A “treasure” is now available to Katy area historians and genealogy researchers: Seventy-five years of original and microfilm copies of The Brookshire Times.
The late Mary Ann Ernstes, who owned the paper between 1945 and 1973, and her family were recognized for the gift to the Katy Heritage Society and library at the November 9 meeting of the Katy City Council.
“This is a wonderful, wonderful treasure,” said Councilwoman Carol Adams, who also serves as executive director of the heritage society. “This is a tremendous gift.”
The Brookshire Times was launched in 1913 and reported news about the Brookshire and Pattison areas. Katy native Mary Ann Ernstes began her newspaper career as a writer and photographer there, collecting tidbits of wartime news as she delivered milk for the family dairy business.
She purchased the paper in 1945 and included Katy-area news, as well as coverage of Addicks, Barker and Fulshear.
When the paper was sold in the 1970s, and its name changed to The Times, Ernstes kept the original reference copies, and added to them over the years. The family -- which includes sisters Clara Guice and Barbara McDonald, and brothers Lloyd, Albert and Leo -- continued the practice after Mary Ann’s death in 1981.
Their gift includes a single copy of the 1899 edition of The Brookshire Eagle. A grant from the George Foundation helped with the cost of having the originals microfilmed.
“These newspapers are a chronicle of the early history of the Brookshire-Katy area,” said Leo Ernstes. “If you have family roots in this area or are a local historian, a new door has been opened.”
Various libraries, including the Katy library, will get microfilm copies. The originals will go to the Katy Heritage Society for preservation, along with an album of photos from the newspaper archives that cover the 1950s to the ‘70s. Researchers also can access the newspapers through the website NewspaperArchive.com.
“It is not a stretch to say that most of these newspapers are the only surviving copies,” said Guice, who was present with her family for the proclamation ceremony November 9. “The family appreciates the city and the heritage society for giving us the opportunity to make this donation, so the history will be preserved.”
Adams said a Chandler and Price single-page press on which early editions were hand-printed, is already on display at Katy Heritage Park. Delicate originals of the Times will be carefully preserved as well, she added.
“They’ll last another 100 years, and more.”
At the proclamation ceremony, Mayor Don Elder said the Ernstes family has been an important part of the Katy area for many years. “We appreciate all of you very much and thank you for the fine gift you have given our community.”
