Photograph of construction of a building for a new business in downtown Port Arthur, Texas. Two men are standing on a wooden platform and are hammering a board. Another man is standing inside the structure. Text below the photograph says "11/25/11."

Photograph of Peter Lamp (1842-1921) seated indoors, smoking a pipe. He is wearing a suit and hat, and blowing smoke out of his mouth. Handwriting on the back of the photograph identifies him as Peter Lamp.

Photograph of a large crowd of men and women on a road in Port Arthur, Texas, on Armistice Day in 1920. Cars are parked on both sides of the street in front of buildings in the background.

Photograph of an exterior view of a wooden building identified as the first city jail of Port Arthur, Texas. There are two narrow windows with bars over them, and several shingles are missing from the roof. Text at the bottom of the photograph says "First Port Arthur Jail 11-28-30." Text below the photograph says "First City Jail - originally located on corner of Fourth Street and Waco Avenue (where Port Arthur News is now. About 1913 it was moved to back of #2 First Station at Thomas Boulevard and Houston Avenue."

Photograph of a wooden building identified as the first Port Arthur City Hall on Lakeshore Drive and Dallas Avenue. On the front of the building, there are stairs leading to a door. To the right of the door, there is a larger set of double doors. Pieces of wood are falling off of the building. In the foreground, there is a set of train tracks and debris. Text on the top left of the photograph says "City Hall - 1930," and text on the bottom right says "First Port Arthur City Hall 11-28-30."

Photograph of an exterior view of a wooden building identified as the first city jail of Port Arthur, Texas. There are two narrow windows with bars over them, and several shingles are missing from the roof. Text at the bottom of the photograph says "First Port Arthur Jail 11-28-30."

Photograph of a group of men at the Armistice Day celebration at Pleasure Island. The men are standing in a row, and some are wearing military uniforms, and some men are holding American flags. In the background, there is a metal structure. Text at the bottom-right of the photograph says "'Armistice Day' November 11, 1921."

Professional photograph of Port Arthur Queen, identified as Mary Donaldson Wade. She is wearing a crown and a white dress with a long train draped in front of her. Her hands are by her side and she is looking towards the camera. The back of the photograph is dated 11/11/34 and reads, "Daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Murff F. Bledese. Mary Donaldson Wade."

Photograph of the Sutherlin, McElroy, and Bowman families on Thanksgiving 1935. In the front row, from left to right, are James Edgar Sutherlin; Theodore Edgar McElroy, Jr.; Gerald Edwin McElroy; and Barbara Jean McElroy. In the second row, from left to right, are Edgar Brown Sutherlin, Edith Hallie Wilson Sutherlin, Sophia Flint Wilson, Harriet Josephine Beauchamp McElroy, Walter Edwin McElroy, Waneta Sutherlin, Mable McElroy Duncan, and Lester Duncan. In the third row are Elma Wilson Ridpath; Wayne Ridpath; Walter William McElroy; Maurine Sutherlin McElroy; Theodore Edgar McElroy, Sr.; Bertis Paul McElroy; and Chesley Arthur Bowman. In the back row are Atha Talley McElroy, Dovert William McElroy, and John Harvey Sutherlin.

Photograph of Bishop Christopher E. Byrne sprinkling a crowd with holy water at the dedication of St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of Bishop Christopher E. Byrne sprinkling a crowd with holy water at the dedication of St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of a man standing in a field at Lucas Gusher site with many oil derricks across the skyline behind him.

Photograph of a procession of nuns walking up the center aisle inside of St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of priests and altar servers entering St. James Catholic Church for its dedication.

Photograph of sheep in a field at the Lucas Gusher site, with oil derricks in the background.

Photograph of the side altar to the Virgin Mary inside of St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of the exterior of St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of priests and bishop at the altar of St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of St. James Catholic Church in the early stages of its construction, with only an empty steel framework visible above the foundation.

Photograph of the newly constructed exterior of St. James Catholic Church, with some men working on the grounds.

Photograph of the cornerstone of St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur, Texas. The inscription on the stone says "St. James Church, Rt. Rev. C. E. Byrne, Bishop of Galveston; Rev. J. M. Kirwin, Pastor; A. Babin, Architect; A. L. Hays, Contractor; April 16, 1939."

Photograph of priests, altar servers and Bishop Christopher E. Byrne reading a prayer near the entrance of St. James Catholic Church as part of its dedication.

Photograph of a crowd of people at the dedication of St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of priests and Bishop Christopher E. Byrne near the entrance of St. James Catholic Church during its dedication.