The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 123, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 17, 1998 Page: 4 of 16
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\
V
Opinion Page
Page 4-A
The Albany News
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
1998
Thursday, December 17, 1998
The Albany t\ows
Since 1875
Oldest journalistic venture west of the Brazos
Editor / Publisher Donnie A. Lucas
Managing Editor
Melinda L. L ucas
Advertising/ Business Manager
Bettv Viertel
Moran Correspondent '
Audrey Brooks
Office Assistant
Tinker Caubte
editorial
*0
SHOP IN
ALBANY
It's our
town... let's
keep it
• strong &
healthy
When you shop here in Albany,
it's almost like doing business with
yourself!
The many community services
you receive, your property values,
and local taxes you pav are helped
tremendously every time you, or
anyone else shops here in Albany.
. The dollar you spend in the big
cities and malls, does buy mer-
chandise, BUT the fringe benefits
of those dollars go to the residents
of THAT city And the quality of
life here at home suffers because
you took away some of its dollar
vitamins.
YOU KEEP
part of the dollars
you spend...
when you shop
here at home in
Albany.
policy
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AFFILIATIONS
1998 MFMBEK: Texas Press Association,
West Texas Press Association.
ponderings by Fat
By Pat Lidia Jones
Madison Tierney Jones is three
It is hard to look at this vivacious
little girl and remember that beautiful
new baby born three years ago to Pati
and K.C. Jones.
Madison is about average size for her
age. She is dainty, not sturdily built.
She has bine eyes, blue as a Texas sky.
I would say they are her best feature,
but they're not
The best thing about Madison is her
personality She simply bubbles with
happiness and good cheer.
Oh, life is not all a bed of roses. If
Madison is tired and sleepy, or hungry,
or doesn't feel well, she is plain did
crabby. I understand it totally, because
that is precisely the way her doting
Grandmama is
Madison has always been a good
baby, translated: sleep and eat and play.
She is easy to keep; She usually cries
when her parents leave, at least until
the car clears the driveway It;wouldn't
do to let them go off without a touch of
guilt.
When Madi.was the creeping age, I
bought her a playpen for use at my
house. I was a play pen parent, al-
though it's not politically correct for
today's parent — confining, guaranteed
to warp their development. Balderdash!
Madison was fascinated with the pen.
She rapidly learned to fold it down on
one side. Then she would sit on the
folded side, and crawl in and out of the
other side, moving her toys back and
forth, back and forth.
She has always been a smart cookie.
1 think she knew how much all of us
wanted her to walk, so she held back to
keep us off-balance.
Madison want from crawling to walk-
ing when she was ready. By this time,
she'd progressed from being a bald new
baby to having a few blonde wisps at the
nape of her neck, to having a head full
of golden ringlets. She is fair, like her
beautiful mother. Her curls come from
Daddy.
She had two brothers whom she
adores, anil they dote on her They are
12 and 15, and they aren't jealous of
her, nor she, them.
Madi has an Aunt Patti, Daddy's
sister Everyone would like to have an
Aunt Patti. She is like a fairy god-
mother. In fact, she is Madison's god-
mother. Aunt Patti lives in Abilene with
Uncle Jess, who also loves Madi.
Whenever Aunt Patti goes anywhere,
she always shops for clothes and toys
for Madison. So do Grandmama and
Grandsir. So da Mama and Daddy
Madison is a ranch girl. She is used
to seeing wildlife. She knows to watch
out for snakes. She and her parents live
in an old, old rambling ranch house
Madison started off with a nursery. The
nursery is now her bedroom. It is con-
nected to her playroom, a room full of
toys.
She has a third room that is her
workroom. It has a low table and chairs,
with paper, crayons, markers, and color
books.
This little girl has the longest atten-
tion span I've ever seen. She has always
loved books, and sits still as can be
when we read to her. She entertains
herself very well, which is a godsend to
a caretaker.
Years ago, I bought a tiny antique
school desk. All three grandsons used
it; now Madison works there. She is
learning to cut .with her scissors as her
current project.
