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The
Red River Valley Museum
Vernon,
Texas4400
College Drive.
Hours: Tues - Sunday 1 to 5 P.M. |
Red River Valley
Museum Historical MarkerFeatures
one of Texas' famed regional collections of Indian artifiacts, tracing history
of early man along the Red River. Before Chisholm Trail days, when thousands of
cattle crossed Red River at nearby Doan's
Crossing, Vernon
area was home to tribes of Comanche, Kiowa, and Wichita. Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry
Ray of Vernon
spent 30 years gathering artifacts, which they donated to Wilbarger County, Oct.
14, 1963. |
Jack
Teagarden
There are a few mementos of Jack Teagarden and his career. Born Weldon Leo in
1905 he entered a family of musicians. His father played cornet and his mother
played both organ and piano.
He played piano at five and trombone
at seven. While waiting for his arms to grow he occasionally played French horn.
He played duets with his mother at the local movie house to accompany the
silent films.
A piano - trombone duet is a rare treat and their
performances probably hastened the invention of "talkies."
In 1926 he
went to New York and joined Doc Ross' Jazz Bandits. This isn't important,
but we like the name Jazz Bandits. Jazz Bandits Jazz Bandits Jazz Bandits. His
unique playing style and raspy vocals made him unique as a musician and bandleader
which he later became. He died in New Orleans in 1964.
The museum has
only a desk (a small secretary) that belonged to his family, a trombone that may
or may not be his, and a trophy he was awarded by Esquire magazine in the 1940s.
Jazz enthusiasts, mostly from Europe, make a pilgrimage here, and are
disappointed by how little Vernon has on "The Big T." His sister Norma
died only a few years ago and was a jazz pianist who was playing in San Francisco
as late as 1995.
A Canadian documentary-maker has recorded a one-hour
video on Jack's life, which may be shown on PBS stations.
©
John TroesserVernon,
Texas | Vernon
Hotels |
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mural depicting life on the Waggoner Ranch
TE photo |
Exhibits include
Native American artifacts and an exhibit of the History of the Waggoner Ranch.
There is a beautiful mural (photo above) depicting life on the Waggoner Ranch.
A lot of space is given to a Taxidermy exhibit.
There is an impressive
collection of busts by the famed sculptress Electra Waggoner Biggs. A biography
of this fascinating woman is available at the museum gift shop.
Vernon,
Texas | Vernon
Hotels | |
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