Gender Diversity
Texas Historical Marker #15372
Southeast Texas Regional Airport. Originally named Jefferson County Airport, this facility has served area residents since the World War II era. Jefferson County Commissioners purchased land to build the airport in 1941, and its development, which included three runways, a taxiway system and apron facilities, began the following year, with initial construction completed in early 1944. Eastern Airlines conducted the first scheduled flight in March of that year. During the war, the airport also served U.S. Marine Air Corps Dive Bomber Squadron No. 931 as a base for advanced training. Pilot trainees used floating targets in the Gulf of Mexico off Sabine Pass for gunnery and divebombing practice. The airport has accommodated developments in air technology through enhancement of its facilities. Improvements in the 1950s and 1960s included additional land, buildings and taxiways, and installation of runway lighting and an instrument landing system. In the early 1980s, when Texas International, Southwest Airlines, Air Texana and Metro Airlines all operated out of the airport, additional improvements were made, including completion of a new terminal. In 1999, County Commissioners approved a name change for the facility to the Southeast Texas Regional Airport. As chemical and petrochemical industries, paper and pulp manufacturing and other area businesses grew, the airport became an increasingly important transportation center. In 2005, it was the site of one of the largest civilian airlifts in U.S. History, when the U.S. military evacuated thousands of local residents with special medical needs during landfall of Hurricane Rita. Today, the airport continues to play a vital economic role in southeast Texas. #15372
6000 Airline Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10492
Site of Old Aurora. Laid out in 1835 on land grant from government of Mexico to Horatio M. Hanks. At least 160 blocks were planned. After the Texas Revolution, Banks' partner and agent Alamazon Huston sold first 15 lots on Nov. 27, 1837. Deed records show town existed late as 1850. By 1880 the land was sold by state for its taxes. Hurricanes, freezes and lack of medical services caused the area to be deserted by 1890. Aurora bloomed and faded like the dawn, from which it took its name, leaving shoreline of Lake Sabine deserted until 1895, when Port Arthur was founded. #10492
?, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10512
Ellwood-Craig House. (Pompeiian Villa) Built in 1900 as the winter home of Isaac L. Ellwood (1833-1910), principal developer of barbed wire. Architects G. C. Nimmons and W. K. Fellows, of Chicago, designed the house in a classic revival style with a raised Roman Doric portico. The name was derived from a planned, but unrendered, series of courtyard frescoes of Bacchanalian motif, reminiscent of ancient Pompeii. Port Arthur pioneer G. M. Craig lived here from 1903 until 1950. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1974 #10512
1953 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10514
Federated Women's Clubs of Port Arthur. The Federated Women's Clubs of Port Arthur is a league of sixteen individual clubs which represent a variety of interests and public service projects. Together, through the organization, they combine their efforts for the betterment of the community. The Federation developed from the Women's Self-improvement Club which was organized with nine charter members in February 1898 at the home of Mrs. W. D. Park. It was originally a literary club, but social services were soon added. In 1910 members interested in music started the Symphony Club. The following year they were joined by the Reading Club in the formation of a department club. In 1914 the Young Women's Culture Club and the Women's Self-Improvement Club joined the organization. Meetings were held in homes until 1915 when the club moved to the Elks' Theater building. After a 1923 fire destroyed clubrooms and furnishings, members began planning for a separate clubhouse at this site, which was completed the following year. Renamed in 1977, the Federated Women's Clubs of Port Arthur has made significant contributions to the city through sponsorship of such programs as civic activities, scholarships, and historic preservation. #10514
1924 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10515
Clubhouse of the Federated Women's Clubs of Port Arthur. In 1923, twenty-five years after their founding, the Port Arthur Federated Women's Clubs began planning for construction of their own clubhouse. Mrs. C. L. Wignall chaired the planning committee, and her husband, local architect C. L. Wignall, designed the structure. His plans included a decorative window motif repeated in the porch balustrade. An open house on Feb. 8, 1924 celebrated the completion of the clubhouse. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1982 #10515
1924 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10545
