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Some folks remember it as the First Baptist Church of Beaumont, but most recall climbing the spiral staircase up to the children's room of the Tyrrell Public Library. Before there was a T.V. in every home, this place was truly a "Castle of Imagination" to a youngster as the worlds of Gulivar and Oz were opened to him.

On this cold, wet evening of December 2, 1954, an eleven year old with his first library card is a little late and rushes to catch the bus.

Meanwhile, a young "ranger" is transfixed by the "Red Ryder" air rifle in Walgreen's window. Perhaps there's one in the bag for him already.

Downtown will be very busy in the days ahead, but it's the last day to catch Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" at the Jefferson Theatre. Can you find the ad?

Notes from the artist:

I spent many an evening in front of Walgreen's on Pearl at Forsythe in Beaumont waiting for the Refinery bus. The gothic style of the Tyrrell Library was very mysterious and truly...

I remember like it was yesterday... The little black box of PRANG watercolors I received at Christmas when I was seven started me on a lifelong love of drawing and painting. Rendering the images of every comic book character from Mickey Mouse to Superman and Little Lulu furthered my art education. Little Golden Books, "The Color Kittens," taught me the basics of mixing colors. Then a magical experience happened! At the Jefferson Theater in downtown Beaumont, Texas (where I was born and raised), I saw Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Eagerly I awaited each new release through the years: Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp. At 12, I started an art notebook and bought my first oil paints. At 14,...