The 'White Angel'
Aline Carter--known as "White Angel" for the flowing white gowns worn around the town--hoped to attract island children to the services there and introduce them to her faith, according to Strain at the Port Aransas Museum. Now the iconic building draws those inspired by its charming silhouette set against the morning sunrises and backed by blue skies. And it offers moments of quiet worship and reflection.
The Port Aransas Explorer also reports that Carter, a poet, used the retreat as a place for reflection. In fact, she served as Texas Poet Laureate from 1947-49. She was truly a Renaissance woman, as this depiction from a book at Texas poet laureates describes her. "[She is] an artist, an astronomy educator, and a harpist, having studied under an outstanding teacher of the Boston Conservatory of Music, harpist Harriet A. Shaw. She has in her home an organ and an observatory, complete with telescope, just for her pleasure and for that of the public." The passage goes on to desribes her teaching astronomy to San Antonio's children at the Witte Museum and mentions her Dune Chapel in Port A, too. "Aline may also be found teaching students in her small chapel in Port Aransas, known as “Chapel on the Dunes” or reflecting on the wonders of nature in her “Sunrise Cliff” overlook on the Guadalupe River."
Photo: Courtesy Port Aransas Museum Passage quotes adapted from Poets Laureate of Texas 1932-1966 (1966) by Margaret Royalty Edwards as shared on maverickcarterhour.org.