Garland’s Landmark Museum is fortunate to have gifted public speaker Holly Stevens presenting several lectures at various locations in the city. The latest series is about prohibition.
Stevens had decided on a career in substance abuse counseling and was working toward a certificate in that field – until a different path presented itself. When taking an art history class for general credit, she realized that she enjoyed that topic more.
“I fell in love with the subject matter and have been in art history or history ever since,” Stevens said.
She began teaching art history in 1998, then later, after a negative experience in Memphis decided to write her own tours.
“I paid a lot of money for a ‘ghost tour’ and got a fraud who could not remember a single name, date or details of a story,” Stevens said. “I returned to Dallas so mad that it spurred me into writing my own tours! One left from the Old Red Courthouse and another from the downtown Garland square.”
In addition, a friend suggested that Stevens get involved in Dallas area book clubs and explained how that would provide an opportunity to share her special knowledge with an appreciative audience.
The history tours and presentations, along with the book review presentations brought Stevens where she is now, and she has loved doing both since 2017.
She worked at the Landmark Museum for a time and enjoyed doing research there. That later lead to public talks about Garland history. She genuinely loves sharing information and commented that there is so much “weird history” out there.
“My wheelhouse thus far is Garland, Rowlett, Sachse, Rockwall and Dallas,” Stevens said.
However, she has done extensive research into Fort Worth for two victims of an 1890s serial killer and Elizabet Ney, an Austin sculptress of the late 1800s/early 1900s.
Stevens’ first public speaking experience was when she began teaching college in the late 1990s.
“That was a doozy,” she said. “I was in my last year of grad school when I heard through the grapevine that a local (Illinois) community college was desperate for an art history intro class instructor.”
She added that she “interviewed” for the job Thursday which consisted of them handing her a book, then taught three hours Friday. She honed her public speaking skills by teaching 18-23-year-olds who did not want to take her class.
“But I will brag in saying that I converted the majority,” Stevens said.
The Landmark Museum is fortunate to have the opportunity to hear Stevens’ lectures. The current series is about prohibition in Garland. The third talk in the series is Saturday, Aug. 19, at 4 p.m. at the Landmark Museum, 393 North Sixth Street in downtown Garland.
The talks introduce interesting characters that called Garland home during prohibition. Stevens brings them and their often-humorous, and almost always dangerous, escapades to life.
“Holly is a very talented and engaging speaker. We are lucky to have her telling Garland’s stories,” Kim Nurmi, Heritage Crossing Coordinator said. “The stories of Garland’s Prohibition Era range from wild to sad to just plain interesting.”
Important: You do not have to have heard the first two lectures to enjoy subsequent talks. However, here are a few highlights:
The first and second lectures introduced the Anderson Tourist Camp, which was situated in front of Garland’s still where most of the town’s moonshine was produced. The camp and still were near the corner of present-day Centerville Road at Highway 66 where Mills Cemetery is located.
A variety of illegal activities went on in this area – all the way from making moonshine to fights to shootings and murders. Ed Corley shot Luther Killion in the leg. Then a character named Arther shot Ed to death. Later the cause of the shootings was described as ‘business interests.’ He went to jail and Ma Ferguson later pardoned him.
Mark your calendars for Stevens’ upcoming Garland talks listed below.
In addition, watch for information on Stevens’ Campfire Tales to be held Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. Subjects will include wild crimes and citizens of early Garland. Afterward, we’ll roast marshmallows to “sooth our nerves.”
