Is it February yet

145

Photo by Bill Kirchner; more photos here.


No Google street view for this one.

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Amarillo Livestock Auction
Established to serve the first permanent industry in the Texas Panhandle--ranching. Now famed for handling more cattle than any other commission auction company in the United States.
The years 1874-1878 saw Indians expelled, buffalo herds exterminated, and ranches established in the region. Longhorns were trailed to Dodge City for shipment. After railroads came, ranchmen rode the cattle trains to care for herds en route to market.
Railroad construction across the Texas Panhandle in 1887 established Amarillo as the largest rural cattle shipping point in the nation (1892-1897).
More efficient handling began in 1904 with the founding by O.H. Nelson, Al Popham, and associates of the Western Stockyards, predecessor of Amarillo Livestock Auction. This livestock commission market opened in 1935 with the sale of 36 cattle and 21 horses by Jack Coulter, Auctioneer, and Virgil Light, Manager. In 1940 Jay Taylor and Eddie Johnson bought the Western Stockyards and constructed the present sales ring, incorporated 1945 as Amarillo Livestock Auction Company. Marketing was revolutionized.
Annual sales exceed 400,000 cattle valued at more than $78,000,000.
(1970)
THC Database

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144

Photo by Bill Kirchner; more photos here.

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Amarillo Helium Plant
This plant, operated by the United States Bureau of Mines, was the first to produce helium from the extensive helium resources in the Texas Panhandle. From 1929 until 1943, it furnished almost all of the world's supply of helium.
Operating around the clock, the plant extracts helium by liquefying the natural gas and separating helium from it at temperatures 300 degrees below zero.
The natural reserves in these fields and in extensions into adjacent states contain more than 95 percent of the world's known supply of helium.
This is also the site of the world renowned research center which provides fundamental data on the production and uses of helium.
Helium is used for a variety of purposes: lighter-than-air craft, low-temperature research, shielded-arc welding; and in national defense, nuclear energy programs and space exploration. (1965)
THC Database

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September 12, 1982 - Only 3 years removed from his time playing at the newly built Shack by the Tracks, Mark Ross earned a September callup with the Houston Astros in 1982. He made his MLB debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he entered the game in the 8th inning with his Astros down 6-3. He worked a perfect 8th striking out Ron Roenicke sandwiched between 2 groundouts. He ran into trouble in the 9th inning when pinch-hitter, Greg Brock, double to lead off the inning and was later driven in on a Bill Russell single; the Astros ended up losing the game 7-3. That run was the only run that Ross allowed during his September callup encompassing 6.0 innings of work across 4 relief appearances.

We drove through Hoover on our most recent roadtrip and now the boys and I really want to go to the SEC tourney.

Too many days left. Baseball season needs to hurry up!

We do get a little taste this week! 4 days until we BTHO Rice!

143

Photo by Marion and Steve; more photos here.
The next few markers are all the same: Amarillo markers spread throughout Amarillo that say the same thing. Apparently, though, there is not much to do there and stealing the markers is something of a pastime? They all appear to be missing. Marion and Steve, who are awesome folks who make it their mission to go see every one of these markers and do research to find missing ones, say there were once at least ten of these markers! This is the only one they found and it was by accident, because it was not in any location the THC said it would be. I'm putting its picture and location here but I don't know if this is really #143.

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Amarillo
County seat, Potter County; founded in 1887. Incorporated 1892.
Named for Arroyo Amarillo, Spanish name of nearby creek.
Transportation, financial, cultural and medical center.
Gateway to: Alibates Flint Quarry National Monument, Lake Meredith, Palo Duro State Park, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Boys Ranch.
THC Database

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September 12, 1980 - Exactly 2 years to the day before Mark Ross's MLB debut was Bobby Bonner's. He was also a September call-up but for the Baltimore Orioles who were in the midst of chasing the New York Yankees who held a 3 game lead for the AL East division title. With his team down 7-5 in the 9th against the last place Toronto Blue Jays, Bonner was asked to pinch run for Lee May who had singled with one out in the inning. When Gary Roenicke grounded the ball to 2nd baseman, Damaso Garcia, Bonner's speed caused Garcia to rush the throw which resulted in an error. That was the end of the excitement though as Rich Dauer popped out to the catcher and Ken Singleton flew out to right to end the game. Bonner would appear in 3 more games in September as the Orioles finished 1980 with 100 wins but still missed the playoffs as the Yankees maintained their 3 game lead by winning 103 games to take the division title.

