Easter Services at the Circle Drive-In at 2112 LaSalle.

Photos by Fred Marlar, 1950.

Photos from The Texas Collection, Baylor University.

We are pleased to present our April, 2021 “Waco, Texas History in Pictures Magazine”, which is all about the OLD Lake Waco and Dam. This 36-page magazine is FREE to view online, and may be shared to any social media platform or via text or email. It is FILLED TO THE BRIM with amazing photos of that special moment in time known as the Old Lake Waco. And large print so that historic eyes can easily read the great history contained therein! And a special “thank you” to all of of our group members who contributed photos! Be sure to visit our Facebook Group “The Old Lake Waco and Dam” to view so many more photos.

In this issue, you will find;The Old Lake Waco Dam, The Old Highway 6 Bridge, The Old Lake Shore Drive, The North Side of the Dam, Below the Dam, The Speegleville Shore, The Bridges of the Bosque, The Trellis Courts, The Lake Hill Food Store and The Perdichis, The Halbert Buchanan Home at Lake Waco, The Edward C. Bolton Home at Lake Waco, The Mount Carmel Center, Our Website and Past Issues.

If you would like a print copy of this magazine, please contact Vicki at Firmin Printing in Waco at 254-776-5742. The cost is 16.00 plus tax, which ONLY covers cost of printing. We appreciate their help in preserving Waco History! . The first two issues are also available…they are both 16-pages and 9.00 plus tax.

Touch the photo below to view the April 2021 Waco, Texas History in Pictures Magazine.

Pete the Pup (1929-1946)

This was a card that was produced by The Waco History Project and the printing was courtesy of Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center. The back of the card says:

“Pete the Pup (1929-1946) of the Hal Roach “Our Gang” comedies of the 1930s, was the best known of several American Staffordshire Terriers who played the companion to The Little Rascals. He was the pet of former Robinson mayor Ted Lucenay (1925-2004), whose father, Harry Lucenay, signed the dog to the movies starting at $125.00 per week (1,500.00 in today’s dollars). Photo courtesy of Mrs. Ted Lucenay.”

The Liberty Building

Our friend Geoff Hunt at the Texas Collection just shared this amazing article. Thank you, Geoff!

TEXAS OVER TIME: The Liberty Building (One Liberty Place), 601 Austin Avenue, Waco, TX.

Waco’s First United Methodist (organized 1850), 4901 Cobbs Avenue. This was the original sanctuary when the church moved from the downtown location. Postcard image from eBay.

This aerial postcard photo of Waco is postmarked 1941. It’s good to see the Dennis Building (5th and Austin) and the Padgitt Building (5th and Franklin) still standing in this photo. They were both destroyed in the 1953 Waco tornado.

Waco, Texas History in Pictures
March Magazine

If you haven’t, we want to invite you to view our March Magazine.

Touch this link:
https://wacotexashistoryinpictures.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/210301-march-2021-magazine.pdf

If you would like a hard copy, Firmin Printing will print you one for $ 9.00, which only covers the cost of printing. call Vicki at 254-776-5742.

The historic Shiloh Baptist Church, on Hog Creek in Ocee, Texas, was founded in 1884 and is still going strong!

Stadium Drive-In, 1948-1992
2621 Clay Avenue
Fraser C. and Eloise Holder, owners

Stadium Drive-In was originally known as Holder’s Grocery and Market. The store enlarged in 1954 and the name was changed to Stadium Drive-In Grocery. Hamburgers were added in 1955. Stadium Drive-In closed with the death of Mr. Holder in October, 1994. Mrs. Holder passed away in May, 2020.

Their son, Paul Holder, said: “Business customers included patrons from throughout the city, especially workers from Cameron Mills and Central Texas Iron Works–Baylor Football games-businesses within 3 blocks of the stadium and included many out of town regulars. There was a group (5 men) of Razorbacks who came every other year for 20 years (home and home schedule). They always claimed they made the trip( they were from Little Rock) for the burgers and not the game. Several Baylor coaches and players would partake. There was only one table-so nearly all business was “to go.” Certain Baylor players stopped regularly after practice.In truth they usually stopped for soft drinks and small cigars-list included the All American Ronnie Bull. Of some local renown, MCC Professors Henry Apperson and Vince Clark both ate there before becoming professors.”

Photos contributed by Paul Holder.

SCENIC WONDERLAND

We are not sure when it was built, but Scenic Wonderland was a popular nightclub and entertainment venue in the early 1950s. It was out LaSalle Avenue, across the Brazos River at the Marlin Highway. It was built by the Gorham Brothers-Tracy, John and Mack. Our group member Deborah Gorham is the daughter of Tracy Gorham. They sold it to Judson Baker, and he sold it to Cecil Epps, who owned several other clubs in Waco. Group member Paula Owen is Cecil Epps’ daughter. Scenic Wonderland was billed as “The Largest Nightclub West of the Mississippi” and hosted popular bands and entertainers of the day…comedians, magicians, and big-name bands including Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Spivak, Gene Krupa, and Hal McIntire. Local musicians and bands like Doodle Owens and Omar McKim also played there. In later years, Scenic Wonderland hosted wrestling matches. The Scenic Wonderland exploded burned on Tuesday, October 4, 1955.

The Waco Tribune Herald, November 9, 1952.