Kerr County Stories

Saw blades, a flood and a negligee: The story of Kerr County jailbreaks   Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on March 14, 2025 The Kerr County Courthouse shortly after construction in 1926.  The small third-story on top of the building served as the county jail until 1958 While doing my research for this week’s column, I got sidetracked. It happens often. I find something that interests me and start digging only to end up a great distance from my starting point.   What distracted me was an account of an escape from the Kerr County Jail in 1938. The ingenuity behind the jailbreak made me laugh and led me to explore the history of jail breaks between 1926 and 1960. I also came across the story about how a “Friendly Cowboy” (who didn’t seem so friendly) managed to flood the jail. In 1925, the local newspapers reported on the sad state of affairs at the Kerr County Courthouse and Jail. The county was growing. As a result, the county offices were also expanding. ...

Hacking into history: Old photo reveals connection to Woodmen of the World   Published in the Kerrville Daily Times February 28, The "mystery photo" that started my search. This week’s column will deal with the depths a history geek will dig to solve a mystery, and the tools we use to plumb the depths. Maybe it’s because I’m nosy, and being an amateur historian allows me to find a socially acceptable channel to satisfy that nosiness. Maybe I think of myself as a modern day Miss Marple. Whatever it is about me, I love a good mystery and will keep digging until I find answers to all kinds of weird questions I have involving local history. I first saw the photo accompanying this column when I was 16 years old. It was tucked neatly away in my aunt’s expanding file of old photos. Every time I visited her, I would ask to browse her photo collection. She had some real gems in that expanding file. I love a good ghost story, true crime and creepy tales, so of course, I was drawn to an...

Hill Country resident makes big splash on stage and screen Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on February 21, 2025 Stage photo from the Broadway production of  "The Warrens of Virginia," showing, from left to right Mary Pickford, Charlotte Walker and Richard Storey. If you read my column last week, you may remember that Charlissa Walker and her father, Dr. Charles Ganahl, were both mentioned. Dr. Ganahl is considered the founder of Center Point, Texas. Ganahl brought his family to Kerr County in 1858 from his plantation in Louisiana. He believed the climate of the Guadalupe Valley would either help him recover from tuberculosis or prolong his life. Upon settling near Comfort, Dr. Ganahl acquired 4,046 acres and established a ranch where he raised sheep, cattle and thoroughbred horses. On his property, he established a post office for the convenience of his neighbors and gave the area its first name, Zanzenberg, in honor of his ancestral home in the Austrian Tyrol. In 1876...

  Former slaves become respected members of Kerr community Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on February 14, 2025 Charles "Jim" Thornton Adeline Thornton A lot of individuals came to Kerr County looking for opportunity, a fresh start or to seek improved health, but what if it wasn’t your choice to come to Kerr County? What if you had no control over where you lived?   If you were suddenly free to leave, would you stay here? Prior to the Civil War, there were about 50 slaves living in Kerr County. Dr. Charles Ganahl of Center Point was the largest slave holder in the county. In May of 1861, he assessed 21 slaves, valued at $12,000. When President Abraham Lincoln ended slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation, many former slaves continued to live here and are the ancestors of some of the oldest families in the County. They include the Blanks, Hamilton, Bridges, Benson, Coleman, Fifer, Hurst, Hardy, Edmonds, Thornton, Ware and Butler families. Today, I am going to tel...