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DAY TRIP: Eastland offers more than a pool
07/13/2009 - By Barton Cromeens, Abilene Reporter News
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Of our three recommended Big Country day trips for parents and grandparents to enjoy with the children in their lives, this one probably offers the most in terms of several attractions and talking points in one concentrated area — the city limits of Eastland.
At 60 miles (one way) from Abilene, it’s a straight shot east on Interstate 20. We recommend you see the non-water-related attractions, hit the pool for its 3:15 session (explained below), have the children change clothes, grab a quick bite to eat and then see a movie at the Majestic Theatre — “Ice Age” is playing as we write this.
Between a long day of activity, the chlorine, food and movie, the children will most likely sleep on the way home and you don’t have to worry about the drive home.
Old Rip
Eastland County Courthouse
100 W. Main, Eastland
24 hours a day in his casket
Features/Description
In 1897, a horned lizard (aka horny toad) was placed in the cornerstone of Eastland County’s third courthouse. When the building was demolished in February 1928 to make way for a new courthouse, a crowd of 3,000 showed up to witness the opening of its time capsule. According to published accounts, the horned lizard (now known as Old Rip) was alive when the marble box was opened — 31 years after interment.
Old Rip (named after Rip Van Winkle) became an instant celebrity, touring the nation and stopping to meet the president of the United States.
Unfortunately, Old Rip succumbed to pneumonia in January 1929. He was embalmed and placed in a red velvet-lined box in the courthouse lobby for all to see.
Murals at the Eastland Post Office
411 W. Main
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Stamp Mural
Former postmistress Marene Johnson-Johnson, with some help from local stamp collecting buffs, created a 6-foot by 10-foot mural. Constructed over seven years, it features 11,217 stamps pressed between two panes of glass to preserve their pattern.
The center image of Benjamin Franklin is surrounded by portraits of Martha Washington and Abraham Lincoln, a depiction of the United Nations emblem, a map of Texas and motifs of progress in American communication and industry, military forces and education.
Creating the mural cost approximately $15,000 (estimated in the 1960s). By 1988, its projected worth was estimated at $5 million.
‘Buffalo Hunt’ Mural
A mural depicting Native Americans hunting and killing buffalo graces one wall of the Eastland Post Office. The Department of Fine Arts of the U.S. Treasury Department commissioned San Francisco artist Suzanne Scheuer to design and paint the mural. Scheuer painted the scene on canvas and brought it to Eastland in 1938 for installment.
Keep your eyes peeled. In the lower right hand corner, Old Rip makes an appearance.
Eastland Outdoor Art Museum
Various locations around town
Maps available at 209 W. Main
254-629-2332
The Eastland Outdoor Art Museum offers a great way to teach children art appreciation and how young people can make a difference in a community with a project.
Painted on or near buildings throughout town are 42 depictions/tributes to masterpieces of art — all painted by local school children and volunteers. With each tribute is a description that outlines details of the famous work and the original artist who created it.
From the Warhol-esque Campbell’s Soup Can that greets folks as they exit Interstate 20 to masterpieces by Da Vinci, Norman Rockwell, Frida Kahlo, Dr. Seuss, Whistler, Cassat, Degas and a host of others — there is a world of fun and learning to be had while driving Eastland’s streets.
If you would like to look at the selected works beforehand and prepare conversation points, they may be found at http://www.e-cinc.com/eoam/main.html
Eastland County Jail
210 W. White St.
254-629-1774
Tours available upon request.
Marker recounting the Santa Claus Bank Robbery and public lynching nearby.
The old Eastland County Jail, built in 1897, contains an assortment of memorabilia from Eastland County law enforcement history but is most known for housing Marshall Ratliff, the Santa Claus bank robber, in 1927.
After robbing the First National Bank in Cisco dressed as Santa on Dec. 23, 1927, and later being apprehended and transported to the Eastland County Jail, Marshall killed a jailer, enraging 2,000 townspeople. Eastland residents took matters into their own hands and conducted the last public lynching in the state of Texas on a nearby corner (memorialized with a stone marker outside the jail).
The museum displays the actual rope used to hang the robber.
Six Flags Memorial
Intersection of Commerce St. and W. Main
Six flags — not just a park. Can you name the six flags that have flown over Texas? How about your children or grandchildren?
Plaques carved from marble taken from the historic downtown Connellee Hotel commemorate significant people and events in Texas and Eastland history below the six flags.
Remembered which flags have flown over Texas yet? Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States of America and United States of America.
Majestic Theatre
108 N. Lamar St.
254-629-1322
Hours: Friday through Monday — Doors open at 7 p.m.; Movies begin 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $4.50 general admission;
$6 balcony (21 and up only)
Built by one of Eastland’s founding fathers in 1920, the Majestic was originally called the Connellee Theatre. It featured films, stage shows, live radio program broadcasts, operas and beauty contests.
It has had three incarnations, closing and being remodeled in 1947 and closing again in 1986. In 1987, Eastland residents undertook its renovation and reopening. Today it features current films Friday through Monday as well as scheduling classic films, concerts, conventions, school and religious events and traveling shows.
Eastland City Pool
Hours
Thursday-Tuesday, noon-2:45 p.m., 3:15-6 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Admission
6 and under: $1/session
7 and over: $2/session
Seniors: Free
Occupancy: 150
Features
Slides: 4
Big slide: 108 feet of twisty, curvy fun
Intermediate slide: 2 straight slides (almost typical of what you would find on a playground) that empty into the water
Starter slide: straight slide in the shape of a beached/crashed rowboat into very shallow water, suitable for very young children
Height requirement for slides: none
Other water-park type features
Water mushroom: Water cascades over its top enveloping those who stand underneath it and splashing those who walk through it.
Turtle fountain: shoots water out of its mouth near the beach entry
Whale: shoots water out of its blow hole near the beach entry
Bubblers: Water shoots up from the ground at varying heights depending on the number of neighboring blow holes that are covered
Volleyball: In a 4-foot deep area for older children.
Basketball: In a 4- to 5-foot deep area for older children.
Diving boards: none
Water depth: beach entry to 5 feet
Bathrooms: yes
Shower for rinsing: yes
Lockers: no
Life guards: 14 on staff, six on duty at any time
Shaded areas: Five, 12’x12’ shade shelters
Concessions: Soft drinks, snacks, hot dogs, pickle juice, Popsicles
Life vests: Provide your own
Water diapers: required for infants. Sold for $1
Also worth knowing:
The Eastland City Pool has two sessions most days.
Between sessions, swimmers are asked to leave the area and may re-enter, but they must pay admission again.
The city tells us the reason for this policy is that last year (13,000 admissions recorded for the summer) they would reach maximum occupancy and were having to turn too many people away.
Where the previous pool drew 30-50 people a day, the new pool and its attractions draw about 300 — from a 100-mile radius.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t feel overwhelmingly crowded, and three hours of fun in the sun is probably more than the doctor recommends — even with sunscreen.
Ages of swimmers typically range from infant to pre-teens with a few younger teenagers in the mix.
The last day that the Eastland City Pool will be open is Aug. 22.
No glass containers, but outside food and drink (no alcohol) is permitted. You may bring coolers.
No denim or cutoffs.
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