By Larry Tucker
The past is alive and well in Wood County, Texas with various museums, historic buildings, and consequential structures to keep local heritage alive.
Mineola Leads the Way
The City of Mineola boasts several offerings of days gone by. It took a decade to do it, but the old post office has come alive with exhibits which bring the past to life. The facility is located one block north of the intersection of Highways 80 and 69 in downtown Mineola.
The Mineola Historical Museum is owned and operated by the City of Mineola. Museum director Sharon Chamblee has been there since the inception. “In 1999, the Mineola Historical Museum Board was formed and board members appointed. I am the only original board member still here,” Chamblee noted. “We have worked hard to make the people of Mineola proud of our efforts.”
Upon entering the building, a striking mural adorns the south wall. “The original mural was painted by Bernard Zakheim of San Francisco. Today, a reproduction costing $49,000—painted by the original artist’s son, Nathan Zakheim—was completed,” Chamblee added.
“In 1937, when the building was originally constructed, it was a WPA (Works Progress Administration) for ‘starving’ artists. Unfortunately, ours was destroyed in the early 1980s during a remodeling of the post office and taken down, rolled up, and put in the basement where it disintegrated over time. For 10 years, materials that became a part of the museum were collected, and in 2009, the museum was opened to the public.”
There are more than 30 exhibits at the facility. The WPA was a New Deal program that helped Americans get back to work during the Great Depression. The original Zakheim mural cost $750 and was part of the WPA’s effort to employ artists, musicians, actors, and writers in a program known as Project Number One. The WPA was terminated in 1943 when unemployment was nearly eliminated by the wartime economy.
The museum is filled with stories and objects to bring one’s reminiscing to the forefront. One of those exhibits is honoring the Historic Select Theater & Lake Country Playhouse. The first movie projector from 1948 is on display, as well as are original movie posters from the cinema of yesteryear. An old ticket booth is on display, too. The memories of Saturday afternoon matinees and first-run movies are a memory many from Wood County share. Folks came from all over to go to the Select Theater. It is Texas’s only continuously operating theater.
Another popular exhibit contains a letter jacket and several photos and other items of interest from the times of the South Ward High School, which became the Mineola Colored School, followed by what became the home of the McFarland High School Bears. The Bears were noted for the athletic abilities and championships, especially in football and basketball.
Yet another popular exhibit is the Mineola ISD area, which has an array of historic items from letter jackets and band uniforms to school annuals from days gone by. “Those annuals cover many years and are one of the things people always seem to be interested in,” Chamblee said. “We have collected many annuals, but we could always use more.”
The museum is open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 am until 3:00 p.m.
McFarland Museum
Addie McFarland was an early African-American educator in Mineola, where she first opened a kindergarten in her home before being asked to teach first and second grade at the public school. The McFarland Museum is located in Mineola on South Stone Street.
McFarland taught until she became ill in 1944. In December 1948, the Board of Education of Mineola ISD named the black elementary and high school after her. McFarland’s contributions to the education of young African-American youth will always be revered and remembered.
The museum’s mission is to preserve, collect, interpret, and celebrate the past and to show appreciation for teachers, parents, and friends. Retired educator Shirley Roberson was instrumental in bringing the museum to life. She began by collecting information on McFarland graduates and veterans. She copied and framed photos and memorabilia.
At the museum, there is a copy of the 1996 McFarland annual, the only one the school ever produced. There also are photos and exhibits honoring the McFarland Bears. The Bear football teams were held in high esteem and won several championships. They played their games at the Mineola High School Field on Thursday nights. There are several photos of McFarland graduates and notations of their many successes.
The facility shows the exciting history of the old South Ward/McFarland schools. For information, McFarland’s phone numbers are 903-569-8851 and 903-245-3644.
Wisener Airport
Wisener Airport began its operation in 1917, not long after the Wright Brothers’ historic first flight. The private airport is still in business and houses one of the finest collections of historical aircraft, as well as photos from the past.
The Mineola-Wisener Airport & Royal Flying Circus Aviation Museum holds a “Jenny,” among other small planes which have flown through the years. The Curtis Jenny was deemed unsafe by the federal government and demanded all of those left be destroyed. But Henry Wisener did not want to do that, so he stripped the wings and made the plane unable to fly. That Jenny is now the centerpiece of the museum hangar, and you can still see some of the original woodwork. There are other planes, and even an antique vehicle.
More than 70 types of aircraft are stored in the airport’s various hangars. There are Royal Flying Circus memorabilia from those days when pilots would perform aerobatics for air shows.
Lupita Wisener is still the airport manager, and she continues to keep the Wisener Airport and Museum open to the public. The museum can be seen by appointment. Contact Wisener at 903-569-1929 or 956-802-5123. Or you may visit it at 1412 Country Club Drive in Mineola, just southwest of the Mineola Country Club.
Train Station
The Mineola Train Station Museum is located at the depot. There are several displays from the past and full model reproductions of the station and trains from other eras. The City of Mineola owns the museum, and it can be visited at any time during the day, seven days a week. Admission is free, and the depot is always open during daytime hours.
