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PEARLAND HISTORICALSOCIETY NEWSLETTERVolume 24, Edition 3July, 2019Editor: John D. “Mickey” MarkE-mail: mark325@prodigy.netPearland Historical SocietyP. O. Box 1333Pearland, Texas 77588Dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of “Old Pearland”PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE“Make hay while the sun shines. You’ve allheard that expression. Mother Nature I not cooperating. Every time the brothers and I getready, it rains. Plenty of grass this year butplenty of water, too. I’m now the official hayraker. I haven’t done that since I was maybe14. I was told to watch a youtube video forpointers. I think It will come back to me!Invites have gone out to the class of 1969 forthe luncheon Oct. 26th. Approximately 70addresses were found. We look forward to agood turnout including Society members andfriends.Really looking forward to Brenda’s book. Ithink it will be the most complete history todate. New stories and photos keep coming in.Thanks to everyone who has shared with her.There are a few more odds and ends on displayat the office, including an award received fromte PCVB for Society support of the DepotProject. Keep an eye on local news sources forinformation about the 125th anniversary ofPearland.Jerry Johnston1EDITOR’S COMMENTSHappy 4th of July to all. I am working on thisissue of the Newsletter on the afternoon of the4th; and thinking about how much Pearland haschanged through the years. Many of you willremember that all day of the 4th of July it wouldsound like a war zone with all the fireworksgoing off. They would usually start a day or soahead of the 4th and last a day or two after.Ironically I was just reading the Pearland Journallast night and saw that the City of Pearland hasan ordinance which prohibits both the shootingof fireworks within the City and also prohibitspossession of fireworks with a fine of 2000 foreither shooting or possessing fireworks. What adifference when you could go in the old CornerDrugstore and buy a pack of “Black Cat”fireworks for probably a quarter. Also availablewere Roman Candles, sky rockets and othertypes of fireworks. How many remember thefireworks stand that was between the oldOblinger Garage and Mrs Cunningham’s icehouse? Do you remember when someone threwsome sort of firecracker in the booth and caughtit on fire. As the booth burned all the fireworksin the booth started exploding! I think it wasprobably in the late 50’s: but that was somethingto remember.

In Jerry’s message he mentioned about 70members of the class of 69 had been found andwere receiving invitations to our Luncheon inOct. That is also a big change from days of past.Further in the Newsletter is a lot of interesting“old Pearland” history from 1st Vice PresidentBrenda Riggs. Among the info is the number ofPHS grads at the start of each decade. In 1950Pearland had 10 in the graduating class.It is also interesting to search the internet forwhat was happening in 1969. The one thing thataffected everyone was the war in Vietnam.It is also interesting to look at prices in 1969.The average price for a gallon of gas was 38cents; but if you add in inflation that is theequivalent of 2.48 gallon today. Cigarettes werearound 30 cents per pack.The major difference I can see is the hugedifference in technology. In 1969 we didn’tknow what an I-Pad was. Now practicallyeverywhere you go you see people reading ortexting on their I-Pads.It will be interesting at our luncheon this year toremember what life in Pearland and the U. S.was like in 1969 and to visit with old friends atour luncheon. Hope you plan to come.Mickey MarkAMONG OUR MEMBERSSociety Member Dwight Bittick has been goingthrough a rough time recently being in and out ofthe hospital. Dwight is now home but needs hiswalker to navigate around. Hope to see him atthe “Old Codgers Coffee Club” on a regularbasis again.The last report on Peggy Long is she continuesto be in the Atria Assisted living nursing home inFriendswood continuing with physical therapy.2Jenny Talbot continues to be going through arough time in the nursing home in Alvin. Carlmakes daily trips to be with her.Kenny Mark (Carleen and my older son who is62 and a PHS 1975 grad) recently had aquadruple heart by-pass. He went for a stresstest and was told he needed a stent. When theprocedure was started, the doctor found heneeded 4 by passes. He has made a rapidrecovery and is doing well. The surgery wasJune 28th.Bob and Ann Peirsol’s son, Robert Jr.passedaway June 14th, Robert was in the fourth stage (Ibelieve) with Parkinson’s disease. Oursympathies go out to Bob and Ann.Presley Hood, 1965 PHS grad passed awayrecently. I believe he was in Missouri. Presleywas the son of Claude and Millie Hood.Society Member Kim Sinistore, who is thePresident of the Pearland Visitors andConvention Bureau has announced herretirement. Below is a copy of Kim’sannouncement.It is with mixed emotions that I say “ I amretiring “ .I have enjoyed my time selling, promoting andmarketing Pearland as a destination to visitorsand tourists!I have greatly enjoyed meeting you all andthank you for your partnership, support andfriendship through my 6 years in Pearland!!Memories we create are because of the peopleand experiences we have !I take with me fond memories of great peopleand a great city, PEARLAND!!Editor’s Note: We wish Kim a very happyretirement and appreciate very much all thehelp she has given our Historical Society.

