The Cottonwood community lay along Cottonwood Creek, Guadalupe County, across the San Marcos River from Fentress, Texas. The photograph above was taken at the Cottonwood School Reunion in–I believe–the 1930s. The people I know are identified in the caption. Some of the other surnames represented are probably Gregg, Rector, Daniels, Ward, and Fleming. I would be grateful for help in identifying individuals I don’t recognize. (The faces here aren’t exactly clear, but more of these pictures are out there in albums and attics, so if you find one with IDs, share the info, please?)
The picture was taken in front of the skating rink at the Fentress Resort. The skating rink now resides on Hwy 183 just south of Lockhart. It looks a lot smaller now than it did when it was in its proper home on the bank of the river.
I believe my grandfather, Frank Waller, is wearing a necktie. That didn’t happen often, at least when I was around.
In the caption, I note that Maurice Waller is partially hidden. I knew he was in the photo but had difficulty finding him until I realized he had to be beside Aunt Bettie. He was always beside Aunt Bettie. And partially hidden would have suited him just fine.
Kathy Waller 
a 1930s picture : I can not even notice clearly which person wearing “polka dots”,…
Have a nice detective operation then,.. good luck!
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You’re right–the polka dot dress looks like all the other dresses. Sigh. The original photo is excellent, and I was hoping the scan would look a lot better than this. I used to know who many of those people were–I wish I’d taken notes when my elders first showed me the photo.
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love it
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thanks
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Just love the picture, Kathy: especially the hats 🙂
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Yes, hats were a requirement for ladies in the ’30s. I imagine most of the men had their fedoras stashed somewhere on the premises. I think this was before “cowboy hats” became mainstream fashion.
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Oh, love this. Everyone looks so genteel.
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Genteel is the word, my grandfather excepted, of course. Other family members were, but I think he resisted.
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My father was born in Fentress in 1920 , as was his older brother and younger sister. His family lived on an old farm just past the old bridge. There was a road which wound around to the old farmhouse. We made many trips back to Fentress to visit my grandfather and grandmother. The skating rink was still there during that time. The old farmhouse was finally torn down last summer. Dr. Lucketts 2 story house is now for sale for $75,000. It is in bad shape and would need complete renovation. The rest of the old resort was before my memeory but over the last few years I have gone camping and fishing along the river at the newer campground. I remember the names of Waller, Dick ward who owned or ran the pharmacy, a great aunt last name Harris and the Williamsons my grandmothers maiden name. My grandparents are buried in the Fentress cemetery with My Aunt Blanche, some other Flemings as well. Always wondered where the old skating rink was moved
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I am absolutely thrilled to hear from you! My father was born in Fentress in 1915, not far from where your grandparents lived, I think. Were they Miss Katie Maude and Mr. Herbert? Miss Blanche Harris was almost a grandmother to me–she stayed with my family to help my mother for a while after I was born. She lived across the street from my great-aunt and they spent a lot of afternoons sitting on the front porch talking and playing dominoes. Do you live near Fentress now?
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Yes. Katie Maude and Herbert were their names. Blanche was my fathers aunt and my great aunt. My father lived there until he joined the Army before the war started in 1941. He got married at the wars end and we eventually ended up in Pasadena Texas where i grew up. I still live here. I was born in 1951 and my Dad liked to go back to Fentress often. Our relatives met us up there on occassion. My Dad was Clarence Fleming.
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This is awesome!! Thanks to my cousin Warren i am reading my history. My mother was Katie Marie Fleming, sister to Clarence & Herbert Fleming. While my dad Arvel Land was in the Air Force we often lived in Fentress on 2 different occasions. Once we lived upstairs in the big white stucco house next to the skating rink. My sister and I attended Prairie Lea School. My best friend was Cullen Myers Dauchy. We stayed at the old farm house many times. Saturday nights were a must at the old skating rink where Rex Tacker managed it. His wife Nell had a beauty parlor next to their home. Let me drops some names we grew up with (kids) Wallers, Luckett, Dick Ward (Mr. Dick) is what we called him, O’bannions, My Aunt Polly lived in the little stone house on the corner. Mr Franks garage, Bub Dauchy, there are so many more, I just can’t think of the names right now. I’ll have to ask mom, she’s still alive and is 88 years old but she remembers her hometown very well. Dr. Luckett gave birth to my mother and he also gave me a tetnus shot when I was about 8 years old. My Aunt Blanche Harris, we stayed over night at her house a couple of times also. Boy, what great memories I have growing up in Fentress. We still go back at least once a year. We’ve made it back to some of the Church reunions they’ve had over the years but have missed the last few years. Talk to you later,
Herbert “Craig” Land
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I’m so glad to hear from you. My father was Bill Waller; he was born a farm very near the Fleming place. I remember your grandparents very well–Mr. Herbert used to sit on “the bench” downtown, visiting with my grandfather and others–and Miss Polly and Mr. Urey. Dr. Luckett shot me so full of penicillin when I was a child, I was a walking antibiotic. Bub Dauchy was my father’s first cousin, and we lived one block north of the Dauchys. Rex Tacker’s wife was Doris; Nell was married to Rob Waller–they had a grocery store in Fentress until about 1960. I’m so pleased to hear from you. Thank you for commenting. It’s a treat to hear from people who remember the old Fentress.
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