Volume 01 | June, 2020
The History Museum and Plantation Site are opening with a bang,
mixing the OLD with the NEW !
Association Sites Reopening in June
The Lake Jackson Historical Museum is resuming normal hours June 2. All interactive areas are closed as is the gift shop. The buildings occupancy is limited to 50 persons, and we are asking our visitors to maintain social distancing between groups. We have made several changes to our operations to better protect visitors and staff. The museum will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm for the foreseeable future.

The Jackson Plantation Historic Site is resuming normal hours June 6th. We are implementing a revised greeter station to aid with social distancing, but otherwise the site's operations will not change. The site will be open the first Saturday of each month from 10am to 6pm.
New Exhibit: Signs of the Times
Calling all Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, and even Whigs!! On July 6th, an exciting and timely exhibit featuring presidential campaign posters dating back to 1844 continuing through 2012 opens at the museum. Sponsored by BASF.

A New Banner in the Rotunda
As you enter the museum, you will now be greeted by a banner showcasing the LJHA's mission statement. Framing provided by Doug Gipson at Plantation House Picture Framing.
New Website: LJHistory.org
Soon you will be able to enter a new web portal to Lake Jackson History as the Association will be launching a new mobile friendly website this June. The new site will retain all the features you have come to expect and add a few new ones, all easily accessed from your mobile device or desktop, whichever you prefer.
New Picnic Table
When you visit the Jackson Plantation Historic Site, bring a lunch basket. Enjoy a beautiful lakeside view while you eat under the Keebler tree amidst the ruins of the 19th century sugar mill (and the ghost of Abner.) Thanks to David Landsborough for crafting the table.
First Museum on S. Parking Place
The History Museum had its beginning at this site. In 1981 Gena Weddell, mother of current BISD Athletic Director Alan Weddell, approached mayor Vic Vickers with the idea of preserving the history of Lake Jackson. After several years of planning, the museum opened in 1984. Do you recognize this first building at 122 South Parking Place and its occupant today?
Old Item........Curious Collections
This item was donated to the museum several years ago. It was found inside a local home by residents as they were doing some spring cleaning in their attic. It is a button pin and the front reads Alden B Dow Inc. - Architect, who as some may know is the man who designed Lake Jackson and named all the original streets. It also has the number 281 in the center. Has anyone seen a button like this before or know what the 281 stands for? If so please contact us.
OLDIE, but Goodie
You’re driving back to your hometown of Lake Jackson, TX…and what’s the first thing you’re craving?!?....A DAIRY BAR HAMBURGER!!!

The Dairy Bar, located at 202 Plantation Dr., has been a Lake Jackson institution since 1951, when Ernest (“Slim”) and Dorothy Lee Harnden opened their doors. They started with humble beginnings, as Slim ran the drive-up restaurant, and Dorothy tended to HR, payroll, and maintained the books.


Their desire for homemade goodness continues today, as the restaurant still grinds its own meat, breads its corn dogs, steak fingers, and onion rings, and uses the original recipe for the taco and chili meat.

And the “Dairy” part of The Dairy Bar runs a stiff competition with the main items, as homemade soft vanilla and chocolate ice cream, and 2 flavors of sherbet- rotated on a weekly basis- are prepared daily.
Slim’s belief in quality, freshness, “the customer is always right”, and treating employees fairly continues today, as they have survived COVID by maintaining employees and operating with a “drive thru” and walk up window – just the way Slim started it, some 70 years ago next year!
Lake Jackson Trivia
What is the longest street in Lake Jackson?
Check back next month for the answer!
Robert Rule
Executive Director
Angela Villarreal
Curator
Call Us at 979-297-1570