S.O. Young’s Historical Collections of Houston Stories

Posted by Luke Gilman

November 30, 2007

Houston Chronicle Blogger J.R. Gonzales at Bayou City History clued us in to two classic titles in early Houston history being reissued in limited edition sets by Copano Bay Press. Dr. S.O. Young’s “A Thumbnail History of the City of Houston, Texas” and “True Stories of Old Houston and Houstonians.” Copano Bay is producing 500 beautiful, gift-worthy sets, priced at $124.95.

If that’s a little too rich for your taste, the Internet Archive has copies for download.

One of my favorite chapters so far begins…

EARLY HANGINGS IN HOUSTON.
It is an historical fact that at the first session of court held in Harrisburg County, as Harris was then called, two men were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. It is stated that those two men were hanged immediately because the jail was uncomfortably cold and the kind-hearted judge did not want the prisoners to suffer unduly.

I don’t mention this because I approve, of course, but as a rather graphic illustration that Houston’s love affair with rough justice has deep roots.

Bookmark this Page: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.