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We will
restore, protect, promote and ensure a clean,
healthy, flowing San Bernard River for the sanity and
enjoyment of present and future generations.
Tommy and Dona Worrell
Sundance, the
Poole
Ranch,
and Brazoria Heritage Day
By Jan Edwards
F.O.R. San Bernard Board
Member/ P.R.
Remember back last year when
F. O. R. had our fund raiser?
Well, two of the
auction items were framed artwork,
donated by Tommy and Dona Worrell-
framed out in
old barn wood, taken from the Poole
ranch.
And yes, "Dona" is
spelled correctly, as explained by Dona, herself.
"I
was named after my Uncle Donald,
who ran the ranch - that's the reason
my name only has one "n" ".
And the
Poole Ranch
has quite a
history in
Brazoria
County
When you travel down F.M.
2918, most of the land you see on both sides of the road
(that includes the San Bernard Wildlife Refuge) used to be
the Poole Ranch. Dona can
remember when her family ran cattle on the land
and
she even assisted with the round ups when she was
growing up. Dona and Tommy's house sits directly on the San
Bernard River,
surrounded by indigenous flowers and wildlife and the
memories of family and ghosts of the old days. This house
was originally built for the black cowboys and their
families who worked on the ranch and was located on the road
that leads into what is now the San Bernard National
Wildlife Refuge. There used to be a lot of houses on that
road - the last ones that stood were located where the
headquarters of the wildlife refuge is today. The middle
part of Dona and Tommy's house was built in the early 1900's
out of Cypress
wood. It was moved to its current location by Dona's parents
in the 1940's (and added on to) to have a place for her
family to stay when they came down for round-ups and family
functions. The house also welcomed Tommy and Dona when they
were first married (in the 1960's) and lived on the ranch
full time while
Tommy worked the ranch. They added more on to their house in
the late 1980's.
If only those walls could talk.
Roy and I had the opportunity
to meet Dona and Tommy Worrell when we picked up the artwork for
the fund raiser and we both feel lucky we had that chance.
Not only did we get to meet Dona (a.k.a. Cowgirl on the
discussion page), but Tommy Worrell as well. If you access
his website,
www.tommycowboy.com
you will find out he is the perfect Cowboy for
Cowgirl as he has spent his life as a western actor and
is famous in his own right - he was in the original 1960
Alamo starring John Wayne, and in Have Gun will
Travel, Paladin.
We even had the luck of a
lifetime to be invited for dinner at their Poole Ranch House
where we got to see some of the old photographs that Dona
had from when it was a going concern. The pictures we saw
are among those that the
Worrell's are donating to the Brazoria Heritage Museum,
located in the Old Elementary
in Brazoria.
That brings me to
the Brazoria Heritage Day Celebration in Brazoria March 3-4.
Dona and Tommy run a Wild West Show and are graciously
bringing it to Brazoria for the Heritage Day. "We are going
to have part of our show----which will include cowboy music,
Sundance (our longhorn steer that does tricks), a 6-shooter
exhibition with audience participation, and our Festus
impersonator in Brazoria for the Heritage Day Celebration"
says Dona. "We are putting pictures of the
Poole's
and some old west items in the museum for people to see.
They (the museum) have
asked me to
write up a little history of the Poole Ranch, as they are
going to honor all the old ranches at the Heritage Day. We
are looking forward to it."
If you feel like I do,
history is all around us out here on the San Bernard - we
don't have to go far, to find it. We are lucky in that
respect. F.O.R. is also lucky to have members like Cowgirl
and Cowboy Tommy who generously give of themselves, so the
past life on the river will continue to live.
Shaking hands with
Sundance
Brazoria Heritage Day
Celebration in Brazoria March 3-4
1st
Saturday Breakfast
Feb. 3rd 8
am – 10 am
Dido’s Restaurant
and
Friends Of the River are teaming up for another
wonderful breakfast on the San Bernard.
This
month we have the pleasure to feature Erma and Larry Vacek.
Remember the wonderful briskets at the Clean Up event and
Christmas Boat Parade awards dinner? Well, master Bar-B-Quer
Larry Vacek is the main source for that awesome flavor.
That should give you some insight as to his abilities in the
kitchen. Ms. Erma is preparing her famous home-made
kolaches and cinnamon rolls for us. Also on the buffet will
be all the fixins to make your own breakfast taco.
You
know we’re going to have a feast and, of course, lots of fun
and fellowship! Please join us.
Cost
is $6 a head, kids 10 & under eat free.
If you are going to
join us for breakfast, please RSVP so we can get an
approximate head count.
RSVP Here
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