Dedication of 1929 Hunt County Courthouse. Note the “statues” standing on the ledge. (Author’s collection)
In January 1998 I went to work at the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library for the City of Greenville. Over the years I had chased down my family history, served on the Hunt County Historical Commission, and was extremely passionate about local history. The Genealogy and Local History Section was a dream come true.
In the fall of that year Melva Geyer, then editor of the Herald Banner, and I agreed on a weekly article for the new Brunch Section of the paper. I would write each week. I think my first article was published in late October or in November. I don’t remember what I wrote, I had no journalism training, but I knew how historians write. That was good enough for Melva.
I gradually inched into local history and eased up on genealogy when I realized no one else is as interested as the genealogist. I still try to include clues that have worked for me but who wants to know about my ancestors who ran cattle out in Lubbock County at the turn of the 20th century.
That is roughly over 1,000 articles since 1998. Sometimes I find myself wanting to pull my hair out when I can’t think of a topic. But over time, I have been blessed with wonderful stories people have told me. I had the lady in the fresh vegetable section ask me about a cemetery once. People leave old newspaper articles, old letters, and various stories at my husband’s office. Some people even ask him questions but I don’t know if he can answer them. At that point he gives out my e-mail or telephone number.
My first really major local history project was a history of the current courthouse. In 1996 Hunt County was 150 years old. The historical commission planned a big birthday party that included a re-enactment of the five “statues” on the ledge above the entrance to the building. I thoroughly researched the building, found the blue prints, poked around the old jail cells, and developed a fascination with the 1929 Hunt County Courthouse.
I volunteered to write the history of the courthouse with all the details. I took photos of all exterior sides. And I sent an old photo of the dedication of the courthouse in 1929 to show that the exterior of the building was never changed. On that day, five citizens dressed in period costumes, covered themselves with flour and posed as the original group did.
As soon as the Texas Historical Commission in Austin received my proposal for a historical marker, I received a phone call from a friend down there. What happened to the statues she wanted to know? I very calmly told her they went home, took baths, and ate supper. Then I explained they were living people perched upon the ledge. She still asks about the statues, every time I see her.
Since then I have researched Central Christian Church, Kavanaugh Church, Greenville Municipal Auditorium, and countless other sites both in Greenville and throughout Hunt County. Five years ago, I began a self-taught course in history of World War I. I’m not a military historian but I am fascinated with what was happening in the United States at that time. Boy was I surprised, our country was far from united and supportive of President Wilson.
Recently I expanded my articles to include the North Texas region from Texarkana to Vernon and from the Red River to Interstate 20. That’s a big area but full of wonderful stories to tell. I plan to continue writing. Let me know if there is something you are interested in.