A Visit to Port Neches - July 19th, 2016
Start our trip back in time when we pass a Stuckey's advertisement on I-10
The first restaurant, gas station and general store I loved to visit
Exit Hi-347 and turn left onto Magnolia Ave. where, at the next intersection, we will turn left onto Port Neches Ave where Philpott Ford used to be
Port Neches Ave goes straight to Dallas St. but detours were required today
Behold 1415 Dallas St., well, that is what the address indicates
No one is home, tall fences, no garden, no pecan or fig trees, just grass
Circle around the neighborhood, new home (since 1980) on the right
Brightly colored home directly across the street
Continue the circle looking toward Port Neches Ave
Finish the circle back at the house and old Post Office left background
Circle around the block to Llano St. to see the rental house Dad grew up in
Take a left on Ave D from Llano to see the former Post Office a block away
No more Wanted posters inside, now it is a counseling center
Take Dallas to Port Neches Ave & park by the Neches Brewing Company
The road is blocked for construction so we walk west on Port Neches Ave
Curb and sidewalk under construction beside a well know building
Grandpa's General Store before departing for Philpott Ford
Look inside, the counter still looks like the old photo of the store
Three doors down, the two story building sports rebellious merchandise
Turn right and look west down Port Neches Ave where the downtown beautification continues, our next visit will be much different!
Turn around and head back, walking past Grandpa's store on the right
Back to the car at the Wright Building between Wall and Dallas
Drive by the 1953 Port Neches Groves High School
Linda attended this school, the prior High School was a block away on Main
The stadium was built in 1951 but football wasn't played here until 1953
Look for the city pool I swam in during the 1970's and find it is no longer here, replaced by a Splash Park
A nice playground called Tugboat Island is beside the Splash Park
Port Neches Water Tower on the other side of the Splash Park
New City Hall built on the site of the bowling alley where Dad stacked pins
The original town jail was built well and still stands
Small jail means not many trouble makers here in the early days
Grigsby's Bluff was the original settlement later renamed Port Neches
Looking west past the Wheelhouse Restaurant on the Neches River
Looking east from the park toward the Hi-73 Rainbow Bridge
Stop at Sartin's in Beaumont for late lunch on the way home
Mom loves gumbo and the seafood platter
BBQ crab, fish, shrimp, oysters, crab balls & stuffed peppers
David gets a broiled fish platter with baked potato and hushpuppies
Enjoy a barbecue crab from the seafood platter . . . mighty fine!
Ten plus years since my last Sartin's visit, lets make is sooner next time
Squeeze in a little more nostalgia on the way home
Take the Washburn tunnel since the Baytown Tunnel is no longer
Trips to see Grandma started & ended with a tunnel ride back in the day!