This volume compiles 105 stories of Houston's history originally written by Dr. Young for his column in the Houston Chronicle. This is history at its most entertaining. He brings early Houstonians to life, describing their personalities, their admirable traits and their many eccentricities. His stories of boyhood in Houston read like something out of Tom Sawyer. There are also stories of early citizens and their day-to-day lives, of the Civil War and Houston's fighting men, of slaves and former slaves, of rigged elections and reconstruction days. Dr. Young gives vivid descriptions of Houston's many saloons and gambling dens. You'll read about what a mischievous undertaker did with the Yankee dead during a Yellow Fever epidemic, about the superstitions of the day, about ghosts and haunted houses. There are stories of gentlemen and of scoundrels, of hangings and jail breaks. Even a little cross dressing.

Originally published in 1912 to debunk myths that had been floated about Houston's founding and earliest years, it is now considered a must-have book for collectors of Houston history. Nearly all later works on Houston cite Dr. Young's excellent work. The text covers the city's founding, the early mayors, Civil War and Reconstruction. There are sections on early buildings, bridges, the development of railroads and fire companies. It covers Houston's early physicians and lawyers, the many, many newspapers, and the first banks. There is much on Houston's military history, its sawmills and cotton industry. Read about early literary efforts in Houston, the Lyceum, Carnegie Library, and the founding of the Rice Institute. Want to know about about early labor unions? The first telegraphs? About how the telephone and electric lighting came to town? It's all here.