Morris-Booz-White House. (White Haven) Built in 1915 for Dr. Harvey D. Morris, this has also been the home of the C. E. Booz and Carl White families. The home underwent major renovations about 1923, including the additions of the wraparound porch and the massive pedimented portico supported by paired Ionic columns. It is representative of the residences built along Lakeshore Drive in the early 1900s and reflects Port Arthur's cosmopolitan heritage. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1988 #10545
2545 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10519
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Port Arthur. This congregation traces its history to 1898, when a small group of people began meeting informally for Bible studies. In 1904, under the leadership of B. J. Waugh, First Christian Church was chartered with 72 members. Services were held regularly in various locations until 1906, when a small wooden tabernacle was built at 620 Fifth Street. It was replaced by a modern brick structure in 1915. The church has since relocated twice to better serve its growing membership, and continues to serve the community with a variety of ministries. #10519
5856 Ninth Ave., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10539
Lakeshore/Lions Park. The Port Arthur Townsite Company, planning the layout of Port Arthur in 1898, set aside Lakeshore Park along the Sabine Lake shoreline. In 1920 a portion of the park was named Lions Park in honor of the Lions Club members who made numerous improvements there. Through the years, the Lions Club provided playground equipment, water fountains, landscaping, picnic tables, and a two-story southern colonial style bandstand. The bandstand in the center of the park became a focal point of community social, political and recreational activities. The park was an especially popular gathering place for citizens of all ages during the long, hot summer months. Texas Senator (and future governor) Allan Shivers, campaigning successfully for reelection in 1938, appeared at political rallies in the park. W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, successful candidate for Governor of Texas that same year, and his band, the Light Crust Doughboys, also appeared in a rally at the park. City records indicate that the bandstand was razed in 1954. The park was donated to Lamar University, Port Arthur in September 1989 and has become a focal point of Lamar's campus. #10539
1300 Proctor St., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10529
Gates Memorial Library. John Warne "Bet a Million" Gates (1855-1911), a native of Illinois, was instrumental in the early growth of Port Arthur. A prominent businessman and financier noted for his promotion of barbed wire, he became a leader in the development of the city founded by Arthur Stilwell, the president of the Kansas City Southern Railroad. Gates was initially attracted to the Port Arthur area by the local oil boom of the early 1900s. As an investor, he figured prominently in the development of the Texas Company, now Texaco. Later a resident of New York, Gates maintained his business and philanthropic interests in Port Arthur with the help of his son Charles. Gate's contributions to the city include Port Arthur Business College, St. Mary's Hospital, and the Plaza Hotel. In 1909 John Gates set aside land at this site for a public library, but initial plans for the project were discontinued after his death in 1911. Planning resumed five years later when it became apparent the public library in the nearby high school could not adequately serve the city. Through the efforts of Gate's widow Dellora (1855- 1918) and local residents, this library was completed in 1917. The following year it was dedicated and deeded to the city. #10529
317 Stilwell Blvd., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10565
South County Office Building. The growth of the petrochemical industry in the southern part of Jefferson County in the early 1930s resulted in the need for extended county government services. State legislation was required in order to enable the county to build a "subcourthouse" in Port Arthur. Introduced in the Legislature by local elected officials, a bill was passed on April 30, 1931, and plans were made to build a new south county office facility to serve this part of the county. Funded as a project of the Federal Public Works Administration (PWA), construction of the building began on August 10, 1935, and was completed the following year. The first floor housed offices of county commissioners and other officials; the second floor contained court facilities; and the third floor was occupied by a jail. Still in service as a county facility, the structure is an ornamental example of the art moderne style as typically interpreted by PWA projects in the 1930s. Prominent features include stylized classical detailing, eagles capping the pilasters at the entry, floral banding, and allegorical medallions. A one-story addition was built in the 1970s. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1989 #10565
525 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10569
