Views From The Past: Wichita County, Texas

It has taken 8 years for this book to happen, thanks to all of the great people who have sent me photos over the years. There are so many wonderful memories in this book: Funland, Short's Pig Stand, Westmoreland Pool, and Sand Beach. There are photos of streets that no longer exist and places that are no longer there: Underwood's and Brownie's BBQ, Tac Burrito, Tastee Freeze. There are photos of the 1979 tornado, police and firemen, fires and wrecks, churches and schools. Memories are timeless treasures of the heart.

Views From The Past (Pictorial History)

“Wichita County, Texas”

By Julie Williams Coley

Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN #978-1541217843

Price $26.95

612 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“History of Wichita Falls, Texas In Pictures.”

This is the third volume the author has collected with photographs depicting the long history of Wichita Falls, Texas, where my family lived from 1947 to 1956, then again in 1968-’69 while I was stationed at Sheppard AFB. And again, from December 1978 until after the 1979 tornado, when we moved away for good. But I still hold fond memories from those early years growing up in Wichita Falls, and attending San Jacinto elementary and Carrigan elementary, as well as Reagan Jr. High. We lived in so many places, and I had so many friends that I will never forget, and it’s wonderful to view these old pictures. There are still places not seen yet, and I always hope for a future volume with more memories.

This volume contains photographs from the 1920s to 1930s, 1940s, 1050s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s to 2000. Chapters on Churches, Schools, and hospitals; Burkburnett, Electra, and Iowa Park; Fire Department, Police Department, Fires and Wrecks; Pony Photos; Sheppard AF Base; and The 1979 Tornado. I remember the Army & Navy Store on Ohio & 7^th Street with fond memories, as well as the Westmoreland Pool, Funland, Short’s Pig Stand, the Strand Theater, and so many other places (volume one or two had many more photos of theaters). I highly recommend this series of books for anyone who has ever lived in Wichita Falls. If I had a complaint, it would be a request for the pages to be printed on better paper to provide more positive prints, as these books are collectors’ items to be cherished forever.

Tom Johnson

Author of ECHOES 30  

Book Signing

Tom’s Book Signing: Signing books at the Baylor County Free Library last evening (1/18/17), from 5-6 pm. Not a lot of visitors showed up, but we did enjoy talking with Jessica Myers, the Librarian, and the few who did stop by. We just took one picture. Here I am signing copies of THESE ALIEN SKIES, WORLDS OF TOMORROW and THE MAN IN THE BLACK FEDORA for Bill & June Sharon. Sadly, Seymour rolls up its streets at 5 pm, and few people will venture out after that hour. Plus, there were some heavy clouds overhead, and thunderstorms threatened.

Holliday Library

Holliday Librarian, Paula Meyers, with copy of WIRE DOG donated to the Holliday, Texas Library by Tom Johnson.

Blackbird

Blackbird (Murder Mystery)

By Tom Wright

Europa Editions www.europaeditions.com

ISBN #978-1609452704

288 Pages

Price $17.00

Rating 5-Stars

When a local psychologist is discovered murdered, and hanging on a cross of crucifixion, where she had died hours after being brutalized,

Lieutenant Jim Bonham on the Texas side of Texarkana takes the case. But someone high up wants him off the case and suspended for something happened a long time back. Plus the suspects are centered within the community of local psychologists and a sex club the murdered woman was running.

Jim Bonham, known as Biscuit in “What Dies In Summer”, along with Lee Ann also from that novel, are back, but both are grown now and with careers of their own. Bonham had joined the police force, while Lee Ann became a psychologist, leaving their troubled childhood behind them. Plus, there is a mystery surfacing again from their youth, which may be revealed in this current case.

The author, a licensed and practicing psychologist in Texarkana, Texas, weaves a strong tale of mystery, drawn with characters of deceptive appearance and hidden motives. His knowledge in the field of psychology allows him to create people with realistic hang-ups. It’s a story that will make you look at your next-door neighbor and wonder, could they be hiding some awful secret, and are they really sane? But, of course, you can’t tell by looking, can you? Highly recommended for mystery fans, and people who just want to read a good yarn.

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories

Views From The Past V #2

Views From The Past: Downtown Wichita Falls V #2

By Julie Coley

CreateSpace

ISBN #978-1503078239

110 Pages

Price $15.26

Rating 5-Stars

In this second volume of Views From The Past, Julie Coley has gathered 99 more old photos of early Wichita Falls. Down town scenes, including shots showing the Tower Theater, Strand Theater, and State Theater, as well as the businesses that catered to the city residents from the 1920s through the 1970s. Streets where I walked and played as a kid growing up. There is Ohio Street, Indiana, Scott, Lamar, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, and many others. Gibson’s department store, the Casa Manana restaurant, and so much more. These pictures compliment the huge volume that precedes it.

Overall, the pictures are clear and detailed, though there were a few faded due to age and wear. As with any project like this, there are so many memories of places lost forever, and half forgotten until viewed once again. Maybe we remember other buildings, other businesses. Cafes, car lots. Theaters. But they are not here, and we hope for yet another volume, and more pictures. I don’t think any building should ever be torn down without first capturing it on film and recording its history. So much is lost to us now, and will never be re-discovered, unless someone finds an old box of memories in a forgotten trunk amongst family snapshots that also capture city scenes in the background. I wish everyone would dig into forgotten boxes stored in a basement or closet. You never know what pictures may bring that forgotten memory to light once more for someone.  

I spent my formative years in Wichita Falls, from 1947 to 1956, and attended San Jacinto and Carrigan elementary schools, as well as Reagan Junior, High. San Jacinto is gone now. Carrigan is a vocational school, and Reagan is an Admin building, though it still stands. We lived in many sections of the city, and I played all over town. Anyone who ever lived in the city will enjoy this book. Highly recommended to current and past residents of Wichita Falls, as well as anyone that enjoys viewing a city’s past.

Tom Johnson

The Gem Theater

http://thegemtheater.blogspot.com