Historical Marker

Harry James' Childhood Homesite

Historical marker location:
2013 S. Martin Luther King Parkway, Beaumont, Texas
( Northeast corner of Neches Avenue at MLK Parkway)
Marker installed: 2012
Marker size: 27" x 42"

HENRY HAAG “HARRY” JAMES WAS AN AMERICAN MUSICIAN WHO BECAME FAMOUS AS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BANDLEADERS DURING THE “BIG BAND” OR “SWING BAND” ERA OF THE 1930s AND 1940s. HE WAS BORN IN 1916 IN ALBANY, GEORGIA. WHEN HARRY WAS EIGHT HIS PARENTS SETTLED IN BEAUMONT, WHERE HIS FATHER, EVERETTE, WAS A MUSIC TEACHER. EVERETTE SET UP A STUDIO IN THEIR HOME LOCATED AT 2095 NECHES STREET WHICH IS NOW MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PARKWAY. HARRY JAMES JOINED DICK DOWLING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA AND AT BEAUMONT HIGH SCHOOL HE JOINED THE ROYAL PURPLE BAND. HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN 1934 WHEN HE TOURED WITH JOE GILL. IN 1935 JAMES JOINED BEN POLLACK’S BAND WHERE HE MADE HIS RECORDING DEBUT WITH “SPREADING KNOWLEDGE AROUND.” IN 1937, BENNY GOODMAN HEARD JAMES PLAY AND OFFERED HIM A JOB WITH HIS ORCHESTRA. JAMES STARTED HIS OWN BAND IN 1940 WITH GOODMAN’S BLESSING AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

JAMES RECORDED MANY POPULAR SONGS INCLUDING “YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU” AND “FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLE BEE,” AND BY 1942 HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR MUSICIANS IN THE COUNTRY. JAMES WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN JUMPSTARTING THE CAREERS OF FAMOUS ENTERTAINERS, SUCH AS SINGER FRANK SINATRA AND DRUMMER BUDDY RICH. HIS FILM CAREER BEGAN WITH HOLLYWOOD HOTEL, BUT ALSO INCLUDED OTHER FILMS LIKE TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR, YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN, THE BENNY GOODMAN STORY, ANYTHING GOES, AND SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES WITH HIS SECOND WIFE, ACTRESS BETTY GRABLE. HARRY JAMES HAS BEEN CALLED “ONE OF THE MOST ESSENTIAL TRUMPETERS AND BANDLEADERS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN MUSIC.” HIS INNOVATIVE PLAYING STYLE INFLUENCED TRUMPETERS AND CHANGED THE HISTORY OF JAZZ. HARRY JAMES DIED IN 1983 AND IS BURIED IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

As one of the most visible programs of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), historical markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including: the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites; events that changed the course of local and state history; and individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state, community organizations, and businesses.

African American artists
Audiobooks about the history of Texas.
Texas is known for its love of football, and the state has produced many great football players, including legends like Tom Landry, Earl Campbell, and Vince Young.
Texas random facts
Jefferson County, Texas, has a rich history that spans back several centuries. It is home to the indigenous tribes who had lived in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. In the early 16th century, Spanish explorers reached the area and claimed it as part of New Spain. However, it was not until the early 19th century that the region began to see significant settlement.

In the early 1820s, Empresario Joseph Vehlein obtained a contract to settle 300 families in the region. The land, once inhabited by the Atakapa people, soon attracted settlers of various origins, including Americans, Europeans, and enslaved Africans. The area became known for its fertile soil, offering ideal conditions for agriculture and ranching.

The city of Beaumont was established in the mid-19th century and quickly developed into a major trading and shipping center due to its access to the Neches River and the Gulf of Mexico. The discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901 marked a turning point in the county's history, as the region experienced a significant oil boom. This brought great prosperity and transformed the area's economy, leading to the development of the petrochemical industry in the following decades.

Throughout the 20th century, Jefferson County witnessed various social and economic changes. It played a key role in World War II, serving as the location for significant military activity, including the establishment of one of the largest military shipbuilding centers in the country. The county also experienced desegregation struggles during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, which eventually led to greater equality.

Today, Jefferson County continues to be an important industrial center for petrochemicals and petroleum-related industries. It is also home to a diverse population and offers a mix of urban and rural landscapes, with a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Jefferson County, Texas.

  • 1836: Jefferson County is established as a municipality of the Republic of Texas.
  • 1838: The town of Beaumont is founded.
  • 1840: Jefferson County becomes part of the newly-formed State of Texas.
  • 1845: Texas is admitted to the United States, and Jefferson County becomes a county within the state.
  • 1858: A railroad is completed, connecting Beaumont to surrounding areas.
  • 1865: The Civil War ends, and Jefferson County begins to recover from the war's impact.
  • 1881: The Spindletop oil field, the first major oil discovery in Texas, is found in Jefferson County.
  • 1901: The Lucas Gusher at Spindletop oil field erupts, launching the Texas oil boom.
  • 1925: The Neches River is first navigable by deep-draft vessels, boosting the county's shipping industry.
  • 1943: The Port of Beaumont is established as a major center for the shipping and petrochemical industries.
  • 1989: Hurricane Gilbert strikes Jefferson County, causing significant damage to the area.
  • 2005: Hurricane Rita makes landfall in Jefferson County, leading to widespread devastation.
  • 2017: Hurricane Harvey causes widespread flooding in Jefferson County.