Tales from the Morgue

1959: Chimp Unlocks Cages, Frees Animals at Zoo

June 22, 1959

A usually mild-mannered, chimpanzee named Oswald had Washington Park Zoo in an uproar today. The 150-pound animal created an hour of havoc, when he broke out of his cage and then swung around the mammal house, releasing birds and animals and tipping over bottles and other
containers. He was finally' captured after a chase over the zoo grounds.

Among the casualties was a bobcat, which received a mangled leg when Oswald let him into a cage
of foxes.

Bob Shipp, City director of recreation, gave this account ot Oswald's escapade:

The chimp, describe by Mr. Shipp as "not bad tempered," got out of his cage in the mamal house by breaking the lock sometime before the zoo opened at 8 a.m.

"He probably wanted to visit Amy, his girl friend in the cage next door," Mr. Shipp said. "You know - "Once in love wiith Amy."

Then Oswald proceeded to tear around the mammal house, opeing gates between cages. A bobcat got into a cage with two foxes and the foxes bit the bobcat's leg severely, Mr. Shipp said.

Out of a about 100 animals and numerous birds, one eagle escaped from its cage and flew around the mammal house, Mr. Shipp said.

Oswald also knocked over a number of feed containers and bottles in his rampage.

When Enrique DiHaro, assistant zoo keeper, opened the door of the mammal house shortly after 9 a.m., Oswald ran out, Mr. Shipp said.

Oswald then began ambling across the zoo grounds with Mr. DiHaro and four other zoo employes in pursuit. There were about 20 visitors in the zoo at the time and they were herded to one side and the gates closed to keep more people out.

"Oswald wandered around for a few minutes and then he climbed into the front seat of a parked
car owned by Mrs. Fran Past, secretary of the City Parks and Recreation Department," Mr. Shipp said.

"Then he got into another car and began to eat a burrito he found in a lunch on the seat. Wayne Walker, owner of the El Paso Reptile Gardens, got in the car with him and talked to him
while DiHaro crawled behind the wheel. The men pushed the car to the mammal house, we opened the car door and the door to the house, and Oswald went in."

Oswald was finally enticed back into his cage witlh a banana. Meanwhile, z00 workers had separated the foxes and bobcat by turning a fire hose on them.

By 9:30 a. m. the mammal house was settled back to normal again, the rubble cleaned up, and Oswald was contentedly munching a banana.

El Paso's Sunny the sea lion dies at 26

The El Paso Zoo tweeted the following today: The El Paso Zoo is mourning the loss of our beloved Sunny, the sea lion.

Times reporter Adriana Chavez reported, "One of El Paso's most popular zoo animals, Sunny the sea lion, died Sunday night following age-related medical issues that kept him sidelined for two weeks.

"El Paso Zoo officials who made the announcement Monday afternoon said Sunny, a 26-year-old California sea lion, died in a holding pool as he was being closely monitored by zoo keepers.

"About two weeks ago, officials announced Sunny would not be making any public presentations because he fell ill. He was placed in a "behind the scenes pool" that gave the zoo's medical team easier access to care for him, officials said."

"Sunny was born at the zoo on June 12, 1986, and quickly became one of the zoo's most popular attractions. In his last days, zoo keepers gave him extra attention, said zoo area supervisor Amanda Leverett."

"Fans of Sunny are invited to drop off rememberances at the zoo's front gate or at the sea lion exhibit. Photos may also be shared on the zoo's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/elpasozoo."

Some El Paso sea lion history

El Paso's first sea lions arrived at Washington Park Zoo June 22, 1956

1956: Sea Lions Shun First Meal in New Home

In May 1958 Park Superintendent Bryce Lammert launched "Operation Sea Lion."

Lammert organized a a group of park workers and charter a boat into the Gulf of California to hunt for sea lions.

Lammert was quoted, "Sea lions are quite expensive when you buy them. We hope to save money by catching eight or 10 baby sea lions for the Washington Park Zoo. Then El Pasoans can watch them grow."

Unfortunately they planned their trip about a month late and Lammert dislocated his shoulder but the group managed to bring two seals back to El Paso.

1958: Two Seals From Pacific Transported to El Paso Zoo

Photo: 05/20/1958  - Zoo employe Rudy Romero gently feeds a handful of fish bits soaked in cod-liver oil to the Washington Park Zoo's baby sea lion, captured Saturday in the Gulf of California. Employes also fed the youngster with a baby bottle.

