FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Summer time and the living is easy…

I do love the summer when life seems to slow down a bit – not as many meetings, warm evenings to spend with the children and/or grandchildren, swimming in the pool…ahhhh!

But what was a summer day like in Grapevine’s early days? There were no organized sports or swimming lessons at the pool. The kids, after tending to their chores, were free to wander the town finding entertainment or amusement wherever it might be, whether in nature or the companionship of others.

Almost everyone had a garden to grow fresh vegetables for the table and maybe have some left for canning. Hoeing and watering were tasks for Mom and the kids usually. But the rewards were plentiful also. Somehow the vegetables straight out of the garden always tasted much better than those you could get anywhere else.

On weekends the family might go for a ride to visit relatives or friends they did not see during the week. And while the adults talked, the kids would run around outside and play. This was often when you formed close bonds with your cousins.

Without today’s electricity cooling would have been achieved by sitting in the yard in the shade of a tree and hoping for that famed Texas wind to blow through. Maybe it was enhanced by a cold watermelon from the ice house, or maybe you went to the ice house to get a block of ice you could crush to make home-churned ice cream. Of course the kids would be hanging around the churn sucking on slivers of ice and waiting for their turn to crank the ice cream maker.

Today everything is air conditioned; the children are in organized sports or away at camp; entertainment is available on “18 wide 3-D screens” or on the 52” screen in your living room; and we have our choice of 43 flavors of ice cream at the local dairy.

Both scenarios have their advantages, so whether you prefer a laid-back simple summer or one filled with activities; I hope it is a wonderful one for you.

After our June meeting and a short summer break in July, we will be back with more exciting programming and a really fun 1950s sock hop fundraiser for our new museum featuring the façade of the original Grapevine Ice House. More details will be coming soon, but save September 28 for that event.

See you at the June 25^th general meeting.

Carolyn Ernst, President

 

FROM THE 2^nd VICE PRESIDENT:

McKinney, Texas could not ask for a better heritage advocate than Margaret Wood. We in Grapevine all know Margaret is involved in preserving history here, but she also has a deep seeded appreciation for the preservation efforts so artfully done in McKinney. Thanks Margaret for an enthusiastic & informative Tour. Also, a thank you goes to Dee-Dee Guerra & Guy Giersch with the McKinney CVB for providing their help in arranging & complimenting the tour with a home town personal touch.

We are fortunate to have Michael Patterson, our own homegrown premier authority on Civil War Veterans, present our June 25^th program. Michael grew up in Colleyville area and has focused his efforts on research of the Vets in the N/E quadrant of Tarrant County. Grapevine area contributed many soldiers to the Confederacy. One of the contributing factors to this local involvement was that Brigadier General Richard Montgomery Gano, Col. W. M. Quayle, & Cap. A. M. Quayle all resided about where the Gaylord Texan is today. Additionally, Gen. Gano was a noted soldier prior to the war for his heroism in Indian battles. Come and see the commemorative presentation that Michael has developed to remember these historic people & events. In April 2009, Michael coordinated the dedication of three Civil War markers for Grapevine Cemetery’s own veterans.

Remember we always hold our general meetings at 7:00 PM on the fourth Monday of each month in the program room at the Grapevine Public Library. For the updated program schedule, check our Society's website at www.grapevinehistory.org. You may email me at motsimmons@gmail.com or contact me at 817-920-9790 with your program ideas. Be sure to mark your calendars for August 22^nd when we resume our meetings!

See you June 25^th,

Tommy Simmons, 2^nd V.P./Program Chair

 

FROM THE 1^st VICE PRESIDENT:

Our Museum attendance for the month of May was 1811. Memorial Day weekend (Friday through Monday) yielded 594 visitors. Interestingly, we had several visitors from Hawaii throughout the month. Grapevine must be where people from “paradise” go for vacation!! International visitors also found their way to our Museum from Russia, Germany, France, the Philippines, Mexico, England, Australia, Egypt, and Israel.

Many of you may not realize that our Museum exists not only in the Cotton Belt Depot, but also inside the Torian Cabin. The items inside the cabin are owned by the Historical Society. The inside decor changes with the season: spring flowers, summer vegetables, fall leaves, or the Christmas tree and seasonal decorations. You should check periodically to see where Sparky, the dog, has wandered since he also seems to move around in the cabin.