Quitman Updates the Past
Jim Hogg City Park in Quitman is the focal center of an effort to preserve local history.
Delene Allen, with the support of the Park Board and many volunteers, is leading the charge in the remodeling a local landmark. Allen is the director of Quitman Public Library and Museums. The restoration of the Jim and Sallie Stinson Honeymoon Cottage is currently being made ready for a July unveiling.
“The DAR (Elizabeth Denton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution) is planning a soft re-opening of the Honeymoon Cottage this coming July 4. The DAR has really helped in this effort. They have helped me restore the cottage,” Allen informed. “They have been with me since the beginning. They restored the dining room area and actually received recognition in Washington, DC for that restoration effort.”
Volunteers from the Denton Chapter give tours of the facility on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to noon, and they also open for special events.
There are plans to open the Ima Hogg Museum in the near future. The museum will be located in the main building, which currently houses the Quitman Chamber of Commerce office which will remain there. “There will be an extensive Caddo Indian exhibit, and then it will move on to early settlers in Wood County. The early settlers exhibit will take up about 85% of the museum,” Allen added.
“We will cover music, agriculture, and notable people in local history. There will be antique farm implements and some original blacksmith tools and several historic photographs.”
The museum will also be the home of original handwritten papers of James Steven Hogg. Hogg was an editor of the local newspaper and later became the first native-born governor of Texas. “The old newspaper sign will be displayed, and we hope to do something on the newspaper with a setting which will include his desk,” Allen noted.
Quitman native and award-winning actress Sissy Spacek will be featured. It should be noted that her father, Ed Spacek, was instrumental in moving the Honeymoon Cottage to the park. “We also have some old movie scripts, including Coal Miner’s Daughter, which is signed by Sissy.”
The historic Stinson House is a beautiful period home located in the west end of Jim Hogg Park. The house was built in 1869 by James Stinson and is constructed of virgin pine and hardwood from Wood County. It was originally located 15 miles east of Quitman.
It was also the site of Sallie Stinson’s and Jim Hogg’s marriage ceremony. Hogg’s first endeavor into politics was as a Wood County Justice of the Peace. Miss Ima Hogg was instrumental in having the house moved to its current location in 1969.
Tours can be scheduled, and the Stinson House can be rented. For information, call 430-235-5461.
Alba History Comes Alive at the Library
Alba’s rich history has been carefully crafted to bring the past to the forefront today in the Alba Public Library & Museum, which is located on the square in downtown Alba.
The museum was opened in 2011 after thousands of hours of volunteer work. Local historian Saundra Burge helped to collect local historical artifacts to preserve the city’s heritage.
Lignite coal mines brought many to Alba, and with it, the town grew to 1,600 to 2,000 residents. Alba had two banks and a newspaper called the Alba Herald, followed by another publication, the Alba Reporter. When the mines closed, the population fell to 662 by 1932.
Exhibits include tributes to Nashville Songwriter’s Hall Fame Leon Payne, who hailed from Alba. Payne was blind in one eye at birth and lost sight in his other eye in early childhood. Payne is remembered as a writer and performer. He wrote the song “Lost Highway” that reached number one on Billboard charts in 1949. Hank Williams, Sr. also recorded the song, as has current country music star Kacey Musgraves.
Also featured are artifacts from Carroll Dawson, who began a storied basketball career at Alba High School. Dawson would go on to star at Paris Junior College and Baylor University. He became Baylor’s head basketball coach in 1973 and remained there until 1977. He also worked as a scout for the Dallas Cowboys football team and became an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets NBA team in 1979. He became the Rockets’ general manager in 1996 and had a 27-year relationship with the team.
The museum is open during library hours, which are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For information, call 903-765-2665.
Hawkins Salutes Veterans
The Veterans Memorial Park annual in Hawkins is dedicated to the area’s veterans who served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces.
The memorial has a listing of the names of those who have served. There is also a small pond with plaques detailing conflicts and an AH-1 Cobra helicopter. The helicopter served from 1970 to 1973 in Vietnam. The memorial has been supported by private donations.
Local Boy Scouts built and donated a flag retirement incinerator on the site. Other additions over the years have bene a maintenance building and a large covered pavilion with picnic tables.
The memorial is open 24/7 year-round and holds a special service on Memorial Day each year, adding names to the list.
The park is located on FM 14 (Beaulah Street), just south of Highway 80.
History at the Winnsboro Train Depot
The Winnsboro Historical Museum is located in the historic train depot, which is a part of the cultural arts district in the downtown area. The facility is open on Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Private tours are available for groups, students, and homeschoolers by calling 903-347-2668 or emailing winnsborotxmuseum@gmail.com.
The museum has artifacts from the old telegraph and cable office, where they have an old telegraph machine. There are many older photos depicting the small community as it turns into a bustling city. There also is a beautiful antique organ on display.
The museum recently re-opened after making notable improvements. Exhibits are changed throughout the year.