Wallisville Museum to host educational series

WALLISVILLE— If you've ever wondered about the history of Chambers County and how it has developed into what it is today, now's your chance to learn that and more.

The Chambers County Museum at Wallisville will soon begin a series of educational presentations on a wide range of topics.

Museum Director Marie Hughes said the program was created to bring awareness to the history of Chambers County, which was "instrumental in forming and making this such a great county."

Fresh off the heels of the Coastal Cowboys exhibit at the Bryan Museum in Galveston, the museum will begin the series with a cowboy theme, hosting three men whose lives are surrounded by ranching history and culture.

First up is Lloyd Maxwell of Liberty, who will discuss the life and legacy of his grandfather, Elmer Woodard Boyt. Boyt's ranching spanned across Liberty, Chambers, Jefferson and Galveston counties.

Maxwell will discuss his grandfather's experience in training horses for Teddy's Rough Riders, removing longhorns and driving about 8,000 to 10,000 heads of cattle along the beaches of Bolivar.

Hughes said the series will begin with Maxwell since many people were wanting to hear from him as he was unable to share the full story of Boyt at the Bryan Museum due to timing.

Next up will be Jim Hodges, an author and Texas cowboy and ranch historian. Hodges grew up working as a ranch hand and never truly left the saddle. He will speak about the history and development of cowboys and the ranching industry, from their start in North Africa to Spain and into North America.

"Jim Hodges is just a phenomenal speaker," Hughes said.

Hodges donated and lent many items during the Coastal Cowboys exhibit, sharing his well-preserved personal equipment from when he was younger. A book signing will be after the program. To learn more about the history of the cowboy, visit his website at www.cowboyspeaks.com.

The final speaker of the cowboy series will be rodeo wrangler, horse trainer and poet Bob Kahla. Kahla plans to share his poems inspired by personal experiences.

"I am really excited because I'm interested in a lot of the topics that we're going to be presenting, so I will be excited to stretch my knowledge base," Hughes said.

Topics will include discussions on the Texas Revolution and the oil industry, and later features will encompass more than just history as Hughes hopes to highlight Alzheimer's, Dementia and Parkinsons diseases as well. There will also be fun events, such as Mahjong for beginners.

"Whatever seems to fit the interest of the people and the community, what the community is hungering for," Hughes said.

Chuck Chandler may speak about the Goose Creek oil industry, and in November, Justice Ken Wise, 14th Court of Appeals in Houston, will talk about the Texas Revolution and Anahuac's role in the war.

"A lot of people don't realize that the first shot of the Texas Revolution was in Anahuac," Hughes said.

Presentations will be on the third Thursday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m. Maxwell will present "The Making of a Cowboy" on Thursday, April 17. Hodges will present "The Genesis of the Cowboy" on Thursday, May 15. Kahla will present "The Cowboy Way" on Thursday, June 19.

Following the cowboy series, the museum will take a break from the program and resume in September.

Reservations can be made up to the day of the event, but space is limited, so it is best to reserve early.

For questions, suggestions on future series, or to make a reservation, contact Hughes at 409-389-2252. The museum is located at 20136 I-10 E., Wallisville.

For updates on the program, visit the museum's Facebook page under the museum name.