As mentioned previously, 1st Vice PresidentBrenda Riggs, furnished some interesting storiesfor this Newsletter. Brenda is working on apictorial history of old Pearland and would stilllike to have any old historic pictures any of ourmembers might have.Central Texas Barbecue celebrates arland ISDGraduates through the yearsby Brenda Martin RiggsGusher yearbooks were located for eachdecade for a count of graduates in eachclass.Below is a comparison:Year# of 2010890PHS 460 DHS 43020191,620PHS 706; DHS 606;THS 270; PACE 38.Enrollment:Elem SchsJr. HighsMiddle SchHigh SchsBCJJAEP21,67180433397339268318Our quaint little town has changed. Thecorner drugstore, Red & White Grocery,Kliesing Mtr., Mom’s Café, Monarch Garage,Jim Mahanay’s Barber Shop, are no more.I miss those days!3Ruth LeClere, owner of Central Texas BBQ,Mayor Tom Reid,Brenda Martin Riggs, Vice President, PearlandHistorical SocietyThe ceremony conducted by the PearlandChamber of Commerce was held Wed., May19, 2019.Several public officials were present for thisoccasion:Mayor Tom Reid, Ed Thompson, State Rep.,Buck Stevens, Constable and Roy Castillo,Justice of the Peace.Central Texas opened its doors in 1969 andis the oldest Pearland restaurant.Congratulations to the LeClere’s and CentralTexas!And . Thanks for catering the PearlandHistorical Society annual luncheon for *********THE 1949 QUONSET HUT GYMby Brenda Martin RiggsA 220 million dollar bond election was held onthe Pearland ISD November 2016 ballot.36% of the registered voters cast a ballot andthe bonds were approved.Included in the package was the demolitionof the 1949 Quonset Hut Gymnasium [NorthGalveston Avenue] to enable the District toconstruct and move the offices of PearlandJr. High West to the front of the building forsafety measures.

Pearland ISD April 15, 1949 Minutes reflectsa 113,060 contract for the construction ofthe gym.The removal of asbestos material began aswell as salvaging as much of the interior aspossible.In 1950 Coach Buck Brooks and Coach W.H. “Jug” Backhaus [both single at that time]lived in an apartment on the upper floor at theback of the gym. Rental property was scarcein those daysThere were two gymnasiums in 1949. Thetop floor of the 1912 two-story high school onNorth Grand Boulevard was destroyed in the1915 storm. In 1937 the building wasconverted to a gymnasium. This gym wasdemolished approx. January 1966 foradditionalclassroomsatPearlandElementary School.COACH BACKHAUSArrow Services, Inc., 10202 Airline Drive,Houston, was awarded the contract todemolish the Quonset Hut Gym.They began the project by removing theplaque which the District will place in anotherbuilding.4COACH BROOKSCoach Brooks assisted Mrs. Florene Littlethrough the 1955.56 school year to enablethe Girl’s Basketball team to advance to theState Tournament in Austin - the first teamfrom Pearland High School to participate ina State Tournament.Society members have many fond memoriesin this 70 year old Quonset Hut Gymnasium:volleyball and basketball practice, games andpictures for the Gusher yearbook, pep rallies,etc.Have to mention prior to the safety pads onthe walls behind the basketball goals - - mysister hit the West wall and lost part of a tooth.If walls could talk .The demolition began Wednesday, May 8,2019, at 7:30 a.m

A ‘new’ boys gym was constructed from the2016 bonds - believe it was completed late2018. In 2019 the ‘girls’ gym will be where theold boy’s gym was constructed in 1965.Note: In 2019 the number of registeredvoters:Pearland ISD: 62,911 1309 Harris County.City of Pearland: 65,880 7,40l Harris andFort Bend CountyThanks for the memories, Brenda. One thing Iremember about the Quonset hut gym was withthe coaches living upstairs the gym was prettymuch always open for anyone to go in and playbasketball - - - which resulted in Pearland havinga very good basketball program back in thosedays.DEPOT PROJECTDon Hayes sent the following info about the olddepot projedSadly, four hours and 10 minutes later[11:40 a.m.] the 1949 Quonset Hut Gym wasrubbleI requested mementos for the HistoricalSociety – not knowing what that mightpossibly be from a gymnasium.TheContractor graciously saved lockers, a benchand numerous pieces of the wooden floor –which we hope to have picture frames madefor the Society.5“The project to Restore the Pearland Depot isunderway, but needs the help and support ofour membership. Please consider the purchaseof a memorial brick paver, which will help fundthe restoration, while recognizing your family’scontribution to the project. Pavers start at 150each. Larger donations can also be accepted.Pavers may be purchased during the Society’squarterly meeting, or from the project websiteat www.pearlanddepot.com. “***************************************When shopping at Kroger’s I have noticed howmany older women who are very much moreoverweight than their husbands which remindsme of this one liner:“Women who carry a little extra weight livelonger than their husbands who mention it.”