A PECOS CITY HISTORY LESSON.

1940-'41 city directory: (it was the 1st one published.)
Population- 4,855
Average rainfall- 15"...but one time it didn't rain for 18 months.
Elevation 2580...now I've seen it listed as 2100-something...is the town sinking?
"the weather is seldom extreme"....YEAH RIGHT!
under "guns and ammunition"-- Jack's Liquor and Sporting Goods. (great combo don't you think?)
under "potato chip factories"-- Mrs. Jesse McKee Potato Chip Factory, 705 S. Alamo.

Pecos had schools for: whites, negroes and mexicans.

Slogan: The Gateway To The Scenic Southwest.

One of T.B. Pruett's daughters owned a children's store called the Chic Shop.
Another daughter was an avon lady.
T.B.'s P.O. Box was #146

In 1941 T.B. Pruett Jr. was living in our house with his wife Bessie Mae. He was a telephone operator...she was a school teacher. T.B. senior died in 1931 and his wife in 1939.

Ivy Weatherby was married to William Courtney who owned the Courtney Hotel (where the museum is now...also known as the Orient Hotel). He is listed as a rancher also. They lived at the hotel.
Later she owned the hotel and bought our house in the 1950's....and was again and forever known as Mrs. Weatherby as she was BEFORE...wonder what happened? Sounds like goo' gossip to me.
I almost never see Mr. Courtney mentioned anywhere and do not know what happened to him.

OTHER ODDS-n-ENDS:
Bonnie and Clyde were at the 1932 Pecos Rodeo. They have proof in that they cashed some checks here. It is believed that they were on their way to Carlsbad to see family and also were checking out west texas escape routes.

I have found documentation that T.B. Pruett Sr. was here as early as March 31, 1892....he bought a post office money order.

In 1912 the city speed limit was 8 mph and cars had to yield to horse drawn vehicles. But only 2 years later the speed limit was raised to 12 mph.

On March 8, 1885 9 people were charged with card playing...and 4 with "gun totin'"...all charges were later dropped.

From Sept. 1915 to Feb. 1916:
An animal bounty count:
141 wildcats (reward was $1.)
2,041 coyotes (reward was $2.)
11,079 jack rabbits (reward was 5 cents)
That means somebody had to dispose of the 26,522 ears that were turned in as proof....gross!

Aside from all this above info...I'm amazed at how popular the card game BRIDGE was and is and forever shall be around here.

Daily Thought:
This town isn't a very, pretty, fun or interesting place to live...so I live in it's history.
I guess it's not THAT bad....
My boss Peggy says that the absolute WORST places to live out here is Van Horn and Presidio...she says they are "the jumping off places".
Here's a funny one form a book called "30 years west of the pecos."....
"He told the people in Monahans he had rather be in jail in Pecos than the Mayor of Monahans."

RADIO HOTLINE:
For Sale: Cement elephant fountain $250.
3 wheel bicycle $35.

That's all.
I'm tired.
Thanks for reading.
Love, mary