Have you ever wanted to hear Diamond Bessie tell her own version of what happened to her when she was murdered? Ever been curious as to what those last few minutes were like on the Mittie Stephens as it caught fire and sank in Caddo Lake. This Saturday, April 20 from 5pm to 7pm, come on down to Oakwood Cemetery and watch four vignettes from some of this historic graveyard’s most famous residents. A donation of $10 per person is being requested and the tour should take an hour.
Posts Tagged ‘Living History’
“Across the Bayou View” of the Jefferson Confederate Powder Magazine Walk
November 14th, 2011 by carriagehouse
Confederate Powder Magazine Walk Fridays at 3:00 PM
Join Jefferson’s Tourism Director, Jeff Campbell, for an out and back walk for an “Across the Bayou View” of the Jefferson Confederate Powder Magazine. The structure is the only surviving powder magazine in Texas.
The walk is approximately 1/3 Mile in each direction.
Call 903-665-3733 for reservations/There is no charge.
No walks on, 11/25, 12/23 and 12/30
Ghost of Christmas Past Home Tours in Jefferson, Texas
November 14th, 2011 by carriagehouse
Jefferson’s Ghost of Christmas Past Home Tours December 17, 2011
Tour Some of Jefferson’s Most Historic Homes and Visit with Residents from Jefferson’s Past such as Jeannie Epperson, Confederate Captain Joseph H. Pratt and I.E. Smith.
House of the Seasons (409 S Alley) Meet Jeannie Epperson, who lived in the House of the Seasons as a child. Tours are at 11 AM & 2 PM. For Reservations 903-665-8000. Tours $7.50
Singleton’s Virginia Cross (401 N Soda) Meet Confederate Captain Joseph H. Pratt. Tours are Noon & 1 PM. For Reservations, 903-665-3938- Tours $7.00
The Charles House (209 E Clarksville) Meet Industrialist I.E. Smith. Tours are at 3 PM & 6 PM. For Reservations 903-665-1773. Tours $5.00
While in Jefferson visit the city’s most haunted home, the Grove (405 Moseley). Tours are at 2 PM Saturday and 11 AM Sunday. For Reservations 903-665-8018. Tours $6.00 On Saturday, in the downtown area look for other historic Jefferson characters such as Kate Woods, Jesse Robinson, Bill Rose and Diamond Bessie as portrayed by the Riverport Ambassadors. Also enjoy the Historic Jefferson Ghost Walk on Friday and Saturday Evening. The walk meets at the corner of W Austin & North Vale. Ticket sales at 7:30 PM and the walk starts at 8:00 PM. Tours $12.00
A Novel “House of the Seasons”
October 18th, 2011 by carriagehouse
The House of the Seasons
Written by: Richard Collins, T.J. Kuenster, and Dan Kuenster
Illustrated by: Dan Kuenster
Published by: House of the Seasons
Sale price: $10.95
The House of the Seasons is pleased to announce the publication of its first historical photographic illustrated novel, The House of the Seasons. The novel was co-authored by Richard Collins, Dan Kuenster, and T.J. Kuenster.
Richard Collins, a Texas entrepreneur, is president of the House of the Seasons and CEO of istation, an interactive education company in Dallas. Dan Kuenster is an Emmy-award winning animator and the Executive Vice President of Art and Animation at istation. T. J. Kuenster is the Musical Director of the Glen Campbell Band and is a well-known songwriter. His credits include original songs on the soundtracks for the Don Bluth animated films All Dogs Go to Heaven and Rockadoodle.
The House of the Seasons centers around Jeannie Epperson, the daughter of the home’s builder, Benjamin Epperson, a prominent lawyer, entrepreneur, railroad man, and political leader.
The novel tells the haunting story of Jeannie’s childhood and her friendship with a ghost during the time of the Civil War. Soon after Jeannie’s birth, her mother dies. Jeannie’s Aunt Agatha, an old maid of twenty-four, comes to take care of the child. An old friend, Texas Ranger Edward Hamilton, leaves the Rangers to work for Mr. Epperson and falls in love with Agatha. The Civil War brings tragedy to the family, and it changes their lives.
The story is based on historical facts and characters. It weaves together several true events from the history of the home. One of the important characters in the book is Sadie, Jeannie’s cat, her loyal friend and companion. Sadie lives at the House of the Seasons today and is beloved by all the guests who visit the home.