October 15, 1977 - Coming off a 14-8 campaign for the 98-64 Los Angeles Dodgers, Doug Rau was handed the ball to start Game 4 of the Fall Classic against the New York Yankees with the Yankees holding a 2-1 advantage. It marked the first time that an Aggie started a World Series game. In the Top of the 1st inning, Rau erased a leadoff single with a double play by Thurman Munson. However, a double, single, and double to leadoff the 2nd left the Dodgers down 1-0 with runners on 2nd and 3rd. In a famous incident with miked-up rookie manager Tommy Lasorda, Lasorda came out to relieve Rau which sparked a profanity ladened arguement between the two with Rau stating that he could get the next guys out. Lasorda wouldn't back down, and reliever Rick Rhoden gave up an RBI groundout and RBI single to make it 3-0 Yankees. That was all Yankees starter, Ron Guidry needed as he went the distance in a 4-2 Yankees win the put the Yankees one game away from winning the World Series.

You can watch the game here:

142
Marker 142 is one of the missing Amarillo markers identical to yesterday's. So as not to leave you with nothing, I am taking a little liberty and presenting a marker with 142 in the title.

Photo by Bill Kirchner; more photos here.

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Company F, 2nd Battalion, 142nd Infantry, 36th Division, Texas National Guard
The 36th Division of the U.S. Army served with distinction in World War II. When mobilized, Company F of the Division's 142nd Infantry consisted primarily of Randall County soldiers, including ten sets of brothers, as well as a father and son. The unit deployed for Italy in 1943 and was among those landing at Salerno. The men actively served in the European theater of operation, spending 400 days in combat, participating in two assault landings and receiving seven campaign streamers. During the war, eight local men lost their lives and two received the Distinguished Service Cross. From 1951 to 1968, when it disbanded, the company trained at a National Guard Armory at this site. (2005)
THC Database

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141

Photo by Allen Lowrey; more photos here.

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Amarillo
Named for Arroyo Amarillo, nearby creek given its designation by Spaniards in early days. In 1887, when the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad was building through this region, a group represented by J. T. Berry platted the town (1 Mi. W.). The founders were merchants of Colorado City (250 Mi. SE), establishing convenient trade facilities for their South Plains customers. Later (Aug. 30) that year, Potter County was organized and Amarillo was chosen county seat by 38 LX and 15 Frying Pan cowboys as electors.
In 1889 heavy rains and other inducements were factors influencing residents to move to this new townsite addition promoted by J. F. Glidden and H. B. Sanborn, owners of the Frying Pan Ranch (headquarters 16 Mi. W). In 1892 Glidden traded his interest in the city for Sanborn's interest in the ranch.
In the years 1892-1897, Amarillo was the largest rural shipping point for cattle in the nation.
When a rail line to serve the South Plains was proposed, Amarillo and Washburn (15 Mi. SE) were rivals for the junction. Amarillo won, through efforts of city developer Sanborn. When construction began in 1898, Amarillo's future was assured: it was to be the commercial center of the Texas Panhandle.
(1970)
THC Database

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September 2, 1972 - After a 14-3 season in the Los Angeles Dodgers' AAA affiliate, the Albuquerque Dukes, the Dodgers elected to callup Doug Rau to make his MLB debut in St. Louis against the Cardinals. He began his appearance by getting future Hall of Famer, Lou Brock to groundout followed by another groundout and a pop fly for a clean first inning. The Dodgers' offense came alive in the Top of the 2nd when a bases loaded triple by Steve Yeager was followed by an RBI triple in Rau's first MLB at-bat to make it 4-0 Dodgers. Rau worked around a 1-out double in the bottom of the 2nd before breezing through the Cardinals lineup in the 3rd and 4th innings which included his first career strikeout. He worked around another double in the 5th and got a 1-2-3 inning in the 6th. His only trouble in the game came in the 7th when he walked Bernie Carbo and Joe Torre to lead off the inning. After getting the next 2 batters out, Rau allowed a 2-out RBI single to Skip Jutze to make it 5-1 Dodgers. Rau cruised from there setting down the remaining 7 batters he faced to finish off the complete game victory over the Cardinals. Rau became the first Aggie to record his first MLB win in his MLB debut, a feat that would not be done again until almost 47 years later with Corbin Martin's debut.


