The Heart of Texas Rural Transit District (HOTRTD) is one of 39 Rural Transit Districts designated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). HOTRTD provides demand response transportation to the general public, including transportation for seniors age 65 and older, and to the disabled of any age. Service is primarily provided using a fleet of 28 HOTCOG owned vans and small buses. The shared ride services is considered “origin to destination,” meaning the vehicle stops at the passenger’s address, instead of the passenger being required to go to a pick-up location; and multiple riders may be on the vehicle. Transportation is provided Monday through Friday in Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and rural McLennan counties. Here in Hubbard you can contact Frances at 254-292-1873. Thank you Bobbie Loud for the information!
If you have ever been out to Valley View Cemetery here in Hubbard, you will see these headstones. Call Jesse Thomas. …. he really meant call him. He has headstones all over the area and this was his way of advertising his services as a tombstone maker!
This is a neat piece of history and who was Jesse Thomas? His gravestone for his services also can be found in Tanyard Cemetery in Madison, Texas. No telling where else! He was a shoemaker in Mexia as well as a monument maker.
His obit – Funeral Set Funeral Set Here Friday Funeral – services for Jessie S. Thomas, Sr. of 319 West Commerce Street, will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, in the Westside Church of Christ. Brother W.H. Meachum will conduct the services. Burial will be in Henderson Cemetery, under direction of Dorsey and Keatts Funeral Home. Mr. Thomas, a native of Limestone County, died May 3 at 12:05a.m. in the Marlin Veterans Hospital. He was 88 years of age. A veteran of World War I, Mr. Thomas worked as a shoe repairman and monument maker. He was a member of the Church of Christ and affiliated with Masonic Lodge 282, Pride of Coolidge. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Ida Thomas of Mexia; two daughters, Mrs. Lee Jackson and Mrs. Mozell Brewer of Groesbeck; three sons, J.W. Thomas and C.T. Tatum of Dallas, and Jessie Thomas, Jr., of Houston; a sister, Mrs. Anna Murphy of Waco; 14 grandchildren and 18 great- grandchildren (May 6, 1976). Years down the road people will be wondering who Call Jesse Thomas was with the obsolete phone number underneath!
On August 11, 1881, Hubbard City lots came up for public sale. This was the flyer that announced the sale and showed some of the lots. This map is part of the collection entitled: Map Collections from the University of Texas at Arlington and was provided by the University of Texas at Arlington Library to The Portal to Texas History, a digital repository hosted by the UNT Libraries.
Hubbard, Texas . . . where did the name come from? For those of you who don’t know, Hubbard was named in honor of Richard Bennett Hubbard, former Governor of Texas (1876-1879) and also the Ambassador to Japan. He lived in Tyler and was originally from Georgia, but like many Southerners, he came to Texas. He was a very large man and was a great speech maker. As far as I can tell, Hubbard is the only city in the US to be named after the former Governor.
There are many stories about Governor Hubbard which will be shared later. #themoreyouknow (Governor’s Mansion Collection) Richard B. Hubbard, 1876-1879Silver cake server presented to the Governor by the government of Japan, engraved J.R.H. for First Lady Janie Roberts Hubbard. Richard Hubbard was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan. The Hubbard’s had been living in Tokyo, Japan, for almost two years when Janie Roberts Hubbard became ill and died. Her remains were returned to her Tyler, Texas, home for burial.
Desperados – The Life of Tom Varnell – and yes, he killed a man here in Hubbard.
The ARLINGTON JOURNAL, Arlington, Texas. Thursday July 30, 1903 –
Tom P. Varnell a somewhat notorious character was shot and killed at Abbott, Hill County, on the 26 of July, 1903, by Oscar Ferguson. Varnell had heretofore killed two men and served one term in the penitentiary. For years he has been one of the Hill county‘s bad men. Son of Isaac (Ike) A Varnell and Francis LaDocia Crawford.In 1880 at age 18 Tom P shot and killed A P Fisher in revenge for his father’s death in 1876. He shot and killed Jonas Hagar Land at age 21 in Hubbard City in 1883 after being caught by Land with his 16 year old daughter. After two years on the run he was captured in New Mexico and several trials later was convicted and spent 9 years in the Texas State Pen. He was released on Jan 19, 1902 and was pardoned at the recommendation of State Senator S C Upshaw, who had been his criminal attorney when he was convicted.
