Rattlesnake bite off old cattle trail

In the early 1840's "there were no roads in western Ellis County, just a cow trail leading from Greathouse Branch northeast to Waxahachie by way of Buena Vista." -Texas National Laboratories Research Commission. Historic American Buildings Survey. "Later this cattle trail was a part of the trail connecting what once was the Shawnee Trail to the Chisholm Trail."

Recently off FM 1446(Buena Vista), the old cattle road in Waxahachie, Vannessa Dial was bitten by a small rattlesnake on August 2nd according to Dr. Paul Wax of Phoenix. Dr. Wax, the nation’s top toxicologists, determined the bite was from a rattlesnake after reviewing Mrs Dial's blood work and toxicology report. Luckily Dr. Wax happened to be at Parkland for a toxicology conference.

This story has grabbed the attention of an A&M professor, Ray C. Telfair II, Ph.D., who is from Ennis. He is requesting that anyone who has encountered a rattlesnake in Ellis County to contact him. Dr. Telfair refers to the rattlesnakes in Ellis county as the canebrake and mainly found in the Maypearl-Italy area. Any info please post here and pass on to Professor Telfair by calling him at 903-839-4602.

update this rattler accidentally mowed in Midlothian, tx in the housing editions behind Loves

Old water pump on Red Oak Creek

Near Rutherford Crossing I found what appears to be an old water pump. One of the cone shape objects is tipped over and you can see down into a hole. The cone shaped structures are circular stacked bricks with cement over them. The bricks say "Palmer" on them. On the standing cone shaped structure there is an old motor. The area around the structures are wooded but does appear to have been cleared at one time. Maybe a structure was there. My only doubt to a structure is it would be in a flood plain. Their is a tributary east of the structures that pours into Red Oak Creek.
This is the area where Hans Smith came from Arkansas with his family. They had camped on Red Oak Creek as they came to the area to claim their Peters Colony land. After hunting in the area and topping a hill and observing the black prairie land, Hans Smith told his wife they had found their new home.

Outside Bathroom Ellis County Courthouse

Picture Courtesy of Ellis County Museum.

Looking center left bottom in this picture there is the old outside bathrooms which included showers. This picture I believe is looking North West down main street. Picture probably shot from the top of the Rogers Hotel and was taken circa 1919. It is said these bathrooms were put in for folks that traveled from around the county so the stinky travelers could take a shower and clean up for court. Remember at this time no ac in cars and as you can see on main street they still rode horse drawn wagons into town.

close up of bathroom

Thanks to Shanon Simpson for the info

Racial Inequality Historical Evidence at Ellis County Courthouse