News

SPEAKER: Albert Seguin, descendent of Juan Seguin Please come prepared to join in by bringing any photos, artifacts, and memories of Crosby’s part in the Texas Revolution.

We will be discussing "Growing up in the townsite of Crosby during the 50's and 60's" on the September 30th, 2017 meeting.  Also, Joe Bob George is trying to get a State Historical Marker for the church bell at the Church of Christ in Crosby.  He needs more information on how the bell was important to Crosby.  Was it used to summon people in an emergency, to mark special events (like the end of WWI), or rang on other occasions besides church.  If you have pictures or stories please bring them.

The renaming of the Crosby Branch Library to the Edith Fae Cook Cole Library and the library's 30th birthday will be celebrated on October 16th with an open house from 4:00-6:00 and a ceremony from 6:00 to 7:00.  The librarian, Diane Barker, would like to have stories about the library and pictures to make a display. 

Bring your own Crosby related memorabilia and be prepared to "show and tell." It you have something very large, please let us know so we can make room and help set it up. Call Susan Armstrong 281-989-7445

The topic for this month's (March 5th at 2pm) meeting is Crosby during WWII.

Dedication of the National Society of the U.S. Daughters of 1812 Veteran’s Grave Marker

 In Memory of Humphrey Jackson

Crosby, Texas on October 10, 2015 at 10 a.m.

By Capt. James Asbury Tait Chapter #89, USD 1812, Houston, TX

Welcome – Ella Wright Guaqueta, President , Capt. James Asbury Tait #89, USD 1812

Invocation- Gena Ayers Walls, Capt. James Asbury Tait #89, USD 1812

Presentation of Colors- Crosby JRTOC Color Guard under the direction of Major (Ret) Quentin L. Farr and Sergeant First ClassTim Meadows

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States- Monte Parks, Lead Educator, Harris County Parks on Trails Program

Salute to the Texas Flag- Klaus Duda, President of the Crosby Historical Society

The American’s Creed- Audrey Guaqueta, Capt. James Asbury Tait #89

Salute to the Flag of 1812-Iris Eaton, Capt. James Asbury Tait #89

Humphrey Jackson, Historical Figure- Susan Armstrong, Director of the Crosby Historical Society, Harris County Historical Commission

History of Crosby, Then and Now- Velma Ellison, Crosby-Huffman Chamber of Commerce

Tribute to Humphrey Jackson-A Jackson Family Member

Dedication of USD 1812 Veteran’s Marker- Ella Wright Guaqueta

Laying of Wreath- Members, Capt. James Asbury Tait #89

Benediction- Gena Ayers Walls

The Crosby Historical Society will have its Quarterly Meeting Saturday, April 11th at 2:00 p.m. at the Brethren Church, 5202 Church Street in Crosby.  The program will be on Early Homes in the Crosby Area by Klaus Duda, Asa Bob Hearn and Others.

The marker for Humphrey Jackson that was located across from the Travel Lodge will be brought back to its former location on August 20 at 10:30 a.m.  We will be taking a video of the event and invite any who are able to be there to join us.  The marker was first bent and then straightened out and was then shot several times.  The marker was recently repaired by the Harris County Historical Commission with monies received from Commissioner's Court.

Many of you have seen the newspaper article a few weeks back about the Simms Cemetery and the vandalism that occurred. It's a terrible thing that happened but it's now being cleaned up by interested citizens.

Please join us at the next Crosby Historical Society meeting on May 10th at 2pm. We meet at the Crosby Brethren Church at 5202 First Street Crosby, TX. The subject for discussion is Dairy Farming and Milk Products. Please bring any related item and memories. $10. per year per family dues are due at meeting or before mail to: 1746 Cloister #12 Crosby, TX 77532

BIOGRAPHY:

