county line Upper East Side of Texas
Green Goat Winery
JULY/AUGUST 2018
M A G A Z I N E
Destination Palestine Red Fire Grille Redlands Hotel Texas Country Music Hall of Fame McKinney Food Tours
E
IT R O
AV F S ’ A RIC E AM
G N I Buck Hay Farm G Y N Quanah Parker S I WBivO n O s e L Oe Legacy C Battle of the Neches Th ONE MAN. TWO WORLDS.
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SNAKE WOMAN’S GARDEN QUILT HOP CULTURE CLUB BISTRO 1916 WAR LETTERS
Paul Michael Exclusive Designs Made in America
Round Top, TX | Canton, TX | Lafayette, LA | Monroe, LA | Lake Village, AR
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OPEN MON-THU: 11 AM - 10 PM FRI: 11 AM-MIDNIGHT SAT: 11 AM-10 PM 1125 E 5TH ST. (MIDTOWN) TYLER (903) 202-0295 @ROASTSOCIAL ROASTSOCIALKITCHEN.COM
MONDAY - SATURDAY Sam Pace Jonathan Terrell and the Gilded Grit
July 13
July 6
Sideshow Tragedy
Ally Venable
Thursday!
July 20 July 27
July 12 Aug 17
AUG 3
AUG 10
DeFrance Every 6:30-9:30 p.m. Monday
July
Aug
Ian Power Heather Little & & Friends Meredith Crawford
Hector Ward & The Bigtime
Every Tuesday 6-8:30 p.m.
Every Wednesday
One free Kid’s Meal per grownup meal purchased
HAPPY HOUR 3 TO CLOSE (except 4th Wed. Call ahead)
KIDS EAT FREE
DUSTIN BECKER & FRIENDS
Aug 31 Aug 24
Mammoth Indigo Every THURSday 7-10 p.m.
July
(except July 12th)
Johnny & The Nightcrawlers
BIG FUNKY Aug CLOUD Matt Raker & the Nearly Brothers
Quentin Moore
Sep 22
Kevin Galloway
EVERY Saturday 6:30-9:30 p.m.
July 7 Tuxedo Cats July 14 Purple Velvet Fox July 21 Matt Raker & the Nearly Brothers July 28 The Magills
Noon to 3 p.m.
TJ & Donny
Aug 4 Paul Shafer Aug 11 Good Vibes Band Aug 18 Purple Velvet Fox Aug 25 Bluez Boyz
For more upcoming shows go to our website and follow us on social media!
JULY/AUGUST 2018 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 3
CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS
20
5 Editor’s Note & Letters
THIS TIME OF YEAR
16 Hey Jude, Buck Owens, Battle of the Neches, Kids Water Zone, and Noble Willingham
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
18 Shadow Renaissance Festival, Quilt Hop, Paddling Parks, and Event Picks 20 Quanah Parker: One Man, Two Worlds
THE ARTS 30 Culture Club Art Gallery of Winnsboro, Texarkana Juried Exhibition, Arts Events
STAGE 24 N ew seasons for Cowan Center and Angelina Arts Alliance, plus Singing in the Rain and 1776.
MUSIC
40
40
34 Billy Bob Thornton, Maria Muldaur, Jimmy LaFave and Music Picks.
FOOD & DRINK
40 Food Tours of McKinney, Bistro 1916 in Mount Vernon, and Green Goat Winery in Edom
COUNTY LINE KIDS
44 James and the Giant Peach and Palette of Possibility
FEATURES
38
8 The Legacy of Tex Ritter
America’s famous singing cowboy left a treasure chest of entertaining music and movies as well as descendants who carry on not only his music and acting talents, but his generous and kind nature. By P.A. Geddie
22 Historic Redlands Hotel
Fully restored grand hotel in downtown Palestine rolls offers modern suites and oldtime charm. By Tracy Torma 26 Things to do in Palestine 28 Fine Dining at Red Fire Grille
LITERARY
45 War Letters, and The Forgotten
county line Upper East Side of Texas
JULY/AUGUST 2018
M A G A Z I N E
Green Goat Winery Destination Palestine
Red Fire Grille Redlands Hotel Texas Country Music Hall of Fame McKinney Food Tours
ITE
OR
FAV
G G I NOY N I Quanah Parker S WBives On cy L CO Lega Battle of the Neches The A’S
M Buck Hay Farm A
IC ER
ONE MAN. TWO WORLDS.
