Humble Museum takes visitors back in time

By ROYCELYN BASTIAN
Updated: 04.04.09
From dirt roads to paved streets, the city of Humble has definitely come a long way.

For those who don’t know the history of Humble, the Humble Museum has a variety of displays that date back to the 1800s.

“The museum offers residents and tourists an opportunity to step back into time and learn all about Humble’s history,” said Jerri Christian, Humble Museum office manager. “Young people today have no idea of what life was like back then and this is a way for them to learn about it.”

Walking into the museum, one’s eye might migrate to the left where musical instruments, such as a fife played during the Civil War, are on display, or to the right, where many artifacts were donated by Charles Goodwin, an Humble historian. Or perhaps straight ahead to the Battle of the Alamo diorama that was made by Cub Scout Pack 1400 in 1985-1986.

But what people will not see at first glance is the oil room filled with memorabilia and items that tell the story of how oil was discovered in Humble in 1906.

“The city experienced its first oil boom in the early 1900s. And as their technology become more sophisticated, the city was able to find and drill more oil leading to the second and third oil boom in the 1920s and 1930s respectively,” Christian said.

During the big oil boom, the population grew so much in Humble that people started living in tents and oil rigs were erected all over the city and what was known then as Moonshine Hill.

In the Charlie Goodwin Room, visitors will get to see all of the items that he donated, either from his personal collection or from people who gave him things over the years. In this exhibit, there are things such as old machinery that used low voltage electricity to give women perms; Old Limey, a beef cow that could never be caught or tamed until he was shot to death; old record players and more.

Across from the Goodwin exhibit is the military display that showcases names of men who fought in World War II along with medals and awards that were donated to the museum.

Behind the Goodwin display, many pieces of Lillian McKay’s china along with a dress and personal items from her husband, Dr. Haden E. McKay Jr., are on display. Dr. Haden McKay, who was the mayor of Humble for 24 years, also practiced in the McKay Clinic, which was started by his father in the late 1800s.

In addition to Humble’s rich history in oil, other exhibits are on display such as an old telephone, dolls and toys that are more than 100 years old, old handmade wooden cribs, clothing and shoes from different periods.

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