This beautiful baby girl has another
attribute I treasure. She does not
meddle. She has never opened a drawer
or cabinet that does not contain her toys
or play equipment ,She doesn't wander
off. She stays in my line ofj>»ion, usu-
as it
♦ ♦♦
ally beside me.
Her Nannie and Uncle Van, both
gone from us now, would have appreci-
ated Madison's latest talent as much or
more than all of us do.
Madison can sing. She can carry a
tune — and she sings out. Even near-
deaf Grandmama can hear her. And
she's a dancer.
She had a birthday celebration the
other day. There was a giant inflated
castle, turrets, towers, and all for kids
to enter and jump,on.
Madison was the Princess of Christ-
mas. Aunt Patti arrived as the Queen of
Christmas, in a pink ball gown, com-
plete with tiara and scepter. She wore
lots of fine gems and medals attached to
a purple sash across her bosom, and
long white gloves. The party favors were
tiaras and crowns. The birthday cakes
(four) were a Barbie, Tweety Bird,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and I
can't remember the dther.
The food was regal too: hot dogs,
hamburgers, and trimming.
So Happy Birthday from
Grandmama to a precious .little girl
who is now three years old M any happy
returns
By Emalyn (Sam) Gillispie
The flood of 1900 changed the looks
of Fort Griffin. Many of the houses were
made of adobe, some of buffalo hides
nailed aver poles, some of limestone.
The shacks, as they were called, were
destroyed and thefaee of the town took
on a new look
Doctor C O . Shell was a typical coun-
try doctor, making house calls which
might take him to a ranch many miles
from Fort Griffin. He arid his buggy
wore a very familiar sight In the area.
After the flood he constructed a build-
ing to serve as his office as well as living
quarters This was about a block from
the foot of the hill on Main Street. It had
. a long room across the front of the
building arid from there he took care of
the sick and dispensed medicine.
Dr. Shell must have been better than
an average doctor. One day he was in
his buggy going fishing in the Clear
Fork River yvhen he passed the George
Nevycomb home and came across a ter-
rified family . Their four-year-old daujgh-
ter, Mable, had been bitten on the face
by a large rattlesnake. The bite was in
the corner of her eye at the bridge of her
nose, I do not know all of the treatment
Dr Shell started, but it was said he
used "Permanganate of Potash." Mable
lived to be 91. Shv! died just about four
years ago
I do not have information about what
became of Dr. Shell, but the building he
built has had a varied history.
The next time the store yvas men-
tioned was in 1908 when a Mr, Brown
used it for a drug store. He moved and
the building became a grocery store
owned by a man named Malcolm.Mrs.
Kirk Ledbetter and Allen Jones bought
his business They sold to Roy Murphy
and he sold to the Pickards. The next
owner w as Harvey Heron, who leased
the building to T P. Fincher in 1932.
After the Pinchers moved to Albany,
the store was restocked by Mrv Heron
and rented to Sam Newcomb. After the
death of Mr. Newcomb, Mr Heron closed
the store and it stood empty for many
years. The store was moved to Albany
and has become a very well known res-
taurant, the Fort Griffin General Mer-
chandise Restaurant.
When I go there it brings back many
memories. The cashier cage once housed
the Post Office and I can remember
sitting on the front porch of the old store
in the evenings and listening to Papa
Newcomb and Sam visit and tell of the
happenings of the day . And I remember
talking to a man and Woman that I later
learned was the famous couple, Bonnie
Parker and Clyde Barrow.
History as it lingers in the minds, of
men .
B\ loan Halfqrd f armer
1 miss Watt Matthews. I'd like to
hear him say:"Gee guns" or "Pay no
tench" again. I miss his enthusiasm for
solving problems that made life better
•for others. His Christmas parties w«re
a highlight of the season.'
