Changes in the New Year

2013 is just around the corner, bringing with it some changes for this publication. After much wrestling in this editor’s mind and heart, I have come to the conclusion that I probably don’t have that many years left and as much as I enjoy publishing Dolphin Talk, I can no longer devote my every waking minute to it. There are other things of importance that have slipped down a rung or two for me these past 17 years, such as family and friends, church, community, and even cleaning my house.

Having heard so often how much this little paper means to many of you, I certainly cannot quit it altogether. Besides that, Dolphin Talk gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning and a feeling that I am contributing to a sense of community here, while spreading a little knowledge, entertainment and inspiration to some who might need and appreciate it.

Therefore, beginning now, Dolphin Talk will become a monthly publication, coming out the third Friday of each month. I realize that this may exclude the timely publication of announcements of some events, but I will endeavor to update our web site (www.TheDolphinTalk.com) as necessary to make sure all events of which I’m notified receive publicity on our site and/or Facebook page.

Printing once a month will give me and the others on staff more time to cover meetings and local events and, hopefully, to compose more articles about the people and history of our community.

I will be reminding our regular contributors weekly to send any news they may have. And please note that the deadline for the printed issue has been changed from the Monday before the print date to the Friday before. Putting a paper together in two days is a daunting project, and an extra day or two will help make a better publication with less errors, I hope.

The Dolphin Talk operates as a community service paid for by the support of our advertisers. We encourage our readers to patronize the businesses who support us so the Dolphin Talk can continue on in the new year and the years ahead.

The Dolphin staff wishes you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And, as always – Thank you for reading Dolphin Talk!

Joyce Rhyne, Editor/Publisher

Most of Port O’Connor’s “old timers” probably remember Mr. Raymond Northcutt, but perhaps not by his real name. After settling in Port O’Connor around 1961, he became known as “The Goat Man”.

Raymond Northcutt was born in Indianapolis on November 6, 1906, the son of a railroad man and science teacher. During his youth, Indianapolis was the hub of the nation’s auto industry, and Mr. Northcutt was involved in it. He knew a lot about automobiles and could usually figure out what was wrong with a car just by listening to it. He fixed many cars and other engines in Port O’Connor, often at no charge. Many times he had the needed parts right on his own property in one of his many junk cars. The junk cars served two purposes: spare parts and homes for his goats. In December of 1976, according to an article in the Victoria Advocate, he had 13 well-fed goats living on his property.

Mr. Northcutt’s home was a metal shed located on about a half-acre owned by Mr. Ira Corbin. His residence had a dirt floor and a wood-burning stove he had made from an old bouy. Scattered about were various auto parts and tools, lawnmowers, and other items brought to him for repair or being saved for future projects. His bedroom furniture consisted of a mattress on the floor.

Although he had traveled much of the world, working in many different occupations (metallurgy, mechanics, electronics, welding, industrial chemistry, business management, and demolition, to name a few), he was happy living a simple, independent life in Port O’Connor. “This hole in the wall is about the only thing I have anything to do with,” he told the Advocate reporter. Offering the reporter a cup of coffee, he volunteered, “I have only two vices – smoking and coffee. I am proud of my life.”

Mr. Northcutt’s granddaughter, Vicky Noland of California, remembers visiting her grandfather around 1979, staying in a motel, since his home was short on accommodations. “He came to pick up my mother and me from the motel, but we were not the only passengers. Along with him, were several chickens. ‘Just scoot them over,’ he said. Although he was a reclusive man, there was a steady stream of visitors to his little shed,” Vicky recalls. “Many were bringing lawnmowers and other such items for repair.”

“Grandpa made his life plans and wasn’t accountable to anyone,” Vicky said. Somehow word got around that despite his meager living conditions, this reclusive fellow was actually rich. Some despicable scoundrel decided he could get Mr. Northcutt’s money by “beating it out of him”. It is not known whether or not that criminal took away any riches, but he did take away Raymond Northcutt’s independent life. Mr. Northcutt spent the remaining year-and-a-half of his life in a Port Lavaca nursing home. “When we came to see him, he was happy to see us, but didn’t really know who we were,” remembers Vicky. “He did, however, remember his friend Ira Corbin.

Raymond Northcutt passed away in 1989. His friend Ira Corbin arranged for his burial in Port O’Connor Cemetery and a headstone was ordered for his grave.

Fast forward to August, 2012, when Vicky Noland, while working on her family’s genealogy, searched findagrave.com to see her grandfather’s grave site. Instead of seeing a headstone, she saw only a cross made of pvc pipe. “I was horrified to discover there was no headstone,” Vicky said. “I was told it had been ordered, paid for, and installed 23 years ago.”

Searching more on the internet, Vicky found a Dolphin Talk article about the historical designation of Port O’Connor Cemetery. In the article Bob Allen was mentioned as the historian/caretaker of the cemetery. Bob Allen had installed the pvc cross as part of his vast undertaking to locate and mark all the graves in the cemetery a few years ago. Vicky contacted Bob and he was able to put her in contact with the funeral home that had been in charge of her grandfather’s service. Although the home had changed owners and the paperwork on her grandfather’s service was incomplete, the new owners graciously honored the order of 23 years ago, providing a headstone and installing it in late November.

“I’m so grateful to so many people,” Vicky said. “We lost track of my grandfather for several years before finding him in Port O’Connor in the 70’s, and then there was no headstone to mark his passing, so it was such a relief to know his headstone is now there. This could not have happened without the help of so many wonderful people.”

Enjoying The Island

Greetings from the island everyone. I hope that all of you are doing well and had an enjoyable family Thanksgiving, and are getting in the festive Christmas spirit, which is very quickly approaching. Gifts can be air dropped to #1 Matagorda Peninsula, compass bearing 120 degrees from the Little Jetty. Ha Ha!

Barnacle and I stayed on the island for Thanksgiving, feasting on our smoked ham, sweet potatoes and biscuits, and pecan pie for dessert. Then on Saturday we headed to the mainland and I went with the family to the small community of Koerth to celebrate the 80th birthday of my dad, Henry. We prepared a great meal of fried snapper, redfish and drum, along with shrimp puppies (hush puppies with pieces of shrimp inside), and had a shrimp boil. Those Bohemians loved our seafood, and I loved Aunt Ida’s homemade kolaches.

A commercial fisherman, plant worker, master gardener, father of five kids and the best fiddle player ever to play the Orange Blossom Special. . . we all love you Dad.

Well, thus far the island has experienced very mild late Fall weather. Other than a few brisk early mornings, shorts and T-shirt have been mandatory island wear, my normal attire for nine months out of the year out here. But as I put pen to paper this early Sunday morning, the first cold norther of the season is forecast to blow in late tonight or early Monday morning. Might have to even pull out Barnacle’s sweater for this one, calling for low 40’s and very windy. I’m hoping some rain will blow in with the winds, as my water tanks are getting to the concerned stage.

It’s the strong north winds that keep me from usually having a Fall or Winter garden here on the island. They can be so brutal blowing across open Matagorda Bay before slamming into the island. The winds make it very difficult to properly protect the plants, so I forego gardening activities until about mid January when I get my tomato seeds started in the little greenhouse. I’ll also plant a few seed potatoes in early February and begin preparing my raised beds and containers for Spring planting.

The chickens are doing just fine, laying an average of 20-24 eggs a day right now. For chickens to lay at optimal level, they need about sixteen hours of light per day, whether it be natural or artificial. I installed some 12 volt lights on a timer for their coop area, to be activated from 3:00 a.m. till sunrise each day to supplement their lighting. Well, it only took one morning to realize this was a mistake, because when the lights came on at 3:00 a.m., Mr. Rooster began crowing at full volume. That’s right, 3:00 a.m.! I don’t think so. I then reset the timer for the lights to be activated from sunset till 10:00 p.m., providing the needed extra light. Lesson learned.

I’ve also learned that rats love chicken feed that is left scattered on the ground in the chicken pen. So after investing in five rat traps and baiting them with peanut butter, in three nights I snuffed out 12 rats! These things are what I call wharf rats, four to five inches long, not counting the tail. I hate rats!

I want to say thanks to fellow islanders Eddie, Rudy, Harry and Aldon for the two wonderful suppers of fried seafood and beer chicken last week. It’s always nice to sit and visit with these guys when they come out.

Well, that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a great Christmas.

A firm foundation for the First United Methodist Church of Seadrift was put in place on December 15, 1912, when a group of 76 charter members assembled at Second and Baltimore Streets with ownership of a donated lot and church building.

In celebration of these 100 years of religious services, 118 people gathered on Sunday, November 18, to a feast of worship, food and fellowship. They were welcomed by Rev. June Cantrell and by the church choir, under the direction of Nancy Childress, as they sang about the “Good and Simple Gifts” that come from the Lord.

Previous church ministers in attendance were Rev. Janna Sandidge Hawes, Rev. John Quigley, Rev. John Britsch, and Rev. Kelli Williamson, along with the church’s Victoria District Superintendent, Rev. Terrence Hayes.

The assembled people of Seadrift left the church sanctuary with a musical wish that “Peace Be with You” and with the anticipation of an additional celebration on December 1, as the City of Seadrift would be celebrating its 100th birthday also.

-Geraldine Williams

What a great Community Thanksgiving Service we had! 103 people were present, the singing was superb, and Pastor Martin’s message was on point! But, the offering was light. We provided 33 families with Thanksgiving baskets and are planning to give out Christmas baskets on December 18. I must have all names of those needing help this year by December 16. We had some who came the day of the Thanksgiving distribution and we helped them as much as we could, but we must have all the names so we can make up the boxes on Monday, December 17 for distribution on Tuesday, December 18. If there are those who would like to donate, you may send the money to any of the area churches or I am sure the bank will receive monies made out to Port O’Connor Benevolence Fund.

IF YOU TRULY NEED A CHRISTMAS BASKET, PLEASE CALL 361/218-6693 ASAP!

We had Christmas With Ric on Sunday, December 2. He did a wonderful job of getting our spirits ready to celebrate Christ’s birth. We are always honored to have Ric Gorden come from Oklahoma to sing and share his message in a humorous way. We are looking forward to his returning on August 11, 2013.

I sincerely appreciate the help of Hermano Jessie and Patrick Overton, who have filled the pulpit while I have been in San Antonio with Papaw. Keep Papaw in your prayers!

The Chapel will be hosting its annual Christmas Party on December 16 at 6:00 p.m. There will be a “pot-luck” meal followed by all our special activities. Again, we will be doing our “white elephant” gifting. It is always so much fun that everyone who participates will enjoy it. Each one is to bring a wrapped gift – something you have around the home – and it will be given out by drawing numbers. Make the decorations on your package as glamorous as possible!

We invite all to join us for Christmas Caroling on Sunday, December 23. We load up on a wagon loaded with hay bales and go around town singing. If you know someone who would like to have us come by, please let us know.

We were honored to be a part of the wedding celebration of Aaron and Patty on Saturday, December 8. It was a special event, with the Chapel decorated very nicely. We are praying that the Longoria’s will be blessed with a Godly blessed marriage!

You will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel. We have a lot of activities – all aimed to help people get to know each other and grow in grace. Christmas is truly celebrated this time of the year and you will feel the presence of the Lord. You are invited to come and praise the Lord with us, and are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”