Those Places Thursday: “A Look At Fourth Ward Houston”

“A Look at Fourth Ward Houston, Texas” by Roxanne Quezada Chartouni

I want to take this time to CONGRATULATE photographer, Roxanne Quezada Chartouni, for her exquisite photography in – “A Look At Fourth Ward” that was published in the Houston History Magazine on April 8, 2020!

I also want to send virtual (((hugs))) to my awesome and wonderful cousin Cecelia Cook Drew who is gracefully captured in one of the photos waving a white hanky in the wind. Her efforts to keep cool in Houston’s brutal heat is futile. But she is definitely – as the caption reads, “looking beautifully cool,” — through it all!

The culture, history, and true feeling of freedom for all Freedmen who settled in Houston’s Fourth Ward after emancipation is literally being swallowed up today by gentrification. My connection, and Cecelia’s connection, to this community comes from our Chapple/Chappel ancestors who lived and loved hard, worked hard, and played hard right here at the turn of the 20th century. So THANK YOU Roxanne for capturing a community that is near and dear to our hearts and our family’s history before it’s gone from view forever!

Check out Roxanne’s article and photography at the link below —
https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/2020/04/a-look-at-fourth-ward-houston-texas/

Be sure to visit & “Like” Houston A Look At 4th Ward – 1987 Facebook Page for more great photos as past and present community members of 4th Ward interact with Roxanne and assist with the identification of the photos for publication – https://www.facebook.com/Houstonalookat4thward/

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Those Places Thursdays: Maxwell House Coffee – Good to the last drop!

Familiar with the old Maxwell House Coffee slogan  — Good to the last drop!? I’m sure you are! Well that slogan and the Maxwell House Coffee brand has been a major part of my paternal grandfather’s life the minute he began working at the coffee factory in Houston at age 21 in 1930!

Paternal Grandfather, Willie Taylor

My grandfather’s employee photo above, taken on 8 October 1968, is one of my favorites of him. By now he has been working for General Foods Maxwell House for 38 years and he’s only 59 years young!

Maxwell Houston Factory in Eastwood area of Houston, Texas

The Maxwell House building featured above with its giant neon cup of coffee, has been a major landmark visible from three of the major freeways – US 59, I-10, and I-45 – of this city for many years! I recently came upon a very interesting history lesson about the Maxwell House Coffee Factory where my grandfather worked on the popular Houston Architecture Info Forum (HAIF). According to one of the forum members, [1]

From the Houston Press, 8/5/46, p. 1 – General Foods Maxwell House Coffee buys the old Ford plant @ 3900 Harrisburg, will move from their current facility at 2107 Preston. Press says the plant was built by Ford ’25 years ago,’ ‘abandoned by Ford before the war.’ It was used as an assembly plant for aircraft parts during the war and briefly as a warehouse by Pepsi after the war. GF moved in the following spring.”

For starters, I never knew the Ford Company even had an assembly plant in Houston, and that the Maxwell House coffee factory you see in the picture above was that plant! But that’s not all!

In the 40s and 50s, most Fords on the road in Texas sported an oval sticker (the shape of the Ford logo) in the rear window or on the rear bumper or trunk lid which proclaimed ‘Made in Texas by Texans.'”

I tell you I learn something new and amazing about my family’s history and this city I’ve called home for over 50 years all the time!

Willie Taylor (left) working in the service area of Maxwell House Coffee Factory in Houston, Texas in 1968

Back in the day, you could ask anyone who lived in this town what was one of the best smells in Houston and their answer would be immediate — Maxwell House coffee factory of course!

If you have my paternal grandfather, Willie Taylor, who worked for Maxwell House Coffee in Houston, TX in your family research, let me hear from you because . . .
I’m claiming kin!

