Collegeport Column

Thoughts About Mopac House

By Harry Austin Clapp

No person is able to realize the scheming, planning, devising ways, the miles of travel, the countless conferences, telegrams, telephones that has brought about the erection of Mopac House. No one but George A. Harrison, who is commissioner of precinct three, address Palacios, but lives in every corner of Matagorda County and a large section of Texas. His contacts and his smiling, easy-going methods, brought results.

Many appear to give me credit, but I was only the Marcelina who held the end of the rope. I picked up a few stakes, but George Harrison tied the ropes and drove the stakes. Don't let any one forget that this is the truth. Without that man block 105 would still contain only the little white library building.

Well, anyway, Mopac House is here for the pleasure and profit of the community. The beautiful Kundinger sign swings merrily in the breeze and all appears to be just about Jake or maybe Bill. Saturday, May 4 at one o'clock in the p.m. the house will open with a luncheon served by the Woman's Club at fifty cents per. Proceeds to be used for the purchase of new books for the library. This day for the first time I had a peep at the menu and it looks as though Old Man Depress had a can tied to his tail and he might be seen scooting down the country road. Here it is: Shrimp cocktail a la Carlton with Juliana sauce; embossed crackers with Kraft-Phenix Old English cheese, meat loaf with Creole sauce, fresh stringless beans with sour dressing, potato chips, hot finger rolls with butter, variety pickles, jellies, gelatin fruit plate with whipped cream, angel food cake, coffee admire. Tables will be beautifully decorated with flowers and streaming vines.

Mr. Riddle, general manager Kraft-Phenix Cheese Corporation writes me "I shall be very glad to send you some Old English cheese to be served at the opening of Mopac House. We want you to say that you know cheese when you ask for Kraft Creamed Old English. I am writing Mr. Gallimore our store manager at Victoria suggesting that if possible he attend the opening and join in the festivities." I am informing your folk that if Old English was the only item on the bill it would be worth the visit just to take a nibble. Well, all right for that which came from Coon Island up the river. We have so many head liners on the program that I hesitate to name any one first. E. O. Taulbee will do the roasting and then follows a string of glittering, scintillating talks by such as George Harrison, Roy Miller, James Gartrell, Reverend George Gillespie, A. D. Jackson, R. W. Persons, E. C. Baker, A. B. Duke, Missouri Pacific Lines, Judge Oscar Barber, Eugene Wilson, Mrs. Burton D. Hurd. Mrs. Hurd permits Burton to speak about a minute giving welcome.

Reverend Paul Engle asks the blessing of God on those present, on the community and the house.

Impossible to write personal invitations but every one is invited to come that 4th day of May. At night from 8 to 12 we will dance away all care and trouble and be happy skipping about the floor. The price of entrance will be twenty-five cents for each male person with the girl friend. Of course the other girls are invited and they will be made welcome by the very attractive hostess. Just remember that although it is 32.6 miles from Palacios that a hard road runs from that place to the door of the Mopac House and the same situation exists from Matagorda and Bay City so fill up the gas tank, use plenty of lube, and supply water and roll on rubber to Collegeport and help the community to have a happy, joyous day, a day which is the culmination of years of dreaming.

Saturday the Girl Reserves with chaperons, mamas and teachers journeyed in the Joe Frank school bus to Freeport for a play day of the district. They returned tired but happy and report a perfectly marvelous time. That is some thing that may always be had at Freeport. It is a real play place.

Friday in spite of the heavy rains, the library let out thirty books and twenty guests registered. Bay City from reading Mirth, has a job getting money for a library. No trouble raising funds for baseball, football, softball any other ball. For the library the tenth part of a cent. For play, big round dollars. Wonder why?

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Law (Beryl Bell) were visitors in Collegeport last week end and received greeting from their many friends. Mrs. Law says as between living near Alvin and at Collegeport, she prefers the latter place as there is something here that makes one wish to return. Mrs. Manford Foster when she left here shed tears of regret for said she "there is nothing much in Collegeport but still there is something that makes me sorry to leave and I would enjoy coming back to Collegeport." Nearly every person who lives here feels this something that attracts, allures and charms. It is the same thing that gives a person what is called "It." Most people have a desire to return and drink again from the waters that flow from our deep wells. Mrs. Barbara Hale is home and with her parents for a short time and I regret to inform the reader that this fine girl is enduring much suffering. All her friends pray that she may soon have some permanent relief.

Missouri Pacific Lines

Houston, Texas

                                                                                                                                                 April 19th.

Mr. H. A. Clapp

Collegeport, Texas

Dear Sir:

In connection with your celebration on the 4th our magazine editors are very much interested in having a picture of "Mopac House" and it occurred to them that if you have a photographer in that section in advance of May 4th, they would appreciate it if you would arrange to have the necessary photographs taken so that they could be used in a story subsequent to your celebration.

Yours very truly,

D. P. Pace

Industrial Commissioner

I read with interest the article by Mr. Clarence Ousley which appeared in Thursday's Tribune. It stated that oleomargarine was a fine spread for those who could not afford butter. This is not fair to oleo, for it puts it in the poor man's class. Oleo is a pure, clean, nutricious food, for the rich man as well as the poor man. It is easily digested and a good builder. It should be used more, not because it is cheap, but because of its food value. When I lived in Chicago, I used considerable of this product. With each pound came a capsule of coloring matter and I worked the oleo over into golden blocks. Clarence Ousley is one of our best informed men and a brilliant writer and I know him well. I knew C. O. Moser, when. But that is another tale. I have traveled with him, used same room, eaten with him, spoken on same platform and he is all Mr. Ousley says that he is. Texas may be proud of these two men.

Mary Louise attended Easter service at St. Mark's, San Antonio and reports that there was neither sitting or standing room. There is no depression in San Antonio judging by the number of Easter hats. She says "if the churches would put on a good show every Sunday there would be no complaint about attendance."

Two well rigs are being erected south and west of town. One derrick is 125 feet high and the other 135 feet. Both of steel. Friday twenty-eight truck loads of material arrived and stacked on the ground. About twenty-five men are at work clearing up the ground and getting sump pits dug and foundations ready. One truck brought in many large steel girders about fifteen inches wide on which floors will be laid.

Friday we enjoyed a heavy rain fall which was needed but none of us enjoyed the brilliant electrical discharges and heavy thunder detonations which accompanied it. About two inches of rain fell during the forenoon and now as my friend Andy says "if the farmers do not make a crop it will be their own fault."

The Matagorda County Tribune, April, 1935
 

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