Sparks Settlement Cemetery. John and Melinda Sparks and their family came to southeast Texas from Tennessee in 1838. They settled on the Jeremiah Mixon headright on Lake Sabine and later set aside land for a family burial ground. The land was acquired by the Port Arthur Land Company in 1896. Although Melinda and John Sparks, along with family members and neighbors, were buried in the cemetery, all that remains to mark the site is a monument erected in 1948 in memory of a ten-day-old child, Arthur Stilwell Smith, who was born and died in May 1896. #10569
?, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10586
Birthplace of Babe Didrikson Zaharias. (June 26, 1911 - September 27, 1956) One of seven children, Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants Hannah Marie (d. 1945) and Ole Didrikson (d. 1943). For the first several years of her life, the family occupied a frame house at this location. Later they moved to Beaumont. The Didriksons encouraged their children to develop their natural athletic abilities. Called "Baby" by her family, Mildred was later nicknamed "Babe" for baseball star Babe Ruth. Babe first demonstrated her athletic skill as a high school basketball star. After training in track and field events, she won two gold medals at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. An exceptionally versatile athlete, Babe excelled in baseball, bowling, tennis, and other sports. Eventually she concentrated her efforts on golf and won many tournaments as both an amateur and a professional. The Associated Press named her the "Woman Athlete of the First Half of the 20th Century." In 1938 Babe married George Zaharias. Popular with sports fans for her skill and personality, she won further admiration during a long and courageous battle against cancer. She died in Galveston and was buried in Beaumont. #10586
2232 Seventh St., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #11953
Trinity Lutheran Church. Twelve people heard the Rev. C. G. Kuppler of Louisiana deliver the first German Lutheran sermon in this area in early 1899. The small group applied for a regular pastor; the Lutheran Mission Commission sent Dan Poellot, a theological student, who served about six months. In August 1899 Pastor Kuppler installed Concordia Seminary graduate H. C. Gaertner of New Orleans as pastor of the church in Port Arthur, and assigned him to minister to Lutherans in Beaumont and Orange as well. The Port Arthur congregation established a church constitution in 1899 and incorporated as "The Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession" in 1901. The church and its school burned in 1902, but the congregation rebuilt by 1903. The church membership doubled in size and was self-supporting by 1904. The industrialization following the Spindletop oil boom and during World War l caused Port Arthur to grow rapidly. A new building two miles from the old church wa dedicated in 1924. The old structure became a mission, first attended by Trinity members who lived near the old site. It soon grew to become St. Paul Lutheran Church. Trinity helped organize more missions which became full churches: Good Shepard, Port Arthur, in 1947; St. Mark, Port Arthur, in 1950; and Holy Cross, Nederland, in 1957. Trinity's school enrollment declined in the 1980s with the wane of Port Arthur's oil industry. The school closed in 1987 after 85 years of operation, but the church initiated new programs and remains active. Hoi Thanh Tin Lanh, a mission for the growing Vietnamese population, was established in 1991. (1999) #11953
2400 5th Street, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #15944
Fuller, Ruby Ruth, Building. #15944
300 Stilwell Blvd., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #13118
Spindletop to Port Arthur Oil Pipeline Corridor. On January 10, 1901, the landscape of Texas changed forever. On that day, the Lucas Gusher came through at the Spindletop oilfield, discovered on a salt dome formation near Beaumont. Flowing at an estimated 100,000 barrels a day, the Lucas Gusher marked the beginning of a Texas oil boom that would last for decades. Many of the nation's biggest oil companies, including the Texas Company (Texaco), Gulf Oil Corporation, Sun Oil Corporation, Magnolia Petroleum Company and Humble (Exxon company), began at Spindletop. Capitalizing on the vast new oilfield, the Port Arthur Townsite and Land Company, which had been creating infrastructure for a railroad and shipping terminal city, deeded an oil pipeline right-of-way to James M. Guffey and John H. Galey. The line transported oil from the Spindletop oilfield to Guffey's refinery, which became the Gulf Refining Company of Texas. Within three years, more than 500 miles of oil pipelines had been constructed in southeast Texas. Further expansion by Guffey's company linked Port Arthur to oilfields in Oklahoma, and his refinery became one of the largest in the U.S. Area oil pipelines boosted both the Texas and U.S. economies with new businesses, technology and other advances. The pipelines enabled companies to collect and refine Texas oil reserves, and Port Arthur's location allowed product to be delivered quickly around the country. The Texas petroleum industry played a large role in U.S. involvement in both world wars and helped establish the nation as a 20th-century superpower. (2004) #13118
Spur 93, 60th St, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #13885