Reported May 21, 1958

The two sea lions brought back from the Gulf of California Sunday are reported adjusting to the seal
pond at Washington Park Zoo. The larger of the two has been placed in the pond with the sea lion already at the zoo and Bryce Lammert, Parks Superintendent, says they're becoming fast friends.

Less than a week later on May 27th, "Jorge, baby sea lion at Washington Park zoo, has died.

"The animal, in good health until Friday, lost two ounces on that day and died Saturday. He had
been fed with a bottle."

On June 17, 1959 another sea lion expedition was planned.

1959: El Pasoans Plan Sea Lion Hunt

The four men on the trip where stranded for 18 hours when the batteries went out on their motorboat.

1959: 3 E. P. Sea Lion Hunters Stranded For 18 Hours When Motorboat Fails

The group returned with one baby sea lion. This prompted one taxpayer to ask why th eCity would spend $241 on the expedition when a sea lion could be purchased for $125.

Mr. Lammert replied "That's right. But we had hoped to bring back six adult sea lions, which
would have made them cheaper. It's like going fishing; sometimes you don't catch anything."

However the publicity over the trip prompted the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque to offer a two-year-old sea lion to the Washington Park Zoo as a gift.

As it stood then the zoo had two adult sea lions - George and Georgette - and tthe new baby brought back by the expedition. The Albuqueruqe sea lion would make four.

Three weeks later Lammert announced he baby sea lion had died at the zoo. He said the sea lion had been in poor health since arriving at the zoo and speculated that it may have had pneumonia.

December 28, 1960:

Park and Recreation Director Bryce Lammert said two new sea lions will be ordered to replace
the two that have died at the Washington Park Zoo.

Georgette, the female sea lion, died Sunday. The male died several weeks ago. Thy were a major
attraction at the zoo.

The sea lions suffered from respiratory trouble of some kind, Mr. Lammert said.

In 1962 Sugar and Spice were added to the zoo pool.

1962: Sugar and Spice Look Very Nice In Park Pool

On February 20, 1964 it was announced that Cindy the sea lion was added to the pool to keep Spicy compnay since Sugar had died seven months earlier.

By February 1971 it was Susie and neewly arrived Connie, "Lonely days are all over for Susie, the El Paso Zoological Garden's sea lion. Thanks to kind hearted El Pasoans, she now has a playmate, Connie, a new arrival at the zoo.

"Problems started for Susie when the Zoo's other sea lion died recently of Nephitis and old age.

"Deprived of her friend, Susie began refusing food and moping."

Sunny's dad , Sam, was a twenty-year resident of the El Paso Zoo before he died in 1997. Sunny was born at the zoo in 1986.

1955: Manuel Gonzalez Has Tended City Parks Since Grass Mower Was Pulled by Maggie the Mule

10/19/1955

For 39 years Manuel Gonzalez has seen El Paso's parks grow.

He is general foreman of the City Park Department and remembers when workers cut park grass with a mower drawn by Maggie the mule. That was back in 1919 when Mr. Gonzalez joined the department as a laborer.

In those days, the department was responsible for the care of trees along some 60 blocks of streets, including Nevada, Rio Grande, Grant, Magoffin and streets in Richmond Terrace and Austin Terrace.

Mr. Gonzalez and about five other men were assigned to the care of about 500 street trees in Austin Terrace. In 1925, Park Superintendent Hugo Mayer put Mr. Gonzalez in the general program of tending park trees and shrubs. He began to learn more and more about how plants grow.

Bossed Up a Crew

There developed between Mr. Gonzalez and Mr. Meyer a friendship which lasted during the many years of working together until his death in 1952.

"He did a lot for me," Mr. Gonzalez said. In 1928, Mr. Gonzalez was made assistant foreman of the department. He remained in this job until 1947 when he became general foreman.

He was placed in charge of a Works Progress Administration crew of more than 80 men who in eight months in 1932 built the rock bridges and retaining walls at Hillside Gardens in Memorial Park. Memorial Park was a grassless six acres in 1919 when the park was begun under the guiding hand of Real Estate Developer James L. Marr, Mr. Gonzalez said. In 1923, Park Superintendent Meyer began expanding the park. It now includes more than 40 acres.

Remembers First Tree

Mr. Gonzalez remembers the first Christmas tree placed by the City. It was 18 feet tall as compared to a tree picked for this year's San Jacinto Plaza decorations to stand 94 feet. A crew of eight men brought the first tree from Cloudcroft. It was placed in the park at City Hall and Mr. Gonzalez climbed a ladder to attach the star.

