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grasscutter · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 3:00 pm Post subject: history of area channels

Not sure how to ask this, but does a reference work exist that discusses the origins and purposes of the various channels in the area? For example, I have read that Corpus Christi Bayou was used to lighter freight from the Harbor Island area to Corpus before the ship channel was built. Packery, Humble, etc.?

Razorback · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 6:36 pm Post subject:

I think most of the "Humble" channels around the JKF were dug to access oil wells. If you look at Google Earth you will see them ending where the wells where the wells were installed.
That said, those channels can be some good fishing areas.
Packery was opened up to the Gulf by support of a group of North Padre Island real estate developers.

Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3974

Razorback is correct, many channels were opened for oil and gas production....some islands and peninsula's were created for the same purpose, i.e. zig-zag island (aka Sulphur Road)....

some of the channels in the backyard on the north side of the causeway were dredged by the Navy to recover airplanes that crashed in the Laguna, hence the "crash channels"...

the time function on google earth is a ton of fun and highly educational.....for those of you that haven't found it yet, in google earth at the top there is a small menu bar with several symbols, including a ruler (measuring distance), sunlight, print, etc......the one you're looking for is the clock with the green arrow, which will bring up a slide-bar....toggle back and forth with that....
becky
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grasscutter · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 10:08 am Post subject:

Thanks for the input. I recently read that Packery Channel was likely Corpus Christi Pass in the mid 1800's and that W.N. Staples had a hide and tallow plant there sometime around 1870. These type plants were evidently quite numerous in the area because of the quantity of cattle available. There was also a feather factory there for a short period of time as well as a cannery.

Towboat Trash · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:49 pm Post subject:

captfrankie · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 3:23 pm Post subject: before dredging

Here's a topographical chart of the Aransas pass at Port A 1923. No ship channel , no intracoastal.

I'm sure this is even earlier.

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Johninaustin · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 1115

My great grandad always told me Packery got it's start as a site for processing sea turtles. He said it only opened to the gulf during storms and always filled back up.
The old barge landing is where they piled oyster shells dredged up for road material. I remember the massive stack of shells in the early 70's.

As for Port A, my great- uncle was one of the men salvaging the Worthington during WWII. Lots of ships would shelter nearby to avoid German subs and a LOT of material was stacked on the island for storage before loading. There were artillery emplacements on both sides of the ship channel.

CC pass may be what we call the Newport pass today. He would talk about CC pass being north of Packery and as separate places.

grasscutter · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:59 pm Post subject:

Here are a couple of links to sites that discuss Packery Channel and CC Pass:
http://texascoastgeology.com/passes/Packery%20Historical.html
http://www.geomadre.com/packery.html
One map shows CC Pass and its historic course. Packery Channel was evidently a part of CC Pass and would open after a storm event.

landlocked beachbum · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 10:13 am Post subject:

Thanks to all who provided maps and details about the past history of that area. REALLY interesting, and something that I've wondering about since a young boy!

Very early on in the memoires of U.S. Grant, he goes into great detail about the trials and tribulations of bringing the materials of war into Corpus Christi to wage the Mexican American war. It was NO cakewalk to get from the gulf to CC back then, even for a few men in a boat. Moving horses, cannon and all the supplies needed....... People were darn tough back then!!! Shocked

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Coach · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 11:51 am Post subject:

One of my friend's father was in some brach of the military and was in charge of an operation in the early 60's of exploding a large bomb found around Estes flats and California hole. A Navy frigate was parked under the bridge at AP - said it made a huge hole ,,,,, anyone heard of this?
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Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

kweber · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:46 pm Post subject:

great read, Ty.. I just skimmed over it and will go back in-depth some night...
and the stories about local spots are fascinating as well.
keep the old pics and stories coming, lest we loose them.
my cousin is working on my Dad's family history, as they were part of the Henri Castro group that settled Medina Co.
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kweber · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 1:23 pm Post subject:

oh yeah... then there was the SAP...
San Antonio, Aransas Pass railroad...
went thru Floresville, Karnes City to AP.
the pen/ink drawing shows it and a branch line over to Harbor Island...
still there today, thru AP anyway... goes up to the Carbon Black plant at Estes.
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kweber · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 1:54 pm Post subject:

they did big things back then...
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pecos+high+bridge&qpvt=pecos+high+bridge&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=715D27B3F67F0EC25E37CDAD86A3B83E9524E066&selectedIndex=90
the final link that connected New Orleans, the new city of Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, the new city of Los Angeles, and San Francisco...
321ft above the Pecos River about 50mi NW of Del Rio Tx.
by 1900 a person could access any part of the US in only a few days...
Pacific salmon, Gulf oysters, Chesapeak crabs and Texas beef were suddenly availiable to everyone.
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5moreminutes · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 7:24 pm Post subject:

Seeing the post about shell used for roads reminded me of my grandpas drive way around the barn. Damn it would hurt if you fell off the bike.
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