38 New Generation Hay Farm
Siblings Casie and Cody Buck are creating quality horse hay in Franklin County. By Terry Mathews
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SNAKE WOMAN’S GARDEN QUILT HOP CULTURE CLUB BISTRO 1916 WAR LETTERS
county line Since 2000
MAGAZINE
Serving those living & playing in the Upper East Side of Texas
PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR P.A. Geddie COPY EDITOR Steve Freeman Tracy Torma
CONTRIBUTORS Tracy Torma Terry Mathews Jaelan Linville Megan Hendrix Dave Shultz
Digital Publications Assistant Krista Leard
ADVERTISING pa.geddie@countylinemagazine.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS info@countylinemagazine.com County Line Magazine is published every other month, 6 times a year. Subscription costs: $15 per year. Bulk rate postage paid at Ben Wheeler, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to County Line Magazine, P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754. Contents COPYRIGHT 2018 County Line all rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in articles or advertising appearing in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Mailing address: P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754 Phone: 903.963.8306. E-mail: info@countylinemagazine.com Website: www.countylinemagazine.com. Free listings are entered on a space available basis. Advertising space may be purchased by calling 903.963.8306. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement we deem incompatible with our mission.
EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Readers, Welcome to the hottest time of the year in the Upper East Side of Texas! Luckily for us, there’s plenty of fun to go around inside or out and one way to get started is to read about the interesting people, places, and unique nature of our region in this issue. It was a genuine pleasure to get to know a little bit of the Ritter family through my visits with Tommie Ritter Smith in Carthage and Carly Ritter, daughter of the late John Ritter, and granddaughter of the man that graces our cover, the legendary Tex Ritter. I hope you learn a few things in my article about this talented family and the huge hearts they have for other human beings. Another family that’s carrying their talents through multiple generations are the Bucks. Twenty-somethings Casie and Cody decided they wanted to produce quality hay for horses and they are doing just that to the delight of all their animal clients that love to see the Buck “food truck” coming. There are numerous lovely small town destination opportunities noted in this issue and we’ve got an extended feature on Palestine, Texas. Starting with the elegant Redlands Hotel and all it has to offer — including the fine dining restaurant and lounge, Red Fire Grille — visitors can explore the downtown area and branch out further to attractions like the Texas State Railroad. Redlands Hotel owner Jean Mollard comments about the personal touch visitors find in small towns that’s uncommon with chains and corporations. She notes that even when some of the shops are closed there’s still plenty of good food and shopping to find. Small town tourism is like that. For over rural 20 years, Sometimes shops closed. You can Texans for are the Arts Texans for the Arts consistently worked to: still find hasan adventure. It’s not unlike Protect Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) arts funding small villages you’ll find off the beaten Increase funding for the Texas Commission on the Arts path in Europe —about like theirs, Expand the conversation the vital role the arts sometimes play in our schools and communities our towns are inthatthe Support tax policiessleepy and other measures help afternoons artists and arts organizations or closed days. Call ahead. Or don’t. Advocate for increased funding for the National For over 20 years,
has consistently worked to:
Protect Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) arts funding
convenience store with an outhouse in the back! Filled with essential groceries for the community, the store also served as the neighborhood gathering hole. I had so much fun getting to know the local culture there. Another afternoon in another sleepy village found me in the midst of several Italian men arguing over my shoulder as they all tried to show me the proper way to eat spaghetti and meatballs — none of them agreeing on what the proper way is — spoon or no spoon was the biggest debate. I have an enormous collection of memories now of times spent in delightful small towns in the Upper East Side of Texas and I treasure every single adventure and enjoy hearing about adventures from others. One friend told me she went to a winery and couldn’t find anybody around until she peeked out back and saw the owner on a tractor. He was happy to come in, share his wines, and visit a while. The thing I love most about our region is its authenticity and simple, meaningful times like that. Moments at a cafe where I’m listening to a local musician, eating delicious farm-to-table fare, and see a father on the front porch lifting his baby girl up high in the air to her delight. Or watching a group of neighbors trying to keep a stray dog safe, or the many, many interesting stories shared with me about the people, history, and uniqueness of each community. Build some memories in our small towns and downtown communities this summer. Take the time to enjoy whatever sleepy or lively adventure comes your way and feel free to drop me a line to tell me all about it. P.A. Geddie
Please feel free to send us your comments.
Increase funding for the Texas Commission on the Arts
The Official Arts Advocacy Organization for Texas
The Official Arts Advocacy Texans for the Arts is at the forefront of empowering artists, arts leaders, committed supporters, and citizen activists like Organization for Texas you! Together we can amplify our powerful voices to increase both public and private resources to build strong, dynamic,
Texans for the iscommunities at the forefront of empowering artists, and Arts creative all across Texas. arts leaders, committed supporters, and citizen activists like you! Together we can amplify our powerful voices to increase both public and private resources to build strong, dynamic, and creative communities all across Texas.
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Expand the conversation about the vital role the arts play in our schools and communities Support tax policies and other measures that help artists and arts organizations
Advocate for increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and for federal policies that support artists and arts organizations.
Endowment for the Arts and for federal policies that support artists and arts organizations.
