At 100 years old, Texas City is a relatively young city. It was founded not for its beauty or its climate but for its strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico. It developed into a major port city, and industries sprang up and flourished. From bare acreage, the founders forged a community that would become a hometown to thousands of people. Texas City has seen its highs and lows. The U.S. Air Force experienced its humble beginnings here, for instance. The same port, however, that gave life to the desolate land brought destruction in 1947 in the form of the Texas City explosion. A ship carrying ammonium nitrate blew up, killing almost 600 residents, injuring thousands, and bringing damage to nearly every building in town. Texas City recovered from the explosion and in the following decades, continued to be a place of pride for its citizens. The pages of this book are filled with images dating from the 1950s and 1960s to bring back the feeling of a bygone era in Texas City.
At 100 years old, Texas City is a relatively young city. It was founded not for its beauty or its climate but for its strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico. It developed into a major port city, and industries sprang up and flourished. From bare acreage, the founders forged a community that would become a hometown to thousands of people. Texas City has seen its highs and lows. The U.S. Air Force experienced its humble beginnings here, for instance. The same port, however, that gave life to the desolate land brought destruction in 1947 in the form of the Texas City explosion. A ship carrying ammonium nitrate blew up, killing almost 600 residents, injuring thousands, and bringing damage to nearly every building in town. Texas City recovered from the explosion and in the following decades, continued to be a place of pride for its citizens. The pages of this book are filled with images dating from the 1950s and 1960s to bring back the feeling of a bygone era in Texas City.
Title: Book marks Texas City's 100th anniversary
Author: T.J. Aulds
Publisher: The Daily News
Date: 7/31/2011
TEXAS CITY -- As the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of
Texas City nears, The Daily News will release a book that
chronicles the city's century of stories.
"The Texas City Century" is a 112-page book that features archival
photos and articles from The Daily News, The Texas City Sun, the
Texas City Museum and area residents.
The book starts with the city's story as a port that grew into a
petrochemical powerhouse. It highlights some of the biggest moments
in the city's history, including the 1947 disaster as well as the
city's rebirth, Hurricane Carla and Goals 2000. It features
profiles of some of the people who have made Texas City a "better
place to work, live and play," as its moniker states.
Most of the book is dedicated to images that come from various
sources, including archives of The Daily News and its former sister
publication The Texas City Sun, which traces its start to the year
the city was incorporated.
There also are images from Johnny Mitchell, a longtime Texas City
businessman who in the 1940s, '50s and '60s, captured much of life
in the city through his camera lenses. Some of the historic moments
come from the archives of the late Jesse Ponce, a former Sun
employee and past president of the Texas City Museum, who provided
much of the research for many of the historical markers in the
city. Ponce, who was a member of the Texas City Centennial
Committee, died in October at age 63.
His family bequeathed much of his research to The Daily News.
"The Texas City Century" goes on sale Monday at The Daily News'
offices in Texas City and Galveston.
On Thursday, an open house and book signing will be at the Texas
City office. Daily News Publisher Dolph Tillotson will be on hand
to autograph copies of the book.
"The Texas City Century" is one of four books to be published this
year marking the centennial.
The Texas City Centennial Committee is compiling an addendum to a
book published by the city in 2000, "Texas City: Images of the
Twentieth Century." Pre-orders for the Texas City Centennial book
can be placed at the city's website.
Mitchell's photographs also are the centerpiece for a book
published by his son Albert Mitchel, "Texas City: Images of
America," which was released last month.
Avid historian and Santa Fe Mayor Ralph Stenzel has published
"Texas City, A History in Postcards."
Mitchell and Stenzel's books will be on sale at the Texas City
Museum, which is scheduled to reopen Aug. 11 after being closed for
renovation.
While the city and centennial committee have held events each month
to celebrate the city's 100th birthday, a week's worth of events
marking the anniversary -- which is Sept. 16 -- is scheduled for
Sept. 10-17.
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At A Glance
WHAT: Release of "The Texas City Century"
WHEN: Monday, with book signing Thursday
WHERE: The Daily News, 7800 E.F. Lowry Expressway in Texas City or
8522 Teichman Road in Galveston
COST: $24.95 per book
OPEN HOUSE AND BOOK SIGNING: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at The Daily
News' Texas City office.
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