Janis Lyn Joplin. (January 19, 1943 - October 4, 1970) A native of Port Arthur, famed blues and rock and roll singer Janis Joplin lived here with her family. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1960 and attended Port Arthur College and Lamar State College of Technology (Lamar University) in Beaumont. A liberal and outspoken free spirit, Janis rebelled against the conservatism of her hometown, and in 1962 she moved to Austin to study art at the University of Texas. She connected to the burgeoning Austin music scene and began singing in clubs around town, most notably at Threadgill's, a bar operated by Texas country singer and yodeler Kenneth Threadgill. With her raw and raspy singing style exhibiting the blues, jazz, country, cajun, gospel and soul music influences of east Texas and Louisiana, she was a popular local performer. Searching for wider acceptance, Joplin moved to San Francisco in 1963 and quickly became part of the growing folk music and counter-culture movement of the 1960s. Her performances at the 1967 International Pop and Jazz Festivals in Monterey brought her widespread recognition. Her first album, Cheap Thrills, with the band Big Brother and the Holding Company, was a wild success even as her personal life became marred with alcohol and drug abuse. Later recording with the Kosmic Blues Band and the Full-Tilt Boogie Band, she was an international sensation by the end of the decade. In August 1970, at the height of her fame, Joplin returned to Port Arthur for her ten-year high school reunion. Just two months later, she died of an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol; her ashes were spread along the coast of northern California. Her final album, Pearl, released after her death, earned a gold record. (2007) #13885
4330 32nd St, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #15011
Port Arthur College Radio Tower. #15011
?, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12501
John Warne Gates. Illinois native John Warne Gates (1855-1911) arrived in Port Arthur in 1899 at the urging of his business partner and town promoter, Arthur Stilwell. Gates' time here as a financier, entrepreneur and philanthropist left a significant legacy to the city in the form of numerous charitable bequests, businesses and educational institutions. Prior to his arrival in Port Arthur, Gates had gained fame as a barbed wire salesman and earned his fortune as a steel magnate. Soon after his arrival on the Gulf Coast he helped finance Patillo Higgins' endeavor to drill for oil, which resulted in the discovery of oil at the Spindletop field in January 1901. Gates founded the Port Arthur Rice Milling Company and promoted the recognition of Port Arthur as a United States port of entry, which was achieved when President Theodore Roosevelt signed the congressional act to that effect in 1906. Other endeavors included the Gates model dairy farm, the Mary A. Gates Memorial Hospital and the Gates Plaza Hotel. He founded and endowed the Port Arthur Business College (now Lamar State College - Port Arthur) in 1909, and set aside land for what became the Gates Memorial Library after his death. Gates' Classical Revival mansion, built near this site in 1909, epitomized his social and economic position in the city. Boasting 18 rooms and numerous outbuildings, it took nine months to build at a cost of $500,000. The house later became the home of Dr. Murff F. Bledsoe, who developed the Bledsoe Place addition, and was razed in 1960. (2001) #12501
?, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12334
Texas Company Refinery at Port Arthur (Port Arthur Works). The Beaumont-Port Arthur area was booming at the turn of the 20th century after the January 10, 1901, discovery of oil at Spindletop. The Texas Fuel Company was formed on March 28, 1901, by J. S. Cullinan, a Pennsylvania oilman and veteran of the Corsicana fields; Arnold Schlaet, manager of the oil business of the New York-based Lapham Brothers; and former Texas governor James S. Hogg and his partner, J. W. Swayne. The company purchased a small tract of land on this site in February 1902, and was reorganized as the Texas Company in April. The Port Arthur Works began operations with two tar stills in April 1903. The refinery's first crude still started on Nov.13, 1903, producing 1,000 barrels per day, primarily of fuel oil. Kerosene and gasoline were manufactured beginning in 1904. Such innovations as the thermal cracking process, which increased the quantity of gasoline produced from a barrel of crude oil, were perfected here. By the end of 1940, the Port Arthur Works had grown to about 5,000 acres and 3,897 employees. It processed 35,214,000 barrels of crude in 1941. The Texas Company participated in the World War II effort by exchanging technologies with other oil and gas companies to perfect the new fluid catalytic cracking process to produce high-octane gasoline and feedstock for the new synthetic rubber process. World War II also increased the requirements of all lubricating oils. The Texas Company became Texaco in 1959, and the Port Arthur plant grew throughout the second half of the 20th century as Texaco became one of the world's largest oil companies. It is the only surviving company of the many created during the Spindletop oil boom. (2000) #12334
?, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10530
Gates Memorial Library. John W. Gates (1855-1911), a noted financier and philanthropist, set aside land at this site for a public library. In 1917, through the efforts of his widow Dellora (1855-1918), this classical revival library was completed. It was designed by the New York firm of Warren & Westmore, Architects of several New York landmarks, including Grand Central Station. Deeded to the city of Port Arthur in 1918, the library is now part of Lamar University at Port Arthur. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1981 #10530
317 Stilwell Blvd., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10579
Vuylstekke House. Born in Rotterdam, Holland, Adrianus Jacobus Maria Vuylstekke (1873-1912) immigrated to the U. S. in 1893. In 1894-96 he moved to Texas and helped plat the town of Port Arthur. Following his marriage to Nettie Minerva White in 1898, they settled in Port Arthur. Vuylstekke was an agent for various shipping lines and assistant secretary of the American Land and Oil Company. In 1903 he was appointed Dutch Vice-Consul in Port Arthur, and Dutch Consul in 1906, both by royal decree of the Netherlands. Built for the Vuylstekke family in 1905, this house was constructed by J. E. Alexander in about 75 days. Reflecting the Dutch heritage of its original owner, the colonial revival style house features a full width balustraded porch with classical columns, a pedimented entry bay, centered dormers, and pilasters that articulate the corners of the building. The Vuylstekkes sold the house in 1908 to John W. Tryon, mayor of Port Arthur from 1917 to 1921. Subsequent owners Howard and Olive Fuss moved the home in 1939 to this location. Later remodeled into apartments, it gradually deteriorated and was vacant. The home was purchased by the Port Arthur College Foundation in 1980 and restored by 1986. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1996 #10579
1831 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12784
Francis John (Frank) Trost (June 24, 1868 - August 4, 1944). Francis John (Frank) Trost (June 24, 1868 - August 4, 1944) Frank Trost, the photographer of record on the day the Lucas Gusher erupted in the Spindletop Oil Field, came to Port Arthur in 1895 from Kansas City, Missouri, where he had been involved in real estate. He opened a photography studio at this site and turned his hobby into a successful business. On January 10, 1901, Trost was notified of the events at Spindletop, just south of Beaumont. With his unwieldy camera equipment in tow, he managed to take at least one photograph of the gushing oil before sundown. Photographic methods were still in their infancy, so the image was created with a glass negative Trost manufactured in his studio. The photo appeared in newspapers all over the United States and in some foreign countries. It was in such demand that Trost made as many as 250 prints per day and sold them as quickly as they were printed. Aside from his significance as a recorder of this momentous moment in Texas history, Frank Frost also served his adopted hometown as a city alderman, city commissioner and fire chief. Trost died at home in 1944 and is buried in a local cemetery. He was survived by his wife, Katherine, and two daughters who continued his work at the Trost Studio. (2002) #12784
747 Procter, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10582
Woodworth House (Rose Hill). In 1896 Arthur E. Stilwell, president of the Kansas City Southern Railroad, organized a townsite company to settle Port Arthur. Soon afterward, R. H. Woodworth (d. 1923) moved here from Chicago with his bride Mary (d. 1946). They erected their first home on Nashville Avenue. An independent real estate dealer, Woodworth later entered the banking business. He served as Port Arthur's third mayor in 1902. He hired J. H. Baxter of the Griffing Lumber Company to construct this classical revival mansion in 1906. This property was then located on the edge of town. When it was completed, the residence reflected Woodworth's position as a business and social leader. Here the Woodworths raised their children, George and Phebe, and often entertained friends. Mrs. Woodworth served as a director of the First National Bank and was active in the Department Club of Port Arthur. In accordance with her wishes, her daughter Phebe gave Rose Hill to the city in 1947 to be cared for by the Department Club. The elegant structure is maintained as a meeting place for various community groups and as a center for social and cultural events. #10582
100 Woodworth Ave. at Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10583
Woodworth House (Rose Hill). J. H. Baxter of the Griffing Lumber Company built this residence in 1906 for R. H. Woodworth (d. 1923). Wide verandas extend beyond the impressive columned portico of the classical revival structure. Woodworth, a business and civic leader, and his wife Mary (d. 1946) hosted numerous social gatherings here in the early 20th century. Since 1947, the house has been in the care of the Department Club of Port Arthur. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1978 #10583