Many El Pasoans do not know that at one time there were two lakes, one on either side of what is now Paisano drive. People came to fish and take boats on the lakes and the WPA maintained fish hatcheries along the shoreline of one of the lakes.'

Mr. Gonzalez said that in 1928 the lake in Washington Park was filled to form the present sunken gardens. In the late 1930s, dredging operations in the second lake scooped down to quicksand and the lake drained away, he said.

Recalls Ranch Days

When Mr. Gonzalez joined the department in 1919, the equipment included the mule-drawn mower, two mule-drawn dump wagons, a mule buggy, chain-driven Liberty truck and a Model T Ford truck. Today the department has 24 cars, trucks and tractors, nine power mowers and two sets of tractor-drawn mowers.

Mr. Gonzalez at 61 still remembers vividly his childhood in Ft. Davis where he was born and where he returns each year to see old friends. He visited his grandfather's ranch often as a child and was a chuck wagon cook on other ranches in his youth. He still fixes his own breakfast after arising at 4:30 each weekday morning.

Soon after he arrived in El Paso in 1917, Mr. Gonzalez began working as a mule driver for the El Paso Southwestern Railroad, a line later absorbed by the Southern Pacific. Mr. Gonzalez’ teams hauled earth for railroad embankments in New Mexico.

Today, Mr. Gonzalez is in charge of 70 men in the Park Department. Crews working under him perform a variety of jobs. They must take care of flowers, shrubs, grass and trees, maintain the Washington Park zoo, decorate for events such as the Sun Carnival and assist in such projects as the Fourth of July park celebrations.

Park Superintendent Bryc Lammert has a deep respect for his general foreman. "He's tops." Mr. Lammert said. "I always know I can count on him to get the job done."

Mr. Gonzalez works along with his men on the jobs and gives the crews much credit.

"It's like a general," he said. "He can't do much without good soldiers. I've always done the best I can, not only for Mr. Meyer and then Mr. Lammert, but for all the people of El Paso.

1961: DAR Members Revive Traditional Thanksgiving Recipes

11/23/1961

Food Formulas of Forefathers Handed Down Through Generations

 

Members of the Rebecca Stoddert Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution are commemorating Thanksgiving Day by sharing their valuable recipes used for many generations for family Thanksgiving feasts.

The recipes furnished by members of this group of ladies have been handed down for many generations. Some of them have been brought up to date since the first use not too long after the first Thanksgiving celebrated in 1621.

Although customs and eating habits have changed since the days of the Pilgrims, the custom of Thanksgiving feasting still goes on with the same traditional foods being served as were served to those brave pioneers.

History has it that wild turkey was first on the bill of fare at that first feast. Cranberries, the wild variety, were also served, as was Indian pudding, from which our traditional plum pudding is derived.

And so, in reviving these heirloom recipes. DAR members have traced the recipes to their beginnings back in pioneer days. Slight changes over the years have brought the recipes up to date.

MRS. KAY WARD, regent of Rebecca Stoddert chapter, has delved into her collection of fine old recipes and furnished one for Apple Strudel handed down from her mother and grandmother. It calls for 5 cups of peeled and sliced apples, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons lard, 2 eggs beaten lightly, ½ cup warm water, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup raisins, ½ cup chopped nuts, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, grated rind of one lemon. Sift flour and salt together. Mix well with lard. Add eggs and water. Knead well. Throw or beat the dough against the board until it blisters. Place it in a warm place under a cloth for a while. Pull dough out with hands carefully until thin. Spread with mixture made of apples, butter, raisins, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon rind. Fold in outer edges. Roll out about 4 inches. Bake (450 degrees for 10 minutes, 400 degrees for 20 minutes). Cool and cut into slices.

The recipe was used, in Mrs Ward's family for generations and brought to this country from Holland and Germany. The first ancestors to come to this country were the Mathias Koplin family in 1685, and Paulus Custer in 1685 from Crefeld, Germany. Mrs Ward's father and mother were the Ballentine Hunsicker family of Pennsylvania. In those days it was the custom to have regular baking days.

Other members of the chapter have delved into their recipe files for recipes, each of which is a least 100 years old.

