MUSEUM MEMORIES

A  sculpture  created  by J.D. Avis now sits on the east lawn of the Museum. It is
made  from  two  historic  fresnos  welded  together.  It  is hard for modern Clay
Countians  to  realize  that  the  first roads, and the rail beds, were built with
horse  or mule drawn plows and fresnos (sometimes called slips or scrapers). These
two  were  used  to  work  on the first railroad to come into Clay County, the Ft.
Worth  and  Denver,  which  reached Henrietta in 1882. They were owned and used by
H.B.  Hatton,  who  lived between Jolly and Wichita Falls and raised sheep, and by
C.H McCleland, who lived northwest of Dean.

Remember that paving bricks are still available for a donation of $35. They make a
suitable memorial or honorarium to loved ones. It would be a great show of support
of  the  Museum  if  enough bricks could be ordered and laid to fill the remaining
space  to  the alley before Pioneer Reunion. Last week we wrote the story of Clare
Hilburn and the Knights of Pythias Band and promised more.

July  4th was the occasion for a big celebration in the early days of Clay County,
as  well  as  in the rest of the country. A county-wide picnic was usually held on
the  banks of Red River, but July 4th in 1882 was slated to be a bigger and better
celebration because on that day the first Iron Horse in this part of the world was
due  to  ride  as  far as Henrietta, which was to be the terminal. No longer would
people  have  to plod all the way from Sherman in ox-cart, wagon, or on horseback.
The  Ft.  Worth and Denver City had come to town! After chores were done, everyone
in  the  entire  county packed a picnic lunch and headed for the tracks. It didn't
matter  how  long they might have to wait; it was just necessary to see that first
train come in.

Speeches,  songs  and  all kinds of Fourth of July programs were presented but all
eyes  were on the track. They also were wondering why the band was late; surely it
would be a big part of any July 4th celebration. By secret arrangement between Mr.
Hilburn  and  the  railroad  officials,  the  band  boarded the train about a mile
outside town and were stationed on the observation platform.

"Finally  the  train  hove into view, the engine, the baggage coach, the passenger
coach  and  at long last from somewhere came band music. The engineer pulled up so
that  the observation platform could be used as a grandstand and there, before all
of  them  was  the band. Clare Hilburn directing them, all of them playing for all
they  were  worth, making the most of the old patriotic marches and songs known to
them;  dressed  in  their very new and resplendent uniforms which the KP's had had
made  for  the  occasion,  (taking  up  a collection from the merchants to pay for
them),  they  were  in  an  especially happy frame of mind and the importance of a
train  coming  into town, the band contributing so much to the occasion, all of it
put  together  caused  an  air  of  excitement, hats thrown in the air, some young
ladies crying, some laughing, general rejoicing."

The  performance of the band and the reaction of the people were so great that the
railroad officials engaged the band to play at each railroad opening as they built
west. Such occasions were not soon forgotten.

Margaret  Suddath,  who  wrote  the  article,  also told about the reaction of the
people  of  Henrietta when the news came over the wires about 6:00 a.m on November
11,  1918,  that  the  Armistice  had  been signed, ending World War I. "The whole
population  fell into clothes and made as fast a bee line as possible to the Court
House square where hysteria was there ahead of everyone, sky rockets going off and
everybody  grabbing  and  kissing  everybody else, crying and laughing, acting the
part  of  a people who were indeed freed from a dire circumstance and the joy that
abounded there was beyond description."

"The  band  managed  to  get there first and were going away on 'The Star Spangled
Banner.' All during the day at intervals that November 11th, the band was there to
play,  along  with  prayers  from  pastors of different churches paying tribute to
those  boys  who would not return and also to those who would soon be coming home.
In  spite of the bitter cold, the people stayed and listened to this band that had
played for them all during the war to help keep up their spirits."

We  have  enjoyed  playing  host  to  two  school  groups in the past weeks, Shari
Wheeler's  fourth graders from Midway and Chris McGregor's fourth graders from the
Episcopal  School  in Wichita Falls. It is gratifying to see the look of wonder on
the children's faces as they see the jail cells and all the gadgets of the time of
their great grandparents.

Donations  have  been received in memory of Lillian Lyles Kerr and Durl England by
the  Irene  Russell  Family;  of  James Coe Maddox and M/M D.E. Reese by Reg & Liz
Kesler.

A  donation  has  been  received  in honor of Don & Nell Wilson by M/M J. Courtney
Wilson.

Come visit your Museum on Thur. or Fri. from 10 to 2 or Sat. from 1 to 4. Clay Co.
Historical Society, Inc., Box 483, Henrietta or [email protected]. Or visit our
web page, www.pctutor.org/ccmuseum.html. Submitted by Lucille Glasgow
 

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