100 Woodworth Ave. at Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10535
Israel Chapel A. M. E. Church. Frederick Shepherd, who helped the Rev. Napoleon Harris establish an African Methodist Episcopal (A. M. E.) mission in nearby Sabine in 1902, founded this church at his Port Arthur home in 1903 with the Rev. Harris serving as pastor. The first sanctuary, built here in 1904 on property donated by the Port Arthur Townsite and Land Company, also housed the area's first public school for African Americans. As membership expanded successively larger sanctuaries were built. the name Israel Chapel A. M. E. Church was officially recorded in 1959. The church continues to serve the community. #10535
949 Texas Ave. at 10th St., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10553
Pompeiian Villa. The last remaining landmark of the "dream city" planned by the founder of Port Arthur, railroad magnate Arthur E. Stilwell (1859-1928). The house was built in 1900 as the winter resort home of Isaac L. Ellwood (1833-1910), the developer of barbed wire. The same year financier John W. "Bet-A-Million" Gates (1855-1911) had a mansion built nearby. It was razed in 1960. Ellwood sold the villa in 1901 to James Hopkins of St. Louis, who in 1903 sold it to George M. Craig (1862-1950), principal developer of Port Arthur, for 10 per cent of the Texas Company (present Texaco, Inc.). Craig lived here until his death. #10553
1953 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10555
Rainbow Bridge. The rapid growth of the petrochemical industry in Jefferson and Orange counties in the early 20th century led to increased population in this area. In order to serve escalating transportation needs, plans began in the 1920s for the construction of a bridge to span the Neches River. Due to the depressed economy and differences of opinion among business leaders, the campaign to build the bridge (led by the Port Arthur "News" and American Legion Post No. 7) lasted for seven years. In 1934 Gov. Miriam A. Ferguson signed a special law to enable county bond and Federal Public Works Administration funds to pay for state highway bridge construction. The project engineer, G. G. Wickline, used innovative techniques to design a bridge that would cross 7,742 feet of marshy terrain and river bottom. The bridge's 680-foot central span, designed to clear a Navy ship carrying a moored dirigible, was, at 176 feet, the world's highest elevated roadbed over tidal waters. The final cost of the bridge was $2,750,000. Its dedication on September 8, 1938, drew huge crowds and was a major local event. In a 1957 contest sponsored by the North Port Arthur Lions Club, it was named "Rainbow Bridge." #10555
SH 87, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10572
Arthur Edward Stilwell. Son of Charles H. and Mary Stilwell, was born on October 21, 1859, in Rochester, New York. Young Arthur was greatly influenced by his grandfather, railroad builder Hamlin Stilwell, and according to family tradition vowed to be a railroad builder himself one day. He married Virginian Jennie A. Wood in 1879 and after many business successes set his sights on building a railroad system from the farming region of the midwestern U.S. to the Texas Gulf Coast. Stilwell established the town of Port Arthur here on 4,000 acres in 1895. He later extended the Kansas City, Pittsburg, and Gulf Railroad from Shreveport south through western Louisiana to its terminus at Port Arthur. To promote settlement of the area Stilwell established a successful experimental farm, drilled water wells, and built a hotel, indoor swimming pool, and pleasure pier. In 1897 Port Arthur contained about 1,100 inhabitants. by 1900 Stilwell had completed a canal from Mesquite Point (7 miles south at Sabine Pass) to substantial port facilities at Port Arthur. By fulfilling a childhood dream Arthur Stilwell not only founded the town of Port Arthur but in large measure laid the foundation for its future prosperity. Stilwell died on September 26, 1928, and was cremated. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845 - 1995 #10572
1300 Proctor St., Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #11948
Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. The first Presbyterian Church of Port Arthur ws organized with 18 charter members on February 18, 1900, by the Rev. F. E. Robbins of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaumont. The Port Arthur congregation called its own pastor the Rev. F. J. Pankey, in September. The Rev. W. A. Ziegler and 43 members established the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Port Arthur on October 19, 1924. The Rev. Frank W. Langham was called as first pastor. As both congregations grew, they each relocated to new facilities. In 1966 First Presbyterian Church dedicated a church building on this site. First Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian churches merged on April 8, 1979, adopting the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. The congregation continues a tradition of worship, religious education and service. (2000) #11948
1645 Jefferson Drive, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #14028
Sabine-Neches Canal. Situated between Port Arthur and Lake Sabine and drainages of the Sabine and Neches Rivers, the Sabine-Neches Canal is a vital route for commerce from the Gulf of Mexico to port facilities in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange and other areas. Interest in development of the waterway increased after the success of the Port Arthur Canal, which was integral to the growth of the city. Construction of the canal began following a joint resolution of Congress in 1898 and planning by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It was to link and merge with the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), which runs from Brownsville to Florida and north to New Jersey. The canal would run from the ICW to the Port Arthur Canal, southeast of the city. Construction began around 1908 and took two years to complete. Original plans called for it to be built through Sabine Lake; however, land companies and residents chose to have the canal sited separately, hoping it would provide a levee system against tropical storms. A drawbridge linked port Arthur with Pleasure Island. It was replaced by what is now the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge. In 1929, Governor Dan Moody signed legislation for a seawall system around Port Arthur that included the Rue Des Soldats (Street of the Soldiers) and parks. Due to its low elevation, the city closed the road in 1966, replacing it in 1981 with an improved levee system that included the elevated seawall drive along the historic Sabine-Neches Canal. (2007) Marker is property of the state of Texas #14028
Woodworth Blvd, Lakeshore Dr, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #11947
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. This congregation was first organized in early 1906 by the Rev. Mr. Stevenson, Nancy Copeland (Coplan), Laura Herbert and Sharlit Bill (Beal). As the local African American population grew, eleven more people joined the group. They called the Rev. A. D. Hendon as pastor and officially established the first Baptist church for African Americans in Port Arthur. They named the church New Hope Baptist Church. Church officers were Professor A. J. Criner, head of the Young People's Union and chairman of the deacon board, and W. M. Richardson, Sunday School superintendent. Early services were held in a horse stable which members cleared out on the weekends for church use. Other church programs included a woman's home mission society. The congregation erected its first building in 1909 during the pastorate of the Rev. J. E. Nelson, but it was destroyed by storms and flooding. The second building met the same fate, and many early church records were destroyed. This pattern continued for many years and was a common problem before the seawall was built in Port Arthur. The congregation cultivated a strong relationship with nearby Israel Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church and the two groups occasionally shared facilities. Another close bond was forged with West Tabernacle Baptist Church of Beaumont between 1910 and 1920 when the Rev J. W. Williams served both churches simultaneously. The church thrived throughout the 20th century, calling pastors and repairing worship structures as needed. The congregation sponsored many community service efforts and was host to several community organizations. In 1982 a new sanctuary ws dedicated. New Hope Baptist Church members continue to worship in the traditions of their founders. (2000) Incise on base: Officially Organized August 12,1906 #11947
549 W. Gulfway Drive, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #14688
Port Arthur College. John W. Gates founded Port Arthur College in 1909 as a nonprofit, non-sectarian, vocational school focusing on stenography, accounting and communications. Gates, one of the founders of the Texas Company (Texaco), envisioned a school to complement local industries. Gates proposed building a school and hospital as memorials to his mother, and asked that the city donate the required property. The City Council used public park land between Procter Street and Lakeshore Drive for the college. Gates appointed the original trustees, including George M. Craig as first president. The college opened for classes on October 4, 1909. Gates believed the Spanish department would be especially attractive, with the opening of the Panama Canal and increased trade with Central America raising demand for bilingual secretaries and clerks. On December 1910, the board conveyed the college to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the name was changed to Port Arthur Collegiate Institute. In succeeding years, academic, music and science classes were added to the curriculum. In 1919, the M. E. Church returned management to the board of trustees. By 1923, the college was a fully accredited commercial school. Communications courses that began with wireless telegraphy expanded to radio broadcasting and later a television station. During World War II, Port Arthur College trained approximately 1500 operators in communications for the U.S. Army Signal Corps. The college flourished and in 1975 became part of the Lamar University System, later joining the Texas State University System and changing its name in 1999 to Lamar State College-Port Arthur. The school has grown from the first class of 35 enrolled to more than 3000 students today. #14688