For the past seventeen years Barbara Johnson has lovingly tended to the cabin. She cleans, decorates, and sometimes purchases items to maintain the cabin’s interior interest. Barbara’s pride in the cabin was very evident during Main Street Days. She was there each day to tell the cabin’s history to the numerous visitors we had stop by to look inside. Many said they had often passed by, but never stopped to look inside.

Visitors were amazed to learn that the cabin was inhabited until the mid -20^th century. Children often asked where the bathroom was. The answer, of course, was that it was out back in its own separate building. They also found it puzzling to think that their task may have been to carry in the water from the well.

We are fortunate to have this visible piece of history on Main Street and doubly fortunate to have someone like Barbara Johnson to take care of it. Thanks, Barbara, from all of us.

Paul Ernst, 1^st Vice President / Curator

 

FROM THE TREASURER:

The balance brought forward as of May 31, 2012 is $29,750.92. Income for May include Museum donations $182.24, Membership $15.00, Interest from Checking account $1.34 for a total of $198.58. Expenses for May include our road trip to McKinney $654.00, Newsletter $114.14, Docent $424.13, Directories for members $284.00, Post Office box for the next year $120.00 for a total of $1,596.27. A complete report of receipts and disbursements for May will be available at the June 25^th meeting.

Respectfully submitted Elaine W. Cary, Treasurer

FROM THE MEMBERSHIP CHAIR:

Our current membership includes 164 individual family and 13 business/organizations. There is plenty of time to still join and reap all of the rewards of being a member for the current year. You can find a copy of the membership form on Society’s Website, www.grapevinehistory.org.

The mailing address is:

Grapevine Historical Society
P.O. Box 995
Grapevine, TX 76099-0995

If you are already a member or become a member on or before the next meeting on June 25th, you can pick up a copy of your new 2012 Membership Directory which I will have available at the sign-in table when you come into the meeting room just off the foyer of the Library. Please check for any corrections and let me know of changes!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

******** SAVE THE DATE ********

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

The fabulous DFW All-Stars Musical Review is coming to the Palace Theater, downtown Grapevine! This two-hour musical show with a full cast of very talented musicians and singers will feature a 1950s Sock Hop complete with “Elvis in the building!” All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go directly into the Grapevine Historical New Museum Fund! Look and listen for more information coming soon!

NEXT MEETING: Monday, June 25^th at 7:00 PM in the Grapevine Public Library Program Room. The Grapevine Public Library is located at 1201 Municipal Way. Our meetings are free.

We do not have a meeting scheduled for the month of July. Remember to mark your calendar! We meet June 25^th and August 27^th.

June 25^th - Michael Patterson

August 27^th - to be announced

Remember Dad on Father’s Day on June 17^th - Why not give treat your dad to a book about the history of Grapevine, its people and buildings. There are three books published by the Grapevine Historical Society. Or why not give him a 2012 membership to the Grapevine Historical Society for this Fathers’ Day? Invite your friends and family members to join us as well. A copy of the membership form and the three book order forms can be accessed on the Grapevine Historical Society’s website: www.grapevinehistory.org.

 

READ ABOUT THE HISTORY OF GRAPEVINE:

Our new pictorial book Images of America: Grapevine
The Grapevine Historical Society recently published pictorial history book arrived in August and You may purchase your book at the Grapevine Historical Museum, the Grapevine Public Library or by mail order. Cost: $22.00 (includes tax).
(Add $4.00 for postage if mailed for a total of $26.00.)

To order by mail , click here to print out the order form.

Two more Grapevine Historical Society Books:

1. Grapevine's Most Unforgettable Characters. Our book is on sale at the Grapevine Public Library. The book costs $85.00. You can pick up your copy there or order it by mail. (Add an additional $5.00 for postage and handling - Click here to print out the book order form.)

2. Grapevine Area History. There are still copies of our first book available at the Library. They cost $70.00. (Again, add an additional $5.00 for postage and handling - Click here to print out the book order form.)

Book Order Forms can be found on this website.

Mail orders for all books should be sent to:
Grapevine Historical Society
P.O. Box 995
Grapevine Texas 76099-0995