SWEET POTATO BISCUITS is the recipe furnished by Mrs. W. J. Moran. It has been in in the family since 1702 and was served daily by her mother, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Haughton Burke, who with her family lived in North Carolina. Mrs. Buke moved to El Paso with Mrs. Moran in 1915.

The recipe reads:

Mix thoroughly 1 pint boiled and mashed sweet potatoes, tablespoon each of melted lard and butter. Add 1 pint sour milk into which 1 teaspoon soda has been stirred. Add enough flour to make a soft dough and make into small biscuits. Let stand 24 hours then bake in a hot oven.

BOILED CUSTARD, the recipe which is 150 years old, was furnished by Miss Annie and Miss Floride Harris. Their mother Mrs. Mary Reese Harris, used the recipe, handed down by her mother, Mrs. Caroline Wardlaw Reese, It has been the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas day dessert for generations of Harrises. The Harris sisters still use the recipe for ice cream. It states:

Mix 1 quart sweet milk, 4 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1 heaping tablespoon cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1 pint whipping cream, a sprinkle of salt and nutmeg. Mix thoroughly and cook over low heat until thick. Chill and serve plain or garnished with fruit

ONE - TWO - THREE – FOUR CAKE recipe belongs to Mrs. R R. Deason. It calls for 1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar. 3 cups of flour and 4 eggs, separated; 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/4 cups sweet milk. Cream butter and sugar, add egg yolks, salt and vanilla. Sift together flour and baking powder alternately with milk to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold lightly into cake mixture. Bake at 350 degrees in greased and floured pan for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

This recipe comes from the files of Mrs. Reason's mother, Mrs. George M. Dunne, who received it from her mother, Mrs. George F. Parker of Kississimove, Fla.

SWEET POTATO PONE, a recipe belonging to Mrs. S. J. Caddy, calls for 4 cups grated, raw sweet potatoes 2 eggs, 1 ½ cups sugar, 2 tablespoons nutmeg, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 cups sweet milk. Add the beaten eggs to milk, sugar and softened butter and grated potatoes. Mix well and add spices with 1 tablespoon salt, flour and milk. Bake in shallow pan in moderate oven for 45 minutes.

This recipe was given to Mrs Gaddy by her mother, Mrs. Corrie Capo Kees, of Pennsylvania, who has. been a frequent El Paso visitor,

MRS. FRANK P. SCHUSTER has furnished a recipe handed down by her great aunt for Old Fashioned Ragout Pickles. It calls for 2 gallons of cut cabbage, 1 gallon of green or ripe tomatoes, 4 tablespoons mustard, 3 gills white mustard seed, 2 tablespoons allspice, 2 teaspoons cloves, 1 pint onions, 1 1/2 lbs. brown sugar, 1/4 pint salt and 3 quarts of vinegar. Boil mixture well but do not use brass or copper kettle.

FRENCH COOKIES is the recipe furnished by Mrs. J. W. Hopkins, from the files of her father's family. These were a regular holiday cooky, used in their home in Alsace-Lorraine. The recipe calls for 6 eggs, 1 lb. fine flour, 1 lb. sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 lb. almonds, 1 tablespoon mixed candied fruit, 2 teaspoons cinnamon. The sugar and egg must be beaten until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, flour, fruit and almonds, The almonds must be roasted in sugar and ground. Lightly mix all ingredients. Drop by teaspoon on a cold baking sheet In the evening. Keep cold overnight. Bake in a slow oven.

To toast almonds, put a tablespoon of sugar in a cold fry pan with almonds on top.

A RECIPE FOR GINGER BREAD from Scotland, dated 1794 belongs to Mrs. L. L. Robinson. It was handed down from her grandparents and was originally from Lanark, Scotland.

The recipe reads, 1 cup heavy molasses, 3/4 cup of brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup sour or sweet milk, 1 teaspoon soda and 2 1/2 cups flour mixed well and baked in a moderate oven.

MRS. CHARLES GRANT has furnished a recipe for beaten biscuits which was handed down from her husband's mother and was used for generations as the main biscuit recipe. It simply states to mix 1 ¼ lbs. flour, ¼ lb. lard, 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of soda with water and beat until blisters appear. Roll out, cut and bake in a hot oven.

VINEGAR PEACHES is the old fashioned recipe furnished by Mrs. H. C. Dyer and her daughter, Mrs. Henry McDonnell Jr. The famous recipe handed down through many generations of Mrs. Dyer's family reads: Peel large peaches Place in a stone jar , allowing 1 Ib. fruit for 1 Ib. sugar and 1 qt. vinegar. Boil vinegar and sugar with a little bag of cinnamon and cloves. When boiling hot pour over peaches in jars.

