Gaston Museum

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 in the East Texas oil field in the 1930's and 1940's. The Gaston Museum has memorabilia from the boom era, family history, antique radio display with original equipment, original equipment from 1930's radio repair shop, Gaston School, businesses, churches, and we honor our Veterans with a Wall Of Honor.

The White's Snack Shop building is part of the museum's exhibits. This historical building is being preserved for visitors to the Gaston Museum. White's Snack Shop was the center of entertainment during the oil boom playing an important role in the development of Joinerville and the East Texas Oil Field.

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 1930 era Dixie Service Station is also on the museum site. All buildings have original furnishings.

"Radio...How We Surfed the Wave" exhibit, is a loving tribute to a father, who operated a radio repair shop as a second job. You will hear the 'shop owner' tell you, via audio, the how, why, and when he opened the shop in the 1930's, and a few interesting experiences. His work shop table is filled with manuals, tools, and equipment, ready to repair another radio. Journals listing purchases, sales, and charges include names of many of the families of this area.

Artwork reflects on a family gathered to listen to their favorite radio program, or perhaps the nightly news. The radio was an important part of family life. Radio WAS the family's link to the world.

The exhibit also includes antique radios.

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.

Other exhibits include: "East Texas Oil Field," "Boom Town Businesses," "Churches of the Area," "Early Families", "Boy Scouts," "Gaston School," and others. "History of Joinerville" was presented during the 2002 season.

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.