Rockdale City Jail ~ Backhaus Bros. chicken pens
- Clyde Rhodes & Tony Allen Machine Shop
- Will Scheihing Home
- Sour Lake Machine Shop
- Grocery Warehouse
- Wm. Cameron Lumber Yard & Cabinet Shop
- Farmer's Union Gin
- Blackburn's Electric Gin
- Blacksmith Shop
- Texaco/Gaither Whse.
- Machine Shop
- Railroad section houses
- Henning Root Beer
- Vinton Cotton Buyer
- Seed House
- Stockyards (for shipping cattle)
- Lumber Yard
- Warehouse
- Mine Payroll Office
- Williams' Grocery
- Farmer's Union Store & Warehouse
- Cotton Platform
- Cotton Sample Room
- Cotton Bagging and Tie
- Gulf Oil
- Cotton Oil Mill Garage
- Cotton Oil Mill Scales
- Cotton Oil Mill
- Ice House
- Swimming Pool
- Railroad Houses
- Railroad Well
- Railroad Motor Car House
- Railroad Water Tower
- Sinclair Oil (Palmer's)
- City Water Tower (first)
- SA&AP Railroad
- Water Fountain ~ middle of street
- Turner Lumber Yard
- Crittenden Home
- Fred Palmer Home
- Rockdale Bottling Works
- Leo Harris Store ~ Catchings Barber Shop ~ Henke Dry Goods ~ E.A. Camp Office (upstairs)
- T. Raymond Dry Goods
- Perry Building
- Kestenbaum Garage
- Maxie's Sweet Shop & Theater
Rockdale Reporter
Thursday, June 13, 1974
Record Crowd Attends Homecoming.
Rockdale's Homecoming at Fair Park Sunday (June 9, 1974) drew an estimated crowd of 400, the largest since the Homecoming Association was organized in 1933. With Rockdale celebrating its Centennial year this week, the Homecoming had particular appeal to former residents, and local residents turned out in large numbers to greet the "Homecomers."
They came from all parts of Texas and from California, Kentucky, New York, and Louisiana. The guest register showed Houston listed more than any other city. Mrs. Hazel Largent Benjamin, of Torrance, Calif., was awarded a Centennial souvenir for the visitor coming the greatest distance -- 1661 miles. Similar awards went to the oldest man and oldest woman present -- both from Rockdale. They were Jack Richards, 89, and Mrs. Lillie Martin, 92.
The event saw visitors start arriving at Fair Park at mid-morning. Following some two hours of visiting and talking over old times, a barbecue chicken lunch was served in Fair Park pavilion by the women of the New Salem Home Demonstration Club. Helmer Dahl, of Hutto, organist, provided background music.
W.H. Cooke emceed a short program that included the presentation of awards and election of officers for the Homecoming Association. "We held the program to a minimum to give visitors and local citizens a maximum time for visiting and talking over old times," he said. Glenn Hodges told the visitors about Rockdale's new $2.5 million hospital now under construction.
In the election of officers, Cooke was named president, succeeding Hugh Estell, this year's president, who was moved to the office of vice president being vacated by Cooke. Mrs. Cooke was named corresponding secretary, replacing Mrs. Hugh Estell who has been serving in this capacity. She was unable to attend this year's Homecoming, having had surgery at Richard's Hospital the previous Friday. Mrs. Louise Sessions was reelected recording secretary and Miss Emma Hardie was reelected to the treasurer's post.
The meeting disbanded shortly before 2 p.m., but the "visiting and yarn spilling" continued for another hour for many. Others participated in various events of the Rockdale Centennial program during the remainder of the afternoon.
The museum and art show were open downtown, and many visitors joined the tour of Alcoa's Rockdale Works, "the nation's largest aluminum smelter." Many stayed for the community-wide church services at the football field at 6 p.m. The old homes tour also drew many former residents.
Retiring president Estell said the Association finished the Homecoming year "in the black" for the first time. He reported $386 in the collection box for those attending. "After paying all bills," Estell said, "the Association has a balance of approximately $75 on hand." The Association's income comes from membership dues which are $5 a year. Estell and incoming president Cooke said membership cards will be mailed to out-of-town residents who request membership, although this is not a requisite for attending the annual Homecoming.