MRS. NANCY Jordan Garrett, one of the DAR members, is the owner of an old English cookbook, one of the earliest on record. It was printed in 1767. The title of the heirloom, leather bound book is "The Art of Cookery." It was printed in London and since it was not ladylike in those days for a woman to do such things as writing a book, the author is not listed. The fly leaf simply states, "Written by a Lady." On another fly leaf faded handwriting is the name 'Elizabeth Garrett, Her 'Book, 12 January, 1789," The writer is believed to be an ancestor of Mrs. Garrett's.

The book is written in old English fashion and home remedies includes such as Hysterical water, which was to relieve hysteria. . . a hair preserver which lists in the ingredients wine, rosemary flowers, honey and almond oil. It also includes "A certain cure for the bite of a mad dog," which includes an involved procedure of treatment.

Mrs. Garrett has contributed her ancestral recipe for Pound Cake, which has been traced back as far as 1792. It reads 1 cup butter, 1 2/3 cups sugar, 5 eggs, 2 cups sifted flour, 1/2 teaspoon flavoring, 1/2 teaspoon brandy or rum. Cream the butter and gradually add sugar. Beat until light. Add eggs, one at a time. Continue beating until sugar dissolves. Fold in flour. Add flavoring and pour into greased and floured pan. Bake about 1 hour at 325 degrees. Eggs should have been at room temperature.

WHEN THE PILGRIMS celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621, their menu would have put most of our modern Thanksgiving dinners to shame. In addition to the traditional turkey, the list of entries for that first celebration included ducks, lobsters; eels, clams, oysters and several varieties of fish.

Accompanying the main courses were corn, gooseberries, strawberries, cherries, grapes, plums, cranberries and biscuits made from flour carried in the Mayflower’s stores.

For dessert, the Pilgrims had Indian pudding made from flour, molasses and cranberries, using a recipe given them by the friendly Indian, Squanto. They may also have had fruit pies and tarts.

All this was washed down with new wine made from the local grape crop, with perhaps a few strong-spirits from the ship's stores.

Contrary to common belief, the first Thanksgiving celebration was not one meal, but a three-day series of meals eaten by 140 persons, including 90 Indians who were guests of the Pilgrims. After the long, hard first winter and the struggle to raise the first crops, we may imagine the Pilgrims adopted the Indian custom of eating heartily as long as the food lasted.

While it is difficult to estimate accurately the number of calories consumed in the three-day Pilgrim Thanksgiving feast, it is safe to assume from the variety of foods that the celebrants far exceeded what is now regarded as a proper daily intake.

As today’s Americans emulate their Pilgrim forefathers in celebrating Thanksgiving, they may not enjoy the extreme variety of foods featured in 1621. But many will exceed the recommended caloric intake by a great

Must Pay Poll Tax or Work 3 Days on Roads

April 11, 1911

New Road Law Goes Into Effect In June

Pay Poll Tax Or Work It Out

Judges of Election for Culberson County Named and Polling Places Are Established

In June those patriotic citizens of El Paso County whose names cannot be found among those who have paid their poll tax for 1911, will have to give the country three days labor on the county roads, and the county commissioners say they will appoint a road overseer who will not overlook a single poll tax dodger, and who will get three good days work out of every one of them.

When the county commissioner’s court convened yesterday morning Judge Eylar stated that the special road law for El Paso County would go into effect in June and that under its operation every man who fails to pay his poll tax must work three days in every year on the public roads of the county.

The following report from the county judge was made an order: I herewith report to the commissioners’ court that I have made the following appointment of judges and voting places for the Culberson County special election of April 18, 1911.

Precinct No. 1. Voting place, Mexican school house at Van Horn; J.R. Whitten, presiding judge; T.B. Floyd, associate judge.

Precinct, No. 2. Voting place, store at Plateau. D.C. Armstrong, presiding judge; H.R. Richburg, associate judge.

Precinct, No. 3. Voting place, old Van Horn school house, T.C. Turk, presiding judge W.P. Ceaslin, associate judge.

Precinct, No. 4. Voting place, section house at Plateau. H.C. McCarty, presiding judge; J.L. Mills, associate judge.

Precinct, No. 5. Voting place, Figure 2 ranch. C.B. Hamilton, presiding judge; Bill Dougherty, associate judge.

