Pioneers of the Gulf Coast
Posted on 05/03/2005 10:42:23 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
It all started with the bluebonnet, back in 1901.
Then came the gemstone cut and flying mammal.
As the "official" list of Texas grew over the years, it encompassed a snack, tartan design and musical instrument.
One year, the state almost had an official molecule and a fungus, but those ideas didn't make the legislative cut.
As it stands, Texas is without an official pastry, as the sopaipilla and strudel law expired in January, apparently with little notice.
Now the cast iron Dutch oven is about to emerge as the state-sanctioned cooking implement.
Observers might think enough is enough with the official stuff, but there's hardly a legislative session that goes by without some lawmaker hawking something else for the state's list of symbols.
That list, already healthy with more than 40 entries — some of them downright odd — looks to be headed for another growth spurt, including dog breed, vehicle and bread.
"I think people may be very surprised by the number of things on this list," confided Diana Houston, an assistant director at the Texas State Library and Archives. "It used to be kind of a well-known list, but then around 1997 or so we had a legislative session where we had a lot of things added in."
As keeper of the list, Houston has an unwieldy job.
And the task isn't always clear-cut. Houston doesn't know what to do about the pastry issue.
In 2003, sopaipillas were about to be crowned the state's official pastry when the strudel activists horned in. In a show of compromise, both were declared official. But unlike others on the list, the legislation also included an expiration date of Jan. 31, 2005.
It's left Houston in a jam.
"I'm not going to take it off the list — we may have a pastry crisis," she said.
Some list keepers find that simple is better. At the World Book Encyclopedia, every state gets to list its big three symbols — the bird, flower and tree.
Paul Kobasa, editor in chief of the resource books, said there's not enough room to list the other symbols, which states seem to have adopted in abandon in the past decade.
"Every state looks for things to differentiate themselves, for things very specific to the local culture," he said. "It's a fairly recent phenomenon."
In Texas, just because a lawmaker nominates something for the list, it's not guaranteed a spot. The Dutch oven has been considered — and rejected — in the past.
The latest proposition, sponsored by Sen. Ken Armbrister, D-Victoria, recently passed through the Senate and is now in a House committee.
Armbrister said he decided to push for the resolution because several of his constituents are members of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society.
"In the early days of Texas history, it was the primary cooking implement — every chuck wagon and frontier cabin had one," he said, adding he realizes the legislation is not enforceable and is more of a token. "I'm sure that it raises its profile while the issue is going through. Will it make the elementary school test? No."
Bill Brummel is co-founder of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society and one of about 30 members in San Antonio. He said it's time for the Dutch oven's importance to be recognized by legislation.
"It's an old way of doing things, it's a nostalgic way of doing things — we don't want it to die out," said the 74-year-old retiree, who owns about 20 of the cast iron pots. "I have so much cast iron in my house, if there was a hurricane the house might blow over, but not the floors."
There's been rumor that the barbecue pit folks may be lobbying to claim the spot, but it doesn't have Brummel worried.
"We can barbecue in a Dutch oven," he said. "It covers all the bases."
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adorsett@express-news.net
Here is a novel idea. DO NOTHING!!!
Offical state this, that, and the other thing are 100% wastes of time, useless legislation, and serve no purpose. Period.
Cast Iron Pot Ping!
Please let me know if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
WRONG, Kolaches is the correct answer!
(I hear Ann Coulter loves kolaches.^)
I bake a mean Kolache.
Color me stupid. What is a Kolache?
Its a polish thing
Just TRY to find a bakery in Texas..other than a grocery store. They don't exsist. Texans think Krispy Kreme is an upscale bakery.
Please add me to your ping list, thank you.
And for the record nothing frys up something like a cast iron skillet. I have two, one I bought 9 years ago and one that has been in my family since 1948. Both are great.
And Wendish!
Didn't live close enough. Wish I had!
Obviously, they have never been to Wiekel's bakery/gas station in La Grange!
Several years ago I read that each of these "happy laws" costs tens of thousands of dollars to implement.
Yep.
They even made the City of West (just north of Waco on 35) an official Kolache home.
Just had some from West the other day.
Dude...you should get out more.
I can't go 5 miles without seeing a bakery.
That reminds me.
Asleep at the Wheel will be playing at West Fest this year.
Friday night preview party.
Naeglin's??
I once ordered kolaches from Naeglin's and had them over-nighted to my mom for her birthday.
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