Jacksonville Once Tomato Capital of the World
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First shipment of tomatoes from Jacksonville, Texas, in 1906 to Pittsburg [sic], Pa. |
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During the "pink" deal, farmers packed their own tomatoes
in crates at the farm and brought them down to town to be loaded,
as shown in photo. The "pink" deal, according to Jack Douglas,
ended about 1906, when the "green wrap" deal began to develop. Photo from Staton family collection. |
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Since the beginning of the tomato deal, it was the custom o local
citizens to have a group picture made with the visiting produce buyers,
shippers and railroad people. One of the earlier such shots, estimated
to be around 1906, is shown, local people included being James O'Keefe,
Les Dublin, Louis Morris, J. E. McFarland, Wesley Love, C. D. Jarratt,
W. Y. Forrest, George Hogan, John Howard, Byrd Barber, John Jarratt,
Ambrose Johnson and George B. Attersall, who was the I. & G. N.
agent. Glenn Haberle Picture |
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Jacksonville's Tomato Festival, an elaborate annual celebration
which drew nation-wide attention during the hey-day of the tomato
deal, originated in 1934. First queen was Billye Sue Hackney (Mrs.
W. R. Stearns), the second queen was Violette Slaton (Mrs. Violette
Lahourcade). They are shwon here with Texas Governor James V. Allred.
In addition to her reign as Tomato Queen, Miss Slaton was Queen of
the Texas Centennial in 1936. Photo from Raymond West collection. |
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This float appeared in the initial Tomato Festival parade in 1934.
Seated at the top of float, Billye Sue Hackney, first queen, standing
above her is Violette Slaton, lady in waiting. Seated (in hats) are
Lena Gibson and Virginia Acker; seated toward center is Frances Fuller
and seated at the front are Beryl Bolton and Alice Naoma Shattuck.
The young girls seated at the top, right, is Ruth Joyce Dashiell.
Two of the youngest girls are Charlotte Ann Acker and Glynda Gay Haberle;
other children unidentified. Photo from Frances Fuller Peacock collection. |
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Ed. Van Zandt, Jacksonville newspaperman at the time, looks over
a few baskets of No. 1 "green wrap" tomatoes as they are
unloaded at the packing shed. This photo was taken during the 1941
season, just prior to World War II, and tomato shipping has declined
steadily since that time. Photo from Raymond West collection. |
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After Rotary luncheon in the late 1940s, members and guests on steps
of Liberty Hotel, along with hotel employees. Guests are produce people,
buyers, shippers and railroad representatives here for tomato season.
Some picture are, front row, l. to r., Jodie Martin, Nick Bruno, Gary
Ato, Phil Johnson; far right, Ben Benson, next to him, Mrs. Jim Twohig.
Second row, Gus Blankinship, Austin Anson, fourth man is Lyman O'Keefe,
L. C. Coates, Louis Hayman, John Benson, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Dublin.
Third row, center, C. D. Acker, behind him, Clyde Small, J. E. Brown,
Danley Newton, Letha Johnson in front of Newton; end of that row,
Mrs. Helen Hayman. Behind the rail, daughters of Selwin Merritt are
at either end as waitresses, while second from left is Juanita Moseley.
To right of Buster Kennedy is Alex Woldert and to J. E. Brown's right
is Vale Mayes. Gus Demick is next to post on right side, and others
in that area are Summers Norman (in hat), Mrs. Alex (Shirley) Seymour,
and Mr. and Mrs. Marion Seymour. Birdie Youngblood M. L. (Buck) Barry
in center of picture, to Clyde Small's right. Behind Gus Blankinship,
in flowered shirt, Benny Goldberg, and behind him Bill Knipe. All
were familiar faces in Jacksonville during tomato shipping season
each year. Jodie Martin picture. |
Compiled by Greg Smith. If you have any materials you'd like to contribute, please email me.