By Larry Tucker
After more than 120 years of meeting in the sweltering heat that August brings, the Old Settlers Reunion board is making a bold move. The reunion will leave those unbearable hot temperatures behind and will move the popular event to late October through early November in 2025.
Carley Tucker, the new Old Settlers board of directors president, said the move had been discussed almost every year, and the board felt it was time to make the change. Hot temperatures and dwindling attendance brought that change to the forefront.
Event Moving to October
“The Old Settlers board of directors is excited to move the annual Old Settlers Reunion to October 29 through November 1 in 2025 with hopes of expanding our offerings and attracting more people. We are restoring the four-day format, which will include bringing back Gospel Night on November 29,” Tucker noted. “Come rain or shine, bingo players will be comfortable playing in the Civic Center adjacent to Jim Hogg City Park.”
Tucker said the board is hoping to have more activities for the event. “To pay respect to the tradition of Old Settlers, we hope to incorporate events such as a baking contest and hay rides,” Tucker added. “We plan to spend the next few months working with folks in our community to get ideas and recruit volunteers. We hope the 2025 Old Settlers will be the biggest and best one yet!”
The recent reunion in August had Alba’s Eric George headlining the Saturday night concert. George enjoyed his time on stage. “It was an honor to play Old Settlers. One of my first times to sing in front of the public was years ago during the talent contest they used have. It was great to be able to play for friends, family, and the others in attendance,” George stated. “I have been going to Old Settlers for years when I was growing up. I hope the reunion folks will continue to use local talent.”
Mineola music school owners, Alba’s Rafael Espinoza and his wife, Emmylou, have also entertained at the event in previous years.
History of Old Settlers
The event was originally set for 1900, which coincided with the founding of Wood County in 1850. At the 1899 meeting, a large and enthusiastic crowd was in attendance. Many brought baskets and boxes of food which were spread on the west side of the courthouse. After lunch, a formal meeting was called to order as the crowd packed the seating area in the courthouse. The first committee selected to organize the reunion was made up of two people from each justice precinct.
The first two meetings of the Old Settlers Reunion were held on the courthouse lawn. People came by the wagonloads to camp out near the courthouse.
The lease was originally set at $1 for 50 years with the right of renewal of the lease for another 50 years. The center post for the park pavilion was set in 1906. The city of Quitman has made many improvements just in the past year, such as rebuilding the pavilion with a new metal roof.
The Old Settlers Reunion grew through the years, and at its peak was drawing 15,000 to 20,000 people in the 1940s and 1950s. The annual Wood County event was the highlight of the year in the Quitman area. Early reunion days began at 10:00 a.m. and ran through the evening. The days were filled with politicians speaking and entertainment on the stage.
In the 1950s, the popular Texas Prison Band from Huntsville would entertain with country music. The reunion air was filled with gospel and country tunes. A popular talent night always drew a big crowd, while the annual Fiddling Contest invariably packed the pavilion. Past talent winners have included Sissy Spacek and Kacey Musgraves!
Local civic groups are on hand each year with various offerings which help them raise funds for local scholarships. The local Quitman-Lake Fork Kiwanis Club offers the immensely popular bingo nights. This year, bingo was moved underneath the refurbished pavilion.
Remembering the Old Settlers
For local youngsters, the Wood County Old Settlers Reunion was a magical time. Wood County Clerk Kelley Price grew up looking forward to the event.
“I can remember going to get school clothes before the reunion and wanting to wear those new things to the event, but my mom was against getting my new stuff dirty. I used to go to the reunion and come home dirty from all of the sand at the reunion,” Price noted. “I can remember the first thing you used to see and smell was the Quitman Booster Club cooking hamburgers. Sometimes, even the Quitman coaches took their turn at grilling those burgers.”
Price continued, “It was a great time to hang out with friends at the end of summer. I can remember it cost a quarter to enter the carnival back then.”
Kathy Lutonsky has been on the Old Settlers Association board for several years. “Old Settlers is a time for everyone to come together and enjoy the reunion. It also is a great way for local organizations to raise funds for scholarships and other activities at the park,” Lutonsky noted. “It’s a time kids look forward to seeing their friends and having a great time before school begins in mid-August.” Current officers of the Wood County Old Settlers Reunion board are Carley Tucker, president; Kathy Lutonsky, secretary; and Dr. Joanne Wisdom, public relations. The vice president post is open due to Jared Smith’s move to Carthage, Texas.