FROM THE PRESIDENT:

The year 2009 is now part of history. What a year it was! On a personal note, Paul and I visited our 7^th continent, Antarctica, in December. The green snow algae and pink penguin poop were very festive for the holiday season!

As I work on my year-end President’s report, I am very impressed by what we accomplished. That report should be available at the next meeting. Thanks to all of you who helped in any way. It was indeed a combined effort. Volunteerism is alive and well in Grapevine.

I have read—somewhere—that doing something for someone else gives a boost to your health. So instead of making those impossible-to-keep resolutions like losing weight or exercising more, here are some that you can accomplish by volunteering only one hour a week or less:
· Plan to attend every meeting this year. Get out your calendar now and reserve the 4^th Monday of each month.
· Be an advocate for the Historical Society. Talk it up and invite friends and neighbors to our meetings.
· Offer to help us with mending and repairing tasks. Are you an expert seamstress or is working with wood your passion‌ We sometimes need people to help repair items in the Museum or make display stands for us.
· Sign up to help at the Museum on clean-up days. Many hands do make light work!
· Tell Sandra Tate that you are willing to bring drinks or refreshments to a meeting. We all enjoy those refreshments.
· Be a docent in the Museum one half day a month. You’ll probably enjoy it so much that you’ll volunteer for more. (Call Helen Jean at 817-329-4776.)
· Put your name on the substitute list for Museum docents. Helen Jean is always looking for new recruits.
· Contact the nominating committee and let them know you want to serve on the Executive Board in 2011. This one may take more than an hour a week!

If none of these appeals to you, but you would still like to contribute your share, call me at 817-488-0235 and we can talk about the special skills we will be needing as we prepare for moving the Museum in the next year. It will help the Historical Society and may be good for your heart in more than one way. J

Our meeting speaker this month is Dr. Paul Benson who never fails to educate and entertain us with his stories. He will be talking about “Bible Warriors: C.I. Scofield and J. Frank Norris.” This may be an introduction to some of the sights we will see on our field trip later in the year, so don’t miss it. I’ll see you there.

Carolyn Ernst, President



FROM THE 1^st VICE PRESIDENT:

Our Museum attendance for the month of November and December was 1766 and 1427 respectively. We closed out the year with a grand total of 30,372 visitors not only from Texas but also from all over the United States and various foreign countries. I think that’s pretty impressive!

There is so much to appreciate about the people who live in the Grapevine area…their desire to maintain a "life-line" of memories of the heritage established here…and their generosity to contribute items of historical significance to keep that window open for future generations to learn from their past experiences.

Maybe it is the knowledge that my own father as well as John's and many of you members of the Society served our country during World War II and our having the opportunity to hear the stories they all have shared with us... Maybe it is our opportunity to travel to the beaches and cemetery in Normandy or to Washington D.C. where the various memorials honoring our troops are located... Whatever the reason, I feel that we should never stop honoring our veterans of all wars fought – not just on special days like D-Day, Veterans' Day or Pearl Harbor Day, but every day!

With this introduction, I want to share with you our newest contributions to the Museum's exhibit of World War II clothing and various other items of interest as we highlight two of our military branches – the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy – and the men who served in them.

Gene Wiley has contributed his U.S. Army uniform which includes his "Eisenhower" jacket and many other articles of clothing issued to men in the Army in addition to photographs, his discharge papers, and a letter to name a few. Visit the display and discover who that young Boy Scout is standing with him in the picture!

The family of Joe Messina has donated Joe's World War II U.S. Navy uniform, photographs, his discharge papers and a blanket. Did you know that the Navy blanket is a cream-colored woolen one‌ With my dad serving as a member of the U.S. Army, I am well aware of the dark brown woolen Army blankets – in fact, we still have some of his in our own home even today. This Army blanket displayed in the exhibit was donated by Paul Ernst. I hope you will visit our Museum and see this newest addition. I hope it brings back good memories – and proud ones as well!

Pam Price, 1^st V.P. / Museum Curator (817-481-3774)



FROM THE 2^nd VICE PRESIDENT:

I am very excited about becoming your 2^nd Vice President in charge of the programs for our monthly meetings. As I start my work, I pause to say a sincere "Thank You" to Ralph Gary who has organized some very interesting and informative programs over the past four years. Our last meeting was filled with insights of various opinions regarding the Kennedy Assassination – a topic that will always be surrounded by controversial conversations. It was nice to have Jim Gatewood back and to have both Ralph and John Price adding their perspectives to the subject. As we go back in history, knowing this incident took place in our own area, we easily recall "where we were on that fateful day in November 1963," don't we‌

We look forward to another great year with fascinating and informative programs and our great fellowship to learn more about our area and its history. We begin this January with a favorite, Dr. Paul Benson, who has been overwhelmingly popular for the last several years. This year the main topic will be “Dallas Bible Warriors, C.I. Scofield and J. Frank Norris, but Dr. Benson will also cover the sites to be visited on the May field trip. These include the site of the largest Indian encampment of the 1840s in the area, and early settlements preceding Grapevine in Tarrant County, including Marrow Bone Springs and Johnson Station.

Once again we will be guided by Dr. Paul Benson on our annual road trip in May. This year's Field Trip will be to Historical Sites in Tarrant County. This is expected to include settlements preceding Grapevine: Johnson Station, the John Birch Museum, Marrow Bone Springs and other sites with possible lunch scheduled at Joe T. Garcia’s Mexican Food Restaurant in Fort Worth.

