Goliad Paddling Trail
Ten Saturday Paddlers from San Antonio, and two more from Corpus Christi and Alice, traveled to Goliad to participate in the Second Annual Summer Flotilla on the Goliad Paddling Trail. This event was sponsored by several groups, including Canoe Trail Goliad, Inc., the San Antonio River Authority, and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The San Antonio contingent met at my office building parking lot. The drive from there to the put-in at the U.S. Highway 59 bridge took a little under two hours. After unloading our boats, we drove to Goliad State Park. The friendly staff at the park provided a free shuttle service back to the river.
The paddling trip on the San Antonio River from the highway bridge to the state park was about 6.6 miles in length. The river was flowing at 285 cfs, about a third below normal. However, the current carried us along at a pretty good pace, and we made the trip in less than three hours, including a short break for ice cream sandwiches, frozen margaritas, and other snacks.
Note 1: Left click on any photo to enlarge. Then use back arrow to return to this post.
Susan, Missy, and Kelly at the put-in.
The volunteers from Canoe Trail Goliad were very helpful. Here one assists Kathy with her launch.
Katie towards the front of our group.
Missy, Bill, Joline, and Susan.
Joline seems to be having a good time.
Kelly ready for take off.
Tom making good time.
Our rest/snack stop at a "sandy" beach.
Kathy glides past, ...
... followed by Sandra.
Bill approaches the old railroad bridge, which crosses the river not far from the state park.
It appears that the bridge, which is no longer in use, was erected in 1927.
Katie and Martha ready to return home.
Susan and Kathy at their elegant best, enjoying the free lunch provided at the park.
Miguel, Bill, Kathy and Joline polish off the rest of the "lemonade."
Note 2: For 14 more photos of the paddling trip, see this link to my Flickr page, then click on "Slideshow" in the upper right of that page.
Goliad State Park
Seven of us toured Mission Espiritu Santo, commonly referred to as Mission La Bahia, before leaving Goliad State Park. Interestingly, the old church is now owned by the State, whereas the old presidio, about a mile away, is owned by the Catholic Diocese.
This grasshopper was fortunate that we had already eaten.
Fortunately, no "cannibalistic Indians" were encountered during our visit.
Miguel, Kathy and Joline behind a cannon, which Joline didn't think was big enough.
The interesting roof construction.
Looking out from the mission granary to the workshops and classrooms building, also shown below.
Some of the original stonework of the granary is revealed.
An interesting feature above one of the doorways to the chapel.
The anaqua trees were quite beautiful.
The chapel has brightly colored details and wonderful acoustics.
Several of the votive candles had been lit.
Looking out of the main entrance to the chapel.
Note 3: For 17 more photos of the mission, see this link to my Flickr page.
Historic (Family and Otherwise) Goliad
After leaving the park, we drove to the Fannin Memorial, where Col. Fannin and about 342 of his men, shot one by one by the Mexican army on Palm Sunday after being taken prisoner a week earlier, are buried. This massacre gave rise to the battle cry: "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!"
This cannon was big enough for Joline.
The names of the men are inscribed on the granite memorial.
The presidio is a few hundred yards from the memorial. Unfortunately, we did not have time to tour the old fort.
Our sturdy steed and its cargo of seven boats.
Our next stop on the way to the town center was what my family refers to as the Collins House. Artie Holliday Collins and Joseph Collins, who acquired the home in 1879, were my great-great-grandparents. Their daughter Zelime Collins Pettus, my mother's maternal grandmother, was the first Zelime in the line that today continues with my niece, who is the fifth Zelime.
The historical marker refers to the property as the Stoddard-Collins House, and notes that it may date back to the 1820s.
The front of the house, which has been restored by attorney John Brooke, who uses it as an office.
I couldn't resist the rocking chair.
Joline's curiosity got the better of her.
Our next stop was the Goliad County Courthouse. Shown here is the east face of the courthouse tower.
An attractive town square surrounds the courthouse.
A historical marker at the courthouse recounts the devastation wrought by a tornado in 1902.
Rocking chairs are a common theme, enjoyed below by Bill, Miguel, and Joline.
Kathy got in on the act.
The west entrance to the courthouse.
Our next objective was to find the Pettus home, which served as the Goliad residence for Zelime Collins and her husband, William Bibb Pettus, before their move to San Antonio. We first stopped at the home of Adair Sutherland, which is shown above, for directions, as her sister-in-law, Dorothy Ramsey, now lives in the Pettus house.
The Pettus house is located at 250 N. Market Street. Mrs. Ramsey was not home.
The first three children of William and Zelime Pettus (Zelime, Sallie Gold, and William) were born in this house, which apparently was enlarged as the family grew. Note the differences in the styles of windows. The north side of the home, not pictured, reflects yet another style. The fourth Pettus child, Helen Roberta (our "Auntie"), was born at their home on Locust Street in San Antonio, which also served as the final home for my great-great-grandmother on the Pettus side, William's mother Ariana Pettus.
The hungry travelers stopped at Barth's Restaurant in Kenedy on our way back to San Antonio. From the smiles on their faces, you can see that Kathy, Miguel, Joline, and Bill were no longer hungry when we departed.
1 comment:
Thanks for posting the picture of Adair Sutherland's house in Goliad. It was very exciting to stumble on your photo while reading whatever I could find about Goliad online. Mrs. Sutherland's home was built by my great-g-g-grandfather, Alexander M. Boatright, when he was Mayor of Goliad (1855-1867). It's a beautiful house with interesting elements, and Mrs. Sutherland has kept it nicely intact outside. Someday I hope to see the inside design of the home, in pictures or in person.
I discovered that this home was originally my g-g-g-granddad's only some years ago, while researching the Boatright ancestors. I sent Mrs. Sutherland a clumsy pen-and-ink drawing of the house, which I drew based only on a few photos taken by a Boatright relative in Texas. I used the drawing on invitation cards to a Boatright family reunion.
I love the house; I wish I had known about it, and about my g-g-g-grandfather, when I was growing up. I'm very proud of the Boatright history in Goliad.
Thanks again, and when you are next in touch with Mrs. Sutherland, please tell her I said hello and that I hope she is well and happy.
Best,
Cindy
cedit@cox.net
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