Shivs and other weapons made surreptitously by inmates. 

Examples of furniture made by prison inmates. 

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, better known as "Bonnie & Clyde," were killed after Clyde helped some inmates escape from the Texas prison. That's what prompted the Texas prison superintendent to hire Frank Hammer, who tracked the notorious duo to Louisiana, where they were ambushed. This pistol was taken from the pair's car and given to prison superintendent Lee Simmons. 

David Crosby landed in prison on weapons and drug charges. He worked in mattress factory and helped out with the Wynne Unit Rodeo Band during his 5 month prison run, which he has said helped him kick cocaine and heroin. Crosby was, however, arrested in New York a few years ago after he left a suitcase behind in a hotel room that contained marijuana and a handgun. The charges were dropped.  

Bob Hayes was No. 22 on the Dallas Cowboys, but he had a much longer number in prison, where he did time for cocaine. He was once known as the world's fastest human being and caught a lot of long TD passes for the 'Pokes. 

Juanita Phillips, better known as "Candy Barr," did time for drugs. She was an associate of Jack Ruby, who ran a strip joint in Dallas called The Carousel before he killed Lee Harvey Oswald, who killed President Kennedy.  

The most famous blues musician to come out of Texas, Huddie Ledbetter literally sang his way out of prison, where he was doing 37 years for murder. Better known as "Leadbelly," he sang a song for Gov. Pat Neff in 1925 wherein he asked for a pardon. The guv complied.  

John Wesley Hardin killed between 42 and 51 people before going to prison. He got religion behind bars and joined the prison debate team, and later became a lawyer following parole. But then he backslid after being in the free world for awhile and eventually was shot in the back of the head. Bob Dylan recorded a great album called "John Wesley Hardin."  

Annie Laurie Williams killed her two sons and chopped them up back in the '50s. She was paroled but then broke parole by taking off. Recaptured in Idaho in the late '90s, she did some more time in Texas and is now free. I interviewed her in prison during her last stint. She's gray-headed and in her 70s now and pretty much blind. She insists she was innocent but I don't believe her. Before she was sent off to prison for the murders, she was baptized in a horse trough in the Harris County Jail. The baptism was arranged by the father of my wife Scooter, who was a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. He also acted as a witness to the baptism. Scooter's dad is now deceased. Too bad. We could have swapped Annie Laurie Williams stories.  

Chief Satanta did time in the system, before he was hung for the Salt Creek Massacre. 

Some pretty big stars appeared at the prison rodeo. From Chuck "The Rifleman" Connors to George Jones & Tammy Wynette to Minnie Pearl. Howdeee! 

The rodeo cowboy in stripes is a mannequin.  

A prison saw mill blade has been painted with scenes from the old Texas prison rodeo. 

East Columbia, TX

Queen Ann, Greek Revival and other architectural styles are seen in the East Columbia Historic District, located off Texas Highway 35 between Angleton and West Columbia. The homes are privately owned, but in nearby West Columbia is the Varner-Hogg Plantation, a state park that is open for tours and well worth the price of admission. 

This handsome home apparently isn't of historic significance, as there was no plaque attached to it that I saw, but it sho' 'nuff is a fine lookin' dwelling.  

The long-gone presence of the Dance Gun Shop is commemorated.  

The homes in the historic district are on the west bank of the Brazos River. 

The Aldridge-Smith Home has been for sale at least 10 years. I'm not sure when the gutter collapsed, but it's not a selling point for anybody looking to buy.  

The medallion tells the Aldridge-Smith Home story. 

The Sweeny-Waddy Log Cabin. The cat on the right side of the porch is real.  

This Texas Historical Commission medallion explains the log cabin originally was located about 9 miles away on a large plantation. Built around 1855, it housed the slave family owned by John Sweeny, that included Mark and Larkin Waddy. The Waddys continued to live in the log cabin after they were freed at the end of the Civil War. 

A side view, without the cat, which ran off. 

The Tyler-Bryan-Weems House. The original portion of the home was built around 1871. 

The M.L. Weems home was built in 1847. It's an example of Greek Revival architecture.  

This home has no known historic significance, however, the golf car in the carport says "Rat Patrol" on the front.