Friday Night Youth is teaming up with the Victoria Sectional Youth Representative to host a huge youth rally on Friday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m. It will be held on Port O’Connor’s King Fisher Beach.

The live band, “After the Well”, will be playing for that evening’s activities. They have appeared at numerous Youth Conventions and Camps across America. The well-known and extensively traveled special speaker is Wayne Thompson, a youth leader from San Marcos.

There will be a “3 on 3” basketball tournament beginning at 3:30 p.m. Only eight teams will vie for the special trophy. Each team will consist of 5 to 7 players, ages 13 to 17. To register your team and for additional information, please contact Patrick Overton at 512/665-3357.

Youth of all ages are welcomed to come to Port O’Connor’s beach early for a time of fun in the sun. There will be hot dogs cooked on open grills and the volleyball net will be set up.

Travis Glass from El Campo is the Sectional Youth Representative. This will be a very special event and all kids are welcomed to be a part of this historic event. For additional information, please call Travis at 361/782-1626.

Whatever your age, you will be glad you were a part of this special event!

Seadrift Depot’s Early Days Left to right: Nuna Coward, Needham Coward, Mattie “Jink” Coward, Unknown

More than 50 years have passed since the Seadrift Railroad Depot building was moved to Pine and Baltimore (Sgt. Rodney Taylor Ave.). On July 8, it was returned to its original location, 201 S. Main, only 100 feet from where it was originally built in the early 1900s.

Back in its heyday, the depot saw passengers arrive in Seadrift from places along the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway line and shipments of cotton and seafood sent to far-away destinations. It also welcomed passengers, and supplies of gravel, hay and fuel into Seadrift.

Mayor Elmer DeForest remembers when he was a child taking family members there to board the train for Houston. He was among those who witnessed the depot’s move in the 1950s, when it became a home for members of the Blevins family. In 1961, Hurricane Carla tore the gable roof from the building, and it was replaced with a hip roof. Changing the roof gave the building a different appearance, causing some to doubt that this is truly the original building, but Mayor DeForest and others who witnessed the event, assure that it is.

Moving the depot was the first step in an effort to preserve the history of Seadrift. As one of the few historical buildings left, the depot will be made into a museum, visitor center, and Chamber of Commerce office. It is hoped that Seadrift citizens will donate antiques, photos and other items that are a part of Seadrift history to be displayed in the museum.

The building renovations will be paid for with grants and hotel/motel funds (which cannot be used for anything but the promotion of Seadrift), and by donations from private citizens. Several citizens and businesses have already contributed. Included are: 16 hours of labor donated by Larry Kelley; $3,015 labor donated by Urban Surveying; $1,000 off moving charge by Fowler House Movers; $1,600 toward foundation and basic repairs donated by Pete Barthelme; and two 100-year-old doors and a 100-year-old fireplace mantle donated by Miss Lillian Stubbs.

It is hoped that many in Seadrift will be a part of this historic venture. Inquire at City Hall as to what you might do or how you might donate to this important project. The goal is to complete it by the December 2012 Seadrift Centennial.

Seadrift Mayor Elmer DeForest at the site of the proposed Seadrift museum/visitor center/Chamber office, following the July 8 move of the old depot. -Photo by Wesley Hunt

First National Bank’s Seadrift Branch celebrated its grand re-opening on Wednesday, July 20. The bank had been in temporary quarters for some months while the facility was expanded and remodeled. Branch Manager Jason Jones, invites you to come by and see the facilities, and climb the lighthouse tower for a view of the City.

Pictured above (left to right) are: Terry Cullen, First National Bank Executive Vice President; W.H. Bauer, Jr., President; and Jason Jones, Seadrift Branch Manager, Vice President.

Erny McDonough’s truck maneuvers through the Poco Bueno crowd at the Fishing Center, taking the donated marlin to the Chapel to be filleted and packaged . -Photo by Bill Tigrett

Poco Bueno for 2011 is now history, but the blessings remain. Three off-shore boats and many, many bay boats contributed to the Chapel of their catches, which has given us an opportunity to do great things for special people, both in this area and elsewhere. There were also cash donations for our mission project and 100 pounds of both beans and rice were also donated. This year’s special need was “Strong-Tower Ministries” from Kerrville. Many of you have seen their representatives at local WalMart’s, offering wooden crosses for a donation.

Strong-Tower Ministries have a place for about 50 people, both male and female, who have developed life controlling problems. Some have been addicted to alcohol or drugs, some are abuse victims, and others have found themselves in environments that are dangerous for their survival and that of their children. The Reverend Michael Adams and his family take these people, often off the streets, and work to restore them back to health and community.

The key is for these residents to realize the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People who come into this twelve month program accept Jesus as their personal Savior and spend time studying God’s Word. Physical work-out programs, as well as academic structures help students progress where they can rejoin main-stream America.

We are honored to partner with them to help change lives of not only the adults, but also the children involved. We are trusting that Strong-Tower Ministries will make several trips back to Port O’Connor so this community can be a part of the solution for these lives. An immediate need of Strong-Tower is a chest freezer. Presently they have only two refrigerators for food storage. If you can help, please let us know!

We were also a part of the Tent Revival, hosted in Port Lavaca by the Fellowship of Churches. The guest speaker, Reverend Rod Vincent, spent his nights at the Chapel facilities and preached each evening under the tent. We were honored to help direct the song service, accompanied by our pianist, Cathy Smith.

And, if these activities were not enough to keep us busy, Joane and I traveled to Houston on Friday to secure a 6-burner, commercial gas range for our Retreat Center! It was a gift from some of our friends and will be a tremendous blessing to those who come to respite with us.

But, we are not just looking back – we are planning for future events! Notice the information (on this page) about the special Friday Night Youth Rally that will be held at the Front Beach on July 29. It is going to be an extra special event for the youth of our community, who will be joined by youth from several other communities. It will be an evening to remember!

The Sea Academy will be having another class for those desiring to earn their Captain’s License, which will qualify them to charter groups on fishing tours. The class will begin on July 29 and run through August 7. Those interested in these classes should contact the instructor, Captain Robert at 361/816-3010 or the Sea Academy at 361/758-6184. These are Coast Guard approved courses.

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to help each other experience the abundant life here and eternal life afterwords. We also have many ways of reaching out to others so they also can experience the joys we have found in serving Jesus. You will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel and are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

POC LIONS CLUB BAKE SALE
Saturday, July 23 at Speedy Stop
Starting at 8:00 a.m.
Come by for a sweet treat!