One of my favorite memories is in such a village in Italy many years ago. There was nothing open except a tiny old, musty
County Line Magazine P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754 email: info@countylinemagazine.com Find us on Facebook and Twitter. Go to LETTERS on www.countylinemagazine.com.
JULY/AUGUST 2018 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 5
THE LEGACY OF
TE X
RITT ER
America’s Most Beloved Singing Cowboy Lives On Through His Heirs and Hometown By P.A. Geddie
T
his summer marks 20 years since the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage began holding an event to honor outstanding contributors to the industry. Among the six inductees that first year in 1998 was Panola County’s hometown hero and America’s most beloved singing cowboy, Tex Ritter. Maurice Woodward “Tex” Ritter was born January 12, 1905, the youngest of six children of James Everett and Elizabeth Matthews Ritter. They were ranchers in the Murvaul community just south of Carthage. Tex grew up in a family that loved music and they liked to sing in church. As a teenager, he studied voice, trumpet, and guitar. He graduated high school with honors in 1922 and enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin to study law. After traveling to Chicago with a musical troupe, he entered Northwestern Law School. But Tex was soon derailed from a law career by a love of country music and show business. In 1928 he sang cowboy
songs on a radio program in Houston and later moved to New York City and landed a job in the men’s chorus of the Broadway show The New Moon. He appeared as a cowboy in the Broadway production Green Grow the Lilacs in 1931, which was the basis for the musical Oklahoma!. He played the part of Sagebrush Charlie in The Round Up in 1932 and Mother Lode in 1934. During the early 1930s, Tex performed on numerous radio shows, singing and telling tales of the Old West and he began recording songs with his first release being “Goodbye Old Paint.” “Rye Whiskey” soon followed and in 1935 he signed with Decca Records where he released his first original recordings, “Sam Hall” and “Whoopee Ti Yi Yo.” He recorded 29 songs for Decca, the last in 1939 in Los Angeles as part of Tex Ritter and His Texans.
began his movie career. His motion picture debut was Song of the Gringo. He starred in 12 B-movie Westerns including Headin’ for the Rio Grande and Trouble in Texas co-starring Rita Hayworth. Between 1938 and 1945, Tex starred in around 40 “singing cowboy” movies. From 1938 to 1940, Tex made four movies with a young actress named Dorothy Fay from Prescott, Arizona: Song of the Buckaroo, Sundown on the Prairie, Rollin’ Westward, and Rainbow Over the Range. Tex and Dorothy Fay Southworth married June 14, 1941.
Tex was also cast during this time in guest-starring roles on TV shows including Death Valley Days and The Rebel.
He teamed up with Johnny Mack Brown for films Deep in the Heart of Texas and The Old Chisholm Trail in 1942 and The Lone Star Trail, Raiders of San Joaquin, and Cheyenne Roundup in 1943. He was also the star of the films Arizona Trail, Marshal of Gunsmoke, and Oklahoma Raiders from 1943-44. And in 1944-45 he did eight features as “Texas Ranger Tex Haines.”
In 1936 Tex moved to Los Angeles and
About this time Tex turned his atten-
8 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2018
tion to his recording career. In 1944 his “I’m Wastin’ My Tears On You” hit No. 1 on the country chart and 11 on the pop chart. Billboard magazine noted years later that with that song, he “reached the style of rhythmic tune that would assure his musical stature.” For the next few years Tex cranked out one chart topper after another including “There’s a New Moon Over My Shoulder,” “You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often,” “Rye Whiskey,” “The Deck of Cards,” “Pecos Bill,” and “Daddy’s Last Letter.” Tex and Dorothy welcomed first son Thomas Matthews Ritter on January 8, 1947, and son Jonathan Southworth Ritter on September 17, 1948. In 1952 Tex recorded the movie title track “High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin’)” which became a hit. At the first televised Academy Awards ceremony in 1953, he sang the song, and received an Oscar for Best Song that year. During the early 1950s he began performing on TV on shows like Town Hall Party and Ranch Party in Los Angeles and in 1955 made his national TV debut on ABC’s Ozark Jubilee, followed by its 1961 NBC spin off, Five Star Jubilee. Tex released his first long-play (LP) album, Songs from the Western Screen, in 1957. In 1961, he hit the charts with “I Dreamed of a Hill-Billy Heaven.” He was one of the founding members of the Country Music Association in Nashville and spearheaded the effort to build the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Inducted in 1964, he was the first singing cowboy to be honored there. Tex and Dorothy Fay moved to Nashville in 1965 and he went to work for
WSM Radio and the Grand Ole Opry, earning a lifetime membership in the latter in 1970. For a time, Dorothy was an official greeter at the Opry. During this period, Tex co-hosted a late-night radio program with country disc jockey Ralph Emery. In 1966, Tex played himself in the movie Nashville Rebel, where moviegoers were introduced to a little-known 29-year-old country singer named Waylon Jennings. In 1967, “Just Beyond the Moon” hit No. 3 on the country chart. For the next few years, Tex dabbled in politics and toured with his band. On a snowy January 2, 1974, Tex went to the courthouse in Nashville to bail his lead guitar player out of jail (arrested for not paying child support). While waiting for his band mate’s release, Tex sat down in a chair and died right there. It was ruled a heart attack then, but years later, the family would come to learn about aortic aneurysms
Tex Ritter, wife Dorothy Fay, and their sons Tom and John. Photos courtesy of Tex Ritter Museum, Carthage, Texas.
