Indianola, Texas -- Gone

[@baytownbert2]

Thank you. I was there earlier last year and visited the LaSalle Monument. Texas history. Let's not forget it.

[@moocha4030]

this would have happened to Galveston if they didn't build the seawall

[@OutdatedGalaxy]

Our beach house, which is across from what was Bubba's Bait Shop was one of the only houses left standing after hurricane Carla. That was before my father was even alive. My great grandfather built it with 2x4s and blots instead of screws. we were always told that contributed to it standing the storm.

[@danatcanyonlake583]

The parents of a college roommate of mine own a house in Cuero that originally stood in Indianola. It was disassembled after one of those hurricanes and moved by wagon to Cuero. All of the doors and windows had small, oval, brass plaques with numbers so the house could be reassembled.

[@gmatwotimes]

dan at canyon lake that’s amazing!! Good idea to move!

[@SuperDeut4]

dan at canyon lake Fascinating! Thanks!

[@tommartinez7194]

Most of the German, Polish and Czech immigrants did come through Indianola. Some moved on to New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Panna Maria, Praha and other towns. Some decided to stay. Most who stayed died from cholera, meningitis, yellow fever epidemics especially the 1867 outbreak which killed 62 in Indianola. The epidemic that year was widespread. Margaret Houston Sam Houston's widow herself died of yellow fever in Independence that year. The 1875 and 1886 hurricanes decimated Indianola. Other storms such as 1919 and 1961 caused massive erosion to the extent most of the ruins of Indianola are under water including the county courthouse that saved countless lives in both storms

[@gmatwotimes]

tom martinez that’s so sad.

[@gmatwotimes]

I saw a picture of a shrimp boat up on the road in port Lavaca after Carla.

[@danwaltz315]

2 hurricanes about 10 years apart destroyed indinanola Texas back in the 1870s&1880s never know what it would have been like to have more port cities like Galveston,TX to the north.

[@gpurcell]

Great report. Indianola is one of my favorite places on the Gulf Coast--well worth a wander down there if you're in the area. In fact all of Matagorda Bay is pretty interesting.

[@johnechterhoff4791]

That's where me family arrived! That how I wound up in San Antonio,

[@SuperDeut4]

John Echterhoff Mine, too!

[@tommartinez7194]

After the first hurricane in 1875 city leaders wanted to rebuild Indianola further inland by dredging Powderhorn Lake and rebuilding the town on the Northside of the lake as it has the highest ground. The city fathers were rejected by the owners of the Morgan Steamship company. The company who had given life to Indianola by establishing Indianola. as its headquarters in the 1840's sealed Indianola's fate as the city fathers were forced to rebuild on top of the ruins of the 1875 hurricane at sea level. When the 1886 storm hit it caused damage and destruction that surpassed the 1875 storm. The 1875 storm killed an estimated 500 given Indianola's population was over 6000. The 1886 storm killed between 45 to 250 depending on the source. After the 1886 storm the seat of county government moved to Port Lavaca. The old Indianola Courthouse because of years of erosion is 100 yards out in Matagorda Bay. Old Town Cemetery and the Indianola Cemetery have victims from both hurricanes. Angelina Eberly who ran a tavern in Indianola until her death in 1860 is buried in the Old Town Cemetery. When citizens of Houston attempted to move the state government from Austin back to Houston Angelina who lived in Austin at the time fired a cannon shot at the individuals attempting to remove the government archives from Austin to Houston. Her marker at Old Town Cemetery was lost in the 1875 storm and was never replaced. Her grandson Peyton is buried next to her however the exact locations of the graves in Old Town Cemetery are not known. There is however a state historical marker next to the county road that takes you to Old Town Cemetery that tells Angelina's story

[@SuperDeut4]

tom martinez Thank you! Fascinating! My greatgrandfather came to Texas from Germany, so all of this is fascinating to me! Thanks, again, Tom.

[@debraplowman8690]

Tom, you really need to add to the Wikipedia for Indianola. it does not have all of these interesting details-

[@artqua811]

My sons & I went to check it out over spring break 2011. There are some trailer homes, a hamburger joint, and people fishing. The beach and water are actually very pretty. LaSalle statue and other historical markers (blue metal plaques) tell the story, which I have found fascinating since I read about the town while visiting the Nimitz museum in Fredericksburg. There is a display in the Port Lavaca museum about it, a resident told us, but we did not have time to go see that.

[@Kulumuli]

I came from Norway and stumbled upon this place. Fascinating history. I like the area. But if I was to move there, I would build a strong concrete or brick house.

[@tr4nsg0th1ca]

a newspaper account of this town is what named the town i currently live in.

[@mattbpatterson]

that dude has a cool voice, I hope the same fate doesn't befall Galveston, they're better equipped to deal with it now though.

[@lisacurbow7773]

Where did this guy get his facts lol there are people living in Indianola not all gone. Sure the harbor isn't there anymore but its a lively fishing area and beach as well as magnolia

[@BulletholeShooter]

ive been fishing there a few time in south texas. it awesome!!

[@mattreeves1222]

2:13 - "Czech-lo-slovakia"

[@laslos3]

no one is there? I lived there for ten years and I know atleast 1000 other people that do... and Port Lavaca is like ten minutes away...

[@williamwatkins1996]

I’m so late on this video but he’s flat wrong we don’t leave when the hurricanes come we’ve always been here and we’ll always stay.

[@SuperDeut4]

William Watkins Sticks and bricks is no comparison to 19th century Indianola construction.

[@laslos3]

really? I grew up there... over on magnolia beach