The Madisonville Meteor - And Commonwealth - (Madisonville, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 25, 1929 Page: 1 of 8
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Madisonville—
Where the East
Begins
The Madisonville Meteor
Madison Land—
A Kingdom of
Contentment
And Commonwealth
THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR
MADISONVILLE, MADISON COUNTY. TEXAS, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1929.
NUMBER FIVE
Madisonville Rotary Club Speakers Reflect Potential Consideration ot Civic Interests
WEEKLY LUNCHEON OF LOCAL R0TARIANS IS AN EFFICACIOUS IMPETUS THAT IS FORMULATING A WONDERFUL WORK FOR THE FUTURE WELFARE OF ALL MADISON COUNTY
A
Midway Youth Is Awarded Olstinction As Delegate To Convention In Essay Contest
Madisonville Pastor And Local
Business Man Speak Eloquence
of Thought on Logical Truths
At a regular meeting of the Rotary
Club held in Madisonville last Thurs-
day afternoon, among other things,
Rev. B. C. Anderson was called on
to make a talk on ' Fellowship," and
he responded in substance as follows:
' Every man is a social creature, a
certain amount of association with his
fellows is necessary to his well being.
We all recall with pleasure, childhood
days which, though checkered with
troubles and disappointments, were
nevertheless our happiest days be-
cause of whole hearted care-free play
upon a common plane.
In later years we go back with
pleasure to young manhood, where de-
velops life's greatest intimaces, where
friends called us by our first names
or by the nick name. I am glad that
Rotorians do this, and try to know
each other as we were once known and
become young once more.
As we grow older life's burden^
and responsibilities become greater,
our families and vocations exact our
best efforts. It is at this time we
especially need good fellowship so we
may dismiss our burdens or a f.me.
It has always been true of people that
they have provided ways of getting
together. The millionaire with the
poor, the wise with the simple to ex-
change view points to the pleasure
and profit of both. I am glad we are
in this organization where our dif-
ferent vocations can come together
weekly to enjoy each other to learn
each other better, thus help eacn other
to better meet our responsibilities to
the community. It is gratifying too,
to know that there are sirniliar or-
ganizations in every town where
Rotory clubs meet the world over and
where our obligations to mankind is
so vividly defined.
From the standpoint of good fellow-
ship we count it a pleasure and privi-
lege to meet here each week to better
ourselves and our community in every
way possible.
1 am reminded here of the great
German Physiciast, Einstein, pro-
pounder of the theory of Relativity,
about which he have heard so much in
recent years. A great crowd of pe>-
ple were preparing to visit him on a
certain day to do him honor and hear
him expound his theory, l^ut Einstein,
much to the dismay of his secretary
was planning to slip away and avoid
the meeting. See here, said the secre-
tary, these people are going to ask
me many questions about this rela-
tivity business which I can't answer,
I want you to tell me in simple lan-
guage just what you mean by rela-
tivity; define it for me. Alright said
Einstein, I will define it with this il-
lustration: If you and your best girl
were sitting down together, two
hours would seem like two minutes
but if you \Vere sitting on a red hot
stove for two minutes it would seem
like two hours. So in our meetings
here we see that I is smaller than
THEY and two hours shorter than
two minutes."
Mr. J. E. Gray was then called upon
with a talk exceedingly easy to listen
to. He accused the club for trying
to* round up dead timber when they
headed for his place o£ business, but
his remarks, the substance of which
follows will vindicate him: "I tvas
given no subject for which I am
thankful, and glad especially that it
was not Rotary. It is like the boy's
order who went into the drug store
and said, "I want an ice cream soda
without flavor." Without what flavor,
the jerker asked. "Without chocolate,"
the customer replied. "Can't give
you that, we haven't any chocolate,"'
the soda jerker replied.
"The spirit which interests people to
work together for the common good
is of incalculatable value to any com-
munity. A comparison where they go
after things and where they don't will
illustrate. In a nearby town where
I formerly lived, they attempted to
organize a retail credit mens asso-
ciation, and failed. Five times re-
cently they have tried to organize a
Chamber of Commerce and every
effort resulted in failure. The mayor
of this town where they don't get
together, just built a $30,000.00 home
in a nearby town. A leading: citizen
asked me, while I was there on a visit
(Continued on Last Page, col. 6)
SINCLAIR OIL REFINING
COMPANY OPENS AGENCY
The Sinclair Oil Refining Company
has located a local agency in Madi-
sonville with headquarters at the
Stewart Motor Company, Mr. R. L.
