Halloween

Well that time of year has come again where we can let ourselves be a little more spooky, dress up as almost anything from a vampire (no sparkles please) to a zombie to a witch and not even get any funny looks as you walk down the street.

It’s Halloween time of course and if you’re like me, a confirmed Halloween junkie, then this is your time of year.

The holiday is frequently thought to have originated from the Celtic holiday called Samhain, which was a festival to celebrate the harvest that takes place during the Fall season. The day would eventually be transformed by a variety of changes, such as the name Halloween itself which was at one time referred to as All Hallows Eve, the night before a celebration of saints.

Ultimately however Halloween brings the end of the warmth and light of the Spring and Summer seasons (obviously the ancient Celts, had never visited the Gulf Coast, which is still quite warm at this time of year) and begins the darker half of the year as the ancient peoples geared up for the hardships of the Winter ahead.

As for it’s more ghostly trappings, Samhain was, like the festival held on the first day of May called Beltane, a time when the veils between the worlds of the living and the dead were thought to be at their thinnest.

Disguising your identity by dressing up in a costume was thought to be one way not to draw the attention of the more evil of the wandering spirits.

While the exact origins of the custom of Trick or Treating are unclear, it was in some form or fashion a way of gathering food and treats from neighboring houses, be it to feed the village during a feast cooked on the Samhain bonfires, or to appease the spirits let loose on Earth for the night.

Jack-O-Lanterns were also designed to protect one from evil spirits, but when the Irish made them, they made them from turnips, not pumpkins.

Want some more interesting facts about Halloween?

• Despite a morbid tone and roots in Pagan custom, Halloween is actually the second highest grossing holiday, bested only by Christmas.

• If you find yourself cowering in a closet or hiding under the bed until the first day of November arrives, you are not alone. The condition is an actual named phobia and it is called Samhainophobia.

• Curious about your future husband, ladies? Halloween legend states you can either hang a wet sheet in front of a fire or stare into a mirror at Midnight on Halloween to see your future partner.

• In one form or another, Halloween celebrations are over six-thousand years old.

• Halloween candy sales are estimated as one quarter of all candy sold in a given year, with almost two-billion dollars of the sweet treats being sold.

• Want to throw a ‘killer’ party? Halloween is the third largest party day of the year behind New Year’s Eve and Superbowl Sunday.

Although Halloween has it roots in a varied mixture of customs and traditions from festivals and Christian holidays, it has certainly become a holiday that haunted its way into the hearts of the American people.

So, there you have your interesting Halloween facts, I hope you, wait, I never heard you say Trick or Treat…

Did you see the welcome sign as you entered POC? And could you read the name of the donor on the sign? Did you see the large bulletin board at the Post Office? And the name of the donor? Did you see the sign on the entry door of the Library? And the name of the donor?

If you saw the name of the donor, you might have wondered who or what the POC Service Club is. This is an organization of over 50 women who have bonded together with the sole purpose of serving the community of Port O’Connor, and by this bonding, creating a better place to live.

Many of these achievements have been brought into play from the previous organization from which the Service Club evolved. Amongst those was the creation of the Library in 1985-1986 that was then housed in a small room in the Fire Station — an area that became known as the Community Center. Our leader at that time was Emma Powers, and she struck out to bring her club into a viable form of help and assistance to our community.

Emma Powers, First President Port O’Connor Service Club

One of the first of Emma Powers’ projects was the Christmas Luncheon for our Senior residents.  Begun in 1980 and held in that small Community Center room adjacent to  the Fire Station, this luncheon served approximately 20 residents.  But as these holiday celebrations continued to grow and grow, this room became too small and then these annual luncheons were farmed out to the parish halls of the local churches.  It became quite a sight around our area on that holiday morning to see many cars and trucks with the members and their husbands join the parade of vehicles bearing many mouth-watering dishes.  And there was always one truck carrying the Christmas tree with several drooping ornaments to be erected in the Church Hall.

Additionally, this small group worked on several other projects to benefit our community at large which has meant support of our Elementary School in various ways.  During their annual Halloween Carnival, a small token of appreciation would be awarded to all costumed contestants.  Scholarships for outstanding Senior High School graduates from Port O’Connor were begun as well as monthly stipends for outstanding grades during the school year.

One of the early projects of this Club was participating in the development of the Front Beach during the time of its dredging by King Fisher Marine.  At that period of time there was little sand there, and the Club became active in obtaining a huge amount for that area.  And then this organization decided to take up the annual or bi-annual cleaning of the Front Beach that has now been transferred to other residents and clubs.  But it all started with a very small group of determined women.

Now THAT was the just the beginning of the Port O’Connor Community Service Club, a group of women who may have gray hair, or in some instances, white; who do not just consider themselves “do-gooders” who sip coffee and gossip, but women who go out and make a difference in their community.  And to detail all that this organization has done in the past years would probably take much more allowable room than is available, but a few of these accomplishments are:

Beach Committee, L to R: June Green, Beth Coats, Evelyn Smith

• The construction of the outdoor Pavilion at the Cemetery for funeral attendees with  chairs available and the providing of not only a sign at the entrance to the Cemetery, but the planting of trees as well.

• The sponsorship and serving at each Tuesday for the Senior Citizens’ Luncheon with competitive Bingo games following.

• Participation each year in the School’s Halloween Carnival by the baking of cakes for the cake walk; staffing and serving sandwiches and beverages; often serving as Judges during the costume parade, and the awarding of coins to each costumed entrant.

