Memories of the 20th Century: Stories by Eleanor Monroe Page: 73
This book is part of the collection entitled: Texas History Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Austin College.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
HOME IN SHERMAN 1 73
"Home"
The places where I have lived have not always been "home." During the ten
years that my husband, Stanley, was getting his medical training, we moved
three times to three different states. "Home" continued to be the town in
Missouri where I grew up, where the customs were comfortable, and I had
family and friends.
When Stanley completed his residency in 1947, it was time for us to
decide where we would live. He was from Arkansas; I was from Missouri.
Texas seemed to be a good compromise.
So Stanley traveled to San Antonio to take the Texas State Board
Exams, and our two young sons and I stayed in Missouri with my mother.
On his way there and back, he spent the night in Sherman; and he tele-
phoned me.
"This place has everything! It has a diversified economy-farming,
industry, and last summer they struck oil! It's close to a big lake, Lake
Texoma; and Dallas is only about an hour's drive away." I heard the excite-
ment in his voice. "It has a good four-year college, two hospitals, beautiful
churches, and parks all over town. You'll love it!"
He made contact with doctors in the newly-formed Essin Clinic;
and, a few weeks later, joined the group to become the first internist to
practice medicine in Grayson County. The term "internist" was so new;
he sometimes had to explain the difference between "intern" and
"internist." On January 3, 1948, we moved to Sherman.
As we drove into town on the narrow, two-lane highway, I read the
"City Limits" sign: SHERMAN, Population 18,502. I leaned forward to
better see this place where we hoped to make our home.
We drove slowly down Travis Street, absorbing the sights and sounds.
I remember the buff-colored brick Grayson Hotel; the unusual, domed
Travis Street Methodist Church; and the imposing Merchants and Planters
Bank. It was Saturday afternoon, and there was a pleasant hum of activity
downtown. Several young boys waited in line for tickets to a double-feature
western at the State Theater; others milled about in adjoining Kress and
McClellan's dime stores. Across the street, ladies window-shopped at
Weingarten's Millinery, Elinor's Dress Shop, and Taylor Vaughan's
Department Store.
We reached the crossroads of town and turned on Houston Street in
front of the white, limestone courthouse. Men in cowboy boots and rolled-
brim Stetsons chatted on the courthouse square. In the next block, Essin's
Clothing Store displayed similar attire; and beautiful, hand-tooled saddles
hung outside the entrance of Kreager's Feed and Seed.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View two pages within this book that match your search.Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
Memories of the 20th Century: Stories by Eleanor Monroe (Book)
Collection of stand-alone autobiographical anecdotes written by Eleanor Monroe about her family and life in Sherman, Texas.
Relationship to this item: (Has Format)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Monroe, Eleanor; Lincecum, Jerry Bryan & Redshaw, Peggy A. Memories of the 20th Century: Stories by Eleanor Monroe, book, 2009; Sherman, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113793/m1/87/?q=%222009%22: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin College.