and believe now that was the cause of his death. Tex died just 10 days before his 69th birthday. His last hit record was a cover of “The Americans (A Canadian’s Opinion)” which made the charts shortly after his death. Tex Ritter followed his dreams and lived life to the fullest. For his contribution to the recording industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Museum in Oklahoma City in 1980, and received numerous other accolades throughout his life. Besides leaving the world with a treasure chest of entertainment, his heirs continue to resonate his generous and vibrant spirit. continued page 10
A small sampling of famous posters from among the 40 or so movies in which Tex Ritter starred, a career that spanned 30 years starting in 1936.
JULY/AUGUST 2018 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 9
WINNSBORO CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT
Best Live Music Venue! ANNIE MAE’S COFFEE SHOP & CAFE
LIEFIE LI VINE
108 W. Elm St. - (903) 347-6510
302 N. Main St. - (903) 347-1111
COPPER LEAF DAY SPA
WinnsboroCulturalDistrict.com
209 N. Main St. - (903) 342-7772
Texas Certified Cultural Arts District
Neptune’s Car Maria Muldaur July 28
DIRECTIONAL WELLNESS
213 N. Main St. - (903) 342-7772
THE ROOSTER CAFE
August 11
LA CONCHITA
205 N. Walnut St. - (903) 347-1213
THE BOWERY
111 Broadway - (903) 347-6541
Dining, Music, Arts, & Entertainment
Barrel House Bar & Grill
STAR DRAGONFLY HERBS
204 Market St. - (903) 347-1282
Danny Schmidt & Carrie Elkin
300 N. Main St., Suite C - (903) 588-4313
100 East Cedar Street • 903-588-0465
200 MARKET STREET • 903-342-0686 14 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2018
903-342-3666
DINE. SHOP. STAY. ARTS. ENTERTAINMENT. All shows start at 7:30 PM. Tickets available online at www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com or call 903-342-0686 or pick up at Winnsboro Center for the Arts.
winnsboro floral by ashley
303 N. Main St. - (903) 347-0607
r June 25
BELLA STELLA WINERY
Andrew Sulivan August 18
Eric Andersen
879 CR 4440 - (903) 975-0021
CLARA IDA FRANCES
219 N. Main St. - (903) 342-6137
FLOWERLAND/215 MAIN
215 N. Main St. - (903) 342-1050
September 1
christy’s protein house
THEE HUBBELL HOUSE
106 E. Elm St. - (903) 975-0021
307 W. Elm St. - (800) 227-0639
FARMERS MARKET Apr-Oct
COUNTRYBOYS BBQ & SWEETS
ART EXHIBITION
I’M HOME
July 28 - September 3
Market St. - (903) 629-7079
20931 Hwy 11 E - (903) 347-6512
Rich in history. Steeped in country. First in class. FINDERS KEEPERS ANTIQUES CULTURE CLUB, GALLERY OF ARTISTS
304 N. Main St. - (903) 347-1271
Logos represent donors or supporters and are utilized by permission only.
107 E. Elm St.
www.WINNSBOROCENTERFORTHE ARTS.COM JULY/AUGUST 2018 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 15
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
Check out the eMAGAZINE www.countylinemagazine.com for extended event listings.
Jousters To Appear in Sulphur Springs
EVENTS
Dates and times are subject to change. Always call ahead before planning a visit.
Every Saturday
Celebration Market, Celebration Live! Sulphur Springs. Downtown. 903.885.7541 www.sulphurspringstx.org
Second Saturdays
Marshall Main Street Second Saturday. 903.935.7868, www.marshalltexas.com Second Saturdays on the Square. Mount Vernon. 903.537.4070 www. MountVernonTXFarmersMarket.com Courtesy Photo
Hit the Bricks. Tyler. www.visittyler.com
Through July
Texas State Railroad Summer Excursions. Palestine Depot. www.texasstaterailroad.net Blueberry Picking. Edom. Blueberry Hill Farms. 903.852.6175 www.blueberryhillfarms. com
July 3-4 The Knights of Valour with Shane Adams (above) from History TV’s Full Metal Jousting is featured at the two-day Shadow Renaissance Festival & Jousting Tournament July 28-29 in Sulphur Springs. Rodeo royalty Rope Myers is also scheduled to show off his jousting skills. The event includes vendors and activities for the whole family. A Nobleman’s Feast with the knights occurs before each of the two jousting shows for VIP ticket holders.
