Synopses & Reviews
In 1891, Louis P. Dumas heard about cheap land in the Texas Panhandle. He left his successful enterprises in Sherman and chose a section of grassland in Moore County to "build a town." He had not bargained for the harsh elements that came with the territory, though. Within five years he abandoned his town, as did most of the other residents. Dumas was a ghost town three times in its first 10 years, but gradually, a quiet village developed. Oil and gas discovered in the 1920s brought about growth and continues to support the economy. Phil Baxter, who wrote the song "Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas," spoke of the friendliness and spirit of the people he met there in 1927. Today those qualities endure in the people of Dumas.
Review
Title: Local author has third book published
Author - Michael Wright
Publisher: The Moore County News Press
Date: 6/3/09
Louise George, author of "No City Limits" and "Some Of My Heroes Are Ladies", now has a third title to add to her list, "Dumas".
George's latest title is a pictorial history book chock full of images dating as far back as the late 1800s.
George said the publishing company, Arcadia Publishing, contacted Window on the Plains Museum to see about a local who might be interested in writing a pictorial history book about Dumas. Her daughter-in-law, Terri George, recommended Louise George for the job.
It took about a year to get the book researched and put together and George said the project wouldn't have been possible without the help of museum staff members and other
helpers.
George utilized photos from Window on the Plains Museum
as well as photos from XIT Museum in Dalhart, Panhandle
Plains Historical Museum in Canyon and Hutchinson County Museum in Borger. She said some photos also came from individuals.
The author, who was nearly 60 before deciding to start
writing, said her latest book is a "quick and easy history of Dumas from the beginning to now." She says it was the research aspect that got her interested in writing. Her very first work was a chapter on churches in the Moore County centennial book. She also wrote a "History By George" column for the News-Press for two years.
George recently had a book signing in Amarillo at Barnes
and Noble. She said that event went well and she is now looking forward to a book signing where a great deal of her research took place -- Window on the Plains Museum. That
book signing is June 7 from 2-4 p.m.
"Dumas" will not be the last we hear from George. She is
currently working on a fourth book entitled "Some Real Good
Old Boys".
Find out more about her current title by attending the June
7 signing or visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.
About the Author
Louise Carroll George is the author of two books, No City Limits: The Story of Masterson and Texas and Some of My Heroes Are Ladies: Women Ages 85 to 101 Tell about Life in the Texas Panhandle. She is keenly interested in local history and is currently on the board of the Moore County Historical Commission. She strongly supports the Window on the Plains Museum, and she relied heavily on its staff and archives for the photographs and stories in this book.