About

Join me on the journey to unearth stories and history about the origin of the small coastal town. The site is a blog where you will find videos and photos specific to the column found in this publication, Discovering Seadrift. As a writer for the The Dolphin Talk, I’d like to share with the community an insight into the interviews and photos regarding Seadrift’s history and residents.

- Jasmine Gordon

Discovering Seadrift, Introduction – Oct 9, 2009

February 2010 marks four years my husband and I have lived on the coast, specifically Calhoun County. What fascinates me living on the coast is the small town of Seadrift, Texas. Recently we have been updating the Seadrift Chamber of Commerce website and I have been on a quest to unearth as much information about the origin of the small town.

Did you know the 1916 census documented 2,000 people to be residents of Seadrift? Nearly 95 years ago there were more people that called Seadrift home than dated today. The United States has grown in population nearly 3% since 1916 yet somehow Seadrift remains undiscovered.

The only town located on San Antonio Bay, it really hasn’t been discovered by many. Seadrift holds a unique atmosphere no other small town possesses. Speaking with residents which have been here 30+years and listening to the pride in their voices is especially endearing. Finding old photographs such as when the water tower was torn down brings a nostalgic feeling to heart to longtime residents. Thank you to Margaret Chatham for sharing these with me, one may find them posted on the Seadrift Chamber website.

One fact that always amazes the residents of Seadrift is that we live in Port Lavaca. Honestly, we find ourselves spending a majority of our time in Seadrift either fishing, saililing, relaxing or correlating with local organizations. The residents of Seadrift have more than welcomed us and that is hard to find in most communities, hospitality goes a long way.

Margaret Chatham, Seadrift’s City Judge, recently introduced me to a very special publication, Seadrift Memories. As I navigated through the pages of the book published in 1986, I realized Seadrift, Texas was a happenin’ little town in the 1920s. Main Street was home to numerous businesses and a sense of civic pride coursed through the town. In my mind I could see the postmaster riding to town three times a week, hear children gathering at Seadrift College and most importantly, I identified with Brenda Dworczyk’s viewpoint. The words she chose to described the quaint little town really made me feel as if I lived that time with her. Brenda is one of six committee members which coordinated all of the text, photographs, drawings and interviews which appear in the book. Thank you to all of the committee members for supplying such wonderful stories and knowledge about how the town progressed through out the 20th century.

Multiple organizations are attempting to make this town a better place to live and it is important to have your support. I believe it is time that sense of pride is revived amongst members of the community. As an acitve member of the Seadrift Chamber of Commerce, Seadrift Sail and Yacht Club and Seadrift Lions Club, I encourage Seadrifters to attend these meetings as well City Council meetings. Find out how your attendance and opinion can make a difference, I know mine has. Sign up for the Chamber E-NEWS, an electronic newsletter launched this past August, geared to keep the community informed and most of all, to keep residents involved. Visit www.SeadriftChamber.com for more information regarding Seadrift’s history, meetings and events.

Recent Seadrift News: The Halloween Bash will be held this year on Saturday, October 31st. The festivities are sponsored by the Seadrift Chamber of Commerce; should last all day and will include the annual costume contest and Halloween parade with a haunted house after the parade. Plans for an adult Softball tournament are in the works as well. With the enormous response from the 1st Annual Shrimpfest Softball this one looks to be even better. We are looking at having games for the kids going on during the tournament as well. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Cindy Alford at 361.785.3424 or Jackson Gordon at 832.859.4784.

The Friends of Seadrift Library will be having a “Junk in Your Trunk Sale” starting at 9:00am in the City Hall parking lot. Spaces are available for $20.00. This entitles you to a spot in the parking lot where you can sell anything that will fit in the back of your car or truck. The Friends will also have a slot selling goods with all proceeds going to the new Seadrift Library. For more info contact Linda Curry at 361.552.9251 or 713.305.6724. If you have any items collecting dust that you would like to donate to The Friends for sale please price it and bring it down Saturday morning. More info about the events will follow! This will be a great day of spooktacular fun for everyone!

I hope all had a great time at the Port O’Connor Centennial Celebration. The antique car parade I enjoyed the most of all. Seadrift’s Centennial Celebration is in 2012, preparation has already begun! If you wish to be apart of the event planning please contact City Hall at 361.785.2251.

I leave you with a powerful excerpt from Seadrift Memories, published nearly twenty-four years ago, the first paragraph of Seadrift Memories still rings true about the settlement once called Lower Mott.

A stranger, upon entering the city limits of Seadrift, Texas would automatically form an unpleasant first opinion of the tranquil-looking fishing town. It is not a pretty town unless you have been away for a long period of time and are returning home. The stranger may hang on to that first, surface impression unless he stays to learn that Seadrift is a little city with a lot of heart. It is a town where, over a period of years, one who lives and works there acquires a sense of pride from being a part of the community.

- Brenda Dworaczyk
Introduction to Seadrift Memories

Thank you to Joyce for allowing space for this article. Look forward to interviews with longtime residents; Margaret Chatmam, Robert Chatmam, Janie Waghorne, Brenda Dworaczyk and many more, in addition, more tales from the popular book, Seadrift Memories in future editions of The Dolphin Talk.

Till next time,
Jasmine Gordon
Email me: Jas@DeityDesign.net