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The engineers were ordered to see that the boys wore bathing suits.” This caused the city council to ban naked swimming at the pumphouse, and another chore was added to the long list of jobs at the station. There came a time that ladies went along the banks of the river near the plant.
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These men acted as unofficial lifeguards. They rode a buggy to work every morning and ran the pumphouse 12 hours a day, seven days a week for 40 years.Īccording to Weisinger, “These engineers raised several generations of Victoria boys who spent much time around the river and the pumphouse. Weisinger researched the history of the area and found that Noonie Fox and Gus Hoffman were longtime engineers at the pumphouse. The river’s water was used until 1908, when artesian wells were drilled on the site. The pumphouse supplied water for the town from the river. The deed for the property was signed by Sam Houston, and the title was passed from the Republic of Texas to the township of Victoria in the mid-1800s. Located on a property with a rich history of its own, the restaurant sits on the bank of the Guadalupe River. The couple’s daughter was our host this weekend.Īfter making ourselves at home in our cozy room, we grabbed our purses and headed off to dinner at the PumpHouse Riverside Restaurant and Bar. The current owners, Bill and Clarabell McCleod, transformed it into a bed and breakfast. Buhler and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 as the Robert H. The two-story house was built in 1915 by F.S. We were booked in the Thrifty Scot room at the Friendly Oaks Bed and Breakfast, on Juan Linn Street one block from the town’s square. Located 30 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, Victoria is halfway between two major metropolises, Corpus Christi and Houston.ĭeparting San Marcos in the afternoon, we followed a trail of autumn-leaved trees lining the road to our destination. If we hadn’t been looking for Victoria, we might have passed right by it without experiencing the beauty of a town that has stood the test of time. Our goal this particular weekend was to discover the truth behind two towns that have made their mark on Texas history. I’d just finished my fall semester of college, so a break was welcome relief. I’d heard that Victoria and Goliad offered a unique and unforgettable Christmas experience, so last December my mother and I drove the winding roads of Southeast Texas for a weekend vacation. Salinasĭreaming about Christmas during the heat of Indian summer? It’s a good thing to do this time of year, as we look ahead to cooler days and time with our families. Make plans now to visit historic Goliad and Victoria during the holidays. A South Texas Christmas Destination: Goliad/Victoria Travel time from: