Twenty years ago, Melva Geyer, then editor of the Greenville Herald Banner, and I discussed the need for a column regarding the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library. Since I was the Genealogy and Local History librarian, I became the columnist.
The first few years, I wrote mainly about genealogy and then added local history. Articles from the first three years were printed and bound. I found the bound volumes recently and opened one to see how embarrassed I would be. But actually, I must say I was pretty good for a complete novice. As I read along, I realized there are many tasks on my To Do List that I still haven’t accomplished.
Gradually I moved from genealogy and stories of my family to Texas history. Lately, I have included Oklahoma, Louisiana, and other surrounding areas. I included events from the early Colonies through the beginning of World War II. I always said I had no interest in the 20th century; I heard my parents talk about the Great Depression and I knew my father fought in World War II. But curiosity got the best of me and I am working on a biography of Morris Sheppard, a Texas Senator from 1912 until his death in 1941. He also served as State Representatives in this area from 1902 to 1912. He will be remembered as the Father of Prohibition.
My first leap into literary work was co-authoring The Devil’s Triangle; Ben Bickerstaff, Northeast Texans, and the War of Reconstruction in Texas with the late Dr. James Smallwood, and Dr. Ken Howell. North Texas Press reprinted it this past summer.
About the same time, I earned a Master’s Degree in History. My thesis about Mercer’s Colony now waits for polishing up to be a manuscript in need of a publisher. Then there was a Photo Book, Images of Greenville.
I have been a member of the Hunt County Historical Commission for forty years and I love it. Over the years, I have served as president several times. I find myself researching and writing about local history in this column as well as on my blog (Carol C. Taylor blog) and in historical markers. I am a Board member of East Texas Historical Association and I must confess a member of the New Deal Symposium of Texas. One time I decided I wanted to know why the United States wanted to enter World War I. Yep, I searched that for five years and posted all sorts of tidbits on Facebook under the title “A Century Ago.” I stopped for a while until a friend told me he used it in one of his history classes. So, look for it again in December.
I taught genealogy classes at the library, have given numerous speeches regarding Women’s Rights, Farming and Ranching, and Civil War throughout Texas, and Louisiana.
Because my father’s health was failing, I retired from the library in 2010 but continued with history. During the twenty years I have lived in three different houses but have only owned two cars. Over the last twenty years, I have lost my father, his sister, and their mother who was a wonderful grandmother. I still keep in close contact with my brother and five cousins. And of course, I have a great husband and son. Families are the strength of living. All in all, it’s been a great twenty years. Wonder how many more years I will do this? I have no intentions of retiring as long as I can do something that is so much fun.
I really enjoy your stories. It brings the local history alive and it changes the way I look at the places that I pass every day our little town. My families roots are in Wiregrass Prairie. That’s where I currently live. I have a question. In my younger years (1970’s), a friend and I were exploring the woods along the Sabine. We came across the remnants of an old park. At that time there were still footings of an old wood walking bridge on the rivers edge and we could make out some wood borders around a few trees from landscaping. One thing stood out. It was an old slide. It was exactly like the old slide at Graham park. It was a bit rusty and covered in leaves but it held me fine as I climbed up and slid down. I have never gone back since then but I have seen a picture where others have found it. My question is, was this the old Poole park and was it later converted to the negro park after the trolley company built Forrest (Graham) park. I’ve been speculating on this for years.
Alan,
Thank you for your kind comments.
I assume you followed the Sabine from the 224 Bridge to the I-30 Bridge or along that way. Alfred T. Howell was an early attorney in Greenville arriving here in the 1840s. While here he corresponded frequently with family in Nashville, Tennessee and in Richmond, Virginia. One of the places he talked about was the City Park along the Sabine River. Fourth of July celebrations were held there every year, with speeches that lasted for hours.
On October 1- 2, 1880 the Katy Railroad arrived at its present site. But the celebration was held at the park on the Sabine River. It was then called Poole Park in honor of C. D. Poole. After Graham Park was opened, the city turned the Sabine River park over to the African-Americans in town. It became known as Colored Park.
The last time I was there was in the summer of 1996 when I was escorting an employee of the National Register of Historic Places through Greenville. I remember seeing the merry-go-round that was like the one at my school when a child. I don’t recall the slide. It is really a treasure in Greenville that needs revitalized.