A presentation of a research project being conducted in Calhoun County was given at the June 14 meeting of the Calhoun County Historical Commission Meeting. The research is being conducted by a Texas A&M Corpus Christi Student. It is background for her Thesis program. She is Jacalyn Gorzynski.
Her intent is to find as much geological information as can be found in the area around Indianola. She is using Powderhorn Lake as the center and moving out from there. The research involves making probes into the soil around the area and examining that small non-invasive probe for Hurricane residue evidence. If evidence is found a larger sample is taken from which the Hurricane deposits can be examined and dated and other geological information recorded. This type of research has been done extensively for East Coast Hurricanes. Jacalyn is in the forefront of that research for the Texas Coasts.
One of the constraints to the research is gaining understanding and permission of the land owners in that area. Jacalyn made the presentation to the commission in hopes of help in gaining those permissions and suggestions of who to contact. Some of the members who attended have already given permission Many suggestions were made to help the project.
Her hope is to uncover more geological information particularly about the 1875 and 1886 Hurricanes that devastated Indianola. There is not much geological evidence about those two storms. The Historical Commission is planning a celebration this year to mark the 125th anniversary of the later hurricane.
Anyone who wants more information on the research project or how to give required permission can contact Jacalyn through the Calhoun County Museum which is her local base of operations.