From Battlefield to Picnic Grounds

From Battlefield to Picnic Grounds. . , People make the site their own , Improvements to the site were made throughout the 1920s. A two-story bandstand was constructed and dedicated on March 2, 1928. People flocked to the location for community events such as picnics, parties, and barbecues. , Residents who found musket balls, cannonballs, and other military artifacts on the site often brought the items to the park caretaker, E.N. Strong. He set up an informal museum in the lower level of the bandstand, carefully labeling each item donated by the public. Soon the display grew to include guns, swords, a spinning wheel, and even a meteorite. Many objects had little to do with the battle. Strong gave talks to visitors about the collection and the battle. , Captions , Lower Left: Musket Balls Everywhere , Thousands of these projectiles were discharged during the Battle of Coleto Creek. Through careful investigation and analysis of the locations where musket balls were found, archeologists have been able to identify and document portions of the battlefield. , Upper Right: Giving Thanks , This is a Thanksgiving community dinner in front of the pavillon in the early 1940s. , Lower Left: Dedication Ceremony , With much acclaim, the bandstand and water tower were dedicated here in 1928. A large water reservoir was also constructed and is still evident to the right of where you are standing. A windmill, which is now gone, operated a pump that irrigated the site's lush landscape. , Images: Lee Hutchinson; Goliad County Library, Markethouse Museun Collection