JAMES DRURY is the star of the first 90-minute color western television series, ‘The Virginian’, which aired from 1962-1971. ‘The Virginian’ is one of the longest running western series in the history of television. The series was adapted from the 1902 Owen Wister western novel, 'The Virginian'. Like the novel, the lead character was never given a name other than the Virginian. James Drury used that to his advantage to create a mysterious air surrounding the Shiloh ranch foreman. James Child Drury was born April 18, 1934 in New York City and spent a great deal of his boyhood on the family ranch in Oregon. Jim grew up with a love for horses and the outdoor life. The acting bug first bit Jim at the age of 8, when he played Herod in a children’s Christmas play. Trained as a classical actor at New York University and credited with 18 major Shakespeare roles and 20 major Shaw roles, Jim left the theatre in New York and went to Hollywood in 1954. He worked in such classic films as 'Blackboard Jungle', 'Forbidden Planet', ‘The Tender Trap’, 'Love Me Tender', 'The Last Wagon', 'Pollyanna', 'Ten Who Dared', 'Ride the High Country' and many others. Jim was guest star in numerous television series like 'Playhouse 90', 'Gunsmoke', 'Rifleman', 'Cheyenne', 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', 'Perry Mason', 'Wagon Train', 'Rawhide', 'Death Valley Days', before being chosen for the role of ‘The Virginian’ in 1962. Averaging thirty 90-minute episodes a season, The Virginian series had one of the most demanding production schedules in TV history. "There were times when we had four Virginian episodes shooting on the same day," he recalls. "I would literally ride on horseback from set to set to give two lines here, three lines there, then over here to do 10 pages of script." After portraying 'The Virginian' for nine years, he returned to the theatre across the U.S. in the ‘70s. His stage credits are diverse with not only Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw, but also well-known classics as 'The Odd Couple', 'The Rainmaker', 'A Thousand Clowns', 'Once More With Feeling', 'Forty Karats', and ‘Prisoner of Second Avenue'. In 1974, he starred in television series 'Firehouse'. In 1991, James Drury was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Jim appears as Special Guest in numerous films and television shows like 'Alias Smith and Jones', 'Walker, Texas Ranger', 'Kung Fu: TLC’, the film 'The Virginian’ (2000) and 'Hell to Pay' (2005). Known for his distinctive voice, he has done many documentaries and audio books. Mr. Drury was a Commander in the United States Naval Reserve and participated in many recruiting films and public appearances for the Navy. Mr. Drury's interests are many. An avid sportsman, he enjoys scuba diving, tennis, golf, snow skiing, sailing. He has competed successfully in Cutting Horse Competitions, as well as Polo and Dressage. James Drury has been a regular participant in shooting sports such as skeet, trap and cowboy shooting. Jim says, “Cowboy Action Shooting is the best way I know to promote our Second Amendment rights. It teaches all kinds of people; men and women, young and old, to handle firearms and shoot safely and responsibly. We share a sense of history and connection with the Old West.” James Drury, now 78, and Carl Ann, his wife of over 30 years, reside in Houston, TX. Not considering himself in the least bit as retired, he has an extensive traveling schedule to Western Events, Festivals and Autograph Shows across the country speaking about the West and how cowboy values shaped our country and how those values still hold true to those who will adhere to them. He is always on the lookout for a good film project to sink his teeth into.

Copied from: the Official Facebook of James Drury The Virginian

There is something exciting I want to tell you about.  Since Crosby doesn't have a physical museum, the next best thing is to have one that is digital.  We are in the process of taking pictures of items that  helped shape the history of Crosby.  These may be ordinary items or items that were of great significance. The pictures will be located under the Gallery page as the Crosby Digital Photo Museum.  If you have pictures of old Crosby relics and would like everyone to see them -  send them to Crosbyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com and they will be loaded to the website.  Currently there are not any photos but keep checking back and you might be surprised at what you see. 

Please join us at the next Crosby Historical Society Meeting in honoring Jerry Prochazka, Superintendent of Crosby ISD, June 9th.  We will also be talking about the early days of school in Cosby. 

*Bring your memorabillia and your stories.

The "Friends of the Penn Cemetery" have given a donation to have the cemetery surveyed and we are ready to put fence posts in and erect a fence to further protect it.  There will also be efforts made to locate additional graves and get them marked.