ABC Wednesday -- O is for Oakwood Cemetery: Then and Now

This series includes an old postcard of the gate to Oakwood plus photos I took this week. Visit Mrs Nesbitt for more ABC Wednesday posts.

Corsicana Army Air Field

This great mural is on the side of a building downtown. The placque in the 2nd photo explains the reference to the Army Air Force flight training in Corsicana during World War II.

Odd Shots Monday

Any idea what's going on here? See 2nd shot below..... This was the 2nd time I'd driven by this old building in Corsicana and been struck by the shadow of the stairs on the wall. This time it dawned on me that a zoom would be a decent Odd Shot!

Visit Katney, our theme hostess for more Odd Shots.

Camera Critters Sunday ...

This is one of my favorite locations just outside of Corsicana for taking photos. With the pond, the paint horses, the hay bales, the reflections....there's just always something there to appreciate. Please go to Misty's Camera Critters Sunday site to see more wonderful animals.

Behind the scenes---Project Green

Sometimes it's good to get off the Beaton path (that's our main thoroughfare downtown) and see what's going on behind the old buildings. I found this ivy growth with the green to red contrast interesting. I hope you do, too. The light wasn't the best, but sometimes you just have to take the shot you're given, right? For more interesting Project Green shots, see Anna Carson's site. She does a great job herself and is a wonderful moderator.

Sky Watch Friday -- Sun and Moon

When I realized that I was looking at the moon in front of me and the sun in my mirror, I just had to pull over and try to capture it. It was much more awe-inspiring that my photo suggests!
See other Sky Watch Friday contributions at WiggersWorld.

Corsicana -- Then and Now: Methodist Church

Methodist Church NOW......Methodist Church postcard from 1906.....

My NOW shot is taken from the side street to the right of the church in the post card view from 1906. If you enlarge the new photo (taken 4/14/08) you'll see the moon up near the steeple. That was the reason for taking the shot from this angle.

N is for Navarro on this ABC Wednesday

I'm running really late today, so I'll let the Historical Marker tell the story! See other ABC Wednesday posts at Mrs Nesbitt's Place.
Please click here for more fasinating information about Jose Antonio Navarro and Texas, Navarro County and Corsicana history.

Follow-up: Then and Now: Pace Building

When I mentioned in the previous post that retail businesses had been added to the side of the old Pace Grocery building, I realized that would be hard for you to visualize. Yesterday when I went through town, I grabbed another shot. I appreciate these efforts to keep a historical building alive and well. I think, like most of us, old buildings appreciate being needed! ;-)

The Arts in Corsicana, Part I

There are several venues for art and entertainment in Corsicana. One of the newest is the Corsicana Opry/Martin's Music Hall. It's right downtown on Beaton. This is an older building that has seen many reincarnations....before the Opry, it was a workout facility.

Corsicana -- Then and Now: Pace Grocery Company

Once the Pace Grocery Company, this warehouse has been rejuvenated and put back to work. Off to the right of the photo, additions have been made to the side that hold several small retail stores.

Corsicana -- Then and Now: Corsicana Automobile Company

What was once Corsicana Automobile Company is now Signature Floors and More. Well-maintained and at an intersection of brick streets downtown.

ABC Wednesday--- M is for Memorial

On the grounds of the Navarro County Courthouse (see previous posts) is a beautiful memorial to those who have lost their lives in war. Click to enlarge and see the beautiful details of the carvings. Click the ABC logo below to see more participants in the ABC Wednesday theme over at Mrs Nesbitts Place.

Smith's General Store

This old jewel is "off the Beaton path" as they say in Corsicana....with Beaton Street being the main street through downtown (not to be confused with Main St, just a block over!). With the late afternoon sun warming the red brick and the bright blue sky, I couldn't drive past without stopping. You might also notice the brick street. We still have lots of brick streets downtown. And, if you're interested, this building is for sale!

I have no idea.....

Maybe somebody can tell me what this building is? There's a sign on the side of the building that indicated that a part of it was a lunch cafe for a period of time. Wish I'd gotten the address, just remember that it was on the northeast side of town....just a block or two off of Highway 31. If I find out more, I'll add it to the post later.

Corsicana--Then and Now: First National Bank

The photo on the right is the building today. It's being remodeled currently and I believe it is an apartment building. The following is taken from:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txnavarr/business/first_national_bank_corsicana/index.htm

"The First National Bank was nationalized on July 1, 1886, becoming the first bank in Corsicana to be chartered as a national bank. The bank had a capital stock of $100,000 which was increased the following year to $125,000 and a surplus of $75.000.

Captain Garitty was a Czar banker but constantly concerned with the welfare of the people. He personally loaned money to those in need. In the early days of the bank his personal account was around $50,000, but by 1920 it was rumored at$75,000.

The Captain always walked home with his pockets full of quarters and half dollars to give to small boys who trailed him home. He always fulfilled a philosophy of his to give away money each day to the less fortunate. He once initialed a note for a twelve year old boy who needed to by a horse in order to get a newspaper route. The boy worked hard to keep the Captain's trust in him and paid the note out.