Precinct. No. 6. Voting place, Sayles’ ranch. E.W. E. Nelbhur, presiding judge; Frank Filbrick, associate judge.

Precinct No. 7. Voting place, Kent school house, T.A. Miller, presiding judge; Jim Hutchinson, associate judge.

Mrs. Mary Manering was placed on the pauper pension list for $5 per month. The question as to whether or not the county could utilize certain sinking funds to assist the road improvement fund was referred to County Judge Eylar and the County Treasurer.

It was explained that at present the county is getting only 2 per cent for this money and has to pay 6 per cent on road warrants and that the 2 per cent could be paid in on the fund used. An appropriation of $35 was made for the Vineyard track road.

Judge Eylar said that L.G. de Lara and his Socialist followers wanted to hold a meeting on the courthouse lawn and the sheriff would permit it provided they kept off the grass. Fighting Diaz at long distance, with the mouth, the judge said, did not hurt the Mexican government, but it killed the grass on the lawn.

“I understand,” said Judge Eylar “that the meeting is for the ostensible purpose of creating sympathy for the Mexican insurrectos, but the best way for these agitators to help the Mexican revolution is to take a gun and get on the firing line.” Judge Eylar announced that the governor had appointed judges for the new court of appeals and that the bill provided that the citizens of El Paso should supply a library for the court. He supposed that meant to raise funds for the library by subscription. However, the county would have to furnish a court room which could be done by cutting the 41st court room in two and making two rooms of it.

The sheriff’s bill for feeding prisoners in March amounted to $1030. The judge said this was the largest board bill the county had been called on to pay. He said the law no allowed the sheriff 40 cents per day for feeding each prisoner. Dr. White was requested to prescribe the standard of milk to be used at the county hospital, so that the auditor could ask for bids to supply the milk.

The pest house at San Elizario was ordered closed next Saturday, as the last smallpox patient would be discharged Friday. Juan Rodriguez put into claim for $232.50 damages alleged to have been sustained by C.F. White burning his house, furniture and clothing. Discussion disclosed the fact that there had been two cases of smallpox in the house, but that it had been thoroughly fumigated by Dr. Mitchell. The members of the court were of the opinion that Mr. White should pay the damages.

Interest amounting to $1188 was ordered paid on the Caples road warrants. Judge Eylar called Dr. Hugh White’s attention to the fact that $1100 had been appropriated to handle the smallpox situation in the valley and that It had up to date cost the county $2600. The judge said this expense should be cut off at once, as there is now no smallpox in the valley.

County Auditor Escajeda submitted a report on expenditures during March.

1954: TWC Engineering Students Cling To Old College Of Mines Name

07/25/1954

The cold war continues over the change of the name of Texas College of Mines to Texas western College. Now and then, the cold war becomes hot.

A line of demarkation recently has been drawn on the campus of TWC, admittedly by mining students. Drawn on the only road that leads to the engineering buildings on the campus, the letters TCM appear on the side of the engineers and TWC on the academic side of the campus.

Early in 1949 when the name change first came in for heated discussion, mining students at the college immediately protested, and on March 15, 1949, representatives of the college of Mines Scientific Club appeared at a downtown meeting to protest a change for the college. The Scientific Club carried placards with the inscriptions, "T is for Texas, C is for College and M is for Mines and Metallurgy."

CHANGE APPROVED

On April 29, the University of Texas Board of Regents approved changing the name to Texas Western College of the University of Texas. Beauford Jester, then governor, signed the bill on May 20 and May 31, 1949, was the last day the school operated under the name given the institution when it was primarily a mining and engineering college.

Five years later, the "peasants," (engineering students) are still battling the "pee-doggies," (academic students), and each have their own traditions.

Carrol Stayton, president of APO Engineering Fraternity on the campus, said the group takes the stand that "the name change was regrettable, but is just one of those things."

MANY TRADITIONS

"Of course," he added, "there are many traditions, but our stationery does carry TWC, and we are taking the change in our stride, although there is occasionally some feeling about it."

Coy Harrison, who is one of the engineering students' representatives on the Student Council said:

"I do not think it should have been change. A degree carrying Texas College of Mines wold have more bearing than one just carrying Texas Western College. The TCM would imply that you were from a mining school. In addition, there is the tradition."

Eugen Thomas, dean of engineering, said he did not know who had painted the "line of demarkation."

"I went home one night. When I returned the next day, there it was," he smiles.