Local historian, Margaret Tolar, with a display of the BRI-Railroad at Freestone County Historical Museum…
The Freestone County Historical Museum is excited to announce several new accessions to their collection. Curator, Patricia Pratt, has begun an exhibit on the Teague BR-I railroad. A painting by Doris Edwards Threadgill, which once hung in the old jail over the stairwell, is now on display along with a vintage electric train set shared by local historian, Margaret Ivy Tolar. The train belonged to her son, David.
Margaret also contributed a leather billfold belonging to her father, Grady Ivy, stamped with “Your First Bale” Daniel Brothers Ginners. It is on display along with many other items in the new cotton exhibit. A very fascinating slide show is on display, as well. It has photos of many early Freestone county cotton gins, steamboats carrying cotton bales down the Trinity River, Jesse C. Awalt’s cotton sweep patent, along with many newspaper articles and ads about area cotton gins.
Margaret’s sister, Emma Jean Vande Streek, of Austin, has shared her 1961 Maid of Cotton contest gown. Mrs. Vande Streek, while attending Sam Houston State Teacher’s College, was selected as one of six finalists from the 12 cotton-producing states. The event was sponsored by the National Cotton Council and was held in Memphis, TN at the famous Peabody Hotel. The gown was required to be made from 100% cotton and was purchased at “Francine’s” at Turtle Creek in Dallas. Winners received a scholarship and numerous prizes; and served as goodwill and fashion ambassadors of the cotton industry in a five-month, all-expense tour across the globe. Photos from this event are included on the slide show.
Everyone is urged to stop by the museum and see these items while they are on still on display. Citizens are encouraged to share photographs, stories, documents, and other items that might pertain to Freestone County’s past. What is the joy of history, if it is lost and forgotten in the bottom of an old trunk, and not shared with the future generations?
Slowly but surely, the 1881 jail renovation proceeds. All of the new “historically correct” windows have been installed, along with period front and rear doors. Four of the seventeen new windows have been sponsored at the cost of $3,000 each. Donors are (1) Julie Ann & Rick Medford (Child Family ’s Window); (2) Kathleen & Jim McKee family and Jacqueline& Paul Collins family (Davis Family Window); (3) Barbara Price, John Fryer, Sid Fryer, Patsy Fryer Day, Hugh Fryer, Jr. , and Charles Fryer (Fryer Family Window); and (4) The Freestone County Historical Commission (Sonny Sessions Window). Only one of the front windows remains available through the Window Sponsorship Program; while all of the side and rear wall windows are available. The next phase of restoration will be repairing the foundation. After the foundation is restored, then the brick renovation can begin.
For more information about the sponsorship program please visit with the curator. Museum hours are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm. Visit us on Facebook or our website: www.freestonecomuseum.com for more information.
Emma Jean Vande Streek (right) standing beside her 1961 Maid of Cotton Gown.
