Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
NEWS
Rockdale book now available for public sale
The long-awaited photo history of Rockdale by Dr. Lucile Estell is now available to the
public.
“Rockdale,” with more than 200 historic photos, is priced at $21.99 and is available at
major bookstores, on-line bookstores and from the publisher,
http://www.arcadiapublishing.com, 888-313-2665.
The book will be the subject of a feature story in next week’s Reporter.
Rockdale Reporter - July 12, 2012
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History book signing ahead Sunday in Depot
Rockdale author Dr. Lucile Estell will be on hand at an appropriate place, the historic
I&GN Depot Museum, Sunday to sign copies of her new photo-filled book on Rockdle
history.
Hours are 2 to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served and plenty of visiting time with Dr.
Estell is promised.
“Images of America: Rockdale” was released last week. It contains more than 200 photos,
tracing Rockdale’s history from its founding in 1873 to the present day.
Price of the book is $21.99. It will be available for purchase on Sunday and will soon
be on sale at several Rockdale locations. Proceeds from Sunday’s signing will benefit
the depot-museum. The depot, and railroading, feature prominently in Dr. Estell’s book.
A second book signing is planned for Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 12-noon at Elements at
Main, 219 North Main.
Rockdale Reporter - 2012-07-26
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St. Paul Lutheran School to begin its 123rd year
By CINDY MELCHER
Principal, St. Paul Lutheran School
Rockdale Reporter - 2012-07-26
St. Paul Lutheran School will open its 123rd year on Aug. 15. The school is operated by the St. Paul Lutheran
Church in Thorndale. The school provides a quality Christian education for students in Pre-Kindergarten 3
through eighth grade.
We are accredited at both the state and national level. Our students in third through eighth grades scored in
the top 10 percent of the nation on national standardize test. We have a mulitgrade classroom for grades
first through eighth. Seven teachers work at the school. All teachers have certification by the state of
Texas.
Our academic program includes a traditional curriculum as well as daily religious instruction. The school
also provides a band program for grades 5-8, Spanish in 7-8; a full range of competitive sports that include
state level tournaments for grades 5-8. Our graduates excel in local high schools and go on to become
productive Christian citizens.
In addition to being principal, I also teach grades 7th and 8th. I have been at St. Paul’s for 35 years and
have served as prinicpal for the past 12 years.
I would invite you to learn more about our school by visiting our website at www.stpaulthorndale.com . We
currently have an enrollment of 112, but there are a few openings in all grades except Kindergarten, PK4 and
third grade.
I invite your readers to come and see what a gift Christian education can be not only for your child but for
your family.
Rockdale Reporter - 2012-07-26
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Bailey Bank Building 100th celebration
Rockdale Reporter - August 2, 2012
A large crowd attended the 100th
celebration of the Bailey Bank Building in
Milano on Friday night at the town’s civic
center.
July 27 marked a century since the opening
of the bank. Proceeds from the fund-raiser
will help in the restoration of the
building where city offices are to be
located. The event included snacks and
musical entertainment.
Special guests were Marjorie Bailey, at
right in pink, and her daughters Mary Jane
Morgan of Waco and Lou Beth Birdwell of
Dallas. Mrs. Bailey celebrated her 93rd
birthday on July 26.
Bottom left, local singer Lynn Martin
entertains the crowd. Bottom right, a
sketch of what the renovated building will
look like when funds are raised and
construction completed.
Photos by Marie Bakken - Rockdale Reporter
Inquiry re Seelig Family received 2012-09-07 via website.
I am looking for church records (baptisms and burials) for the August & Anna Seelig
family--they lived in Cameron between the mid-1880s and 1910. I know that some of their
children were buried at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Thorndale. Is that the church
they would have attended? If not, do you know what Lutheran church Cameron residents
would have attended at that time?
Thank you for your help! I look forward to your reply!
Sincerely,
Marissa Gardner
russiangenealogy @ gmail. com
Riverton, Utah 84096
801-792-8057
2012-12-14
Looking Back: Award-winning Texas author commits suicide
December 13, 1956
Texas State Historical Association
On this day in 1956, author George Sessions Perry drowned himself. Perry was born in
1910 in Rockdale, Texas. Orphaned at twelve, he was reared by his maternal grandmother,
an autocratic and irascible woman who was the model for a major character in his prize-
winning novel, 'Hold Autumn in Your Hand', and the title figure of his later book 'My
Granny Van'. Rockdale and the surrounding area furnished the setting for nearly all of
his fiction...Read More