While I don't have video, I did find an old Vin Scully radio broadcast of Rau's debut (A&M gets a shoutout at the 18:37 mark):

TAMU1990 said:

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The scrimmage for tomorrow was moved to next Friday

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Time to support the volleyball team now instead.

April 13, 1965 - Signed to a $25,000 bonus after his sophomore year at Texas A&M, worth about $271k today, Davey Johnson soared through the Baltimore Orioles minor league system. Despite being blocked at the major league level by future Hall of Fame infielders Brooks Robinson and Luis Aparicio and veteran infielder Jerry Adair, the Orioles could no longer justify keeping Johnson down in the minors. He broke camp with the Orioles in 1965 and made his MLB debut on opening day against the Chicago White Sox. In the 3rd inning, with his Orioles already down 4-0, manager Hank Bauer called on Johnson to pinch hit for pitcher Steve Barber who was responsible for the 4 runs. Johnson struck out in his only at bat during the game and spent the first half of the season as a pinch hitter and a spot starter to give Adair and Aparicio a breather before being sent back to AAA Rochester for more playing time. Johnson was back in the majors for good in 1966 when the Orioles elected to trade Adair to the White Sox to make a permanent spot for Johnson at the major league level.

140
Marker 140 is another one of the identical missing Amarillo markers, so in lieu of that, I'm presenting marker #1140.


Photo by Mansfieldphoto.com; more photos here.

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Czech Catholic Union of Texas
On March 24, 1889, a group of Czech immigrants gathered here to form the Katolicka Jednota Texaska (KJT), or Czech Catholic Union of Texas. A fraternal benefit society, the KJT was chartered on July 4, 1889, with six individual lodges. Through programs such as life insurance, financial aid to members, churches, and educational scholarships, the organization has served people throughout the state and has grown to number over one hundred lodges. The KJT continues to uphold the purpose of its founders in the same fraternal spirit. (1989)
THC Database

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139

Photo by Jim Evans; more photos here.

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The Bishop's Palace
Built, 1886-1893, by Col. Walter Gresham, civic leader and U. S. Congressman. Nicholas J. Clayton was architect. One of the most lavish and massive homes in U. S., house is a Victorian adaptation of renaissance style. Silver and onyx mantel in music room won first prize, 1886, at New Orleans Exposition. Mrs. Gresham painted murals, ceilings. Catholic Diocese bought home, 1923, and one room into chapel with stained glass windows. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967
THC Database

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138

Photo by Wise County Historical Society; more photos here.



Street view is from 2013. It appears that between then and 2022, the building was torn down.

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Alvord Lodge No. 512, A. F. & A. M.
Prominent founding member R. W. Johnson led efforts to organize Audubon Masonic Lodge No. 512 in the village of Audubon (7 miles northeast) in 1879. The lodge moved to Alvord in 1886 where members built a second floor onto a schoolhouse to use as a lodge hall. The name was officially changed to Alvord Lodge in 1890, and in 1991 a new 2-story stone lodge hall was erected at this site. The Masons met on the second floor and a local bank rented the first floor until 1984. The lodge continues a tradition of public outreach to the Alvord community.
THC Database

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137

Photo by Mansfieldphoto.com; more photos here.