—–

Source Citation:

1. Williamson, B. (2008, October 6). Maxwell House History [Maxwell House History: post #9]. Retrieved August 8, 2013, from http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/17811-maxwell-house-history/?p=282573

Funeral Friday: Mrs. Ella Louise Marshall

A complete transcription of her funeral program is below:

Funeral Service

For

MRS. ELLA LOUISE MARSHALL
1923-1969

Monday, April 7, 1969
11:00 A. M.

——–oOo——–

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write;
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth;
yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours; and
their works do follow them.” –Rev. 14 – 13.

——–oOo——–

MT. HOREM BAPTIST CHURCH
1915 Lockwood
Houston, Texas

——–oOo——–

Reverend Thomas F. Freeman, Minister

Reverend Ellis Gordon, Asst., Minister

 

OBITUARY

To die: – To sleep:  no more; and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to., ’tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.

Loving, kind and understanding, are the words most appropriate to describe Mrs. Ella Louise Marshall. She was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Chapple September 18, 1923 in Houston, Texas, and was reared in the fifth-ward section. She was a student of the Atherton Elementary and Phyllis Wheatley Schools. At an early age she united to the Canaan Baptist Church. She later united to the Mt. Horem Baptist Church where she remained for more than twenty years.

In 1942 she united in holy matrimony to Edward Marshall, and to this union were born three children: a daughter, Mrs. Betty Marshall Armstrong, Two sons: Ralph and Reginald Marshall.

While at Mt. Horem, Mrs. Marshall was a member of Naomi Circle and the Mission Chorus., not only was she active in the church, but in her community as well., her good works leave their impact on all who knew her and loved her.

She is survived by her husband: Mr. Edward Marshall, Mother: Mrs. Ethel Chapple; 2 sisters: Mrs. Carrie Taylor and Mrs. Altha Scott; 1 brother Mr. Joseph Chapple Jr., 1 daughter; 2 sons; 1 grandson; 4 Nieces; 10 Nephews; 1 Aunt; 1 Great Aunt; 1 Great Uncle; and a Host of Relatives and Friends.

She will be missed by all who loved her.

 

Order of Service

*Body will rest in state 9 – 11 A. M.

Prelude

Processional

Poem

Invocation

Hymn

Scripture

Prayer

Obituary

Acknowledgments

Selection
Combined Choirs                                       “We’ve Come A Long Way”

Eulogy

Prayer

Recessional

Directing: Ross Mortuary

Interment— Memorial Gardens Cemetery

 

 

 ACTIVE PALLBEARERS

Lee Fuller
James Young
Alvin Steele
Marion Smith
Columbus Hartwell
Willie D. Williams

HONORARY PALLBEARERS

Lillie Gordon
Irene Dixon
Maudry Walker
Allene Steele
Thomas Scott
Loresa Parson
Freddie Randolph
Charlene Flourony
Melvina Foster
Shirley Bonton

——–oOo——–

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Family wishes to express their deep appreciation for the many flowers, telegrams, calls and expressions of love kindly shown to them at this time. May God Bless You and Keep You.

——–oOo——–

[Smalley – 227-2639]

 

Wordless Wednesday: Ella Louise Chapple Marshall (1923 -1969)

Well, almost wordless . . .  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this month I wear pink in honor of my aunt — Ella Louise Chapple Marshall!

Ella Louise Chapple Marshall

Even though I was a young child when my Aunt Louise died (I was 9 years old), what I remember most about her was her joy and contagious laughter! She could truly light up a room and she had a sense of humor that literally kept people laughing. Family and friends felt at ease with her and genuinely loved being around her. She was a true gem!

Liv turns 3!

To help me celebrate my 3rd birthday, my beautiful aunt was right there! In this photo she’s holding on to my cousin Reginald Marshall. Standing next to her is (from l. to r.) Annie Ray Gilbert (friend), my cousin Ralph Marshall, mom who is helping me cut the cake, and Mary Gilbert (Annie Ray’s sister and friend).