The event takes place at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, 1200 Houston Street, and benefits Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of kids and adults with disabilities and/or debilitating situations in their lives and to make a positive difference in the lives of staff, volunteers, and community. See Shadow Renaissance Festival on Facebook for more information and tickets or call 214.604.8005.
Quilt Hop Covers Ten Locations The annual Bonham Quilt Hop takes place this year July 27-28. Visitors see displays of more than 300 quilts and quilted items in 10 locations including the Sam Rayburn House Museum, the Bonham Civic Center (Armory), Sam Rayburn Library, Creative Art Center, City of Bonham Visitor Center, Fannin County Museum of History, Fannin County Historical Commission, Bonham Public Library, Bonham Senior Center, and Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Honey Grove. See www.visitbonham.com for more information or call 903.583.9830. Visitors can also see the Fannin County Barn Quilt Trail while in the area — an online map is available at the visitor center and on their website. 18 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2018
Crape Myrtle Festival. Waxahachie. Sports Complex. 469.309.4040
July 4
Red, White and BOOM! McKinney. 972.547.7480, www.mckinneytexas.org July 4 Picnic. Ben Wheeler. www.benwheelertx.com
July 5
Greatest War Letters Ever Written. Longview. First United Methodist Church. 903.720.1398, www.preservationlongview.com
July 7
Fun in the Park. Henderson. Lake Forest Park, Hwy 64W 866.650.5529 www.visithendersontx.com
July 14
Battle of the Neches Ceremony. Ben Wheeler. www.aics1839.com
July 14-15
Hunter Jumper Horse Show. Tyler. Texas Rose Horse Park. 214.356.5159, www.dallashunterjumperscholarship.org
July 20
Wine Down on Willow. Bonham. Creative Arts Center. 903.640.2196 www.creativeartscenterbonham.com
July 20-22
Paris Balloon & Music Festival. Lamar County Fairgrounds. www.parisballoonandmusicfestival.com
July 21
Ranch of Dreams Tour. Murchison.
Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch. 903.469.3811 www.fundforanimals.org/blackbeauty
July 26-27
Enjoy State Parks From a Cool Water View This Summer Photo by Texas Parks & Wildlife/Chris Hunt
80th Annual Watermelon Festival. Naples. 903.563.9713
July 27-29
Great Texas Balloon Race. Longview. East Texas Regional Airport. 903.753.3281, www. greattexasballoonrace.com
July 28-29
Shadow Renaissance Festival & Tournament. Sulphur Springs. Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.903.231.2103, www.shadowrenfest.com
August 2-6
First Monday Trade Days. Canton. 903.567.6556 www.firstmondaycanton.com
August 4
Fish Fry. Ben Wheeler. Moore’s Store. www. benwheelertx.com Neches Wilderness Canoe & Kayak Race. Frankston. 903.571.4221 www.necheswildernessrace.com
August 13-October 13
Quanah Parker: One Man, Two Worlds. Forney. Spellman Museum of Forney History. 972.552.2400 www.spellmanmuseum.com
August 17
Wine Down on Willow. Bonham. Creative Arts Center. 903.640.2196 www.creativeartscenterbonham.com
August 17-25
North Texas Fair & Rodeo. Denton. 940.387.2632 www.ntfair.com
August 20-September 30
Quanah Parker: One Man, Two Worlds. Rockwall. Bailey House/Harry Myers Park. 972.722.1507 www.rockwallcountyhistoricalfoundation.com
August 24-26
Texas Rose Horse Breed Show. Tyler. 903.882.8696 www.texasrosehorsepark.com
September 7
21st Annual Classics Round the Square. Emory. 03.243.3926 www.emorytx.com
September 7-15
Gregg County Fair & Exposition. Longview. 903.753.4478 www.greggcountyfair.com
September 9
Classics Round the Square. Emory. 903.473.2465 www.emorytx.com
September 11-15
Rains County Fair. Emory. 903.473.4580 www.rains.agrilife.org
September 14
Rally Round Greenville. 903.455.1510 www. greenvillechamber.com
Cool water activities are a favorite pastime for enjoying summers in the Upper East Side of Texas. One popular thing to do is paddling across the waters of a state park. Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPW) promises great views from the water with shoreline wildlife like tall herons and kingfishers, along with lovely park vistas unlike any others. Many parks offer rentals of kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards. Here are a few: Atlanta. Canoe rentals available yearround for exploring Wright Patman Lake with towering pines and hardwoods. 903.796.6476. www.tpwd.texas. gov/state-parks/atlanta. Bonham. Kayak and canoe rentals available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily for paddling on the park’s man-made lake, built in 1935. 903.583.5022. www.tpwd. texas.gov/state-parks/bonham Caddo Lake. Canoe rentals available to wind through the maze of bayous, sloughs and ponds among bald cypress trees draped with Spanish moss on the only natural lake in Texas. 903.679.3351. www.tpwd.texas.gov/ state-parks/caddo-lake Cooper Lake. Sulphur Springs. Kayak, canoe, and paddle board rentals available with plenty of room to roam with two park units. Doctors Creek, 903.395.3100 and South Sulphur,