The House of the Seasons is a wonderful story for children of all ages from 6 to 86. The authors will be in Jefferson the last two weekends in October to sign first editions of the novel. The book is on sale at Beauty and the Book, the House of the Seasons, and several locations around Jefferson, for $10.95.
Texas & Pacific Railroad Returning to Jefferson
August 18th, 2011 by carriagehouse
Photo by Sam Wilson
Please join us for a festive evening and ride the Historic Jefferson Railway train to support The Texas & Pacific Railroad returning to Jefferson. Donations accepted toward cost of bringing the R.D. Moses T&P Railroad layout to the Jefferson Historic Museum. Silent Auction. Raffle.
When: Friday, August 26, 2011
Where: Historic Jefferson Railway, 400 E. Austin; Jefferson, TX 75657. 866-398-2038
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
See additional details below. Also visit YouTube: RD Moses’ HO scale Texas & Pacific Railway.
Can’t join us on the 26th? You can mail your tax deductible donation to “Jefferson Historical Society & Museum Train Account” at
Historic Jefferson Museum
223 West Austin
Jefferson, TX 75657.
If you would like to have your name on a permanent plaque in the T&P station building, the following donations will qualify:
Rail Baron – $5000
Superintendent – $2000
Yardmaster – $1000
Conductor – $500
Engineer – $250
Fireman – $100
Switchman – $50
Any donation is welcome and will be put to good use. Thank you so much for your consideration.
For additional information, contact Jefferson Historic Museum, 903-665-2775, or Jefferson Cypress Bayou Model Train Club, President Roy Richie, 903-665-9900.
Texas Monthly About the Port Of Jefferson Civil War Re-Enactment
July 21st, 2011 by carriagehouse
If you have a few minutes today, you should definitely take time to read the wonderful article in this month’s Texas Monthly about my town of Jefferson Texas. The photographer and writer were here for our annual Battle Of Port Jefferson Civil War Re-Enactment that takes place the first weekend in May every year. They did a wonderful job of portraying our annual event.
The Skirmish Will Be Followed by a Ladies’ Tea
Our Pilgrimage Weekend and Battle Of Port Jefferson Civil War Re-Enactment are splendid affairs that have people showing up in period dress, fighting skirmishes and battles on our brick lined streets, touring our amazing antebellum homes and attending our grand balls. If you have not been here for this weekend, then you should put it on your bucket list. It is a must do and must see. I will even serve breakfast for you in my Civil War gown.
Pleasant Hill Quilting Group – Not What You Think It Is
June 23rd, 2011 by carriagehouse
The Ladies of the Pleasant Hill Quilting Club, Texas-intro trailer from Kimby Caplan on Vimeo.
Of all of the performances that I had the privilege to see this past weekend at the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest, the ladies of the Pleasant Hill Quilting Group were the most interesting and they were certainly the most unique. These woman put on a very spirited and very spiritual performance each night. If you ever get the chance to see them in action, you should take advantage of it. Their performance is like nothing you have ever seen before.
Back in our pre-civil war times, the slaves of the South had many different ways to communicate with each other. Due to the cruelty of their enslavement, they were unable to just talk as we all find so natural. We have to remember though. It is our human nature to share information. One of the most common ways for slaves to communicate with each other was in their song and in their work. The slaves developed codes that they would sew into their quilts that would often pass on information such as the safest way to escape or the safest way to the Underground Railroad leading them north to freedom.
For instance, a North Star sewn into a quilt would signal that a slave should go north. This would often be used in conjunction with the old slave spirtual song “Follow the Drinking Gourd”, which contains a reference to the Big Dipper constellation. Two of the Big Dipper’s points lead to the North Star which again corresponds to the North Star sewn into the quilt.
The Pleasant Hill Quilting Group is a group of quilters from the East Texas town of Linden that lend their talents to the art of quilt making and also to the history of quilt making. Each quilt they sew is a replica of an old slave quilt and their performances are a wonderful mix of telling of the quilt codes sewn into these beautiful quilts as well as singing the old spiritual songs that tell the stories of how to escape to freedom. The song leader describes what each square means and in between the squares they sing.
