and let there be light…

The Freestone County Historical Museum Board is very pleased to announce to the community that flashlights are no longer needed to read our display signs. On Saturday August 17, the new lighting installation was completed in the Bass Wing by Energy & Automation Company of Hewitt, owned and operated by Brenda and Greg Klepper. Patty Pratt, museum curator, said, “The new lights are just AMAZING. Everything is so vibrant and colorful. We didn’t realize how bad our lighting situation had become, until we flipped the switch on for our new lights.”

The museum had contacted the Kleppers earlier in the year to help find a solution for its poor lighting issues. Many bulbs had gone out and the older bulbs were getting very dim. The Kelppers stopped by and investigated the site. After a short time, Brenda contacted museum board member, Linda Mullen, and stated that they would be honored to complete the museum lighting project as a donation in memory of her parents, Bettie Lou and Billy Ray Vestal. “My parents loved their hometown and believed it was very important to preserve the history of families and friends that made Fairfield and Freestone County what it is today,” commented Brenda. The museum board is forever grateful to the Klepper family for this wonderful gift.

Both Bettie Lou and Billy Ray Vestal are descendants of early Freestone County pioneer families. Bettie Lou’s family had very deep roots in Freestone County; as she was the daughter of Bessie Mae (McLelland) and L.V. Jones. Her paternal grandparents were Lina Lou (Emmons) and Wesley Elias Jones; and her great-grandparents were Ella (Folk) and William Wesley Jones of the Stewards Mill community and Sarah Alabama (McAdams) and Polk Emmons of the Turlington/Mt. Zion Community. The Jones family at one time operated a grocery store purchased from Mr. W. J. Lott which was located on the main highway near the courthouse.

Mr. Vestal’s father was equally rooted in Freestone County History. His parents were Audra Mae (Aultman) and Henry Ray Vestal who were associated with the Ward Prairie Community. Ray Vestal also operated several grocery stores and was best known for the one he purchased in 1946 next to the Moody Reunion Grounds. Since Billy Ray worked in the store with his father, the store was called “H. R. Vestal and Son”. The name of the store was later changed to “Fairpark”. Who in Freestone County is not familiar with the “Fairpark” grocery store? Through the years, the business was operated by various owners, but the Vestal family has always maintained ownership of the building and property.

All these various family histories are recorded in the Freestone County History Book Volumes which can also be purchased at the museum. A memorial plaque will be placed in the museum in the memory of Bettie Lou and Billy Ray Vestal and in gratitude to Brenda and Greg Klepper. We encourage all the community to stop by to see our new lights and see what a great difference they make. Museum hours are WED, FRI, & SAT; 10am-5pm.

Submitted by Linda Mullen.