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Chambers County in the Oil Boom
Kevin Ladd
The Summer of 1935
Note: The editor of the Anahuac newspaper during the summer of 1935 was an energetic young woman by the name of Sally McWilliams Sharp. Her father, David McWilliams, had held the job before her.
This was in many ways a pivotal year for Chambers County. The A. D. Middleton No. 1 oil well had come in earlier in the year and opened the door to more oil activity. Humble Oil & Refining Company established a new camp at Monroe City. The oil money coming into this area set off much more growth around the county. This was also the year when the Chambers County Courthouse at Anahuac was destroyed by fire.
During the waning days of the summer, Sally set out in her car and took extensive notes about all this activity In the process, she left behind a vivid word picture of the Anahuac area during that historic time frame. There are two more of these articles, which we will publish here next month.
THE PROGRESS
August 8, 1935
RESUME OF BUILDING ACTIVITY PROVES GROWTH OF ANAHUAC
By Sally McWilliams Sharp, Editor
Your reporter took Sunday off to familiarize herself, as well as you, with the completed homes and business houses caused by the recent oil activities.
First, came the Humble camp, where the writer found the following: a complete water, electric, gas and sewerage .system has been completed to service this new camp. One that Anahuac should be jealous of. These up to date utilities are taking care of a large office and warehouse, restaurant, recreation hall, three five-rooms-and-bath modern homes, all possessing large screened-in front porches and have in the making beautiful yards. Next we noticed what is called bachelor's quarters. This is a large building containing twelve separate apartments housing 3 persons to an apartment, or a total of 36 men. Behind this comes the "bunk house," a 100 by 25 foot building, which has been erected to accommodate be-tween sixty and seventy men. Beside these there are numerous smaller buildings that we were unable to Identify.
When the writer took into consideration the sanitation, as well as the comfort of the Humble camp, we could not blame their employees for preferring that location. Leaving the Humble camp, across the road on what known as the White property, there has already been erected two cafes, one machine and boiler works, Turner Lumber Company's yard and office, and a hotel, besides three houses at present being used as homes. We understand these lots, size 50 by 150 feet, are being leased by Cade White at ten dollars per month, per lot.
Heading toward Anahuac, our next observation was the large hundred foot restaurant five hundred feet this side of the three mile bridge, and while stopping there for a few moments, we found that a contract for a 25-room hotel had been awarded the day before to adjoin this restaurant. The restaurant is under the management of Jack Sammons, of Goose Creek, and the hotel manager has not as yet been named.
Between the three-mile bridge and Hankamer, we noticed two new homes on the Otter property and two more nearing completion in the Hankamer woods.
Returning towards Anahuac from the three-mile bridge, about eight hundred feet is a new restaurant and dance hall, the Cottage Inn. Next, on the outskirts of Anahuac we made a memo of the Whittington Lumber Company; Nelson Tourist Camp, with two apartments nearing completion; Bud Jones, three houses and three apartments; William Cameron and Company, lumber firm; Mr. and Mrs. Tuck Fisher, erecting a new home; Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Pepper's new home on the Canal Company property..
At the corner, Normie Sherman's enlarged and improved restaurant shows up, and here turning right for a cold bottle of beer at Walter Knippel's, we noticed his restaurant --- going further on we note the new Penick cleaning shop and following the north bay shore road a short distance the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Myzell, Mr. and Mrs. John Watson and Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Peddy were in evidence.
Doubling back to the main drag of Anahuac Obe Smith's little one room garage has grown to be the largest in the city. Next to this is the Service Cafe, and barging further down the street we find the new Nelson Drygoods building, a new barber shop next door thereto, and an addition to the pool hall completed. Coming on around the bay front, Dutch Albert is putting up a five-room rent house next to Walter Knippel's home.
The next observation was a sore to the eye --- the debris of the court house, which is being moved fastly, and we hope in the very near future to see an edifice here long to be remembered. Further on down the Bayshore, Mr. Meitzen has built two duplex houses, housing four new families, and by turning left at Mr. Marshall's going toward south bay shore road, we noticed the new home of Monty Miles, along with two homes nearing completion in the Jackson addition. Upon inquiry we learned that this entire addition has been sold out and homes are to be built in the near future. Our next stop was the Progress building. Before entering to write you this Sunday's tour you could see from our entrance the erection of a new drug store across from Russell's, a novelty store and dry goods store adjoining this, and only separated by two vacant lots, the barber shop of Mr. James' adjoining it now nearing completion, another restaurant. Behind the Progress office Dr. Brooks is putting up a two story frame building, which he is to occupy the upper floor as his dental parlor, the lower floor not having as yet been rented.
Before entering the Progress office door there is a sign on the left of Russell's store that tells us finally where to enjoy a little clean amusement in Anahuac. This sign reads: "Jefferson Amusement Company, Beaumont, Texas, will erect a first class picture show at this location." During the period of erection, we are to enjoy good clean pictures in a tent that will be raised by this Amusement company. This is one thing that Anahuac needs for clean, pure enjoyment. Let's all give it our support.
Citizens of Anahuac --- let's incorporate at once so these new people and new enterprises that are coming here will have every cause to stay and live in Anahuac.