Page 7 AROUND THE COMMUNITY Shoreacres Officer Saves A Life City Plans to Present ‘Ike Dike’ Proposal At the Nov. 11 By JAREE HEFNER La Porte and other communi- ing to council to ask for their Shoreacres Marketing/PR Specialist ties fronting Galveston Bay. support to submit a resolution City Council for City of La Porte While the proposed Cen- supporting the proposed struc- meeting, tennial Gate project is, at this tural protection system, known Shoreacres On Nov. 11 the City of La point, nothing more than a as the “Ike Dike,” to protect Police Officer Porte had numerous citizens plan. the Houston Galveston region. Gerry “Steve” come to the City Council We as a City want to make Designed by Professor Dr. Ford was given meeting and voice their sure it was known that we did Bill Merrell of TAMUG, who a Life Saving concerns with the proposed not support it. will be presenting his concept Commendation “Centennial Gate” project that We followed your concerns at the council meeting, the Award by Mayor was published by the SSPEED with a resolution, sent to the Ike Dike would be located Matt Webber Center. SSPEED center and legislators, along the Gulf of Mexico at for providing City Council heard your that voiced our opposition to the mouth of Galveston Bay CPR to resident concerns, and agreed that the both proposals for the Centen- and would be a combination of T.F. Gibson on proposed plan would fail to nial Gate project. Nov. 4. protect the low lying areas of On Dec. 9 staff will be go- IKE DIKE Continued on page 18

HOVEY continued from page 1 to work in the hardware store. ANNOUNCEMENT Soon after returning to La Porte he was introduced to his future wife, Virginia. He remembers taking her to Kenneth Samuel McClain see “Willard the Wizard” two nights in a row to make a good Celebrates His 96th Birthday! impression. They were married in 1954, On December 6th, Ken- a year after meeting, and neth Samuel McClain will raised two children, Larry and be 96 years old. Brenda. He was born and raised As La Porte Hardware grew in East Texas. it became clear that a bigger, While growing up, he newer store was needed to worked on a farm to help better serve the community. his family. One night, after tripping After a day’s hard work, over something in the store, his he liked to go dancing. He mother declared it was time. married Onice McClain Moore and Moore Con- and has three boys: Wayne, struction was called, and Jodie, and Johnny. without even a detailed plan He enlisted in the Army, the remodeling began in 1951 serving in World War II. At and finished in 1953. The the end of his service, the bombing of Pearl Harbor store didn’t close for a single Kenneth McClain day during the remodeling as occurred, so he reenlisted. customers were served through During his service time, the back door or the side door he became known as “The City, moving to Colorado located on 2nd Street. Barber” because of stories before settling in La Porte. After the remodeling of the of him being in fox-holes McClain loves to bowl. store, Wayne talked his mother cutting hair while being We would like to dedi- into letting him take over the shot at. cate this article in Honor toy department and the pur- He was wounded and and Celebration of Ken- chasing of the toys. received a Purple Heart. neth Samuel McClain. With Wayne’s love of toys After his service, McClain With Love from his whole and trains, and as one of only and his wife lived in Texas Family a couple toy stores in the area, the toy department grew quick- ly. Merry It started out in half of the upstairs in the southeast cor- Christmas ner, with the remainder of the upstairs being used for storage. As the toy department From expanded to fill the entire up- stairs, the Hovey’s purchased a Our Family lot on Third Street to be used as a warehouse for storage of to Yours the toys and hardware back stock. Wayne had total purchasing LA PORTE HARDWARE THROUGH THE YEARS — TOP power of the toy stock which PHOTO: This is the frontage in the early 30’s after John included trucks of all descrip- Hovey purchased La Porte Hardware in 1927. MIDDLE: tion, dolls, kites, balls of all In the 1940’ the look of the hardware before the remodling kinds and, and marbles, too began. BOTTOM: the modern new store front in 1953 after the name a few. rebuilding and expansion. Because of Wayne’s passion for trains, the store became a conductor sometimes. 80’s. hotspot for area toy enthusi- I remember looking through Throughout the years, Mr. asts. the front window and watching Hovey’s love of trains hasn’t Later on the trains inventory the trains as they seemed to be diminished, and his only regret became the highlight of the racing each other. is selling his original trains. toys and was moved down- In 1971, Mr. Hovey left La The community of La Porte stairs by the front window. Porte Hardware to pursue an would like to thank Mr. Hovey Moving trains intertwined opportunity in gum balls and for making La Porte Hardware on the display to show off the the toy portion of the store and the “toys” a great memory village along with a human eventually closed in the mid- of our childhood. www.aroundlaporte.com www.facebook.com/aroundlaporte AROUND LA PORTE DECEMBER 2013