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Matagorda County 1934 Hurricane
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All coastal counties between Port Arthur and Corpus Christi were in
the path of the hurricane that swept over the coastal belt of Texas
this morning early and continued its fury throughout the day.
Millions of dollars of damage was reported in the coastal belt.
Matagorda, Gulf and Palacios suffered tremendous damage in this
county. Eighty mile gales were reported in sections and in Bay City
at times a 70 mile gale starting out of the northeast and sweeping
around to the east came through doing minor damage to frame
buildings and shacks.
People of Matagorda were brought to Bay City in box cars this
morning. The highest tidal wave was reported there by old timers
swept over the town making any other exit but train impossible. Four
feet of water was reported in the town The town of Gulf suffered
considerable damage. Houses there and garages were blown down.
Palacios, reports give out, was badly damaged and even brick
buildings were not exempt to the fury of the hurricane.
Bay City is not badly damaged. Only minor damage can be reported
here. Some plate glass windows in the business stores were
shattered.
Reports this morning were that the full blast of the hurricane would
strike this afternoon early near Corpus Christi territory and Port
O’Connor. The hurricane, a Gulf of Mexico disturbance, came with
slight warning; the strong wind of last night and the fast drop of
the barometer here created some uneasiness in Bay City. The wind
coming out of the northeast was of gale force and gradually gained
force in the early hours of the morning as the wind shifted to the
east.
Brave work on the part of the linemen of the Central Power and Light
Company had power to the city about 11 o’clock this morning when the
wind died down to about 40 miles an hour.
According to Mr. Ed Baker of Matagorda, who came to Bay City by
train this morning, leaving out of there about eight o’clock this
morning two hundred Matagorda people boarded box cars and came to
Bay City. Mr. Baker stated that water was six to seven feet deep on
the east side of town, the flat it is called. Mr. Baker did not know
whether all of the people had been removed from that section or not.
It was running over the main street of the city then. Water is over
the main highway from Matagorda to Bay City. Houses blown down in
Matagorda were Harry Phillips house, bus garage blown down and bus
turned over, gymnasium blown down and badly damaged. Max Steck’s
house was unroofed. Mrs. Thompson’s house and John Klingaman’s
houses were demolished. A baby was reported injured by flying timber
but the child is not reported seriously hurt. The wind was so high
when the Matagorda people left on the train that only slow speed was
made for several miles. Sargent territory received considerable damage and water from the Gulf was reported to have flooded the cotton fields. There was no preparation made here for the storm as it came so suddenly and with so much more force than expected. A heavy rain accompanied the blow since early this morning when the wind shifted to the east.—Bay City Tribune
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The storm moved inland Wednesday, after lashing the coast for
several hours, the worst of its fury being spent on the Matagorda
Bay section. At least eight persons were known to be dead and nine were missing. The dead included five at East Morales [Jackson County], in a tornado which ripped thru the section during the storm; one at Texas City and two at Freeport.
No accurate estimate of the damage could be made Thursday but it was
known to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Surging tides
and the wind wrecked many houses along the coast section and crops
were leveled. At Matagorda it was estimated that at least 75 per
cent of the houses in the two were either wrecked or damaged.
$300,000 Damage
“This town looks about like Angleton did after the storm two years
ago,” said one resident of Matagorda, who placed the damage at
$300,000 in that town alone.
Wednesday afternoon a twister tore through Morales, killing Mrs. W.
B. George, 72; Neal Lewis, 45, of Wink; his two step-sons, Harvey,
13, and Rowland Brunette, 12, and Handy Cook, a negro.
Much Property Damage Here
While Palacios was battered for hours by the hurricane winds, there
was no loss of life and but few minor accidents, yet property loss
is the greatest in its history.
The fury of the story struck here shortly before 7 o’clock Wednesday
morning. Window panes began to crash, plate glass fronts go in and
garages and other out buildings unroofed and crashed. J. L.
Koerber’s building, a frame and corrugated sheet iron structure,
occupied by the Palacios Auto Co., Inc., was one of the first
struck, and the front almost entirely went down. Mr. Koerber and his
son, Louis, were in the building and got out without injury. The
other walls were left standing but are badly damaged, as well as his
stock of Ford parts, tires and etc., and he considers his loss near
$6,000, partially covered by insurance.
The brick building occupied by the Post Office, and owned by Dr. A.
