John Phelps Harris County Courthouse Annex
101 S.Richey, Pasadena, TX 77506

“I have spent the last 18 months working on mixed-media paintings for the new John Phelps Courthouse Annex in Pasadena, Texas. I was charged with telling the story, 1890-2000, of the towns on the Houston Ship Channel. The 16 pieces detail life in Deer Park, La Porte, Pasadena, South Houston, Shoreacres, Morgan’s Point, Jacinto City and Galena Park. I concentrated my focus on more than just famous moments and monuments, remembering that it is the oil and petrochemical workers, the members of the unions, the schools and all the residents who have contributed to the core values of those communities.

I met with local historian David Pomeroy, the Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic business leadership of Pasadena (PHBA), founders of the rodeo, the head of the Shell Historical Museum, librarians, Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia’s staff, and countless others to learn from scratch. I grew up in California, and could tell you all about Father Serra and the Camino Real, but not much about the Battle of San Jacinto. This turned into a labor of love, and I can now enthusiastically regale you with anecdotes about strawberry fields, drive-ins, cat cracker turnarounds, etc!”

Ellen Frances Tuchman, September 2010

HONOR OUR PAST, BUILD OUR FUTURE Overall view	Agriculture	Agriculture detail	Deer Park
Learning detail	South Houston	Gilley's/Shelly's detail	Rodeo and Drive-Ins detail
Jacinto City and Shoreacres	Morgan's Point	Oil & Petrol	Oil & Petrol detail