“I was born and raised in Baytown. When I look back on my teenage years, I think about Texas Avenue. The movies I saw. Hanging out with my buddies. Checking out the pretty girls driving by. It was like ‘American Graffiti’ via Baytown.

“But when I was 16, if you would have told me that when I’m 52 I’d get my jollies and my kicks from Baytown history, I would have told you to put a bullet in me. I’m glad nobody did. I just have a passion for my hometown and its history.

“I didn’t do all that well in school, but I could have. The teachers always said I was bright enough. I was just too busy being a hippie and all that entailed.

“But my love for history started in high school. There was a teacher, Joe Herzik, and he made it fun. I have this fascination with it now. I think Baytown history is so cool. I don’t know how else to put it.

“Working on my site, I learn something new every day. And I’ve found that if you make it fun, cool and interesting, folks will tend to remember it more.”

— Russell Hamman

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“I started the garden in 2006 as an effort to help beautify Texas Avenue and its surrounding community, and to educate others about growing organically. It was my belief that if the community could see a living example of what could be done on a small scale, then others would do the same. That is still my belief.

“That first year I planted the entire garden in flowers. Now I grow flowers and vegetables.

“My love of gardening began as a child. I learned so much from my parents and grandparents. I have always had a garden. It connects me to my past, my family and the earth.”

— Noe Tristan

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