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BAYTOWN,
TEXASChambers/Harris
Counties, Gulf
Coast / East
Texas
I-10 and Hwy 146
30 miles E of Houston
Population:
66,430 (2000) 63,843 (1990)
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Baytown's
50th Anniversary commemorated in a handsome tile design in front of the former
post office, now the Baytown Historical Museum
Photo by John Troesser, 2003 |
History
in a Seashell
Nathaniel Lynch set up a ferry crossing at the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou
in 1822. The ferry is still running today - across what is now the Houston Ship
Channel. Lynch's Ferry was burned by Sam
Houston just prior to the Battle
of San Jacinto to prevent retreat. An embryo community consisting of a store
and sawmill was formed under the name Bay Town.
Later settlers
included Doctor Ashbel Smith, Mrs. Anson Jones, David G. Burnet, and Sam
Houston.
At the outbreak of the Civil War the Bayland Guards were
formed by Dr. Smith and the unit saw action at Shiloh and Vicksburg.
For the later part of the 19th century the area was remote and isolated. The most
popular entry into the area was by boat. With the discovery of oil - the isolation
was about to change.
A
timeline of Baytown significant events after the discovery of oil
1908: Oil is discovered near Tabbs Bay.
1916: Goose Creek oilfield becomes
famous as the first offshore drilling operation in Texas.
1917: The towns of Pelly and Goose
Creek develop.
1919: The Humble Oil and Refining Company is born. Company
names the site Baytown.
1923: Streets laid out and utilities furnished.
1947: Pelly and Goose
Creek merge and choose the name Baytown. Population - 20,958
1948: On
January 24, 1948, the city of Baytown is officially established.
See
Baytown
is so refined by Wanda Orton
On April 16, 1919, Humble Oil
& Refining Co. engineers arrived in Baytown, armed with boots and blueprints
Those
boots were made for walking in soggy, muddy, marshy ground while blueprints were
for a construction project envisioned by Humble Oil president Ross S. Sterling
and the company directors. What better place to build an oil refinery, they decided,
given the proximity to the Goose Creek oil field, Houston Ship Channel and the
corporate headquarters in Houston... more
Tunnels
Baytown was served by two tunnels -The Washburn and
the Baytown -La Port Tunnel. Baytown
Hotels - Book Here |
The
former Goose Creek Jail
Photo by John Troesser, 2003
More Texas
Jails |
Baytown's
Brunson Theatre
Photo by John Troesser, 2003
More Texas
Theatres |
Mementos
of the oil industry are still present
Detail on the Brunson Theatre
Photo by John Troesser, 2003 |
Baytown
Tourist Information
Baytown Chamber of Commerce - 281-422-8359
4721 Garth Road, Suite C, Baytown,
TX 77521
http://www.baytownchamber.com/
Book
Hotel Here > Baytown
Hotels |
Baytown, Texas
History / People Hughes
Who in Oil Field by Wanda Orton
How did Hughes Tool Co. evolve into
an icon in industry? The Goose Creek oil field at Baytown had something to do
with it.
La
Tipica by Wanda
Orton
An all-girl orchestra composed of talented and well-trained students
from Baytown’s Mexican community -- played an important role in local musical
entertainment from here to California.
Retired
Seed Company Exec Remembers Mentor by Wanda Orton
While
attending high school and during summer breaks from Texas A&M University, Bernard
Selensky had yet another school of learning. The late Neil Burnside, a Baytown
rice farmer, was his educator out in the field... more
Baytown’s
DJ of the ‘50s, Bill “Rascal” McCaskill, Conducts His “Night Train” Once More
by Bill Cherry
"... It was 1954, and in Baytown, a new disc jockey arrived
at a somewhat small, sleepy and nondescript AM station on Decker Drive... The
new KREL disc jockey’s name was Bill “Rascal” McCaskill, and for the next several
years he brought notoriety to Baytown the likes of which that city hadn’t seen
before... And he turned conventional radio programming in Houston upside down..."
more
Joe
Tex by Clay Coppedge
"A singer that critic John Morthland of
Texas Monthly called 'by far Texas' greatest contributor to soul music.' ...
Joe Tex belongs, in the mind of most Texans, to either Baytown, where his music
career began, or Navasota, where it ended." more
Cliff
notes on “Perils of Nyoka” by Wanda Orton
Hadn’t thought of “Perils of
Nyoka” in years until a friend mentioned that “Jurassic Park 2” reminded her of
the riveting serial that drew us to the picture show every Saturday. So taken
were we kids with these cliffhangers that we relived them every school day during
recess...
Gary
Busey
"Did you know that movie actor Gary Busey
is from Baytown? In case his name doesn't ring a bell he won an acadamy award
for his portrayal of Buddy Holly. He was totally believable and he even learned
to play a pretty good guitar while researching his part. He and the movie band
did several concerts after the movie was made. His Texas accent came naturally."
- George Lester |
Baytown,
Texas Forum
Subject:
Washburn Tunnel
The Washburn Tunnel is still in use. I frequently drive thru going to I -10 from
Pasadena....Hwy 225. It still has the same cleaning hours it did when I was a
child. You would have to wait till they were finished to get thru.
I
also remember when I was a child my Dad would always buy us candy at the local
ice house on the Pasadena side. I am a native Houstonian. Have lived in Baytown
for the last 35 yrs. Thank You. I have enjoyed your website greatly. - Jody
McDonald, March 21, 2004
Subject:
Baytown tunnel not
same as Washburn Tunnel
I grew up within several miles of the Baytown tunnel.
As I recall, the Washburn Tunnel was NOT the same as this one, but ANOTHER tunnel
further upstream, under the Houston Ship Channel or some bayou connecting to it
-- i.e. the latter was known as the Pasadena (or Galena Park?) Washburn tunnel.
The Baytown / LaPorte tunnel was roundish in cross-section, while the Washburn
tunnel was rectangular in cross-section. - Paul Comeaux, July 16, 2003
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic,
endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local
history, stories, and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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