Hazel Woods place

- Alamo Street -

I was doing some research on Sweetwater when I came across a 1932 article about a drowning at Lake Trammell. People familiar with Sweetwater know there is a long history of drownings at that lake.

The article seemed innocent enough, an accidental drowning when a family fishing trip went awry, but subsequent articles told a different story: a man accused and arrested for murdering his wife practically in front of their children. He wanted to cash in on several life insurance policies, and to make a future with a prostitute from Oklahoma.

Court documents from the case mentioned that the prostitute was staying at Hazel Woods place before the accused man put her up at a nice hotel.

I thought "Hazel Woods? Who is Hazel Woods?"

I went searching, searching for Hazel Woods, and, finally, found a 1937 death notice for her. She was otherwise known as Clara Bowman.

I wondered why a woman at that time would have an alias. I guess if you were a lady running a "bawdy house", you might not want to use your real name.

After reading many newspaper, book and court articles, I ascertained that Hazel Woods place was in the vicinity of 605 Alamo Street in Sweetwater. Somewhere between 1901 and 1913, Clara bought the property from Kate Morse, a madam who had arrived in Sweetwater from Stephenville in 1901.

After Hazel Woods aka Clara B Webb Bowman died in 1937, there were newspaper ads offering rooms for rent at the property, known as the Alamo Hotel. 

References: Portal to Texas History, Caselaw Access Project, Casetext, Sins of the Pioneers, Polk City Directory: Original drowning article; Parks arrest; Parks v State, Hazel Woods place mentioned; Bowman v State, Clara admits to a lot, as well as buying the house from Morse; Kate Morse in Stephenville