Six months later he killed a Mexican, Frenchy Rauls, in the Oklahoma Territory, and was sentenced to 10 years. The conviction was appealed, bail was set and Tom P returned to Texas.On July 26, 1903 he was shot and killed by Oscar Ferguson in Abbott, Texas, to “protect the honor” of Oscar’s sister. Oscar was tried for murder, but found not guilty. His father Isaac Alexander Varnell was murdered on New Years Day in 1876. His brother Isaac Napoleon Varnell was gunned down in 1867 at the age of 17 by a 16 year old. Death and misery followed Tom during his short life of 41 years.
Thomas Powhattan “Tom P” Varnell
BIRTH 13 Feb 1862 Hill County, Texas, USA
DEATH 26 Jul 1903 (aged 41)Abbott, Hill County, Texas, USA
BURIAL Hillsboro City Cemetery Hillsboro, Hill County, Texas, USA
Back in 1963 – a throwback to the FFA and how important this organization continues to be in the lives of the students here in Hubbard and throughout the country. Where would the world be with the farmers?
Did you know – The National FFA Organization, originally called the Future Farmers of America, was founded in 1928 as a national organization for boys in rural, farming communities. Its original purpose, the education of youth in agricultural fields of study, is still recognized through its current programs. Today, the mission of the National FFA Organization is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Through educational programs the FFA teaches students how to become active in their communities and successful in their occupation. FFA membership includes junior high, high school, and college students and totals approximately 450,000. We are thankful that the Hubbard FFA program continues today.
This is an article CLIPPED FROM: The Waco News-Tribune, Waco, Texas, 01 Apr 1963, Mon • Page 11 – Kenneth Stoker of Mt Clam and Rodney Gerik of Hubbard and the champions steers.
Usually, here in Hubbard, Texas, celebrations are in full swing during Magnolia & Mistletoe. From parades, to vendors, to music, to parties, to events… this has all been curtailed this year in order to prevent the spread of this horrible thing that has been a blight during 2020. Life doesn’t stop and we wanted to remind everyone of all the fun times from Hubbard past. If you have any photos or videos to submit: hello@discoverhubbardtexas.org. Enjoy the photos of Christmas Past here in Hubbard and more to come!
We know there are tons of car enthusiasts in Hubbard, and one of the largest collections was right here in Hubbard! Berta Leon, as you know, is the doll collector. She has graciously donated many vintage dolls to the Hubbard Museum (a must see). But did you also know that her husband, J. S. Leon, who is now deceased, was a big collector of vintage automobiles and housed many here in Hubbard? This is a wonderful article about Mr. Leon and his collection from the Corsicana newspaper. Berta Leon was also a former Mayor of Hubbard! – Corsicana Daily Sun – Corsicana, Texas 07 Dec 1975, Sun • Page 17
Thanks to Casie Freeman we have an idea of the extent of the car collection of Berta Hackney Leon and her husband. In March of 2019, the cars went on auction by Sotheby’s. What an amazing collection and my question is which one would you have if you could buy any of them? Mine would be the Silver Phantom – what about you? (Of course I love them all!) Link to the catalogue and photos of the collection. http://media.rmsothebys.com/digitalc…/2019/am19/index.html
Love Field – Most of us have taken a commercial flight from there and never thought about its’ history at all. Did you know that Love Field was commissioned on October 19, 1917 as a training base for the U.S. Army Air Service during World War I and that the airport is named for Army Lieutenant Moss Lee Love, who perished during flight training? It wasn’t used for commercial flights until the 1930’s. These pilots used no special safety equipment and performed daring stunts in these fragile machines that had only just been invented. I don’t know how many of these men lived or died in WWI, but they were most certainly brave! In 1918, they gave a show, and wouldn’t you give almost anything to be there? (Photos – DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University)