The Pleasant Hill Quilting Group meets each Monday afternoon at the old Pleasant Hill/ Rosenwald School to quilt and build community. The Pleasant Hill/ Rosenwald school was built in 1925 to serve the African American community and was in continuous operation as a two room school house until 1964. Today the building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is used as a community center. If you are interested in stopping in and seeing this historic structure, it is open for tours each Monday while the ladies are there working. Each quilt that is sewn is sold to help defray the costs of preserving this little piece of East Texas history.
The ladies of the Pleasant Hill Quilting Group donated one of their quilts to the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest and it was auctioned off Saturday night. It was great to sit back and watch two of the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast’s guests fight over it. Greg from California finally won it for $750 dollars. You should have seen the look of delight in these ladies faces at the idea of getting that type of money.
I and several of our guests had the opportunity to look hard at the quilt Sunday morning after breakfast. Many of you know that my mother is a long time quilter and the quilts on our beds are all hand made by her. We all admired the beautiful hand stitching which is so rare to see today. Greg said that he was considering donating it to his local school district so that they can use it in their history classes.
The quilt tells the story of a very horrible time in U.S history and these ladies are keeping the stories alive through their performances.
Images from Pilgrimage and the Battle of Port Jefferson
May 10th, 2011 by carriagehouse
This past weekend was Jefferson’s 64th Annual Pilgrimage and Re-enactment of the Battle of Port Jefferson. Our Battle of Port Jefferson re-enactment is the largest Civil War re-enactment in the State of Texas. The weekend kicks off with four of our historic homes opening for tour. This year, we had a wonderful assortment of homes in different styles and architectures.
- The Angel Rose House
This was one of my favorite homes on tour and for a very unique reason. It is the sister house to the Carriage House Bed & Breakfast. I need to do much more research but I think these two historic homes must have a shared history. I walked through this house and marveled at how the layout matched my own house. I walked away with a ton of new ideas. The Angel Rose house was also built in 1920 and is a Craftsman kit house ordered out of the Sears and Roebuck catalog for $900. The home has had many additions added to it over it’s years and has been fully restored all the way to traditional Craftsman paint colors.
Twin Oaks Plantation
This amazing home is a beautiful example of a classic Southern Colonial Greek Revival home. This property sat empty for many years and was purchased last year and is in the process or being restored. Only the carriage house and the pool house were on tour this time since they are the only structures that have been completed. The main house is still very much a work in progress. These beautiful buildings sit on a large piece of land that used to be a cotton and pecan plantation.
The William Clark House
This home built in 1852 is one of the oldest homes in Jefferson and was built by one of the of the original founders of Jefferson, Allen Urquhart. The rest of the house (three front rooms) was added in 1855 by a local merchant by the name of William Clark (hence the name, William Clark House). I loved the sunny yellow paint that many of the rooms were painted in. It gave the entire house a cheerful feel to it.
The Culberson House
This is one of the grandest homes in Jefferson filled with amazing art and priceless antiques. This home was built by Col. David Browning Culberson who is famous for many things including defending Abe Rothschild at the Diamond Bessie Murder Trial. This house is another example of the traditional southern architecture of the time, Greek Revival, and was inspired by a Greek Temple.
Little Girls Holding Pet Chickens
The home tour was not the only thing going on in town this past weekend. The town was full of Civil War re-enactors trying to recreate life in 1864. Entire families were living in tents set up in various parks and lots throughout town. Not only did they dress in traditional Civil War garb, but they fully immersed themselves in the lifestyle of the time.
- Riverport Ambassadors at the Pilgrimage Parade
One of the fun events of the weekend is the annual Pilgrimage parade Saturday morning. Tom and I are members of a local tourism organization called the Riverport Ambassadors. We dress up in period dress and assist the tourists on weekends. We do step on bus tours, and educate the public on Jefferson’s colorful past. Like many local organizations, we participate in the Pilgrimage parade. You can’t see me real well, but that’s me in the middle in the sea foam green dress with the black parasol.
- Civil War Skirmish on Austin Street
The parade ends with a gun battle and a skirmish in our beautiful Historic Riverfront District before the Civil War heads out to the battlefield set up at Tuscumbia Ranch. In addition to all of these fun activities, we also have a quilt show, an heirloom plant sale, an art show, the Grande Hertiage Southern Ball, the Great Locomotive Chase, the Diamond Bessie Murder Trial play, and evening Twilight Garden Strolls.
The Battle of Port Jefferson
April 12th, 2011 by carriagehouse
Today is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War.
East Texans were a 1000 miles away from the first canon fire at Ft Sumter, and at that exact moment, they were all more concerned with their cotton farms and timber trade. Here in Jefferson, we were a bustling and busy riverport full of the promise of a bright and profitable future. As our high school teachers taught us all, the Act of the Northern Aggression (as it is referred to this side of the Mason Dixon Line) was a war that forever changed the South. The War Between States didn’t quite make it here to East Texas and to Jefferson. It ended in a bloody battle in Mansfield Louisiana but the repercussions are still felt here today. In fact for those of us that live in the South, the spectre and the remnants of the Civil War are all around us with grave markers still adorned with flowers and old confederate powder magazines along busy boat tour routes . It often feels like a not so distant memory…almost as if it is something that we discuss when friends gather around. In fact, we Southerners feel compelled to re-enact it year after year after year (almost as if we are expecting the outcome to change). Here in Jefferson, we host the Battle of Port Jefferson the first weekend of May each year.
In Jefferson, we try and imagine that it is 1864 all over again. What would have happened had the war not stopped downstream from us? What would have happened at the Battle of Port Jefferson? We know that the Union Army wanted to take what it considered a very strategic port, the Port of Jefferson. What would that battle have looked like and what would have happened to Jefferson?
If you are looking for something to do May 6th through the 8th, then come on down. The largest Civil War re-enactment in Texas will be right here that weekend.
I have to tell the story of last year, because as you know it is never a dull moment here at the Carriage House Bed & Breakfast. Tom and I were still serving breakfast when the Civil War broke out in front of our house…seriously, the Civil War. I was pouring a cup of coffee when a canon was fired and a brigade of soldiers on horseback came clomping and racing up the street. It startled me so badly that I almost dropped the carafe of coffee in one of our gentleman’s lap. Now you have to admit, you have never stayed at a B&B were breakfast was interrupted by the Civil War before, now have you. So Tom and I did what any sensible innkeeper would do. We told everyone to grab up their cups of coffee and head out to the porch where we watched the skirmish from the comfort of rocking chairs and porch swings. It was breakfast and a show. This year, we are going to be smart about it and serve breakfast a little earlier, so everyone will have time to find a place to watch the battles and skirmishes. You have to admit though, that makes a pretty good rookie innkeeper story.
Living History at the Old Oakwood Cemetary in Jefferson,Texas
February 28th, 2011 by carriagehouse
On April 2, 2011, the Riverport Ambassadors, a group dedicated to promoting tourism and interpreting the history of Jefferson, Texas, will be conducting a narrated dramatic tour of Old Oakwood Cemetery, one of Texas’ and Southeast U.S.A.’s most interesting final resting places. At five gravesites, actors in period costume will dramatize biographies and events that made the lives of those buried within both significant and interesting. This dramatization will be in conjunction with the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club’s ownership of the historic Excelsior Hotel.
Tours begin April 2, 2011 between 5:30 and 6:15pm
at the main entrance of the Old Oakwood Cemetery.
Five vignettes will be featured:
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Diamond Bessie (1854 – 1877) immortalized by the drama that has been viewed to sellout audiences for over fifty years, The Diamond Bessie Murder Trial. Diamond Bessie, a New York manufacturer’s daughter turned prostitute, was murdered in Jefferson at age 23.
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German immigrants Kate Woods and daughter Amelia arrived in Jefferson in 1877 and purchased the Excelsior Hotel.
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Bad guys Jesse Robinson and Bill Rose killed each other in a gun fight in 1871, and are buried handcuffed together in the same grave.
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Jessie Allen Wise, historic Jefferson icon, for whom the Excelsior Hotel’s owner, the Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club, is named. She will be immortalized by her granddaughter–civic leader and historian Mary Margaret (Wise) Harvey.
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Confederate Captain Joseph H. Pratt, who commanded the 10th Texas Field Battery that supported Colonel William Henry Parsons under the flag of Parson’s Brigade during the War Between the States. This distinguished battery fought gallantly throughout the South during the Civil War.
Donations to the Old Oakwood Cemetery to support restoration will be gratefully accepted. Cash or checks payable to Old Oakwood Cemetery Association.
Reserve your space for the April 2, 2011 tour at http://www.riverportambassadors.com/. Tickets are also available at the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast by calling 903-665-9511