Hardy, recently of Huntsville, is the
local agent in charge and is operat-
ing the Sinclair oil truck and taking
care of the wholesale end of the busi-
ness in Madisonville and vicinity.
The Stewart Motor Company has the
retail agency for Madisonville and the
Wakefield Motor Company has the
agency at Midway for the Sinclair
products. You will find the Sin-
clair Company's announcement on
page 5 of this issue of the Meteor.
Grandview—A $500,000.00 dairy
plant is under construction.
ROAD SIGNS FOR
MADISON COUNTY
Mr. E. H. Anderson, road supervisor
for Madison county, has received from
the Highway Department a number
of road signs to be placed on all
curves, rural road crossings and also
directing signs to be placed at the
forks of the roads in the county to
direct traffic aright and thus avoid
mistakes by the traveling public in
losing their way. These are fine as
we are well aware from the little ex-
perience we have had in traveling. A
sign to direct you often saves con-
siderable time and worry. These
signs will be placed so that travelers
at night may see them from the head-
lights of their cars on arriving at the
danger zones or forks of the roads.
Aged And Well Known Resident of Midway
Died Sunday After A Long And Noble Life
A Former Citizen Recalls To Nemory
An April Snow and Very Severe Cold
Wave in Nadison County 77 Years Ago
Many of the old citizens will, re-
member Mr. W. H. Kitrell, a citi-
zen of Madison County many years
ago and we have often published let-
ters from him in regard to the old
time in Madison county. His home is
now at Cisco, Texas, and the follow-
ing article appeared in the Cisco Daily
American one day last week:
The 30 degree drop in temperature
that took place between yesterday
afternoon and this morning recalls to
W. H. Kittrell a ''freak of Mother
Nature" which occurred on April 11
almost three-quarters of a century
ago. Said Mr. Kittrell:
"The drop in temperature from 77
degrees at 4 o'clock yesterday after-
noon to 47 degrees this morning is
nothing compared with a droD that
took place on April 11, 1857, seventy-
two years ago. I was a boy of six
years of age living in Madison county,
which is 350 miles southeast of Cisco
and 120 miles fro mthe gulf coa3l.
"The temperature on the 10th was
about as here yesterday. The morn-
ing of the 11th the ground was white
with three inches of snow. As now
the trees were/frith full leaver: corn
was knee high; cotton chopped out.
"Every vestige of green was killed
with the exception of the grass. Doer
were nlentiful in the country and it
was common to see as many as 100
in a di-ove. From eating the herLane
(a deer never eats gra^s) a disease
called "black tongue" prevailed and it
was estimated that four out of every
five of the animals died.
"A drouth followed and scarcely
any crops were produced.
"Talk about hard times! We can
hardly conceive of such times as fol-
lowed. But for the cattle, the peo-
ple would have perished of famine.
''The 'good old times,' old people
often say. 'In those times we had
an abundance of everything.' But their
memories conveniently forget such
events. In such a stress now we can
ship from more fortunate regious.
But then there was no transportation
facilities save, principally, the slow
oxen teams. The round trip to Hous-
ton, a distance of 100 miles, required
fully three weeks. Now, in an emer-
gency, airplanes could furnish succor
in an hour's time.
"A new world, this we live in.
Few of us old timers can realize its
extent. I hope we appreciate it."
Mrs. W. F. Wakefield died at the
home of Dr. and Mrs. O. Patton at
League City last Sunday. Her body
was brought to Midway, her old home
and laid to rest in the cemetery of
that little city, where she had spent
more than fifty years of her useful
life.
Mrs. Wakefield was 79 years old
and came to Texas in early childhood
and was married to W.F. Wakefield
at Anderson in Grimes county in 1875
and moved to Midway where they
made their home until just a few
years ago when they moved with Dr.
and Mrs. O. Patton to League City
and had risided there since that time.
She was a faithful member of the
Methodist church for many years and
died with her faith founded in the
Lord Jesus Christ whom she had
learned to trust in early life. These
good people were among those who
blazed the way for our present civili-
zation in Texas and among those who
always stood for the right against
wrong when it was not popular to do
so, thus giving to her posterity a life
of service and a home among those
who believe in the right.
She leaves to mourn her going her
husband, who has walked by her side
along the Journey of life more than
half a century and reared a family of
children who are among our best and
most highly respected citizens. Viz:
Messrs: Julian and R. F. Wakefield of
Midway, Mrs. O. Patton and Mrs. A.
