The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 125, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 8, 2000 Page: 4 of 17
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Opinion Pa
-Page 4
The Albany News
Thursday, June 8,
The Albany News
.
Sine* 1875
Old t journalistic venture west of the Brazos
.Editor / Publisher
Donnie A Lucas
Managing Editor
Melinda L Lucas
Advertising Manager
Donna Hargrave
Moran Correspondent
Audrey Brooks
Photography Assistant
Jesus Cisneros
Typesetter
Betty Viertel
"Office Assistant
Jillian Lucas
editorial
Water Relief
Local residents received some welcome relief
from the ongoing drought with a fairly general
three-inch rain that fell over two days last
weekend.
However, as important as the moisture was
. to area farmers and ranchers, the rain provided
only a temporary reprieve unless it is followed
quickly by continued rainfall that runs some
water and fills some tanks.
City dwellers are not languishing under the
same problems that their rural neighbors are
experiencing, and a> not likely to even ifthedrV
spell continues.
Albany city officials recently signed a new
agreement that will help preserve the water in
Hubbard Creek Lake, putting a tighter cap on
how much Abilene can use out of the reservoir.
The city is also working on a way to st art using
water out of Lake McCarty. City crews are
scheduled to install some valves that will allow
the city to take water frohi both the Hubbard
line and the McCarty lines at the same time.
. Local residents are being asked to observe
voluntary conservation measures in order not to
waste water, but there are no rest rictions on the
use of water and none are expected unless the
drought continues for a couple of years.
Then- has been someconf usion about whether
-the restrictions that are in effect in Abilene
apply to local residents. Abilene is under the
second stage of their drought plan because they
are short on water Lake Ft. Phantom has
dropped to a point where Abilene has been
forced to use Hubbard as its primary water
source.
Abilene has arranged through interim agree-
ments to take more water out of Hubbard than
they are actually entitled to in order to meet
demand. The newest agreement cuts Abilene
pack to 28 million gallons a day during summer
months from the.31 million they have been
taking. If tin- lake falls to certain levels, the
aiuopot Abilene can take will decrease as well.
Meanwhile, Albany and the other two mem-
ber cities of the water district are able to live
within their allotments, so restrictions and ra
tioning are not necessary at this point.
You might be tempted to think that local
restrictions should be put iti place to help con
serve'as much water as possible', even (hough
Albany is staying well within its allotted amount
£ity officials reported that any water that could
saved at this point would be lost to evapora-
tion anyway, so residents might as well use it
™~Hnd help the city meet its budget, which is based
primarily on water sales.
The responsible thing to do at this point
seems to be to use water as wisely as possible
and be thankful that Albany's city fathers had
the vision to include this community in the
water district some 40 years ago.
pol icy
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2000 MEMBER Texas Press Association,
West Texas Press Association.
panderings by Pat
By Pat Lidia Jones
Remember months ago - the first of
this year, as I recall -1 wrote about a tiny
snip of television news? It was to be a
brand-new CBS mini-series dealing with
a small group of people who would be
placed on a deserted island to exist to-
gether in quite primitive conditions for
some 39 days. The one person remaining
at the end would receive a million dollars
It was an intriguing idea, partly be-
cause of the cool cash, and partly because
there is something fascinating to most of
us about a remote uninhabited island.
Think about all the old movies we saw
on weekends at our neighborhood "pic-
ture show" when we were kids. There
were the Tarzan movies and Jungle Jim
serials. Dorothy l^amour, Jon Hall, Maris
Montez, Hedy LaMarr, and countless oth-
ers held us flattened against our seats as
they battled the elements in the form of
hurricanes, volcanoes and tidal waves.
They swam with alligators. They ade
pets of wild animals. They lived in trees
and lean-tos made from bamboo. They
were threatened by huge snakes and spi-
ders.
"King Kong" has had many remakes,
and updates, as has "Tarzan" and "Trea-
sure Island" and their imitators. Even the
Three Stooges and Bugs Bunny and
Donald Duck took to an island every now
and then Everyone loved the Robinson
Crusoe-type adventures.
After my initial interest in the planned
show, to be called "Survivors," Charlotte
Taggart and Buford Setters took to their
computers and placed in my hands down-
loaded info about the TV series and appli-
cation forms
That caused a follow-up column and a
great interest and curiosity in me. It did
in someone else too.
Jeff Jones, in his early 40's, an out-
doors enthusiast who thinks of riding a
racing bi ke to Abi lene and back as a warm -
up for Iron Man-sort of endeavors, was
interested. For readers from places other
than Albany, JefT is from New Hamp-
shire, educated in Texas, a petroleum
geologist by trade, and a business associ-
ate of my partner.
To make a long story short, Jeff filled
in his application and fulfilled all the
preliminary requirements to be a contes-
tant in "Survivors," which premiered last
week on Wednesday.
He made the first two rounds, but not
the third. All of us were disappointed
because we knew he'd l)e great on a tropi-
ca! isle. Of course, it wouldn't have hurt
his chances that he is Hollywood good-
looking.
All that caused my partner and me to
clear our calendars before last Wednes-
day and tune into CBS to watch the show
called "Survivor*.'
I found it fascinating to see these 16
people assembled and summarily dumped
off a ship, along with their limited scrawl
of belongings onto two rafts All this took
place a mile offshore. The crew pitched
their stuff into the water and the 16
jumped
There is no way anyone could have
peeled me off of that ship. Of course, I
would never have applied. 1 know myself
too well, plus all my fears, physical draw-
backs and lack of desire to conquer an
island or beat out 16 others who want the
same million.
So they landed, after paddling for a
mile Leadership was apparently a qual-
ity the show's planners looked for, be-
cause from the moment they got ofT their
rafls, everyone was a chief and hardly
anyone was willing to be an Indian.
One gave a motivational talk, and when
ignored, he sat on a tree limb and pouted.
Two laid out the plans for creating a town
there on the beach. One checked out the
trees and bamboo as construction possi-
bilities. One played her ukulele ana sang
her own compositions. The others checked
out the box of supplies. The box became a
potty.
They were divided into two teams. They
range in age from early 20's to early 70's.
Soon two of the young women romped in
brief bikinis on the beach A young man
read his Bible
TV cameras recorded everything. A
team of paramedics was set up in a camp
on the opposite side of the island off Ma
laysia There was a central place where
instructions for the two teams were left in
a hollowed bamboo pipe, hanging from a
tree
A "leader" at a tribal council pre sen tad
challenges and rules. Let the games begin
- and the first person was booted by ballot
out of the group, off of the island. It w«*
the 63-year-old woman who playad
history as it lingers...
uke. She stumbled during a water i
causing her team to lose Mistakes ofi
magnitude were not to be tolerated j
I loved the show. I've cleared 4y
Wednesday evenings for 12 more weekp.
The idea of rats, snakes and all inaji-
ner of insects, plus the backbiting and
sniping of your fellow inhabitants is some
thi ng not unlike Texas in an election year.
One critic suggested that setting people
against one another and making thi u
vote someone out every thi rd d ay is against
team spirit and is un-American.
Get on board and see who's last stand-
ing as the beach population dwindles one
by one. It's the "tontine" all over again.
It's the answer to "Who wants to be a
milIionaire?"on CBS Wednesday at seven,
live.
By Emalyn (Sam) Gillispie
The other day I found a Singer treadle
machine at an estate sale. Knowing a 100-
year old lady who wanted one to sew one,
I purchased it for her This beauty is a
1937 Singer and is in top-notch condition,
having belonged to Mrs. Lillian White.
After taking the machine home, I sat
down to it and memories of my early days
in Fort Griffin came flooding back. The
year must have been 1937 or 38.1 remem-
ber the day my parents, Frank and Ohloe
Dyemartin, became owners of a brand
new marvel. It was a Singer and the agent
came out and detnoristrated how it worked.
I was a very interested bystander with-
out a shy bone in my body I asked ques-
tions and the next thing I knew I was
standing in front of the machine working
the treadle with one foot. It seemed my
legs were too short to sit in a chair and
reach the treadle. Anyway, there I was
sewing on the most marvelous invention
that I had ever seen.
Mother made all our clothes on that
machine, putting ruffles, lace and latest
fashions together/or some'bretty creations.
From the memories of the machine my
mind turned bark to that time of growing
up in Fort Griffin. The house we were
living in at that time wus built on the
foundations of the famous Bee' Hive Sa-
loon The large .pecan trees growing in
front of the house had bullet holes in
them, found after some bark was knocked
off of one during a driving lesson.
I remember an earlier time when my
grandmother, Susan Newcomb, would
gather all of the women folk and a nnyor
wash day would take place down at Colhns
Creek. A wash pot was kept handy there
and the women would spend the day wash-
ing their clothes. If any of the men folk
were around at dinner time. Granny al-
ways fixed an extra amount of biscuits
and sausage in the morning and with a
pot of beans, it was good eating.
' Usually, while the women were wash-
ing their clothes, Mrs, Sarah Ledbetter
would come along driving her flock of
turkeys, letting them slowly wander
around eating as she changed locations.
She would always stop and talk to Granny
and, if it was close to dinner, join the
family. Later in years I would look back
and wonder why she would be over a mile
from her home, nally I realized it was
her way of paying a visit and getting some
socializing into her life.
One of the most exciting things that
happened around that time was a house
fire. That was my first one and it was
exciting but really sad. The whole com-
munity was attending a medicine show.
This company had put up a tent and somt;
people were acting and juggling and sing
ing Then a man would tell about this
wonderful modicuie. If you did not. want
ihAHfcmf, T rerrtemWr getting my first
taste of saltwater taffy at a medicine show.
We were all enjoying the evening when
someone happened to notice a bright glow
coming from down the street. It was the
home of my aunt and uncle, George and
Anna Bowsher. Everyone rushed down
there, but without water, all they could do
was try to get out the family's belongings.
I don't know why, because my father
hated to move worse than anyone, but we
changed houses a lot. Daddy built the
house that 1 mentioned above. We lived
there for several years, then we moved to
the Jimison ranch house.
It was an old two-story house. The
upstairs was not livable, but there were
several rooms downstairs that we occu-
pied. My sisters Bonnie and Sue and I
slept together in the fireplace room. If the
wind was blowing hard in the winter and
it was snowing, the snow would collect on
our bed.
We used kerosene lamps. Then one day
Daddy brought home an Aladdin lamp
with such a bright light it spoiled us. We
did not like the kerosene lamps anymore.
We nved about a half mile from school
and had to walk to it ii all kinds of
weather, except when Collins Creek got
on a rise. Then we could not cross it 1
attend school. I remember my brother
Frank Jr and I would go down there
during recess and stand On the bank of the
flooded creek and taunt the kids who had
to attend school.
Tlien we moved back to Fort Griffin
town and lived in ahouse across from the
rock jailhouse. A large pecan tree grew in
our yard and my brothers would scare us
with stories about outlaws being drug out
of the jail ftnd hung from a limb of that
tree. To this day I call it the hanging tree.
We were living there when electricity
came to our house. It was only a wind-
charger and it kept a battery charged up,
so we had two electric lights in our house.
Another marvelous invention that
Daddy brought home was a washing ma-
chine that ran off a motor powered by
gasoline. It swished the clothes around
and then they would be lifted out of the
washer and run through a wringer to
mash out all the water. Then you would
move them around to the tubs with clean
water to rinse them and puti hem through
the wringer again. It was easier than a
wash board.
The wringer had two rollers made of
hard rubber. They fitted together am
tension was put on them by tightening
screw on the top of the housing. It had
lever which could put the wringer in r
verse and clothes could be run backwari
if something would not go through.
One day I got up close and person,
with that wringer. My grandmother wai
washing and I was piddling around in ti
way as usual. My hand got caught up witjj
the clothes and wound up going through
this contraption. My grandmother got
excited and, instead of releasing the ten
■ <1
remember when
sion, she put that thing in reverse and m
hand went backward c
less to sayj ne krolrti'K.Ws, but a sor
and bloodshot hand for several days.
It has been nice to sit here and remi
nisce with you about early times in For
Griffin. It also leaves me a little lonel;
remembering all the times and loved'one:
that are only around in my memories
By joan Halford Farmed
Shackelford County is ranch country;
miles and miles of county roads, mostly
caliche, crisscross this land we call home.
One of my favorite places to visit is the
Putnam family ranch. The road to the
ranch is long; but along the way, there are
many historic places to recall as you drive
north. A creek flows into the Clear Fork
above the site ofOld Fort Griffin. Its name
is Collins Creek because'a than by that
name was hanged on its bank long ago.
' The military built a mill a short dis-
tance from Fort Griffin, on the flat land
near a creek that furnished enough power
and water for the Fort. The lumber for the
construction of the military buildings was
milled there and later for the town of Fort
Griffin. This stream was named Mill
Creek.
There are historic houses all along the
way. The J.A. Matthews house is first;
then the houses of Barber Watkins
Reynolds (Reynolds Bend), Nathan L. '
Bartholomew and George T. Reynolds. So
you see, it is not a boring trip. All of these
houses were built in the late 1870's.
Recently I was invited to the Putnam
Ranch for the 90th birthday celebration of
the family's matriarch Margaret Putnam.
When 1 visit this ranch home, I always
grow impatient as my car tops the last hill
for the handsome house to appear. On
this day Julia, Margaret's daughter and
my history buddy, had placed a large
bouquet of wildflowers on the last cattle
guard into the ranch.
The large house is of native stone and
has a long room across the front. This
room is the perfect place to sit and watch
for deer that sometimes slip quickly by on
their way to the Clear Fork River, a short
distance from the house. This room is
where Margaret greeted her guests.
A very wide hall leads through the
center of the house. The rooms off the hall
are large but inviting. Bedrooms, a small
sitting room, dining room, kitchen and
all-purpose room and two baths complete
the home. The thick carpeted floors lead
to the all-purpose room - the room I like
best, for this is where I have spent quiet
times visiting with Margaret and Julia.
From this room, a view of the Clear
Fork River with its fringe of trees along
the bank and the various buildings of a
working ranch presents an understand-
ing of what ranching country is and hope-
fully always will be.
Doors in the house are tall with half
moon transoms of glass. Fireplaces with
handsome mantels in each room kept long
ago guests warm.
A path from the house leads down to
the Clear Fork and another leads to tht
little cemetery.
Carrol Putnam, M. rgaret's husband
is buried there. John Larn, who built the
home in 1875, is also buried in the cenv
etery. Larn was the second elected sheriflF
of Shackelford County. A pioneer of th»
Clear Fork Country, he took a wrong turft
in his life and died ii) a "box house" on the
courthouse square in Albany, shot by thf
old law mob.
Margaret's home has all the comfort!
of our modern world, but she and her
family have a good eye for keeping the
house in harmony with its surroundings
and its wonderful history.
Although many historic words have ,
been written about this house and its
builder, to me, it's just Margaret's home
on a ranch near the Clear Fork, where I
love to visit.
round and about
By Sam Gillispie
Wow!! I know it would seem strange
in other locations of our country to be
excited about rain, but since it has
been a spell since we have seen enough
to amount to anything, lam excited.
We had a little over three inches of
rain here in Albany last week. The
creek ran water for the first time in
over a year. We still need rain to fill our
lakes, but we will take any little bit we
can get.
Heard some good ne 'Hout Betty
Williams. She is impn gand maybe
she will be able to coi.. home soon. If
anyone wishes to send her a card, just
send it to Loren's office and he will see
she gets it.
Had a talk with July Compton the
other day and she said her mother.
Virginia Sanders, is living in the Dal-
las area. She is doing well and I will try
to get her address for you.
Wayne Nichols called last week. He
is living in Abilene and he reads the
Albany News and is interested in ev-
erything we do. He expressed interest
in thi Family History that will be
started in the fall.
If I haven't said anything about the
book lately, it is because I have had to
put it on hold for a few months. But
from all the resoonse I had to my query
about who would be interested, it is
important to a good many people that
Shackelford County should have such
a book. So I will get busy collecting all
of your stories. You can start compos-
ing them now. About 500 words should
be about right for most family histo-
ries. More on this later.
The annual Western Swing pa^ty at
the Old Jail Art Center was held this
past Saturday evening and over 300
people showed up. The affair was a
success and everyone had a lot of fun.
The Abilene Reporter-News had a
nice article about the new book on our
area It is called "Tracks along the
Clear Fork," written by Lawrence Clay-
ton and Joan Farmer. Clifford and
Lynne Teinert sponsored the book and
helped out in many ways. On Fan-
dangle parade day, there will be an
autograph signing party at the Lynch
Line.
The Dance Theatre put on a great
show Friday night. Betsy Parsons and
crew did a superb job. One hundred
and twenty-plus students were pre-
sented to the crowd. The babies were
show stoppers and-the solos of the fi ve
seniors were things of beauty. Con-
gratulations, Betsy and everyone.
I did not get to go fishing this past
weekend. Paul checked out the lake at
Cisco and it had caught 18 inches of
water. I did read that O H. Ivie is still
paying offwithbigbass.Iwillbeheaded
to the lake this weekend, so Mr. Crap-
pie, beware.
This is' Sam
And I will see you Round and About
Community Calendar
JUNE 8 Lions Club - icehouse, 12 noon
Fandangle rehearsal - Prairie Theater, 8 pm
JUNE 9 Chamber luncheon - Ft. Griffin Gen. Mdse., 12 noon
JUNE 12 Commissioners court - Courthouse, 9 am
Bingo to benefit Oxford students - Youth Center, 7 pm
JUNE 13 Al-Anon - Friendship Baptist Church, 5:30 pm
Toastmasters - Courthouse, 6:30 pm
JUNE 14 FLAG DAY
Indian practice - Prairie Theater, 7 pm; Square
dancing, 8 pm; Huppi Hi, 9 pm
JUNE 15 Masons - Masonic Lodge, 7:30 pm
JUNE 15-17 Con.munity cleanup
JUNE 17 Community cleanup volunteer emphasis - Depot, 8 am
JUNE 19 Hospital board - Clinic board room, 7 pm
School board - Supt. s office, 7:30 pm
JUNE 21 City council - City Hall, 5 pm
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 125, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 8, 2000, newspaper, June 8, 2000; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth413627/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.