Alvin, Texas

Suzanne and I travel all over Texas and sometimes forget about visiting our local neighbors. So we decided to visit a town next door to where I grew up in Pearland. Alvin is an unassuming little town that goes about its business quietly. It is best known for her favorite son, Nolan Ryan. With baseball playoffs beginning, we had planned on visiting the Nolan Ryan Museum, but as fate would have it, we struck out. It was closed on the Friday afternoon we chose to visit. What a bummer.

Like in baseball, one strike out didn’t deter us. We rounded second and slid over to the Alvin Historical Museum to check out the history of Alvin. Located in the old Post Office off W. Sealy Street, the museum attendant met us at the door, eager to please our passion for history. She directed us to Tom Stansel, who gave us a wonderful tour and explanation of the exhibits. At the entrance to the museum stands a beautifully carved statue of Alvin Morgan, the founder and namesake. Items ranging from prehistoric fossils to Karawanka Indians and from Republic of Texas memorabilia to the various American wars filled the halls of the museum. At the end of our tour, Suzanne got to view a temporary exhibit of beautiful quilts by Jewell Richardson.

Re-energized, we headed over to the Marguerite Rogers House Museum on East Dumble Street. The John G. Slover built Victorian house is unique in its Oriental influenced architecture and extensive gingerbread trim. Most of the lumber used was scavenged from other homes following a hurricane. Mr. Slover was a carpenter by trade and the workmanship shows his attention to detail. Decorated in period pieces from the 1930’s, this house represents a slice of life in early Alvin.

Though we didn’t get to visit the Nolan Ryan Museum, the other museums provided much insight into the early days of Alvin. From ranching, dairy farms, orchards and farming to commerce and railways, Alvin keeps chugging on as we see Texas Thru My Back Door!