903.945.5256. www.tpwd.texas.gov/ state-parks/cooper-lake Daingerfield. The park rents paddle boats, paddle boards, canoes, kayaks, and flat bottom boats. 903.645.2921. www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/ daingerfield Eisenhower. Denison. Lots of room on Lake Texoma to paddle around. Check out Eisenhower Yacht Club marina for snacks, drinks, ice, and more. They also rent kayaks and canoes as well as pontoon boats and stand-up paddle boards. 903.463.3999. www.eisenhoweryachtclub.com. Purtis Creek. 14225 FM 316, Eustace, TX 75124. 903.425.2332. www.tpwd. texas.gov/state-parks/purtis-creek Tyler. The park rents canoes, paddleboats, kayaks, bike boats, and johnboats year-round. 903.597.5338. www.tpwd. texas.gov/state-parks/tyler TPW recommends beginners take a free online paddling course on www. boaterexam.com/paddling and always practice safety tips like wearing a life jacket (included with boat rentals) and filing a float plan. Go to websites noted above to find out more about each individual park, including other fun things to do in each area.
JULY/AUGUST 2018 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 19
Historic Redlands Hotel Offers Visitors Step Back in Time With a Modern Twist By Tracy Torma When the Redlands Hotel opened for business in Palestine in 1915, the fivestory, brick building made of steel and concrete was one of the finest hotels around. A speaker at the hotel’s grand opening, which drew dignitaries from across the state, predicted the Redlands would stand the test of time: “This enduring pile of steel and stone stands today as it promises to stand a century hence. As a work of art and as a structure eminently adapted for the purpose, let it speak for itself. Long after its markers and the present generation alike shall have crumbled into dust in their graves, its solid foundation, its massive walls and its substantial frame will combine to offer that same safe and hospitable shelter to mankind that it offers now.” Fast forward six decades later, when Jean Mollard, her late husband Norman, a Palestine native and Houston contractor, and Jean’s brother Robert Laughlin sized up the hotel as a possible renovation project. Boarded up for more than 20 years, the building resembled a parking garage, with open hallways and a leaking roof. Most of its 186 windows were beyond use. As they poked through the structure with flashlights, Jean recalls, they saw a basement full of dampness and a dark and nasty environment. But Norman and Jean, who was in the an-
tiques business in Houston, and Robert, an engineer with electrical experience, could see the possibilities. They purchased the old hotel, promising city officials they would replace all the windows and operate a business on the first floor.
Restoring the Hotel’s Grandeur
detail, but also for its contribution to the social fiber of the community. “This was once a railroad office building that impacted so many livelihoods. Someone is always telling me, ‘My dad or grandfather worked here,’” Jean shares.
True to her word, in 1977, Jean opened an antique store on the first floor, refinishing furniture in the hotel’s basement and offering it for sale in the 2,000-square-foot storefront and at her store in Houston. It was the beginning of a successful antiques wholesale business called Artifacts that at one time employed as many as 42 local employees and a network of contract sales representatives nationwide.
A Railroad Hotel
While Jean ran the wholesale antiques business, Norman and Robert began renovating the old hotel one floor at a time. Monthly rental apartments were available in the 1980s and nightly updated suite rentals began in 2007.
Recognizing the need for a first-class hotel in the area, the Palestine Hotel Company was founded, with 83 local businessmen and women helping to finance the $100,000 building constructed with steel and concrete beams.
When the hotel was built in the early 1900s, Palestine was the center of a county population of nearly 30,000 and called itself the “Queen City of East Texas.” Located on the mainline of the International & Great Northern Railroad (I&GN), Palestine was a hub for salt production, timber, cotton, orchardry and truck crops.
continued page 24
“This building is more than just mortar and stone. It was the creation of something 100 years ago — a vision that has been adjusted along the way. What’s most important are the things that happened in it and the livelihoods it provided,” Jean says.
The historic Redlands Hotel is a destination all its own with beautiful suites for rent by the night or longer, an on-site fine dining restaurant and bar, elegant ambience throughout the building, and a front row seat to all the happenings in downtown Palestine. Photos by Dave Shultz.