B. Cairnes, was damaged when the top of the front wall toppled over,
tearing down the awning and breaking one of the front plate glass
windows. This damage is estimated about $500.
The front and north wall of the W. C. Williams building on 5th
street were blown out, the plate glass window in Petersen’s
Confectionery and one in the Ruthven building crashed, signs and
awnings were torn down.
The Bank building was unroofed as was the Nester Drug Store, and the
Auto Inn, garages at City Hotel, Nester Drug Co. and Auto Inn were
laid flat as were many at homes throughout the city.
The high tide took out the pier at the back of the pavilion, the
diving shute and a few feet of the front pier at the approach to the
shore, but no damage was done at the pavilion itself and will be in
readiness by Saturday night for the dance.
The B. Y. P. U. Grounds were badly hit, hardly a building escaped
more or less damage, some totally demolished and small pavilions
laid flat. Fences are all down, trees and shrubbery uprooted. Mr.
Bob Jolly, accompanied by Mrs. Jolly and Misses Olivia and Jane
Elder were down Thursday afternoon looking over the situation and
taking pictures to make a report to the Board so as an estimate of
damaged could be made.
The building occupied by the Beacon office was blown out of
line, seven window glasses broken, allowing water to cover most of
our machinery, and this with the power being off all day Wednesday
causes the Beacon to be one day late in reaching our readers.
The fish and oyster industries suffered heavy losses in the way of
shucking houses, and boats. The Ruthven Packing House is badly
damaged as is the one of the Liberty Fish and Oyster Company.
$10,000 Damage at Camp
Camp Hulen suffered a loss of approximately $10,000 in the
hurricane, which includes the demolishing of the two wooden radio
towers, the two 476 foot rifle range shelters, the main post
exchange and 22 smaller buildings, 19 tent frames and 66 screen
doors were also demolished, while a large number of their screen
doors were blown off the hinges but not hurt. 27 ventilators, 6
chimneys, 29 chimney tops and parts of the roofs of two building
were blown off. 7 buildings were flown off their foundations up to
6 feet. 3 light poles were broken off when buildings were blown
against them. Only one electric light wire was broken in one place,
but about thirty poles were blown so they lean westward a foot or
so. The telephone line to town was blown down.
The officers Club House was damaged, some of the brick chimney
blowing over.
It is reported that practically all the cottages, piers and boats of
the El Campo Club at Carancahua Beach were destroyed, and the
Carancahua church blown down.
Causeway Approaches Out
Both approaches to the Port Lavaca Causeway went out but are being
repaired and traffic over this route is hoped to be resumed by 8
o’clock tonight.
Captain Stapp, son Bill and daughter, Louise, were out in their boat
on the gulf and started back but were caught near the pass and
weathered the storm. They have many thrilling experiences to relate.
While everyone in town has felt the effects of the storm in some way
or other, yet there is a feeling of thankfulness that we escaped so
well. Confidence of the safety of Palacios from tidal waves is
stronger now than ever before and the old adage of that “it’s an ill
wind that blows no one good,” is more fully demonstrated.
Palacios Beacon, July 25, 1934 |
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Matagorda County 1934 Hurricane
Matagorda County Casualties |
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Mrs. J. H. (Red) Howard, age 50, wife of J. H. Howard, fish dealer
of Bay City, was buried this morning in the Cedarvale Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of Walker-Matchett. Services
were conducted by Reverend Deutsch, this, Saturday morning at 9
o’clock.
The body of Mrs. Howard was found in the Cornelius pasture in a
slough, about three miles from the Howard Fishing Camp on the beach.
It is believed that Mrs. Howard was drowned Wednesday morning when
the tidal wave swept everything in its path near Sargent. Her body
was washed to the spot where she was found yesterday.
With her at the time was her son, nine years old, whose body has not
yet been located, the heavy rains of yesterday making search
impossible. The body of Alfonas Sanches, 63-year-old Mexican who was
with Mrs. Howard at the time, was found Thursday by Messrs. Jim Tabb
and Will Broughton.
