Everett Taylor: Taylor's Yarns

What’s happening currently might be considered as the top interest for most people.

But the study, exploration and collection of facts and artifacts from the past run at least a close second for a significant number of others.

Among those are Smith County Historical Society members who make a great contribution to the community, maintaining the Carnegie History Center at 125 S. College Ave. in Tyler which houses an historical museum and archives.

And the work of locating and collecting additional historical information, documents, pictures and the like is never finished.

Each month the Society meets at the Center’s Payne Auditorium on the first Tuesday. Meetings of the Society are open to members, their guests and interested members of the public. And there is plenty of room on the roster for new members.

The August meeting to be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, will feature guest speaker Shannon Cross in a presentation titled: “Reconstruction in Tyler, Smith County and the Surrounding Area.”

Cross is an East Texas native who says she spent 30 years “wandering in the wilderness” of Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Colorado before deciding in 2000 that there really is “no place like home,” so she returned to Tyler. She now teaches American history at Tyler Junior College.

Tyler residents who have been here several years likely remember when the “Mary Marshall” photography studio was quite popular. A “sneak preview” of the Society’s September meeting in the latest Newsletter

advises: Bill Marshall will give a presentation on his mother, Mary Marshall Edwards, who was the first female professional photographer in Tyler.

Robert Reid, Society president this year, has a recently published book titled “Tyler.” Now he is working on a new plan for a Smith County photographic history book.

As he did with his previous book, he wants to include images from numerous sources and is seeking materials for possible inclusion. Anyone with vintage photos taken anywhere in Smith County, who would be willing to share them for this project, is asked to contact Robert through his e-mail address tylertexas@sprynet.com or by leaving a phone message through the museum at 903-592-5993.

Materials are continually being sought and added to the archives. A recently donated photograph shows the interior of the bar that was located in Tyler’s St. Charles Hotel.

Also recently donated were several copies of the Tyler High School yearbook Alcalde, all of which were from the 1910s.

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During late July, 63 years ago, most Americans didn’t realize some momentous events were just ahead that would finally bring an end to World War II.

It was Aug. 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and when Japanese leaders continued to ignore calls for surrender, a second bomb three days later hit Nagasaki.

That finally brought Japan to the peace table for an unconditional surrender and one U.S. military group that had a front row seat for the signing of the Surrender Treaty were those aboard the USS Missouri.

The men and women of the USS Missouri served their country during World War II and witnessed the signing ceremony. They also served in the Korean War, the Cold War, Desert Storm and continue with support programs for troops today.

Veterans who served on the battleship formed a nonprofit organization that encourages lasting friendship and service to country, the USS Missouri Association, Inc. This year they will hold their 35th reunion.

The reunion will be held in San Antonio from Aug. 28 through Sept. 1 “with all veterans, their progeny and friends invited to join the fun.”

Association officials continue to search for shipmates who have not yet been in touch with or joined the organization.

Contacts for information are reunion chairman Jack Stempick at (203) 218-493, and President Bill Morton at (803) 469-3579.

Everett Taylor
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