Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Gibson

Owned and operated worlds largest cotton gin in Calvert, Texas. 
Still recorded in Ripley's Believe it or Not.

 

P. C. Gibson Home (The Calvert Inn), circa. 1903, as seen from Texas St.

The newest

"calvert TRIBUNE"

Calvert, Texas                                                                                 circa 1868

    Greetings!

Welcome to the "place that time forgot" - Calvert, Texas.  Below you will be introduced to some of the wonderful facts and strange fantasies that make up this small Texas town which was once the third largest city in the state of Texas.  A Boom-town made by the railroad and a group of entrepreneurs that would make any city proud, Calvert has seen the ups and downs of almost a century and a half.

So set back and read a little.  Come back often as we find new articles and photos from the past.

Sadie......................

                                                                            The $12,000 Mule

by Gracia C. Unger                 July 15, 1987                                           

St. Mary Sadie is the unlikely name of a seven-year-old mare mule worth (in a round-about-way) almost $12,000.

There's nothing really special about Sadie, except for the fat she may be one of the most expensive mules in the country.  She's a Shetland mule, looks like most other mules, and isn't particularly talented.

But she does perk up and shine at an auction!

At the St. Mary's catholic Church Auction in Bremond, Texas to be exact.

At the annual auction held in October of each year by the church to help finance the Catholic school, Sadie has brought almost $12,000 in funds to be used for that purpose.

She first showed up in October of 1964 as a four-year-old.  Her owner, a Mr. Alford from Hooper Ranch, donated her to the school and left a check when de delivered her.  The check was for $150 and was to be used to buy her back if no one bid on her.  He didn't have to worry.  Sadie was the high seller of the auction.

The auctioneer was Sonny Moore.  He started the bidding at $150.  Joe Ainsworth of Bremond said he would pay $300 for the mule if Bill Wachel, another Bremond resident, would ride her.  After a bit of horseplay the bid stood at $300.

Then Calvert Commission Company added a couple hundred to the bid and suggested the mule become a three-way bid.  Someone else added to the bid and before long is was up to $1,000 split four ways.

At this point the bidding progressed rapidly and before it was over Sadie had been syndicated to 33 owners for a little over $8,000.  Charles Springer, one of the bidders, took the mule home with him.  She stayed with Springer for a year.

In October of 2985 Sadie made her second trip to the St. Mary's auctions block.  This time the economy was a little off and she only brought a little over $3,000 - still not a bad price for a mule.

When the bidding was ended auctioneer Sonny Moore said, "I've seen this mule about as much as I can stand.  Now let's really sell her to someone who will take her home and keep her."

Groesbeck Commission Company bid $150.  It seemed like a shame for the little mule who had raised so much money for the school to go to the auction barn, where she might sell to a slaughter buyer, so Joe Ainsworth and partner Robert Bielamowicz took the bid to $200 and bought the mule.

Since that time she's been at pasture.  She missed the auction of October 1986.

But come next October St. Mary Sadie will return to the auction block.  Backers of the annual Catholic bazaar would like to see her bring in a lot more money, and find a good home where she can live out her days in the leisure due a major fund raiser.

(No word on where St. Mary Sadie is today.  If I find out I will let you know.)

HISTORY OF THE CALVERT PIERCE LODGE

The history of Calvert Pierce Lodge, No. 144, chartered January 18, 1855 and taken from minutes of the lodge.

A letter dated June 26, 1852, to the Grand Lodge of Texas from Gillespie Lodge No. 55, located at Wheelock, Texas, asked for a charter for Brazos Lodge to work under dispensation at Sterling on the Brazos.  Their first worshipful master was Mr. H. L. Bennett.

The lodge operated under dispensation till January 18, 1955, when they war chartered from the grand Lodge as Pierce Lodge No. 144 at Sterling on the Brazos, with Mr. G. W. Rutherford as worshipful Master.  (Sterling was located two miles east of present Calvert on the Black Bridge Road.)

During the Civil War years beginning in 1861, the Lodge was inactive due to the men going to war, but continued to make meager returns to the Grand Lodge from 1861 through 1867.  During the time members were called from their homes to war the Lodge was converted into a schoolhouse for the community.  During this period many of the records of the Lodge were lost.

A majority of the members were killed in the war and afterwards some were suspended for non-payment of dues.  An appeal was made to the Grand Lodge for aid in reinstating members to work in the Lodge could resume.

In May of 1869 a committee was appointed to ask the Grand Lodge to grant permission for sterling Lodge to be moved to the Calvert Depot, a distance of about two miles.  The Calvert Depot was the hub for the Houston and Texas Central Railroad and Calvert was becoming the trading center of Robertson County.  This permission was granted and the last stated meeting held at Sterling was December 24, 1869.

The first meeting held at the depot was January 3, 1870.  At this time plans were formulated to build a new Lodge in Calvert in conjunction with the Methodist Episcopal Church.  $500 was raised to secure the property.

The first Lodge built in the city of Calvert was erected on the north side of Block 57, previously owned by Mr. E. C. Cobb.  The Masons shared this new building with the I.O.O.F. Lodge.  The First Methodist church organized in Calvert held services in the building with Rev. Charles E. Brown as pastor.

In the year of 1872 yellow fever struck Calvert and took its toll of members of the Lodge and citizens of the town, giving the newly moved Lodge a severe setback.

For reasons unknown, eight years later, September 17, 1878, another building was purchased from T. J. Beall of Brazos County, located on the corner of Gregg and Railroad Streets.

In 1923 it was decided to purchase the present location for the Lodge (Mitchell & Main St.).  The cost of the building was $5,500.  The second floor was completely renovated and furnished from the old Lodge were moved to the new location.  The Lodge Room was dedicated in December, 1923.  The building previously occupied by the Lodge was sold to H. M. Ryman.

During the years 1941 to 1945, the world was again cast into war and our members answered the call of their country to arms.  Our Lodge again struggled to exist during this time of turmoil.

Pierce Lodge has had its ups and downs through the years, but it has always been and will continue to be an important part of Calvert's heritage.  Without the past, we have no future.