Pages

▼

Monday, March 7, 2011

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, TEXAS!


Because I live in Texas and am a Texan, I’m compelled to mention that this past week, March 2nd, was the 175th anniversary of Texas’ Declaration of Independence from Mexico. The Declaration was framed and issued at Washington-on-the-Brazos. At that time, the town was known only as Washington and was a mile southwest of the junction of the Brazos River and Navasota River, seventy miles northwest of Houston. Washington was an important commercial city. Not until after the Civil War did the town become hyphenated to Washington-on-the-Brazos.


The Alamo at night;
do you believe
in ghosts?
Most of my ancestors hadn’t arrived here by then, but I still find pride in being Texan. (Bailey Hardeman, one of the committee who wrote the Declaration, was a way distant relative at 3rd cousin 4 times removed.) I’m certainly glad none of my direct family line fought at the Alamo, even though I respect those men who did, or I might not be here now. Most of my family arrived forty years later when GTT or “Gone To Texas” was a familiar slogan for those hoping for a fresh start.

Sam Houston
Texas'
First President
Many people don’t realize that Texas was once a country, the Republic of Texas. We had our own President, diplomats, embassies, and currency. In fact, seeing the bronze plaque marking the Texas Embassy site in London was a genuine pleasure. (Well, of course it was! I was on a trip to England with my husband. How could it not be fun?) My husband and I even ate at a Tex-Mex restaurant nearby. Fun, even though it was nothing like Tex-Mex back home.


Texas' Lone Star flag
When Texas joined the United States, it was by treaty stating that our flag could be flown side-by-side with that of the United States. Sadly, the first Texas state capitol burned. Our current capitol building in Austin is 7 feet taller than the capitol in Washington D.C. Yes, we just had to build it taller than the one in D.C.!

Whether you live in Texas or not, please help us celebrate our state’s anniversary this year!
at

8 comments:

  1. Susan MacateeMarch 7, 2011 at 12:39 PM

    Happy anniversary to your state, Caroline! Informative post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Caroline ClemmonsMarch 7, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    Thanks, Susan!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bobbye TerryMarch 7, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    Very nice post, Caroline! Everyone is proud of their roots, I proclaim my Virginia ones on many occasions. Texas has such a remarkable history and I enjoy living in the state a lot. People should learn what they can about this country.
    Bobbye

    ReplyDelete
  4. GeriMarch 7, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    I love Texas!!!!

    Good Job, my friend.

    Geri Foster

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jennifer AugustMarch 7, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    God Bless Texas!!! Love the post, Caroline. Texas trivia is so interesting because of it's varying nature. As in: Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in Texas, all others are man made; The King Ranch is bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island and (my favorite!) Dr Pepper was invented in Waco, Texas in 1885. I have been to the Dr Pepper museum and it was awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jeanmarie HamiltonMarch 7, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    Caroline,
    Fun post in honor of Texas. One of those defenders of the Alamo could have been your cousin though. I'm related to Sam Houston by one of my ancestors who was his cousin and came to Texas with Sam Houston. They brought their wives and families and a few other families, traveling by wagon. What a journey that must have been for their families. I wouldn't like to travel through country that wild, although it must have been beautiful and awe inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  7. RubyMarch 7, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    While I was aware that Texas was once a country and flew more than one flag. I didn't know that they has an embassy in London. How interesting.
    Ruby

    ReplyDelete
  8. BrendaCMarch 7, 2011 at 3:03 PM

    Love the history lesson. Texas has such a rich heritage. I saw a PBS documentary about how once thriving towns have disappeared and the nature reclaimed the land.It's hard to imagine a busy town where there is only fields of wildflowers and misquete trees.

    ReplyDelete