1920 saw a revival of the old evil...the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan!

The oil field boom had caused an undesirable effect on the moral fiber of the early Old, Middle, and New Town area, in the eyes of those that wanted  'Victorian principles' to be the standard. Goose Creek, with it's upper echelon aspirations was especially susceptible to recruitment by the Klan Kleagles (recruiters).

In 25 years of living in Baytown, I had never heard of the Klan being strong in Baytown.  My Mother-in-law, Verna Mae Petty Reneau, who has lived in this area since 1926 hadn't either....but it's quite true. It was a literal reign of terror from 1921 to 1923 as Goose Creek Klan #4 held weekly parades down Texas Avenue.

Baytown in 1921 had 10 houses of prostitution outside the refinery. Rumors of street fights and wild night life abounded amongst the civil minded folks in Goose Creek, less than a mile away. The Klan took root there and announced their presence on May 28, 1921at Pelly Park and marched up Main street, to Texas Avenue.

Their numbers grew and they became bolder and bolder.  Minorities, Catholics, and anyone who spoke out against them soon fell silent. As time progressed, the Goose Creek Klan began to pass judgment on any supposed moral infraction, mainly on local whites. Beatings, tar and feathers, and death threats were exacted in excess of 20 separate occasions during their existence, some including women and children!

* If you have photos, or memories (even passed down), please send them in for publication.  

To learn more about Baytown's dark era, read the excellent paper by Suzanne Blankenship 'Oil and Morals: The Klan in Goose Creek' found in Baytown Vignettes.  This fine book is available at the Baytown Historical Museum on W. Defee Street.