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Alvarado
Early settler David Mitchell established a trading post near here in the late 1840s, about the time colonists of W. S. Peters' empresario grant began to settle the area. Colonist William Balch, who settled on an area land grant in 1852, was later to become known as the "Father of Alvarado" for his efforts in having the townsite surveyed in 1854, establishing the first general merchandise stores on the square, and for donating land for a cemetery, school, and union church. The town, named for Alvarado, Mexico, soon boasted a post office, homes, businesses, and churches. A community school established about 1855 became The Alvarado Masonic Institute in 1875.
Rail lines extended through Alvarado by the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1881 and by the Chicago, Texas, and Mexican Central Railroad in 1884 spurred a local economic boom. By 1885 Alvarado had several churches, two schools, two gins, an opera house, a bank, a newspaper, and a population of about 2,000. The Masonic Institute became the Alvarado Normal Institute in 1899 and Alvarado High School in 1908-09.
A large jail/town hall erected at this site in the mid-1880s was removed in the 1920s and replaced with a garden arrangement; a gazebo was added later. (1994)
THC Database

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October 8, 1959 - Coming off a season in which he finished 4th in the National League MVP voting, Wally Moon and his Los Angeles Dodgers, who had topped the NL with only 88 wins, faced off against the Chicago White Sox in Game 6 of the 1959 World Series. The Dodgers were up 3 games to 2 and sent Johnny Podres up against future Hall of Famer Early Wynn. After a deep fly ball for an out off Wynn in the 1st inning, Moon drew a walk and came around to score the first run of the game on a Duke Snider homerun in the 3rd. By the time Moon came around for a 3rd at bat, the White Sox had already gone to the bullpen down 4-0. Facing off against Dick Donovan this time, Moon didn't miss and drove the ball into the right field bleachers for a 2-run homerun to make it 8-0 Dodgers. The White Sox answered back with 3 in the bottom of the 4th, but the Dodgers cruised to a 9-3 victory and the 1959 World Series Championship. It was the Dodgers' 2nd World Series title and the first of three with Moon on the team. His homerun marked the first time an Aggie had homered in a World Series game, a feat that would not be repeated until 39 years later.

His "Moon Shot" can be found here in this 1959 World Series highlights:

136

Photo by James Hulse; more photos here.



There is a house right next to this that I assume the mailbox is for. But it is interesting to think of a cemetery having a mailbox.

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Altoga Cemetery
This cemetery has served the Altoga area since 1881, including what was once the Johnson community to the south and the Ardath community to the west. The earliest recorded burials are those of three-year-old Ida Leomy Parker in July 1881 and Elizabeth Humbard Mantooth in November 1881.
William Mantooth donated one and one-third acres of land for the cemetery in 1894. Another two and one-third acres were later added to the site.
A tabernacle to be used for funerals was erected in August 1914. It was built by local men with funds raised by the Woodmen of the World with events such as ice cream socials and pie suppers. The tabernacle is still used each May for observance of Decoration Day.
The cemetery contains more than 720 graves, including about 40 unmarked graves. Buried here are early settlers to the area, their families, and veterans of the Civil War (both Confederate and Union soldiers), World War I, World War II, and the Korean conflict.
The Altoga Cemetery Association, formed in 1971, maintains the grounds through a perpetual care trust. The graveyard continues to serve the area as it has for more than a century. (1997)
THC Database

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April 13, 1954 - After reporting to the St. Louis Cardinals' major league spring training facility instead of their minor league facility prior to the start of the 1954 season, Wally Moon told management that if he did not make the major league roster, he would quit baseball all together and become a teacher. To make room for Moon on their Opening Day roster, the Cardinals traded future Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter to the New York Yankees. On Opening Day against the visiting Chicago Cubs, Moon was slotted second in the batting order ahead of future Hall of Famers Red Shoendienst (pronounced "Shane-deenst") and Stan Musial. In his first major league at bat against the Cubs' Paul Minner, Moon launched the first of many "Moon Shots" in his career to put the Cardinals ahead 1-0; with the Moon Shot, Moon became the 51st player in major league history to homer in his first MLB at bat. Unfortunately, the Cardinals wouldn't hold the lead long as they allowed 10 unanswered runs. Moon would add a sacrifice fly in the 8th inning, but the Cardinals would lose 11-4. The Cardinal faithful who lamented the trade of Slaughter quickly changed their tune with the play of Moon during the 1954 season as he captured the National League Rookie of the Year award ahead of fellow rookies Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks. His home run in his major league debut was the only time an Aggie had done so until Braden Montgomery's walk-off 72 years later.