In fact, the Redlands’ historic designation on the National Register of Historic Places is not just for its architectural
Jean Mollard (right) is the owner of the Redlands Hotel and continues to make enhancements to the delight of her guests. Photo by Tracy Torma
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Red Fire Grille: Fine Dining in Downtown Palestine By Tracy Torma The Red Fire Grille, located on the first floor of the historic Redlands Hotel in downtown Palestine, is a culinary jewel. Visitors enjoy gourmet menu items – from delicious steaks to seafood – and a fullservice bar in the same regal atmosphere where diners ate when the hotel opened more than 100 years ago. New owners Daniel and Rona Lacey recently added a tapas bar called SparQ for cocktails and light food and are continuously offering new and unique dining experiences, . SparQ Bar is located adjacent to the restaurant and features lighter fare. For tapas, try the Piggybacks, house-made tater tots, with pulled pork, cheddar and brown butter gravy on top. Other dishes to share include Crab Kracklins, a version of crab Rangoon served with an Asian dipping sauce, and Russian Deviled Eggs, a traditional Russian recipe with a spicy kick. For those wanting something a little heavier, try the Chop House Burger, served with mixed cheese, house-made truffle aioli (added bacon or blue cheese as an extra). The bar features a number of specialty cocktails including a Blood Orange martini, Midnight Cosmo and Prohibition cocktails, such as a Side Car made with orange liqueur, cognac and lemon juice, and the Bees Knees, a gin drink with house-made honey syrup and fresh lemon juice.
Elegant is the best way to describe the main dining room, with black linen-covered tables and white high-back chairs in a room featuring a beautiful hexagonshaped tile floor that is 103 years old. From the original multi-paneled windows with transom window above — designed to allow ventilation for a time before air conditioning — diners can see the historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church, which opened in 1890 and was designed by prominent Texas architect Nicholas J. Clayton, who designed the Bishop’s Palace and many other prominent historic structures in Galveston. The view from the other side is the Carnegie Library, built in 1914 and one of the 13 remaining Carnegie Library buildings in the State of Texas. Chef McKensie Maynard is an East Texas native from Chapel Hill who served for nine years at Dallas’ famed III Forks Steakhouse. Sous Chef Christopher Gouras has worked at the restaurant since it opened in 2012. The dining room’s appetizer menu features many of the same appetizers found in SparQ, as well as oysters on the half shell, grilled or raw. The restaurant has a soup of the day, as well as a good selection of salads. The Blueberry Lemonade salad and the Classic Caesar both had just the right amount of dressing and didn’t disappoint. Dining entrees run the gamut from a selection of different steak cuts to seafood
items, including grilled mahi-mahi with a mango sauce, cold water lobster and Creole crab cakes (delicious). The restaurant is known for its deliciously seasoned and tender steaks and the filet mignon lives up to the reputation. Add entrée extras to share with the table. The Asian-style Brussels sprouts (deep fried to perfection) and truffle mac and brie are excellent. Dessert items vary, but favorites include crème brulee and bread pudding. With a seasonal menu, the restaurant is continuously offering diners new culinary experiences including holiday brunches and a special dinner featuring the menu of the Titanic on the anniversary of its sinking No wonder the restaurant — open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday with a new lunch menu and from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for dinner — is rated five stars on Trip Advisor. BELOW. The elegant main dining room at Red Fire Grille provides the perfect ambience to accompany the food with great views of historic downtown Palestine. RIGHT ABOVE CLOCKWISE: The new adjacent bar SparQ features specialty drinks and an ample tapas menu. All entrees, such as this six-ounce filet and four-ounce crab cake, are served with potato and vegetable. Entree extras, including delicious Asian-style brussels sprouts and truffle mac and brie, can be ordered to share with the table. Popular appetizers include Crab Kracklins, Red Fire’s version of crab rangoon served with an Asian dipping sauce, and Piggybacks featuring house-made tater tots with pulled pork and cheddar cheese topped with brown butter gravy
Photo by Dave Shultz
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Photo by Dave Shultz Food photos by Tracy Torma JULY/AUGUST 2018 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 29
STAGE Cowan Center Announces New Season
Jackie Evancho is in Lufkin February 1, 2019.
Angelina Arts Brings Talent to Lufkin Rick Springfield is among the performances scheduled for the UT Tyler Cowan Center’s new season of special events, performing arts, Broadway presentations, and more. Springfield kicks it off September 20, followed by The Texas Tenors, September 29; Dennis Miller (lecture), October 4; iLumnate, October 13; The Selena Experience, October 27; The Sound of Music, November 8; The Robert Cray Band, December 8; Some-
thing Rotten, January 24, 2019; The Ugly Duckling, February 1, 2019; The King & I, February 4; Kool & The Gang, February 9, 2019; The Magic School Bus, February 19, 2019; Los Vivancos - Born to Dance, February 26, 2019; The Chieftains, March 16, 2019; Dan Rather (lecture), March 19, 2019; New York Philharmonic String Quartet, March 30, 2019; and Finding Neverland, April 9, 2019. For details visit www.cowancenter.org.
