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Les Cook
at Armand Bayou
in Pasadena
This month HABA is headed to Armand Bayou (a Non-Profit Organization) for a hands on ‘Hammer- In’. We will be making some gate hardware.
Last year we were Iked Out. The year prior in 2007 Dave Koenig, Tee Hines and Les Cook demonstrated a few of the many different types of structural and decorative “Joinery”. We were also there for a work day in September of 2006 , and we return this year for a regular hammer-in style meeting.
Dave Koenig provided some great photos posted on our FLICKR site at ABNC Fall 2009.
When & Where :
Saturday, September 19 :
The schedule looks like this for Saturday morning:
- 8:00 am : Sign in and setup
- 8:30 am : HABA Meeting and Announcements
- 9:00 am : Begin Demo
- 10:00 am : Begin Workshop
- 12 pm : Break for Lunch
- 1 pm : Continue Workshop
- 4 pm : Conclude and clean up
Where :
Armand Bayou Nature Center at 8500 Bay Area Boulevard in Pasadena, TX
Directions to Armand Bayou
Armand Bayou is easy to find. Exit I-45 at Bay Area Boulevard and head east. The entrance to Armand Bayou will be on the right about five miles down the road. When you cross Middlebrook Drive, you will have about a mile to go. If you find yourself at Red Bluff Road, you just passed the Nature Center entrance. The web site for Armand Bayou is: www.abnc.org .
The following link will get you a Google map :
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=8500+Bay+Area+Blvd+Pasadena,+Texas&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=29.598536,-95.076714&spn=0.161799,0.337143&om=1
HABA will be meeting in the area around #11, corral, and #12, so please drive in the road toward the farm and unload in our area. We need to park in the paved parking lot. Click for a downloadable site map....
ABNC History
Native Americans at ABNC
Excavations by local archaeologists have shown the Middle Bayou (renamed Armand Bayou) area was occupied by Native Americans for at least 7,000 years. Ancient remains such as pottery, arrowheads, flints, and shell middens (trash piles), within ABNC indicate this area was once a major campsite for Native American tribes. These Native Americans used the Middle Bayou area for hunting and fishing until the mid-to-late 19th Century.
19th Century Residents
About a dozen families of European descent occupied the Middle Bayou area during the mid-19th century. These early pioneers lived by hunting; fishing and growing produce which they floated down the bayou in barges to market. The settlement even had a post office and a school.
Jimmy Martyn, a long time resident of the Middle Bayou settlement, lived in a modest house near the banks of Middle Bayou from 1894 until his death in 1964. Like many area residents, the Martyns raised cattle, grew produce and harvested cedar from the surrounding forest. ABNC contains a re-creation of a typical farm during the 19th century, which is called the Martyn Farm in honor of Jimmy Martyn.
Jim West, another well-known Middle Bayou resident, owned 28,000 acres surrounding Middle and Horsepen Bayous at one time. West raised cattle and maintained his ranch as a preserve for deer, quail, peccary and prairie chickens.
What to Bring
Bring safety glasses with side shields. This is a requirement!
Bring your forges and tools. A number of forges will be available.
Plan to bring a lunch or eat at a local restaurant.
Bring a chair to sit in.
You do not have to be a member to attend our meetings! Bring a Guest!
Bring your Membership Dues if you want to work at a forge and are not a current Member !
Minors are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
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Enjoy!
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Last updates were on August 26, 2009
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