Crow of League City; Mrs. Burean
Butler of Sterling City; Mrs. Cooper
of Amarillo; and Mrs. R. H. Nixon of
Houston, also one sister, Mrs. Boyd
of Houston; all of whom were here to
attend the funeral services except
Mrs. Nixon.
Her weary body was laid to rest
Monday afternoon surrounded by
hundreds of friends who had known
her from early life, who loved and
cherished the memories of their past
associations together. The Meteor
joins the host of friends here and else-
where in extending their deepest
sympathy in the loss of wife, mother,
sister and friend. Rev. Weimer con-
ducted the funeral services.
W. MATHIS ENTER-
TAINS BOY SCOUTS
on the above occasion and express
their appreciation to him for the in-
vitation.
Last Friday night the lake-side:
farm of Mr. J. W. Mathis was a busy
scene with a number of the boy
scouts and their friends who were
called to this place where plenty of
barbecue pork, bread, pickles and cof-
fee had been prepared in honor of the
Boy Scouts organization and their
leaders, Mr. J. L. Broadway, and Mr.
G. B. Randolph, together with the
advisory board of the organization
and a few other friends of Mr. Mathis.
After the lunch was served the boys
took a plunge in the fine lake on the
farm at this place and enjoyed them-
selves very much as .boys always do
when a swim is at their disposal.
Quite an interest is being taken in
the Boy Scout movement in Madison-
ville and there are now some twenty-
eight members of the first unit. Mr.
Broadway and Mr. Randolph are giv-
ing a considerable amount of their
time to the organization and are to be
commended for the effort they are
giving the organization and the train-
ing of the youths of our city.
We are sure every one present en-
joyed the hospitality of Mr. Mathis
MAY PICNIC AT ELWOOD
Mr. R. E. Wilson was in the city
from Elvvood the latter part of last
week attending County court and in-
formed the Meteor that the Annual
May Picnic would be held this year as
usual. The time for the affair is al-
ways on Saturday before the third
Sunday in May and will be staged at
this time this year.
When we were boys on the farm in
Ehvood community, we looked for-
ward to this occasion each year as we
did for Christmas and if anything
happened that we did not get to go we
had lost the greatest event in all the
year and began to look for another
year to come so we might go next
time.
The splendid programs rendered at
these annual meetings are well known
to almost every one in Madison coun-
ty, and the splendid hospitality of the
Elwood people cannot be surpassed by
any community on the face of the
earth. Mr. Wilson expressed a de-
sire that all bring their lunches along
and enjoy the day with them.
DOWN IN MADISON LAND
Give us the hills, the old Madison hills, rolling and green,
The valleys too, shady and cool that ramble down between;
Some folks they like the prairie lands, where trees so seldom stand,
But love of home it calls us back down in Madison Land.
The everglades of sunny Florida are fair to see,
It is a land so beautiful and green just by the sea;
But fairer to our minds we know green hills that are so grand.
They have been there for years and years down in Madison Land.
Some folks admire the city's life, so full of grief, sorrows and tears,
They seem to love the mansions fine—so free from lack and fears;
But simple life la best for us regardless where we stand,
And life is good in ralleys green down in Madison Land.
Essay On "My Home Town" In
the District Contest Is Awarded
Recognition to Mid way W riteup
Last Saturday Madison county was
represented at Huntsville in the
District East Texas contest by Wil-
liam Forrest, Jr., who won out in the
Essay Contest in competition with
other students from the various coun-
ties in this district. The contest was
sponsored by the East Texas Chamber
of Commerce for bringing out the
best high school student talent on
Essay Writing on the one subject of
"My Home Town."
William is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
W. M. Forrest of Midway, and to say
the youth did credit to his town and
himself would be speaking lightly of
the splendid effort this young man
has put forth, and The Meteor is go-
ing to tell the world about it by
publishing William Forrest's essay
verbatim, and each reader can judge
for him or herself just what intui-
tional powers this boy possesses in the
way of writing up his home town of
Midway. Here is his excellent pro-
duction:
My Home Town
I come not to boast of the size of
my home town. I cannot say that we
have a grand metropolis with its won-
derful system of paved streets and
traffic lights. I come to tell you of
a citizenship unexcelled in the great
State of Texas when it comes to hos-
pitality and co-operation.
