Gaston Museum, an area history museum, is located in Joinerville, Texas, approximately 6 miles West of Henderson, Texas. The museum's physical address is 6562 Texas State Highway 64 West. The East Texas Oil Field's discovery well, The Daisy Bradford #3, is located 2.2 miles from the museum. Gaston Museum staff will provide driving directions to the discovery well site. The museum's new exhibit building, designed by Charles Croft, was dedicated and occupied in June, 2005. Exhibits give you a glimpse of life before ,during and after the great East Texas oil field in the 1930's. The Gaston Museum has memorabilia from the boom era, family history, antique radios, remnants from the community, businesses, churches, Gaston School, and we honor our Veterans with a Wall Of Honor. Other exhibits include: "East Texas Oil Field," "Boom Town Businesses," "Churches of the Area," "Early Families", "Boy Scouts," "R***e Club", "Toys of the Time" and others. The White's Snack Shop building is part of the museum's exhibits. This historical building will not be able to be preserved but has been recreated with original items, booths, counter and seats from the Snack Shop. It was the center of entertainment during the oil boom playing an important role in the development of Joinerville and the East Texas Oil Field and a gathering place for the high school students at Gaston School. Elvis stands atop his stage created from the original boards he performed on in 1955 at the Gaston School auditorium. Artwork reflects a mural by the 1980, 7th grade class portraying the Joinerville Community. William "Gus" Berry was a renowned artist, and art student from the class of 1950. His work is featured in the school tribute section of the exhibit building. This section features accolades of the Red Devils sports and academics and information and artifacts from the glory of Gaston School. Military Veterans are honored with "Gaston's Wall of Honor." Pictures of veterans from World War I, World War II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam War and peace time, associated with Gaston School, line the Wall of Honor room. Military artifacts are included
Visitors may tour the Sid White family home, once an 'oil field tent house' converted into a permanent dwelling with the ceiling installed using the rafters supporting the tent roof - hence the original tent is visible. The living room of the home is the original tent with the original floor. The radio was an important part of family life. Radio WAS the family's link to the world. The tent House now houses the Escape Room event with all clues from the actual home. The 1930 era Dixie Service Station is also on the museum site. All buildings have original furnishings. Learn how they washed clothes outside, grew gardens for food, cut trees and weighed cotton,
Life in the East Texas Oil Field is a very important part of our Rusk County history. Step back in time - bring your children, grandchildren and friends. Revisit life in the East Texas Oil Field. Do you know which Rusk County Historical Marker has the wrong date inscribed or which small country school became the largest rural school in the world? Have you ever seen an oil field tent house? Come, get the answer to these and other questions by visiting this unique historical site still in tact with original furnishings and playing our Scavenger Hunt game in the exhibit building.