Daily Tribune,
July 28, 1934 |
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Otis Howard Died July 25, 1934 age c 8 1/2 years Son of J. H. "Red" Howard and Mary Elvira Howard Buried: Bay City Cemetery |
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Alfonso Sanches Birth Unknown - July 25, 1934 Drowning in Gulf Storm at Sargent Informant: J. H. Howard Buried: Bay City Cemetery |
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Gerardo Sanches Died July 25, 1934 c Age 55 years - born in Mexico Former husband of Maria Sanches Fisherman who drowned in the Gulf at Sargent during hurricane. Informant - Francisco Sanches, Sugar Land, Texas Burial: Bay City Cemetery |
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 Hurricane Ruins, Palacios, Texas - August 29, 1942 - Hill Photo # 2 The Canteen and City Hall |
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Rehabilitation and repairs to the less seriously storm damaged structures in Palacios is proceeding rapidly but work on those business establishments which were practically demolished is a little slower in getting started although owners say they will rebuild as quickly as materials and labor can be secured.
The three most seriously damaged, the Green Lantern Inn, the Harbor Inn, and the Sunshine Laundry will all be rebuilt as soon as possible, the proprietors announce.
In the case of the first, Carlton Crawford has already started work and expects to have the Inn ready for use within the next two weeks. The new structure will utilize the former dining room, which was not completely demolished and workmen are busy effecting the necessary repairs. The new structure will be somewhat smaller than the old and will be minus the porch. It will be located across the road from the old site and the building will face south instead of north as heretofore.
Howard Claybourn, manager of the Sunshine Laundry, stated today that he definitely would build again. Most of the equipment upon inspection was found to be much less seriously damaged than was at first thought. Most serious damage and that which will be the most difficult to replace was that which ruined the electric motors. Mr. Claybourn states that a preliminary investigation has assured him that he will be able to get an A-1-A priority rating for the materials necessary for reconstruction and re-equipping his plant. Much of the materials in the old building are being salvaged and can be used in the new structure.
Not only is Jake Hull expecting to rebuild his Harbor Inn as soon as he can get the necessary labor, but he intends to move it to a new location, he said today. Preliminary work on the new location, situated just east of Highway 35 at the junction with the new by-pass road north of town, has already started and sufficient shell for a much larger drive-in parking area has been unloaded at the site. The rear of the former building has been removed and the front part jacked up on skids waiting to be hauled to the new location. When installed there the rear portion will be rebuilt and the interior redecorated. All equipment injured by the flood waters and wind is being repaired and rebuilt where necessary.
Neither Mr. Hull or Mr. Claybourn were able to make any estimate as to the time necessary to complete their rebuilding
Palacios Beacon, September 17, 1942 |
 Palacios Beacon, November 12, 1942 |
 Sunshine Laundry After the Fire & Hurricane - Palacios, Texas - August 29, 1942 - Hill Photo #4 |
 Hurricane on the Bay - Palacios, Texas - August 29, 1942 - Hill Photo #6 |
 Coney Island Cafe - Hurricane - August 29, 1942 - Palacios, Texas, Hill Photo #7 |
 Hurricane Ruins, Palacios, Texas - Aug. 29-30, 1942 North side of Luther Hotel |
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Mr. Luther believed that his "avenue of palms" kept debris from destroying the hotel during Hurricane Carla. The debris piled up along the south side of the trees appears to verify his statement. Photo courtesy of Nick West, Palacios
Beacon |
 Palacios Beacon, September 21, 1961 |
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Dear Carla: We knew you were coming, and we'll remember you always. The great task of mopping up after the most disastrous hurricane ever to hit the Gulf Coast has begun. Businessmen with businesses to return to, and citizens who have homes to return to have a heart-sickening task to accomplish. As the cleaning up gets underway there are warnings to be heeded. First and most important is--DO NOT USE CITY WATER FOR DRINKING PURPOSES. Water for drinking may be obtained at the Wagner General Hospital. Second warning: WATCH OUT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES. The utility companies are repairing their lines as quickly as possible. Warning number Three: WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES. Parents please keep an eye on your children. Vaccine shots are available at the Hospital for those wanting to take them. They are advised. People