A town is to be measured accord-
ing to the public spirit that is to be
found in its citizenship. It may be
a huge metropolis housing a million
people; it may be a typical American
city of from five to ten thousand; or
it may be a small inland hamlet of but
a few hundred souls. But be it ever
so small, there are many things that
can be accomplished that even the
city or larger town would be proud to
boast of. This is the record of Mid-
way, Texas, the town which I repre-
sent.
A small village located in the east-
ern part of Madison county with a
population of but 196 people. But
who are a wide awake pubiic spirit-
ed citizenry, whose record of progress
I will attempt to show you has been
surpassed by no east Texas town of
a like size or even larger.
Apparently asleep until a few years
ago, our people are today pushing
forward a program of industrial de-
velopment that has already brought
to us a modern up-to-date water and
sewerage system than which there is
no better to be found. Seemingly, an
impossible undertaking when first
viewed by our citizens, but which be-
came a rapid reality behind the in-
genuity of some of our most public-
spirited men backed by the co-opera-
tion of our entire citizenship.
No sooner was this accomplished,
when a move was begun for the se-
curing of a highline which would
serve us with electric power. Again
this seemed an almost impossible
task; but our people, never daunting,
again rallied to the cause; and today
we have electric lights in 90 per cent
of our homes, the school building, the
churches, the business houses, and the
streets.
We have also two new up-to-date
electric cotton gins with a daily day-
light capacity of 120 bales, which
' turn out yearly more than 5000 balea
of cotton. Whereas only a few years
ago we haif but one old steam gin
and as for lights and power for other
things we were in utter darkness.
Certainly this is an accomplishment
of which to be proud.
we had but one old steam gin and as
for lights and power for other things
we were in utter darkness. Certain-
ly this is an accomplishment of which
to be proud.
We have a modern up-to-date
school system that will compare most
favorably with that of any town of a
like size in the State. We boast of
three newly built modern churches
than which there are no better to be
found.
Our town is so located on the old
San Antonio road; and I wish to say
that our people are, to a unit, square-
ly behind the bill recently put thru
the Legislature providing for the
hard-surfacing of this road and we can
assure the people of the remainder
of this* state of Texas that Midway
will do her utmost to make this road
a reality.
(Continued on Last Page, Col. 2)
He Lives In Waller County But The
Soul and Heart of Him Lingers With
Sequential Life of Nadison County
Waller, Texas, Apr. 15, 1929.
Dear Meteor:
The advent of Spring brings new
life to all nature. The fields have
awakened into fresh agricultural
activity; pastures are fragrant with
blossoms and the smell of sprouting
grass are feeding the herds of cattle
and sheep and the woodlands are
vocal with the songs of the birds.
Even the people around us have
caught the spirit of the season and
are going forth with renewed hopes
and aspirations to their daily tasks..
What a privilege to have part in such
a time of new life and vigor and feel
the thrill of expansion and growth.
The work of farming in this locali-
ty is going rapidly forward. Young
corn and watermelons are up and
looking fine and some are ready to
plant cotton. Abundant moisture in
the soil from recent rains and warm
balmy weather is making riotous
vegetation in fields and gardens.
Waller seems destined to come into
possession of a new public improve-
ment. Natural gas surveyors are
stakyig a line for gas pipe from
Prairie View, 5 miles away. The gas
supply comes from Raccoon Bend,
the new oil field across the Brazos
river. Brenham already has gas and
Hempstead is to be supplied in a few
weeks. Waller got a highline last
year and if we get a gas line this year
we will feel quite metropolitan by
next year. We are almost ready to
bring agitation on the subject of a
new brick high school building. Hav-
ing a concrete highway to Houston
puts Waller just one hour from a fine
market for poultry and farm pro-
ducts.
From the Meteor we read of many
improvements and changes in our old
home town. The children of a few
years ago are now the men, and wo-
men who are carrying on. Some of
your readers will remember our boy,
Henry, who was a student in Madi-
sonville High School for a number of
years. * After finishing his education
at the State University where he
majored in Business Administration,
he began working for The Texas
Company at Houston. They soon put
him on the road as a traveling audi-
tor. After working north Texas and
Oklahoma they sent him to the
Northwest territory embracing
(Continued on Last Page, col. 1^
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Knight, J. A. The Madisonville Meteor - And Commonwealth - (Madisonville, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 25, 1929, newspaper, April 25, 1929; Madisonville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth192304/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .