It's Halloween at LJHA! 👻

Issue 26.........October 2022

The Lake Jackson Historical Association provides education relative to the

history and culture of Lake Jackson, Texas.

Lake Jackson Historical Association continues to mix the

OLD with the NEW

From the Executive Director

If you happened to be in the museum this past Saturday, you would've seen me running around looking like the Cheshire cat. I couldn't get the smile off of my face. What a wonderful day! The museum was filled with the sounds of children learning and building with Snapology (we call these kiddos our "future Aldens"); people were in our just-reopened theater exhibit watching a vintage scary movie; two teens were competing for best pilot status on the flight simulators; a family was making a papel picado banner near the Día de los Muertos ofrenda, and a little girl was saying hello to Dr. Beutel's animatron. With more visitors wandering around our other exhibits, I couldn't help but stop and think, "This. This is what a museum is all about." It's a place for the community to gather, to learn, and to explore. A place to remember and reminisce. And a place to feel safe to explore a culture or an experience different from your own. That is the power of a museum, and it is amazing to see it in action.

Speaking of activities at the museum, we have a calendar full of outstanding fall events, starting with the return of our Murder Mystery events this weekend. Tonight, the museum is transforming into a 1920s speakeasy! Attendees will interact with each other to solve a murder. Want to join? Email programs@ljhistory.org right now for last-minute availability!

Tomorrow, bring your kiddos out to our Monster Mash party. A few tickets still remain, but don’t delay or you may miss out. We'll also be showing Nosferatu, the original vampire movie, in the theater throughout the day. Check our Facebook page for details!

And we’re all so excited to bring back Breakfast with Santa on Nov. 19th! Tickets are now on sale on our website. The holidays are here, and we couldn’t be more excited! Come celebrate the season with us. Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Hispanic Heritage Closing Reception

We sincerely thank everyone who attended the closing reception for our Hispanic Heritage Month display. Special thanks to the Brazoria County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring the reception and showing such an outpour of support for the museum. We were so excited to see new and familiar faces gather to celebrate the vibrant history and culture of Hispanic people, and recognize how our community members continue to make history.

We are grateful for everyone who visited the display since it opened in September.

Also, thank you to the Lake Jackson Library for sharing your Hispanic Heritage Month reading list with us throughout the month. Finally, thank you to our Hometown Heroes, their families and friends for sharing their stories with us.

Two of our featured Hometown Heroes spoke at the reception about their past experiences, participation in the display, and empowering words for the Hispanic community.

Left: MGySgt Teresa Arroyo, USMC, retired, Right: Gina Aguirre Adams, president and CEO of BCHCC

Spooky Season

Now that Spooky Season is here, we want to share with you one of our curator Angela's favorite memories. As a little girl, she attended A.P. Beutel Elementary and remembers Catherine M. Foster coming to their library to read stories from her book “Ghosts Along the Brazos” in 1977. The story that gave her the biggest fright was "The Lady in the Gray Taffeta Dress."

We are fortunate enough to have a signed copy of the book in our collection. If you would like your own copy of the book, it is available at the Brazoria County Historical Museum in Angleton.