From the Editor – September 2011

September 1st, 2011 | Posted by PrintOne in From the Editor | Glen Rose | Showcase Articles - (0 Comments)

NEW! New life, new stores, new events and newly restored–I love new. This may be because I was the eighth child and the words “hand-me-downs” had an entirely different meaning. September and new school clothes go together like kids and fun; like women and shopping; like Granbury and Glen Rose. I was in the second grade when I got my first store-bought, never-been-worn-before dress. It was brown and white with a small orange tie and a real… plastic belt.

Mike and Alecia Echols (Granbury Live fame) announced in August that they are expecting a new resident, their first child. Mike and Alecia met on the stage when Mike and his amazing skills on the fiddle joined the cast.

This summer, Pecan Plantation water aerobic class had a new instructor, Tal. “Thank you, Tal and all those friends who encourage me to work out.” With this heat we may be swimming into October.

Many new things are happening in Hood and Somervell County–new shopping centers, new restaurants and new stores. “Red” is coming in the fall. This new store in the old, red bank building on Granbury Square comes with a new look from seasoned owners, Viki and Scott Young. I think style is Viki’s middle name.

Some shop-owners have found so many beautiful and trendy items they plan expansions for the fall. A great example is Truly Trendy in Granbury.

In Glen Rose new stores like Odie’s Nest are growing each day with new merchandise. Hollywood and Vine showcase new and different entertainment almost on a weekly basis–like their wrestling events for the summer.

New to Granbury, Audrey Caylor opened the new store, Caylor Creek Boutique in Granbury, after expanding Caylor Creek in Glen Rose. As a long time business owner in Glen Rose, Audrey has been very involved in the Glen Rose community, volunteering at local community events, donating to local charities and promoting local business. Audrey continues her tireless work in Glen Rose and has already begun her involvement in Granbury as well.

Caylor Creek offers a new event, Shopping Parties. Shop with all your friends, enjoy cheese and wine and listen to excellent music. Wow! I have to have one of these parties…and you’re invited. On September 15th at 6:30 p.m. come to meet me for a private shopping party. I might even play my dulcimer for you. Each person will receive 15% off if you buy something at my party. You might decide you want to book your own.

The new renovation at the Hood County Courthouse, nearing completion, is beautiful and as original as possible. We have a new music hall, Rio Brazos Live and it is going to raise the roof all the way to the sky. HoodStock this month will definitely entertain you. Then Willie Nelson! Wow! Willie Nelson will be performing for the Grand Opening in November.

Like a new pair of shoes, often the time between new and old can hurt. But once the new breaks in and gets comfortable, everything continues to just getting better. I find it exciting to see what new things God will bring next.

I hope you make fall a new start. Like a new box of colors, (I always wanted the 84 count.) fall freshens our focus. It’s like a blank sheet of notebook paper waiting to record the new things we can learn. It’s September; let’s pray it brings rain and a bushel of new blessings. Email me at granburyshowcase@yahoo.com if you know of something new.

 

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Hood County’s Hidden History

June 29th, 2011 | Posted by PrintOne in Showcase Articles - (0 Comments)

By Elizabeth Sutton

In the past, the railroad provided the lifeblood of many small communities that have since nearly vanished. Waples was one such location. It can be found on a spur off Farm Road 167 ten miles north of Granbury in eastern Hood County. Settlement of this community occurred sometime before

1900. A county map from 1936 indicated more than a dozen scattered dwellings, a church and a school called Waples home. In 2000 the population was around 155.

The cloudy origins of this small community most likely lie around 1887, when the railroad came. It was most likely named after a Paul Waples, an investor and food distributor to Dennison, Dallas and Ft. Worth through the Waples Platter Grocer Company. A financial backer of Amon G. Carter, Paul Waples seems to have been a political mover and shaker in Ft. Worth at the time.

In 1909 a Mary L. Banks donated the lots 9 and 10 for church and school use. However, lots 3 and 4 wound up being used for these purposes instead by mistake. Sadly, none of the old school and church buildings remain. There’s a current church building, erected sometime in the late 1940s.
Due to its small size, Waples has no cemetery proper, although one family, the Millers, created their own private burial plot. In addition to the railroad, cotton was also an important source of local revenue. At one point the community supported a blacksmith shop, as well.

Recently the Hood County Historical Society went out to the Waples area to a spot called Jeff Fisher’s Homestead. They combed over the place with metal detectors to see what could be found. Soon, relics of human habitation turned up from the silent earth. The low acidic soil had preserved the objects well. They found old farm items and household objects like medicine bottles. These mute reminders of the past lie hidden throughout the county, waiting to for someone to stumble upon them and ponder time’s passage.

The Hood County Historical Society is affiliated with the Hood County Genealogical Society and meets at 7 p.m. every 4th Monday of the month (except in November and December) at the Historic Granbury Depot. For more information you can visit www.hctxhs.org and/or www.granburydepot.org.

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