February 2023 Newsletter

Hunter’s Corner

Frontier Times Magazine
Volume 12-No. 12
January, 1935

A Camel Experiment in Texas

Twelve miles north of Bandera, nestling snugly on the banks of Camp Verde Creek, is all that remains of an experiment tried out by the United States government-that of using camels to transport dispatches and supplies across the then wild frontier. Over eighty years ago in 1853, to be exact--Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War, in the Cabinet of President Franklin Pierce, conceived the idea that camels could solve the problem of carrying dispatches and freight between the frontier posts of Texas, New Mexico, and through to California, and he accordingly secured the passage of a bill through National Congress, which carried an appropriation of $30,000 for the purchase of the camels.
When the Civil War came on Camp Verde was captured by the Confederates, who looked after the camels during the entire four years of the war, and when the rebellion was crushed the United States government again garrisoned Camp Verde for a short time.  The remaining camels were sold to Bethel Coopwood, at, it is said, from $9 to$14 each. 

New Education Coordinator

Welcome new staff member, John Milner.  The museum is pleased to announce we have hired retired schoolteacher, John Milner, to be our new Education Coordinator.  John will coordinate the museum's educational programs, including field trip visits and our Texas History Traveling Trunk program, with local and area schools.  John is also busy developing programs for the museum's upcoming Spring Break Family Activity Days as well as developing adult programs which will bring in a variety of authors and historians to the museum.  This position is funded through a grant received from the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation.

Do You Love History?  Do You Love Telling Stories?  The museum is currently accepting applications for a new Docent Program. Theresa Doyle-Nelson has created a docent program where volunteers will meet and greet museum guests and help provide tours of the museum galleries. If interested, please call the museum at 830-796-3864.

Kronkosky Charitable Foundation

Executive Director Rebecca Norton accepts a $95,000 check from Program Manager Rachell Hathaway.  The museum received one of the largest grants in its history from the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation.  The capacity building grant will help fund the museum's operations as well as fund the position of the Education Coordinator and a Development Associate. John Milner was hired with grant funds to fulfill the position of the Education Coordinator and the museum is currently interviewing candidates for the Development Associate position.  This position will assist with fundraising while the museum is in a capital campaign. 

Lottie Deno’s Gravestone

Volunteer Theresa Doyle-Nelson and her husband Chad had an opportunity to visit the grave of Lottie Deno, famous Wild West gambler, in Demings, New Mexico.  It was while living in Demings, museum founder, J. Marvin Hunter, came to know the story of Lottie.  Always a lady, Lottie came from a respectable southern family but decided to become a gambler. Known in saloons and gambling joints throughout the West, the character Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke was said to be based on Lottie. Mr. Hunter wrote a biography of Lottie Deno which is on sale in the museum's gift shop and her traveling trunk is on display in the museum's Cowboy Gallery.  

Jamboree February 26th

Museum Supporters

Thank you to our supporters
January 2023

Members Renew
Sandra Vannater   
Carter & Tessa Kolodny
Elaine Mazurek Stephens 
Sully & Cynthia Woodland   
Rebecca Norton 

New Member
Michelle & David Barnet

Donations
Kronkosky Charitable Foundation 
Joan Estes 
F. B. Doane Foundation   
Kathleen Montague  

Donations in Memory of
Bill & Judith Pannebaker in memory of Jane Graham

Volunteers
Holly Boyle
Elizabeth Griffith 
Monica Hayes
Toni  Kunz
Logan Miles 
Theresa Doyle-Nelson 
Jennifer Nimmrichter
Eddie Rowe
John Schuetze
Roger Wolfe  
Lanie Wood-Intern

Volunteers-Jamboree Musicians
Lew Pewterbaugh 
Paul Hilliard   
David Le Steourgeon   
Lee Harmon 
Lee Haile 
Homer Whisenant 
Lee & Buster Carr
Bob  DeGeorge   
Dennis Owen   
Danny White

 Become a member today! 
Mail your check to Frontier Times Museum
P.O.Box 1918 Bandera, TX 78003
Individual:  $25  
Family & Friends:  $50
Sustaining:  $100
Business:  $100
Patron:  $250
Hunter's Museum Circle:  $500