The ranch Christmas tree was na-
tive cedar, cut on the ranch and deco-
rated yy ith strings of popcorn and cran-
k-rues That'was Christmas at t ainb-
fthead and I got a special Christmas
message from its simplicity
My memories are full of happy times
at Lambshead Watt allowed my family
and friends to "camp out" on the Clear
Fork and fish along its ancient banks
We usually camped near MacKenzie
Crossing. On dark nights, from my camp
cot, I could see only the w ulesky full of
stars My thoughts would sometimes
turn to stories of the early days along
the Clear Fork, of Fort Griffin town and
the mix of those who peopled it.
MacKenzie Crossing is a historic river
crossing. MacKenzie crossed the Clear
Fork at the place on his way to the
Panhandle of Texas and his surprise
attack on the Indian camp at Mow-way,
a village of 262 lodges. He killed 20
yy arriors, captured 130 women and chil-
dren and 3,000 horses, with a loss of but
one trooper killed and three wounded.
The most turbulent days of Fort Grif-
fin, as a lawless frontier town, took
place from 1876 to 1879. Let me tell you
a story of that place and of those times.
The Flat, as Fort Griffin town was
most commonly known, was a busy,
rowdy and saloon-dominated place. Its
most deadly event occurred on January
17, 1877. Billy Bland and Charley Reed
from the Millet Ranch were the main
ingredient in the deadly mixture of law-
men and law breakers. '
On this winter day, Howard W. Peak
had just arrived at Fort Griffin to sell
his wares to local merchant Frank
Conrad and other townsmen had told
him about the Beehive Saloon. The sa^
loon was a double, one storied adobe
combination saliSon, gambling house and
dance hall.
Attracted by curiosity, Peak stepped
into the Beehive. He had just arrived
\y hen Bland and Reed, while rough fious
ing, got into a fight. Bland had started
shooting in the salopn just for fun But
it turned serious
Deputy Bill Cruger and County At
torney William Jefferies were in
Sfiailnessy's Saloon across the street
from the Beehive. Cruger heard the
shots and started for the door. Jefferies
offered to assist him
Just as they entered the door of the
Beehive, Reed and Bland began shoot-
ing and the two men returned their fire.
Bland was killed instantly by Cruger's
first shot. Jefferies was struck in the
left lung Bill Howsley was wounded
and Dan Barroyv, an innocent bystander,
was fatally hit above the eye.
It happened about 8:00 p.im, a week
almost to the day after Barrow had
married He was sitting on a bench with
a quart bottle of whiskey in his hip
pocket, ready to go home. The shot that
killed him hit exactly in the center of his
forehead.
Charley Reed ran out the front door
and went for the wagon yard where he
had saddled his horse and was ready to
leave. But observing a mob at the gate
waiting for him, he climbed the fence
andevaded the crowd, which he though'
was yvaiting to arrest him.
He walked 12, miles to Millet's ctAv
camp near MaCKenzie's CroSsirig Thef e
he told his story to Newt Joaephus Jonas,
From the, cowboys jn camp, he secured
a gun and a horse
That night, his horse slipped his rope
and got away. Reed followed the hor$e
on his back trail nearly to the MacKenzie
Crossing arid finally overtook and
caught his horse. He rode back into the
Millet camp exhausted and hungry.
The Millet camp cook mixed him up
some grub and furnished him a pa<?k
horse.
Again, I miss Watt. I appreciate aild
remember the good times all of us en
joyed because ofhis generosity. Because
of him, 1 once walked barefooted the
Clear Fork near the historic spot where
Charley Reed rode his horse up to
MacKenzie Crossing, spurred his horse
into the yvater of the Clear Fork and
crossed the river, never to be seen again
in Fort Griffin country.
round and about
By Kiuulvu (Sam) Gillispie
Last Monday evening the weather
yvas nice and cool, aild people were out
ei\joyiug the Tour of Homes. My daugh
ter, Trice, and I, along with a hundred or
more people, took advantage of the tour
to see the inside of the Sandra and Rich-
ard Fox home. They renovated one of the
older homes on the south side of the
Courthouse and are to be congratulated
on the beautiful job Sandra has been
collecting Christmas deco rations forever
and her collection of nativities is a joy to
see.