The 2018-2019 Season for Angelina Arts Alliance includes Travis Tritt, September 7; Asleep at the Wheel with the Quebe Sisters, October 14; Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, December 4; Something Rotten, January 22, 2019; Jackie Evancho, February 1, 2019; Celtic Nights, Oceans of Hope, March 10, 2019; Pilobolus, Shadowland 2, April 9, 2019, and Finding Neverland, June 12, 2019. Learn more at www.AngelinaArts.org
Theatre Performers Are Singing in the Rain in Tyler dards make Singing in the Rain the perfect entertainment for any fan of the golden age of movie musicals. The show has all the makings of a Tinseltown tabloid headline — the starlet, the leading man, and a love affair that could change lives and make or break careers. In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item but, behind the scenes, things aren’t always as they appear on the big screen. Tyler Civic Theatre presents Singing in the Rain July 26-29, August 2-5, and August 9-12. The “Greatest Movie Musical of All Time” is adapted by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green from their
original award-winning screenplay. Each scene, song and dance is accounted for, including the show-stopping title number, complete with an onstage rainstorm. Hilarious situations, snappy dialogue and a hit-parade score of Hollywood stan-
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Meanwhile, Lina’s squeaky voice might be the end of her career in “talking pictures” without the help of a talented young actress to do the talking and singing for her. For tickets and information call 903.592.0561 and visit www.tylercivictheatre.com.
Lake Country Playhouse Presents Declaration of Independence Musical
presents...
g Starrin
Lake Country Playhouse in Mineola is presenting 1776 July 20-22 and 27-29. Directed by Bob Hibbard, the musical takes a look at the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Call 903.967.2164 or www.lakecountryplayhouse.com for more information.
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY Relive the outstanding vocal power of one of the greatest singers of all time!
Friday, August 24 7:30 pm Limited Number of VIP Seats with Special Meet & Greet Reserved Tickets Starting at $33
TRAHC.ORG
903.792.4992
13th AnnuAl
Rally Round Greenville Friday, September 14, 2018
Featuring Emerald
City Band, Preston Cole Band, Matt Dunn and the Runaways, Black Valley Band PLUS CASI Chili Cookoff, Texas Cornhole League Tournament, Kids Alley, Circus Act, Food Trucks. and More!
FREE ADMISSION VIP concert seats available for purchase include food, beer, wine, and “Taste of BBQ”
DOWntOWn GREEnVIllE 903.455.1510 • www.greenvillechamber.com JULY/AUGUST 2018 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 33
Enjoy Farmers’ Markets in the
Upper East Side of Texas
SOME OPEN YEAR ROUND. CHECK WEBSITES FOR DAYS AND TIMES AND INDIVIDUAL MARKET AND FARM OFFERINGS.
CANTON
www.CantonMainStreet.org
GREENVILLE
www.ci.Greenville.TX.us/market
LONGVIEW
www.HistoricLongviewFarmersMarket.com
MARSHALL
www.MarshallTexas.net
MINEOLA
www.MineolaFarmersMarket.com
MOUNT PLEASANT
www.MtPleasantTx.com
MOUNT VERNON
MountVernonTxFarmersMarket.com
PARIS
www.ParisTexas.gov
ROCKWALL
www.RockwallFarmersMarket.org
SULPHUR SPRINGS
www.SulphurSpringsTx.org
WAXAHACHIE
FB@DowntownWaxahachieFarmersMarket
WINNSBORO
www.WinnsboroFarmersMarket.com 42 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2018
Green Goat Winery Opens in Edom The Green Goat Winery opened recently at 12362 FM 279, a stone’s throw from Blue Moon Gardens. Owners Cindy and Rip Cunningham created a beautiful, relaxing oasis with a tasting room, outdoor wraparound porch, and healthy vineyards surrounding the property.
Photo by P.A. Geddie
There’s a new goat in the rolling countryside outside Edom, Texas, and it’s green.
They have nine wines to choose from including Blanc du Bois, Lenoir, Lomanto, Blackberry, Blueberry, Strawberry, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Symphony. A must-try is the blueberry, made from berries collected from the local Blueberry Hill Farms. Semi sweet, it’s one of the favorites of customers so far. They are open from Noon to 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday and also offer live music by local singer songwriters with the perfect volume to listen while
WHAT IF YOU COULD
enjoying conversing with wine-drinking friends. Guests are welcome to bring their own picnics to enjoy with the wines or Green
Learn more about Green Goat Winery on their website, www.greengoatwinery. com or call 903.852.2259.
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