I love this photo and will cherish it for as long as I live because it is the last photo of  my aunt that we have in our collection taken a few years  before she passed away, 2 April 1969, from breast cancer. You can read more about her burial at FindAGrave.

If you have my beloved aunt, Ella Louise (Chapple) Marshall, from Houston, Harris County, Texas (who also lived a few years in Pecos, Reeves County, Texas too) in your family research, let me hear from you because . . . I’m claiming kin!

 

Houston Genealogical Forum Calendar of Events

I am a member of the Houston Genealogical Forum and our 2012-2013 season will be starting up soon. I really like this year’s line-up of presenters and speakers and look forward to seeing as many of them as possible. I joined the Houston Genealogical Forum for the first time in 2011, but did not get to attend often because of other commitments and scheduling conflicts. But that won’t be the case for me this season!

The Houston Genealogical Forum is a non-profit Texas corporation founded in 1958. All meetings are held on the first Saturday of every month (unless otherwise noted) at the:

Bayland Park Community Center
6400 Bissonnet
Houston, Texas 77074

Meetings begins at 10 AM, doors open at 9 AM. Come early and enjoy the refreshments. Visitors are always welcome!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Saturday, September 8, 2012 General Meeting extended meeting time

An award winning authority on Virginia Colonial records, Barbara Vines Little, CG will get our season started off. Barbara’s topics include “Researching in Virginia’s Records and Repositories”, “Digging Deeper: What We Can Learn from Land Patents” and “Virginia Tax Records: A Gold Mine of Information”

Saturday, October 6, 2012 General Meeting extended meeting time

Author of Eastman’s Online Daily Genealogy Blog, Dick Eastman will be here to bring us up-to-date on various technologies that can assist us in our search. Topics include “Mocavo: The best? search engine that many have never heard of”, “Blogging for Genealogists: Using blogs for coordinating your efforts” and “Cloudy, with a Chance of Genealogy: A simple, down-to-earth explanation of what the cloud is and how genealogist can use it to simplify their computer usage”

Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Clayton Library 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Back by popular demand, we will be having a “Members Helping Members Day” at Clayton Library. This is an opportunity to receive hands on assistance of navigating the records at Clayton Library from our knowledgeable members.

Saturday, November 3, 2012 General Meeting Free Seminar 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

All Things German! Former German Collection manager of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and nationally recognized lecturer, Warren Bittner, CG will be joining us for this special free seminar. Warren will be here to guide you in making that jump across the Atlantic to assist you in your German research. His topics include: “German Maps and Territories: You Can’t Do Research Without Them” – learn about the historical boundary changes in Germany and how to find the records for various regions. “Marriage Laws and Customs” – learn how German marriage laws changed 1500-1900, tight marriage restrictions and marriage customs. “Beat the Children with a Fresh Birch Stick So the Animals Don’t Get Worms: Reading for Historical Content” – read to understand your ancestors in their own world on their own terms, how to find books about the cultural, political, social and occupational lives of your ancestor. “On-site Research in German Archives” – an amazing number of untapped records survive in Germany and how to find the records for various regions.

Saturday, December 1, 2012 General Meeting extended meeting time

The ultimate authority on Revolutionary War ancestry, Lloyd Bockstruck will present “Successfully Searching Revolutionary War Records”. This nationally recognized author and lecturer will give you all the tools to research both your male and female lines.

Saturday, January 5, 2013 General Meeting

Our own, Marje Harris, retired manager of The Clayton Library will present “Gone to Texas: How to Get From There to Here” on early migration routes from the southeast Atlantic coast to Texas.

Saturday, February 2, 2013 General Meeting

Taking off his HGF President’s hat for this meeting only, Robert de Berardinis will be our guest lecturer on the topic “A Complete Guide to Records of the French in North America: Acadia, Canada, Louisiana and the Caribbean 1509-1811”. Robert is a national expert of all things “French” and you are sure to learn a lot from his presentation.

Visit the Houston Genealogical Forum Online – http://www.hgftx.org/