Come join us! This is a great way to learn about your community, meet others, and spend an interesting evening. As always we ask that ideas for programs and presenters be relayed to the executive committee. Let’s work together to find great programs and learn more about our heritage and community. You may contact me at 817-920-9790 with your suggestions or visit our website at www.grapevinehistory.org
See you in the meeting room at the Grapevine Public Library, at 7:00 on January 25^th. Remember we always hold our general meetings on the fourth Monday of each month.

Tom Simmons, 2^nd VP/Program Chairman



FROM THE TREASURER:

My last report showed an October 31^st checking account balance of $9,265.13 and a total funds balance of $31,343.08.

For the months of November and December, 2009 GHS receipts totaled $2,470.16. Two Grapevine's Most Unforgettable Characters books and two Grapevine Area History books were sold in December for $310.00, and $5.00 was received to cover one mailing. Museum donations totaled $349.47 and other donations, $1,025.00. Interest income totaled 69¢ and 2010 member dues, $780.00. Expenses for November & December totaled $1,920.03. Communication expense totaled $297.02,
and Museum expenses, including docents salaries for October through December, totaled $1,607.45. Program, Scrapbook, and Administrative Expenses totaled $15.56.

The checking account balance at the end of December was $9,815.26. The Society's three CDs, totaling $22,077.95, bring total Society funds at the end of 2009 to $31,893.21.

Margaret Wood, Treasurer


FROM THE MEMBERSHIP CHAIR:

Welcome to 2010 and all the exciting programs that will occur this year!

Our membership year begins in January, so to make sure you don't miss any of our exciting programs, interesting newsletters, opportunity to go on the bus trip or opportunities to volunteer during the year, please turn in or send in your membership form this month. This also guarantees you are included in the 2010 membership directory that will come out in April.

Currently we begin the 2010 year with 61 individual/family members and 5 business/organization members for a total of 66 that have been early birds getting their dues renewed so please join them to get us off to a great start this year.

Your membership form for 2010 was enclosed in your November 2009 newsletter. The membership form is also posted on our website at www.grapevinehistory.org; just print out a copy. Another option would be to pick up your 2010 form when you visit the Grapevine Historical Museum, also known as the “Depot.” This would give you the opportunity to see some of our newer acquisitions if you haven’t been there for a while. Please fill out your 2010 form and bring it to our next meeting on January 25^th at the Library or mail it to:

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

Janis Roberson, Membership Chairperson



FROM THE PUBLICITY CHAIR:

As usual there is much happening in our special city. Get ready and make your reservations for the following:

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad is undergoing annual maintenance, but opens February 14 with the special Sweetheart Express from 10:00-3:30. On March 12-13 the Chocolate and Wine Fest is another treat.

Our historic Palace Theater showcases American classics. Plan for an “old-fashioned night at the movies” with Love Story on Feb. 5, Magnificent Seven on March 5, Victor/Victoria April 2, The Graduate May 7, Fantasia July 2, and 2001: A Space Odyssey on August 6.

Concerts at the Palace include Hot Club of Texas on March 12, Trace Bundy on April 9, Joseph Vincelli on April 30, and Edith’s Follies IV on June 11.

The fabulous Grapevine Opry continues every Saturday Night with Outlaw Waylon Jennings on Feb. 6, Duets and Love Songs on Feb. 13, and the 6^th Annual Grapevine Heritage Jubilee on February 27 with an all-star cast including the Three Redneck Tenors.

Also don’t miss Spring into Nash Farm April 10, the New Vintage Wine Trial and Jazz Wind Train on April 16-17 and the Main Street Outdoor Adventure from May 21-23. We’ll give you more details next month.

Check out the website for the Grapevine convention and Visitors Bureau at www.grapevinetexasusa.com for more information about what is going on in Grapevine! If any of you have special news items we should know about or have an idea for an article, please contact me. We depend on you to help us keep our membership and community interested and informed about our active historical society.

Happy New Year!
Ralph Gary, Publicity Chairperson (817-481-8252)
rvg5@juno.com



ANNOUNCEMENTS

HAVE YOU NOTICED?  There's always something of interest going on when you are visiting downtown Main Street. Have you noticed that construction is taking place on the corner of Main and Hudgins Streets (to the north of Master Made Feed Store)‌ Watch as Grapevine's new Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) comes to life just east of the Ted R. Ware Plaza. The ARPCO building between the CVB and the Settlement to City Museum on the corner of Church and Hudgins Streets will become the home of our future Grapevine Historical Museum. Pam Price, 1^st Vice President / Curator, and her committee members Sallie Andrews, Carolyn & Paul Ernst and Helen Jean Lucas Reed have been planning your new museum which will be the focal point of the museums to be located in the Ted R. Ware Plaza. Exciting things will continue to happen in our Museum District so keep watching the growth of the area! Aren't you proud to call Grapevine YOUR home‌

NEXT MEETING: February 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the meeting room at the Grapevine Public Library 1201 South Main Street, Grapevine, TX 76051 – Phone Number: 817-410-3400.

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).
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). Order forms are available at our meeting as well as our website: www.grapevinehistory.org.

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