returning to their homes are advised to air out their homes, check their power lines and gas lines before smoking or lighting a match. There are no known fatalities in the Palacios area, however there are two known dead at Port Alto. Quickly after the storm subsided a Tank Battalion of the Texas National Guard from El Campo was on duty in Palacios patrolling. They were relieved Tuesday afternoon by a Headquarters Battalion and an Infantry Battalion from Gonzales. Texas Highway Patrol was on alert before and after the storm, with road blocks set up to keep all sight-seers and others out of the disaster area. Captain Frank Probst, and Sgt. John Wood, both of Midland, and Pete Rogers, of Houston, with all available Texas Rangers were assigned to the area. County Commissioner George L. Harrison has had two crews barricading and blocking roads that have washed out bridges. He has three crews picking up dead cattle along the debris littered area. By noon Wednesday he had six crews assigned to this duty with winch trucks, pickups and trailers picking up the cattle and hauling them to be burned. County Commissioner Elmer Cornett was here early Wednesday morning offering help and was to send equipment and manpower to assist. A unit of the Coast Guard will patrol all beaches in the entire area, and planes have been on continuous searching missions. Mayor Marvin Curtis, Tom Hale of the Civil Defense, the Sheriff's Department, Highway Patrol, Coast Guards, Texas Rangers, Volunteer Firemen and other volunteers made the Wagner General Hospital their disaster center. The staff of administrators, doctors, nurses and hospital personnel are to be commended for their untiring efforts to bed down and feed those seeking aid and the numerous workers. Palacios was mostly evacuated in anticipation of the much publicized hurricane--described prior as the worst in history--and we could also verify that description since it is over. Palacios suffered strong Easterly winds all Sunday night and Monday until shortly after noon when they increased in intensity. At 3:00 p. m. when radio reported the eye had hit Matagorda Island it increased still more, and more, before shifting to a more southerly direction and the tide started rolling in. At 5 minutes 'til 5 the tide was curb high in front of the Beacon office, and 10 after 5 there were over 8 inches of water in the middle of the building. The tide started receding at approximately 7 p. m., but the damage had been done. To describe the damage is impossible--there is nothing left of many to even report damage. It is pathetic. A poor description: Only steel beams left of the Palacios Pavilion, the concrete drive pier has been reduced to complete ruin, only beams remain of the Palacios Marina; Crawford's office building, Crawford machine shop completely gone; the new freezing plant still remains, in part, but severely damaged; all buildings at the two turning basins were completely wiped out, with many homes completely destroyed and others moved from their foundations. Large shrimp boats were washed over the highway one near the cemetery and the John Crawford a block north of where the Loop Drive Inn stood before being completely demolished. Two concrete pavilions on south bay were destroyed and another damaged; the weather tower collapsed; the public library ruined. Going the other say from the pavilion, houses were severely damaged on south bay; Baptist Grounds lost completely the cafeteria, the large Houston house, and others with the old college administration and auditorium severely damaged. The Bayshore Garage still stands, but a total loss; the Campbell, Terry, and M. T. Brooking brick homes, severely damaged; Camp Allen and Silver Courts, Pierce & Son Boat Works, G. T. Brooking's office and boat house, "The Little Shamrock," G. T. Brooking's Florida type house, and other boat houses on Grassy Point road are gone. The Junior High School had five feet of water in the cafeteria, gym and administrative offices. The East Side Elementary also was highly damaged. The J. E. and Joe Tanner residences and station were a total loss; as was the Glendale Courts. Phillips 66 station was gutted, 'Y' Texaco station and 'Y' Cafe and Harbor Inn were severely damaged if not a total loss. Foley Village had houses washed over the highway blocking the road with many destroyed and many more severely damaged. A few suffered only slight damage. Curtis Grocery, Maddox Motor, and Ramsey Gulf Station suffered early damage when plate glass windows were blown in, making them vulnerable for extensive damage. Two fires were reported and both were extinguished before much or little damage could be done. The Faubion building, Fourth and Commerce was afire shortly before midnight Sunday night; and the Texas Rangers extinguished a motor fire in Vic's Pleasure Hall shortly after the power was turned on Tuesday night. And with all the damage--and much, much more--Palacios can say, "Thank God, We were lucky."