Garitty continued throughout his long banking career to loan money to people who would pay hi back, not to people who could put up security. His theory was if a man could put up security he was not in need of help and would not bother with such loans.

It is said that the Captain was the best judge of moral character, and as a result had very few loans to go bad. Of course, he did accept poor risks by standards of the bank examiners; however, if a loan was questioned by the examiners, he would write a check on his personal account and take over the loan himself. Never at any time, though, was his honesty questioned by the most suspicious examiners.

As business flourished in Corsicana the First national Band did likewise. To date it has outgrown four locations. When first established by Adams and Leonard, the bank was located in a boxed house known as the Fundt Building on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Beaton Street. Later it was moved further south and across Beaton Street, relocating in 1915 on the corner of Beaton Street and Sixth Avenue." (THIS IS THE BUILDING PICTURED ABOVE)

Sky Watch Friday -- Sky coming down to meet us

It's Sky Watch Friday and I'm pulling out an oldie. This was taken in the country east of Corsicana last October. I was intrigued by the moon setting in front of me and the sun rising behind me and warming up the hay bales, making it look like the clouds had come down for a visit.

Old or New?

These are duplexes --- one apartment upstairs and one downstairs --- that were built just a couple of years ago. I think it's interesting that they fit in with the older homes in the area and bring it some fresh color.

ABC Wednesday

L is for Lefty. Corsicana is the birthplace of country singer Lefty Frizzell. He was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003. The Hall is in Carthage, Texas and was founded by a cousin of Tex Ritter. This statue of Lefty is at Jester City Park. There is also a Lefty Frizzell Museum just down the road at Pioneer Village, which will be the subject of a post soon!

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Mrs Nesbitt http://mrsnesbittsplace.blogspot.com/search/label/ABC%20Wednesday

Corsicana--Then and Now: Odd Fellows Bldg Downtown

This building was once the Odd Fellows' Building. It now houses a lawn mower shop on the ground floor. The photo below was taken from the side street shown in the old photo. The top of this building can also be seen in the title photos above.

Victorian Sample

I haven't located any old photos of this buildiing, so I don't know it's original use. It is now the home of the Victorian Sample Florist. I remember when they moved in there in the 1990's. If anyone out there knows more about this building, please let me know!

Temple Beth El, built in 1900

I couldn't find an old photo of this synagogue, but I did find a little bit of history:

…From Rootsweb.ancestry.com … Navarro County page: "The earliest Jewish settlers in Corsicana arrived in 1871, the year rail lines were built to the area. In 1898 a group of reformed Jews established Temple Beth-El. Two years later they built this house of worship, which features two distinctive octagonal towers with onion-shaped domes. Corsicana's Jewish residents have made many significant contributions to the city's growth and development, and the temple now serves as a reminder of their rich heritage."
Recorded Texas Historical Landmark - 1981

…from www.rabbifrankjoseph.net : "Temple Beth El was dedicated by the Jewish community in 1900, when the congregation was made up of 60 families. The congregation finally dwindled to the point where it disbanded in 1981.

The building, with its distinctive architecture, octagonal towers and two onion domes, was in a state of disrepair and scheduled for demolition. A group of concerned citizens formed "Save the Temple," and held dinners, styles shows and musical reviews, and with the help of private donations and state and local grants, were able to raise more than $100,00 to restore the building. It was deeded to the City of Corsicana, rededicated in 1987, and is now used for activities and club meetings."

I also learned that in 2005, permission was granted by the city for the Jewish community to hold once-a-month services on Friday evenings.

Corsicana--Then and Now: First Baptist Church

Left is old post card, right is my photo this week. The church was built in 1924 with a red tile roof. Around 1989 the tiles were removed, new felt installed, and tiles replaced. On Saturday night, June 5, 1999, the roof collapsed. As you can see, the church was restored and is still in use.

This photo from The Baptist Standard (found on internet).

Corsicana---Then and Now, Part IV

The postcard to the left calls it the "New Christian Church" and was postmarked in 1910. The photo to the right is one I took this week. The church suffered a fire, I believe in the late 1990's (I couldn't find anything on the internet with a quick search), and the congregation built a new facility on the edge of town. This building is now condominiums.

Corsicana---Then and Now: Call to Arms monument

I took the photo on the right above this week. The others are old postcards. The statue is called "Call to Arms". On the front of the monument are these words: “The Call to Arms. Erected 1907 by Navarro Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, to commemorate the valor and heroism of the Confederate soldier" More on the day of the unveiling at this link: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txnavarr/markers/the_call_to_arms/call_to_arms.htm

Corsicana---Then and Now: Navarro County Courthouse

This is the Navarro County Courthouse in Corsicana. Again, the left photo is an old postcard and the right photo is one I took yesterday.

Corsicana---Then and Now: State National/Chase Bank

The photo on the left is an old postcard of "State National Bank, Corsicana, Texas" obviously in the late 1920's or early 1930's judging by the cars. I took the photo on the right today. It is now Chase Bank. I plan to do a series of "Then and Now" comparative photos.