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Period toys, games set at Austin Town
Published November 5, 2009
ANGLETON — Austin Town’s annual celebration will start with a bang all three days this weekend, and visitors of all ages are welcome to step back into life in colonial Texas.
“When you walk through the gate, it’s 1832 in Stephen F. Austin’s colony,” Austin Town participant and Brazoria County Historical Museum Librarian Jamie Murray said. “We try to re-create a gathering of settlers and represent a day in their lives.”
A three-day historic re-enactment, Austin Town is staged on a 10-acre site at highways 288 and 288-B north of Angleton.
Each day begins with the firing of a canon at the site, and attractions include period storytellers, dancing, butter-churning, music, cooking demonstrations and numerous other displays.
Stephen F. Austin is considered the “Father of Texas,” and the site is built to represent an original colony during the settlement of Texas.
Actors portraying Brit Bailey and Father Muldoon will perform and will walk about the grounds all three days. Bailey, for whom Bailey’s Prairie is named, was a hard-drinking, hard-living Texas pioneer who wanted to be buried standing, facing west, with his jug of whiskey, a gun and a lantern. Legend has it Bailey carries the lantern across the prairie searching for the liquor his wife denied him in death.
Muldoon was the priest assigned to the area by the Roman Catholic Church when Texas still was under the rule of Mexico. He performed weddings and christenings.
Throughout the event, an African-American theater group will present a living history of the period.
The musical group Yellow Rose will perform Saturday, and Danbury fiddle player Susan Kelm will play for dances.
“We invite the public to watch a little while, then join us,” Murray said.
Preparations are made for schoolchildren to attend Friday and visitors the rest of the weekend, participant Michael Bailey said. Not related to Brit Bailey, Michael Bailey helps all around and concentrates on the militia and the firing of the canon.
Up to 1,000 students visiting from around the area Friday will see a variety of performances and facilities, including what life was like with dirt floors, log cabins, blacksmiths and food cooked over an open fire. A newly added, dual-room log cabin will serve as Jane Long’s tavern, and root beer will be available.
“There will be period toys and games for kids to play, storytelling and all kids of things,” Michael Bailey said. “Once you get into Austin Town proper, it’s a step back in time.”
Children are welcome all three days, but Friday is set up for young students on field trips from area schools.
On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children younger than 12 years old. The site is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
John Lowman covers Brazoria County for The Facts. Contact him at 979-849-8581.
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Austin Town
Hours
• School tours Friday.
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Admission
• $5 for adults
• $3 for senior citizens and children younger than 12
Location
• Intersection of Highway 288 and Highway 288-B north of Angleton
Information
• Call the Brazoria County Historical Museum at 979-864-1208 or visit www.bchm.org
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