It seemed that everyone started at
the Fox home and went from there to
visit Mike and Joeliene NI ago to at their
neyy home They also took over ,m old
house, and redid the inside and deco-
rated it as only artists could. Their home
w as full of giace
Trent and Pipet Tankei sley were next
on the list and they have been busy
redoing their place. A wood burning fire-
place w ith the Christmas decorations
gave their living room such a feeling of
the season. I really liked the Christmas
tree in the boy's bedroom It had a ban
dana around it and a Stetson hat on top
Sam and Sandi Coriw ay have not been
residents of Albany very long, but they
were gracious enough to open their home
to the people to tour. What a tour! Sam
was an employee for Coca-Cola for many
years and he started collecting Coke
"bottle.-. I'll,it ted to different* things in
the Coke line. Thev.had a village made
up of Coke memorabilia that was fantas
tic Thank you for allowing all of us to
visit.
Patrick Baker has returned from
ISpain whefe he was visiting his mother,
who is ill.
Virginia Baker is home from Hen-
drick Hospital where she was a guest for
a few days.
Ann Bizzell Newcomb has been in the
hospital in Brownwood She became ill a
few days before Thanksgiving andstayed
a few days When she improved, the
doctors let her return home. A short time
later she had to be admitted again She
is some improved now.
Anson had its parade of lights this
past Saturday night and the Albany
group of young riders were there This
group has already wnn in several pa-
rades thus year — best of show in Fort
Worth, first m Cisco and in Anson they
won first again The Hardin-Simmons
riders were there and our youug riders
won over them, It has be to the elf boots
the horses have on The Six Bright Flags
riding group is made up of five young
girls and one young gentleman who are
eight to. 12 years old They are Storuu
Hare, Chloe and Cache Tankersley,
Rachel Si aihrough, Mary Catherine Tid
yvell and Lauren Willen Two adults,
Don Hare and Robert Willen, ride with
the group Congratulations, riders, you
make Albany proud.
Albany has suffered many water main
breaks. Sometimes it seems that you are
driving hi a shallow creek I was out
Monday and there were four water
breaks the crews were tfying.to fix The
other day they were fixing a large break
here in front of the house, 1 asked the
crew if they were digging me a swim-
ming pool Patrick Baker said, "No, not
a'swimming pool, it's going to be a fish-
ing hole."
By the time you read this, son Paul
and 1 will be on our way to the Sunny
shores of Hawaii Your next Bound and
About will be written from there I will
try to bring you the feeling ofChristmas
in l{ula I and Aloha you all
This is Sam
And I will see you Round and About
Community Calendar
r
DEC. 17 Lions Club - Icehouse, 12 noon
Masons - Mjsonic Hall, 7:30 pm
DEC, 17-18 Christmas basket sorting & packing - Youth
Center, 3 pm
DEC. 17-19 Albany Nativity - Aztec Theater, 2 performances
6:30 & 8 pm
DEC. 18 Elementary sing-along - NSES cafeteria, 9 am
City council - City Hall, 12 noon
Chamber luncheon - Icehouse, noon
Classes dismiss tor Christmas holidays, 1.2:40 pm
Stock show entry cards due, 5 pm
AA & Al-Anon - Call 762-2447 for location, 8 pm
DEC. 19 Christmas basket delivery - Yputh Center, 10 am
1870s Country Christmas - Fort Griffin State
Park,, 1:30»5 pm (Special program at 2 pm)
DEC". 20 Band concert AHS auditorium, 2 pm
DEC. 21 Toastmasters - Courthouse, 6:30 pm
Christian 12-step study-First Baptist Church, 8 prof
DEC. 21 '25 Resource Center closed
DEC. 25 CHRISTMAS DA>
DEC. 28 Commissioners court - Courthouse, 9 am
Immunization clinic - Resource Center
1:3(M pm
JAN, 1 NEW YEAR'S DAY
|AN. 4 T.eachers workday j
JAN. 5 School classes resume
FIRST
NATIONAL
BANK
Albany/Breckeiiridge
SOU
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 123, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 17, 1998, newspaper, December 17, 1998; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth413789/m1/4/: accessed July 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.