Brenda Beust Smith
[email protected]
If ever there were a prime example of how the determined folks of Bolivar Peninsula have adopted the stalwart example of Jane Long, it happened Oct. 12 at Fort Travis. Ominious black clouds and a dismal weather forecast threatened the success of the 2013 Jane Long Festival. But ignoring the ominous dark clouds overhead and the buckets of rain they dropped early in the morning, festival workers, vendors, bunker tour guides and entertainers plowed on, sloshing through the puddle-filled grasses to set up booths, exhibits and stage.

With huge freighters, cruise ships and ferries passing back and forth in the waters beyond, the lighthouse standing majestically tall and a blue sky emerging, the Jane Long Festival lived up to the example set by the lady who “did what she had to do.”

Gracious brave folks came, food and gift items were sold, the auction collected bids and the tour guides led goggle-eyed visitors back in time as they wandered around Fort Travis’ heavily-concreted bunker and batteries, marveling at the historical significances around every corner. Leading these tours were Ralph Stenzel and Bobby Saiz.

“Official” greetings came from powers-that-be who graciously agreed to say a few words on stage, including Galveston County District Judge Judge Susan Criss and Galveston County Precinct 1 Commissioner Ryan Dennard.

And nonstop was the accompaniment of entertainment on stage, including Bruce Haire and the 3 Way Switch Band; Zumba dancers Mary Hernandez, Madonna Porter and Amber Sandlin; Lighthouse Krewe Beach Throwing and Music by Exodus XV (Bill, Jean, Mary Jean and Anna Leigh Sargent).

And then, the piece de resistance: “Pirates and Petticoats” — Linda Elissalde’s updated and musically-enhanced play about Jane Long (Dr. Melanie Walace) and her stay on Bolivar Peninsula, starting with the her courtship with Dr. James Long (Sid Bouse) in Mississippi, through her journey to Bolivar, meeting with the pirate Jean Lafitte (Bill Silverberg), that unimaginably-hard winter when, alone and pregnant, with only her daughter Ann (Diane Lewis) and young girl Kian (Raquel Silverberg), she gave birth and scared off Karankawa Indians to her later key associations with the likes the “Father of Texas Education and Republic of Texas President” Mirabeau B. Lamar (George Strong) and Texas hero Sam Houston (Tom Hughes).

Keeping the action moving were narrator Linda Elissalde (the playwrite/producer/director) and Bruce Haire’s take on Shouter (aka Nat ‘King’ Cole), the Greek chorus-style guitarist in the movie “Cat Ballou.” Bruce wrote the music and Linda the words to “The Ballad of Jane Long.”

The fanciful-named Karankawa Indians included Chief Full-of-Bull (Larry Flanagan), Chief Tan-Your-Hide (Marty Boddie), Chicken of the Sea (Brenda Hughes), Pearl in Oyster (Mary Raney), Maxihaha (Fran Griffin) and Minihee (Brenda McDonald). Filling out the cast were Mack Wallace (sign man), Debbie Hannagriff and Sherry Morgan (Edna Jean and Betty Sue), Anne Willis (Spirit of Jane Long), First Mate (Nathan Foreman), drummer (Margo Johnson), Mary Crow Campbell (Brenda Beust Smith) and, substituting at the very last minute for Dancing Cowgirl Rita Mosley (who broker her foot) was Betty Williamson (also Cabin Person). Ellen Kennedy ruled as Stage Director with Marcel Elissalde and Mac McDonald as Crew. Larry Flanagan provided the Pirate Ship.

The Jane Long Festival could not take place without the generous sponsors, booth purchasers, auction donors and exhibitors.

SPONSORS: SPIRITS OF BOLIVAR: Brint Construction, Golf Car Connection, Lori Falk & Billy Tomlinson. CANNONBALLS: Painting with a Twist, Cobb Real Estate, Swede’s Real Estate, Maven’s Clothing & Accessories, Gabourel Insurance and South Land Title. PIRATES & PETTICOATS: Image Pro Printing, Traditional Craftsman Homes, Pat’s Tires, Anderson Construction, Gulfway Motel, CrystalBeach.com, Beach or Bay Real Estate, McDonald’s Air Conditioning, Stingaree Restaurant & Marina, Coastal Surveying and Remax on the Water, Tropical Accents, 3 Way Switch and Greenlife Nursery.

Raffle donors were Patty Hagstrom, Brenda McDonald and Swede’s Real Estate.

JANE LONG OLEANDER: A number of folks signed up asking that they be notified by email when these plants, now being propagated by the International Oleander Society in Galveston, will be available for sale. The first sale of the Jane Long Oleander will probably be at the 2014 Oleander Festival. To have your email added to the first sale notification list, email [email protected]. The Jane Long Oleander should be available for sale at the Fifth Annual Jane Long Festival on Oct. 12, 2014.

Thanks to the many wonderful volunteers who made this year’s Jane Long Festival happen!