Palacios Beacon, Thursday, September 14,
1961 |
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Smoke stacks--last evidence of Texas Gulf Sulphur at Old
Gulf -- damaged in Hurricane
Carla |
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Courtesy of Bay City Sentinel |
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By Mike Reddell Thursday marked the one-week anniversary of how long many Matagorda County residents have been away from home since the beginning of the prolonged ordeal from Hurricane Harvey. County Judge Nate McDonald reminded people of how long it’s been and where Matagorda County stands now during a video conference Wednesday afternoon. With the threat of Colorado River flooding greatly reduced and the sun shining here Wednesday a lot of people who left under the two mandatory evacuations were returning home. McDonald and Mayor Mark Bricker struck cautionary notes in their talks Wednesday about the forecast for some river flooding – the river was expected to crest at a little more than flood stage at 45 feet Thursday morning - and the uncertainty of what Texas highways were open. “Again, we understand this has been a stressful week for you and we are working night and day to restore the needed services so we can get back to business,” McDonald said. “Matagorda EMS is fully staffed and operating countywide,” the judge said. “The Matagorda Regional Medical Center has a first aid clinic up and running. “And they keep their Facebook page updated in real time. The best source of information for our hospital is the hospital Facebook page,” McDonald noted at the Emergency Operations Center set up at the Sheriff’s Office. Bay City HEB and Wal-Mart both are open and they have gas, as does a number of convenience stores, the judge and mayor both said Wednesday. In HEB’s case, corporate headquarters routes food and other supplies earmarked for other stores to the Bay City store But, as the city and county work to restore services and utilities, there remains a voluntary evacuation in place – plus a countywide curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. “You are subject to be pulled over and ID’ed,” McDonald said Wednesday and the mayor also makes the same point in his video presentations. Matagorda County residents actually were under two mandatory evacuations. McDonald first called for a mandatory evacuation as the threat grew for Hurricane Harvey for residents in the southern portions of Matagorda County Thursday, Aug. 24, then extended it for the entire county early Saturday morning, Aug. 26. Bricker also called for a mandatory evacuation for Bay City on Friday, Aug. 25. The second mandatory evacuation came late Sunday night when McDonald and Bricker announced that a forecast model had shown the river would leave its bank and inundate downtown Bay City under 10 feet of water. Maps issued of the possible flooded area were shocking as they showed not only the city under water but a large area around it as well. City Council met in special session Monday morning and gave Bricker the authority to act in keeping people and property safe. People had to leave by 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, or be trapped in the city – with a catastrophic flood threatening their homes – because of highways out of Bay City would be flooded. Indeed, people leaving Bay City Monday did encounter fierce rain storms and Texas 35 – the only route passable out of the city – became flooded later Monday. The forecast for the projected 52.5-foot Colorado River crest that threatened the catastrophic flooding was downgraded by Tuesday morning, Aug. 29. Between 6 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday major events played a hand in diminishing the crest’s arrival Thursday, said EOC Public Information Officer Mitch Thames. First, there was more diversion of Colorado River floodwaters into the countryside between LaGrange and Columbus, although both cities were significantly flooded. Likewise that was true between Columbus and Wharton. A strong north wind was the third mitigating factor. Thames said that 43 mph northern winds pushed the waters out in West Matagorda Bay and lowered the tide that helped the river to empty in the bay faster. The LCRA Flood Operations report at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday showed the crest prediction had dropped from 47.1 to 45.3 feet during the course of a few hours Tuesday afternoon. At a noon press conference Tuesday, McDonald and Bricker noted the reduced threat posed by a lower-level river crest and changed the mandatory evacuation to a voluntary evacuation. But they still cautioned against Matagorda County residents until essential medical, emergency and utility functions were re-established. As county residents return, they’ll learn that while the county was spared from the horrors from Harvey at Rockport, Port Aransas and Houston, the storm still took its toll locally. Matagorda County sustained considerable structural – residential and commercial - damage from Hurricane Harvey. There is water in many homes county-wide, such as in Van Vleck and Wadsworth, Thames said. “There was a lot of flooding in Van Vleck.” Aerial photos showed the River Oaks subdivision was significantly flooded this week. County Commissioners faced the task of restoring power, water and sewer services in all precincts. And several roads throughout the county remained closed Thursday. Sargent area roads, for example, were either closed or in poor condition. Commissioners gave reports on their precincts at the EOC meeting in Ganado earlier in the week. EOC moved to Ganado when the flooding threatened Bay City. Precinct 2 Commissioner Kent Pollard urged weekend home owners in Sargent in his report then to avoid returning as “conditions are dire and unpleasant.” AEP and Jackson Electric made great strides getting power restored – it wasn’t clear late Wednesday if all areas had power. All aspects of normal life will be slow in returning to Matagorda County residents. Most businesses and schools will be out at least until Tuesday, Sept. 5, after Labor Day on Monday.
Bay City Sentinel,
August 31, 2017 |