Reenactments On the Concho River

One of the things San Angelo is famous for is the restoration of Ft. Concho, the museum and the reenactments held there around Christmas.  I am such a fan of history, and particularly the era of Ft. Concho's glory is interesting to me.  Ft. Concho was established on the banks of the Concho River in 1867.  In West Texas, where there is water, there is life, and our beautiful river drew the 4th Calvary to the site because of the water source and the junction of the Butterfield Trail, the Road to San Antonio, and the famous Goodnight Trail.  Ft. Concho was tasked with the protection of settlers, and the endeavors of the state of Texas, which had joined the union in 1845.  Travelers by wagon train, horse back, and stage coach received protection from bandits, Comanches, and the infamous Comancheros. 

In Texas 1600 acres isn't all that big, but that is how large Ft. Concho eventually grew to.  At first only several buildings dotted the fort, but the fort remained under constant construction all the way to its' decommissioning  A chapel, hospital, two barracks, quartermaster storehouse, commissary all rose in sandstone.  Before its' deactivation there were more than 40 buildings.


Many famous names of history are associated Ft. Concho, such as Colonel Ranald Mackenzie, and his troops.  You will recognize the monomer "Mackenzie's Raiders."  who most famously conducted raids against the Comanches, and in one famous encounter killed 23 warriors and took prisoner over 120 women and children.  These people were held at Ft. Concho until the following spring when they were transferred to a reservation near Ft. Sill Oklahoma.

By the time the railroad arrived in the late 1880's Mackenzie's Raiders had conducted many more raids and battles with the hostile Indians, whom they had killed or captured and moved to reservations.  In 1889, the remaining Soldiers were moved to San Antonio, as the state had been made safe from hostile Indians, and local law enforcement took over the protection.

By 1935 the city of San Angelo had purchased the ruins of Ft. Concho, and history has been preserved.  In 1961 Ft. Concho was designated a National Historic Landmark.  and the site has become the home of many reenactment events.  

We so enjoyed our first visit to Ft. Concho, and the Christmas on the Concho reenactment!  Here are some of my images.  Don't miss the next event, you will so enjoy yourself!  You will feel like you have stepped back in time...

I Become So Frustrated With the Technical Side of Blogging

This morning I can't make Blogger work right.  I want to add a gadget to connect to the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce Event Calendar.  You wouldn't believe all the cool stuff going on daily in this beautiful jewel in West Texas!  I'll post a link in this communication since I can't upload a permanent link to their public calendar.  #wowsanangelotx

  http://www.sanangelo.org/schedule_vi.php

I found something I am going to be at on Friday for sure.  The oil painting workshop is right up my bucket list alley, as I want to develop a genetic talent and interest I have always had for painting in oils.  My grand-mother and aunts always painted as I was growing up, and fostered in me the desire for pursuing more expertise in this form of self expression.

Don't be fooled however, there is always so much more than this calendar of events going on!  Today there is a luncheon 

https://ahawctx.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/20172018SanAngeloGoRedLuncheon/tabid/867376/Default.aspx
 
You know, there is just such fun... exciting events... wonderful music... art... sports... performances... places to eat and shop, and of course, always, the beauty of the Concho River! #wowsanangelotx

I Have This Little Project, and Next Rodeo...

My dad always loved old cars, in fact he restored both a Model T and a Model A, but eventually sold both.  So the vintage cars in the rodeo were favorites for me!  #wowsanangelotx #sanangelorodeo

This truly is the long arm of the law...

 Nothing runs like a deer isn't just a saying... this one has been around a long time!

 What a beauty this one is!

I couldn't help but give a vintage feel to this one.. and what is a parade without Shriners?

Look how sophisticated this one is!

More of those Shriners

 I so want my own little John Deer!  Maybe for Christmas...

Now for my project... We bought a portion of the Joe and Moreene Lemley Estate.  We love this new home, which included the house Joe built for his family.  No one but their family and ours has ever lived in the house built in 1959 where we now reside, and we are giving it a complete restoration.  Included in that restoration will be this Catalina!  Wave at us in next year's parade!  We'll be the ones in Joe and Moreene's newly restored Catalina!

 

The Rodeo is in Town

People fascinate me, and we enjoyed the riders so much!  It is all best said with images, and the rodeo is so much about riders and their horses...

So here are a few of my favorite! #sanangelorodeo

Some were dressed in period clothing.

I christened this one "Into the Wind."  I could just see a woman dressed as this one a hundred and fifty years ago riding into the wind on the way to San Angelo for a celebration.

This man is leading a riderless horse.  Great symbolism in this image...

There are such beautiful women and handsome men in Texas!

And beautiful horses as well!

 People and horses fascinate my camera!

 
 I love the costuming too!

Don't you just love a prancing horse!  #wowsanangelo

More to follow!

The Times They Are A Changing!

I am so excited to be back in Texas, moved to San Angelo, and starting another chapter in my life.  Our time in Europe was the experience of a lifetime, and one I could have never imagined.  I still have things to write about concerning my experience there, and I will continue to do so.  The story of how we got to San Angelo, Texas creates an awe and chill in me every time I think of it!  I will save that story for another day, and start out with where we are, and what we are up to with this first blog entry.

We have moved to San Angelo, Texas and Randy has started a new job with the Concho Valley Workforce Development Board.  He finds this work exciting and fulfilling.  We have bought property on the Concho River, which is one thing life is centered around in San Angelo. 



Texas is such a vast state, with so many interesting areas, and the land here quite different from our home in Bellville, Texas, but beautiful none the same.  The fifty three acres we bought ends at the back on the banks of the beautiful Concho River.  We have three homes and two pole barns with significant history in West Texas which we will be renovating in the months to come.  

San Angelo is home to Goodfellow Airforce Base, San Angelo State University, is the county seat of Tom Green County, and so much more!  The art, culture, and people of this area are what makes it so unique and such a beautiful place to live and work.  

Life in San Angelo centers in many ways around the River, and we have come to love this spring fed body of water already...