1500 Procter, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12783
Port Arthur-Beaumont Interurban Railway. Port Arthur-Beaumont Interurban Railway Electric railways known as Interurbans existed in Texas from 1901 until the 1940s to provide frequent opportunities for the public to travel between urban centers. Interurban service between Beaumont and Port Arthur began on December 16, 1913, lasting until competition from automobiles and buses caused passenger use of the rail line to decline. The Jefferson County Traction Company and the Beaumont Traction Company, subsidiaries of the East Texas Electric Company, owned and operated the Port Arthur-Beaumont Interurban Railway. Tickets were 90 cents for a round trip. Passengers departed from Port Arthur at a terminal station and maintenance facility at this site and could board or get off the interurban at any of 10 stops along the route. The electric rail cars seated 48 people, but often there were many more on board. The cars could also be chartered for group trips and were popular for weekend excursions. The interurban service was used to evacuate Port Arthur citizens fleeing the 1915 hurricane until the high water caused a power failure. Some passengers were stranded in the cars for 12 hours. The last recorded trip of the Port Arthur-Beaumont Interurban was August 15, 1932. By that time, private automobiles had become the more popular mode of transportation, while increased consumption and new demands for electricity more than made up for the electric company's loss of the interurban's need for electric power. (2002) #12783
320 Austin Avenue, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #10548
Early Oil Tanker Service. Part of the huge transportation complex that moves petroleum to world markets. Traffic in oil tankers and barges in Texas mushroomed two months after the state's first oil gusher, "Spindletop," roared in. On March 11, 1901, the first boat to transport the Spindletop product, "The Atlas," left Sabine Pass with about 3,000 barrels of crude oil. Port Arthur exported one of the earliest large shipments of oil about April or May, 1901, on the "Atlas" and two other vessels. The cargo was bound for the refineries of Standard Oil company of Philadelphia to be tested for "illuminating" purposes. Many persons then scoffed at the idea of using oil as a fuel. One year after Spindletop, Texas commerce, formerly based on "cattle and cotton," had been vastly changed by petroleum. More than half of all ships entering Sabine Pass and Port Arthur were connected with the oil industry. By April of 1902, shipments had already exceeded the 1,750,000 barrels exported in 1901. By 1902, steamers were burning Texas oil as fuel and the Guffey Petroleum Company had begun to build Texas' first tanker fleet-- five ships. Today the value to Texas' economy of crude oil alone totals more than three billion dollars yearly. (1968) Early travel, transportation, and communication series erected by the Moody Foundation. #10548
SH 87, Port Arthur, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12562
The Port Arthur Refinery. The eruption of the Lucas Gusher at the Spindletop Oil Field in January 1901 established Texas as a major oil source and signaled the beginning of a significant economic boom to the state. The new town of Port Arthur benefited tremendously from its proximity to the oil field. In early 1901, a consortium of men from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, formed the J. M. Guffey Petroleum Company to finance and develop an industry for the oil from its Spindletop leases. In need of refining facilities and a sales organization, the consortium chartered the Gulf Refining Company on November 10, 1901, and built a refinery at Port Arthur for the purpose of making the crude oil into a usable commodity. Early products of the refining company included gasoline, kerosene and engine oil. In 1907, assets of the J. M. Guffey Petroleum and Gulf Refining companies were merged into the Gulf Oil Corporation. At the end of 1910, Port Arthur was the company's lone refinery until a second was built in Fort Worth the following year. Innovative production, refining and retailing techniques after World War I kept the company on solid economic footing. Expansion continued after World War II, and by 1955, Gulf Oil was the nation's largest producer of ethylene. By 1960, the Port Arthur facility was refining 270,000 barrels of crude oil per day into 600 different products. Gulf Oil became part of Chevron in 1984. In 1995, Clark Refining took ownership of the Port Arthur plant, and in 2000, Clark's name was changed to Premcor. Upholding an excellent safety record, the Port Arthur refinery has been a significant factor in the city's development as a major petrochemical center. (2001) #12562
S Gulfway Drive, Port Arthur, TX, United States