Several years ago this group of energetic and committed women found themselves totally involved in the building of the Community Center.  Working with other groups in our area to finance this project, Club members earned funds by staging many bake sales, helping another individual with the writing for financial grants, and literally putting the “arm on others” for donations.  Additionally, the Club purchased and had installed the metal doors on the Pavilion to provide for security and shade during events.

One other function of this organization has been to make donations of financial aid, many times yearly, of various amounts to the Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets; support of the Angel Tree; money sent to the Fire Department and EMS; support of our Library, and support of not just the teachers in our School but the purchase of necessary equipment as well; and recently, to the POC Sports Association in their efforts to build an area dedicated to sports and other outdoor activities in this Community.

President Lois Batts welcomes guests to the Annual Christmas Luncheon, circa 1990’s.

But the most time consuming project of all is researching the extensive history of our area via interviews with many of our residents and other members of their families.   Although this has definitely been, at times, almost an overwhelming project on behalf of the Committee, it has not just been interesting, but a prideful endeavor as well.  At the finish, this book will detail the rise of Port O’Connor, Texas, from a portion of a Spanish-Mexican Land Grant to the viable and growing Community of the 21st Century with the emphasis on the families.  But this cannot be accomplished without the aid of our residents and their input of the lives of their families.

However, the total diversity of the membership is what makes this organization viable and outstanding.  We have members from not just Texas, but from several states on the Eastern Seaboard as well as one from the Golden State on the Pacific.  And many of these  members also participate in other organizations; i.e., one who not only stretches her extraordinary talent for decorating during the Christmas season, but who leads another fairly new organization with constant plans for involvement of the community at each meeting while maintaining her occupation as a broker of real estate; another who excels at designing and sewing award-winning quilts but who also volunteers her time at the local school; another who has served as an officer in the past but is always available to bake those outstanding chocolate cakes in demand at every bake sale and yet somehow manages the time to go on a weekly fishing trip; a fourth who was on the roster of the first year of this organization, who has served as an officer at varying times, yet still manages to travel the country with her husband in her cool silver “tag-a-long”.

Another special lady is one who after several years absence returned to school and received her degree.  She is now working in her chosen field yet still has the time and energy to chair a demanding committee.   And another very active member has been one who has traveled and lived in many other countries throughout this world; each time moving not just herself and husband but children as well.  She is known for her very unusual and eclectic artistic talent as well as those incredible three layer cakes that appear at various functions of the Club.

One member who was from upstate New York whose 96 year old Mom resides with her now but still maintains her “Mom” role.  This member assists at the Tuesday Luncheons; is employed locally, and during her spare time, sorts and boxes the many  donated items for our Garage Sales.

And one other member, a retired high school teacher, who with her husband have made their home here in Port O’Connor for a number of  years while participating in Club activities.  Losing their home from the damage of Carla in 1961, they decided to rebuild and remain here.  She is another many faceted woman whose interest in the varieties of succulents native to our State has led to her becoming an “expert” of these plants.  But her tasty preparation each year of the fruit salad at the Christmas Luncheon has made it a difficult task for others to follow.  This previous listing is just a few of our 50+ membership, women who make things happen, and do not sit on the sidelines, waiting.

We have been blessed with several extra-special members: one who was born here and has maintained her life and family here; who knows just about everyone and has not let an immobility cease the baking of her award-winning pecan pies.  And another, who has dedicated much of her life to her family; caring for an ailing husband while rearing a grandchild and being employed, yet maintaining an active and fulfilling life as an officer of this Club.

But, and that’s a very big BUT, this organization could not achieve all of these goals without the hard work of so many individuals; members who are totally disparate in nature, but who somehow come together and complement each other by skills, interests, talents and education to achieve the common good.  Leadership of a successful organization has come to a very few, but that success can only be achieved through the support and work of all its  members.

Our history and accomplishments may not be mind-boggling to a resident of Houston or San Antonio, but to our small area, we’ve made a profound difference, and hopefully, will continue in that undertaking in the future.

For more information re this organization and its aims and activities, please contact our President, Janet Johnson, 983-4733 or 983-4737 or Shirley Gordon at the Library, 983-4365.  We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month in the Community Center and welcome all women who are interested in the betterment of our community.

Cemetery Pavilion

Cemetery Entrance

Port O’Connor Library

Port O’Connor Service Club keeps the community informed with a large Billboard (above) and a Bulletin Board at the Post Office.

Entrance at the Annual Christmas Luncheon

1990s: Guests at the Port O’Connor Community Service Club’s Annual Seniors’ Christmas Luncheon

Early years: Elizabeth Hawes (left) and Beth Coats (right) and others making fried pies for sale for the Library Fund.

The Calhoun County Museum is pleased to announce that Amy Borgens, the Texas State Marine Archeologist, will be speaking at the Calhoun County Museum at 301 S Ann, Port Lavaca on November 2, 2012 at 1:30 PM.

In 1862, Indianola and Port Lavaca were bombarded by the Union gunships, the USS Westfield and the USS Clifton. The Westfield was destroyed on January 1, 1863, by her own captain, who lost his life along with 12 of his crew members.

In 2009, divers and salvage crews started the excavation of the Westfield in the waters of Galveston Bay. Ms. Borgens has been involved with the excavation of a number of ships, including the Belle and the USS Westfield.

Please call 361.553.4689 if you plan to attend.