Texas Trivia (Giddings: suite, dogs, settlement)

[jtur88]

In the 1920s, a trickle of agricultural immigrants began arriving in Texas. A war veterans post in one city warned them to stay away, and soon thereafter, Texas enacted a state law prohibiting them from buying or even leasing land. An existing public park in Texas, named for these people's culture, was re-named for a different nationality. What country were these immigrants from?

[doctorjef]

It seems the public park could not have been a state park, since there are only two state parks named for a nationality -- Seminole and Kickapoo, and neither one seems to have a history of having been renamed. So it must have been a municipal park. I'm also reasoning that the immigrant group could not have been Mexican. There was some Greek and Middle Eastern immigration to Texas around the time, economically motivated, but my research on the web didn't suggest that it fit with the stipulations of the trivia question. I'm wondering if it could have been Chinese agricultural workers, although I couldn't find anything referring to the history of such a group in Texas -- there were Chinese railroad workers in Texas in the 1880's. So I'm stumped so far. Other rather historically disliked immigrant groups also seem to have pre-dated the 1920's and I can't find evidence of state level laws discriminating against such groups.

Maybe a hint leading to discovery of the park in question would be in order if no one is any more successful than I was.

[Chanygirl]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

It seems the public park could not have been a state park, since there are only two state parks named for a nationality -- Seminole and Kickapoo, and neither one seems to have a history of having been renamed. So it must have been a municipal park. I'm also reasoning that the immigrant group could not have been Mexican. There was some Greek and Middle Eastern immigration to Texas around the time, economically motivated, but my research on the web didn't suggest that it fit with the stipulations of the trivia question. I'm wondering if it could have been Chinese agricultural workers, although I couldn't find anything referring to the history of such a group in Texas -- there were Chinese railroad workers in Texas in the 1880's. So I'm stumped so far. Other rather historically disliked immigrant groups also seem to have pre-dated the 1920's and I can't find evidence of state level laws discriminating against such groups.

Maybe a hint leading to discovery of the park in question would be in order if no one is any more successful than I was.

My first response was Mexican as well but am more inclined to say Chinese. They were excluded from buying or even leasing land by national law...AND the Chinese first settled in San Antonio and I seem to remember reading something about the Japanese Gardens in San Antonio originally being Chinese...

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by Chanygirl

My first response was Mexican as well but am more inclined to say Chinese. They were excluded from buying or even leasing land by national law...AND the Chinese first settled in San Antonio and I seem to remember reading something about the Japanese Gardens in San Antonio originally being Chinese...

You have the correct park in San Antonio. I can't comment on your answer without giving it away, so I'll award you the winning prize. The Japanese Tea Garden was originally Japanese, but Japan is the correct answer to the trivia question. When the Japnese were banned, the Japanese Tea Garden was renamed the Chinese Tea Garden. It then fell into neglect, and when restored recently, its name was restored as the Japanese Tea Garden.

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/o...articles/pjj01

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Ant...ese_Tea_Garden

Your turn.

[Chanygirl]

This is a bit of a trick question as you will have to think out of the box...but being Texans you're used to that so here goes...
Other then the Pumpkin Patch Where else can you find a Pumpkin in Texas?
I will say this... this Pumpkin is NOT a gourd.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by Chanygirl

This is a bit of a trick question as you will have to think out of the box...but being Texans you're used to that so here goes...
Other then the Pumpkin Patch Where else can you find a Pumpkin in Texas?
I will say this... this Pumpkin is NOT a gourd.

There is a Pumpkin, Texas, in San Jacinto County. Satellite view, looks like there are 4 or 5 houses there. And a Punkin Center, in Hardeman County.

How about Elmer Kelton's Texas Novel "The Pumpkin Rollers?"

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Chanygirl

This is a bit of a trick question as you will have to think out of the box...but being Texans you're used to that so here goes...
Other then the Pumpkin Patch Where else can you find a Pumpkin in Texas?
I will say this... this Pumpkin is NOT a gourd.

Interesting stuff:

Pumpkins in Texas

• Texas is the fourth leading state in commercial pumpkin production, and generates $2.4 million for farmers, with an economic impact of $7.4 million in the state.
• 5,000 to 8,000 acres are planted annually in Texas. 90% are in the west Texas region.
• The pumpkin is a cucurbit, over 90% are produced for seasonal ornamental use.

[Chanygirl]

Good try...but, wrong. Sorry!

[joqua]

There's a DJ at the Elysium on Red River in Austin who goes by "Pumpkin Spice." I presume a takeoff on the Spice Sisters - not sure.

And Blue Bell ice cream has a seasonal "Pumpkin Spice Pecan" flavor that is to die for. Sadly haven't seen any egg nog flavored ice cream yet.

Oh yeah, there used to be a rock group that went by "Smashing Pumpkins" that played many Texas venues at one time.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by Chanygirl

Good try...but, wrong. Sorry!

The answer I gave was not wrong, it just wasn't the one you were thinking of. San Jacinto County is where you can find a Pumpkin in Texas that's not a gourd, which is all you asked for. Your question needs to be more specific, in order to exclude other plausible answers.