Ennis

Built in the 1960s on the site of the former Old Alamo Elementary School, San Jacinto Auditorium is now a community-utilized facility serving as a venue for a variety of events, from meetings to concerts. At least two instances of ghosts are connected with the building. One involves strange sounds in the offices and classrooms at the rear of the building. Described as chairs being slid across the floor, the activity has been attributed to a former Ennis High theater director named Fred Rankin who died in a car accident in the 1970s.

The Ennis Historical Society, formerly known as the Heritage Society, last week hosted a lecture at the Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum on an aspect of local interest. The subject was the Texas Midland Railroad which preceded the Southern Pacific Railroad of more recent years. The talk was given by Ennisite Jim Grant.

“I remember when the Southern Pacific was the largest employer in town,” said Grant in opening his speech, adding that he wondered what Ennis would be like today without the railroad, so critical was it to the founding and early development of the city.

For their October meeting, member of the Ennis Century Club met in the home of Cynthia Newsome with Kathy Morse presiding. Rachael Bishop assisted Mrs. Newsome as hostess. A buffet was served in the dining area of the home prior to the meeting. Penny Atwood presented the program, Twenty-five Facts You Did Not Know About Texas. In addition to regular members present, three new members were welcomed to the club including Henrietta Novotny, Janice Copeland and Judy Conatser.