Ed Bell
Indianola, Calhoun County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Famed story teller David Edward "Ed" Bell was born on January 10, 1905, near Leakey, Texas. After moving to Indianola, Bell and his wife Mary Alma (Smith), bought land along Powderhorn Bayou where they established what his customers called "Ed Bell's Fish Camp". Visitors to the fish camp were charmed by Bell's tall tales and over the decades he gained notoriety as a "Virtuoso Storyteller" performing at story telling events across the country. Locally, Bell contributed to economic growth of Indianola and, through his stories, preserved its cultural history. (2012)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born near Leakey in 1905, David Edward "Ed" Bell settled at Indianola and opened a fish camp on Powderhorn Bayou that drew visitors as much for his tall tales as for the fishing. Over the decades his gift for a good yarn earned him a national reputation as a virtuoso storyteller who performed at events across the country. Locally he helped sustain Indianola's economy and, through his stories, kept alive the lore of the Texas coast.
Why it matters
Bell carried on the folk art of the tall tale, a homespun tradition that preserved the humor and memory of coastal Texas.
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Related people
- · David Edward "Ed" Bell
- · Mary Alma Smith Bell
Themes & tags
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