Chisholm County Spring 2022 by Fox Press

Chisholm C

SPRING 2022

ry magazine

The Trail Runs Through It Reshaping A Town & Its Face for the Future Good, Good, Good . . . Good Vibrations Lights. . . Camera. . . Action! Film Society Takes Focus & Engaging Events In The Heart Of Texas

FROM THE EDITOR We are Bosque County...and the Chisholm Trails runs through us. For a period of about 17 years from 1867-1884, anywhere from 10-16 million head of longhorn cattle were moved from South Texas northward to Kansas, creating the legend of the Chisholm Trail. The “Beef Trail” or “Santa Fe Trail” turned west and on to the Canadian border. J.J. Cureton and his son W.E. drove cattle west to California. Consequently, cowboys began to gather and brand wild cattle to drive them north. One of the many branches of the beef trail followed present day Interstate 35. Along the way, the volatile Brazos River had to be crossed, so the city of Waco built a suspension bridge over the river to help the cattle, wagons and drovers cross more easily. Some trail bosses opted not to pay the three cents per head charge for the use of the bridge, so the cattle splintered off from the main herd at Waco and crossed the Bosque at old Valley Mills. Presenting a great opportunity for the cattle to spread over the prairie between the Bosque and the Brazos to fatten up before heading north, it also served as a merging point for herds coming from the west. Enterprising Bosque County locals waited for these “cowpunchers” with their locally grown fruits and vegetables, and the cowboys eagerly bought their wares. Mrs. Higginbotham, who lived on Mesquite Creek, ran what was known as the “Chisholm Trail Roadhouse” where she sold pies and cakes, bread and butter and fresh buttermilk. The herds left old Valley Mills, making only about eight miles a day, stopping for the cattle to rest and feed on the prairie. “I am certain that they had to replenish personal items such as tobacco and such, not to mention libations, possibly post letters, fresh bread and so on,” said Ruth Crawford, Bosque County Historical Commission archivist. “There was a ferry that the wagons could use when the water was too high, and a holding pen, which I’m sure had a fee. “More important than any meager monetary gains the citizens received was

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the excitement of the event. People were struggling to get back on their feet and reconstruction was difficult. Soldiers were still healing from emotional and physical wounds. The cattle coming through was a welcome diversion, sort of like the circus coming to town. “Excused from school for the event, the school children would put their ears to the ground and could gauge how close the herds were getting. Watching the cowboys come through must have been thrilling.” With the influx of strangers, travelers and newcomers, maintaining law and order took on new challenges. “Meridian had several saloons,” Crawford said. “Gambling was illegal, but it was still enjoyed by many of our upstanding citizens as evidenced in the criminal minutes. I’m sure some of the cowboys must have rode over in the evening to visit the saloons.” But fittingly, the most notorious criminal case of the time involved cattle. Dennis O’Conner of Victoria, and his brother Thomas from an early Republic family were successful ranchers. Dennis hired John Dees as his trail boss on a cattle drive about 1872. He also hired his nephew Thomas O’Conner, Jr. as a cowboy. When the herd neared the W.A. King Ranch, which is located on the Walling Bend road, Dees and O’Conner began to argue. King tried to break up the fight, but O’Çonnor murdered Dees. Although O’Connor was indicted for murder in 1873, it was dismissed due to an omission. Twelve years after the crime, O’Connor was re-indicted for the crime in New Orleans on September 25, 1889. Despite being found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, O’Çonnor was pardoned by the governor on Christmas Eve 1904. So much for hang ‘em high.

E. BRETT VOSS

Editor-In-Chief

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Chisholm C

SPRING 2022

magazine

Editor-In-Chief

E. Brett Voss Managing Editor

Simone Wichers-Voss Contributing Writers Ruth Crawford Bryan Davis Nathan Diebenow E. Brett Voss Simone Wichers-Voss

Contributing Photographers Bryan Davis Nathan Diebenow Debra Evans Marvin Grelle Vickie Mitchell Simone Wichers-Voss

Supporting Patrons Jan & Doug Kieta Punky & Wally Penberthy

CHISHOLM COUNTRY magazine is published quarterly by

Southern Cross Creative, LLP P.O. Box 107 Meridian, Texas 76665 (254) 247-5703

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: All editorial and advertising materials are copyrighted by Southern Cross Creative, LLP. The entire content of each issue of Chisholm Country magazine is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any portion of any edition will not be permitted without written permission from Southern Cross Creative. Chisholm Country magazine, as well as any reasonable derivative of this name, are trademarks of Southern Cross Creative, LLP and use of these trademarks without the express written consent of Southern Cross Creative, LLP is strictly prohibited.

ON THE COVER: Runnin’ & Ropin’ by Simone Wichers-Voss

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IN THIS ISSUE

Volume 1, Issue 1

FROM THE EDITOR

The legacy of the trail runs through us by E. BRETT VOSS

THE TRAIL RUNS THROUGH IT

Chisholm Trail roots run deep in the heart by E. BRETT VOSS

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD VIBRATIONS

Glenn Quarles & his custom-made guitars by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

TOGETHER, ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE Meridian reshaping “our little town”

by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

LOOKING FOR LIGHT

Watercolorist Ann Patton’s aquarelle life

by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

LIGHTS...CAMERA...ACTION!

Bosque Film Society comes into focus by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Linemen battle to overcome outages by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

GRIT, GUMPTION & GRACE

Pioneer women helped shape Texas by RUTH CRAWFORD & SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

71st ANNUAL CLIFTON RODEO

Small town cowboying tradition continues by E. BRETT VOSS

HEY, WHAT’S GOING ON?

Upcoming area entertainment & events by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

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THE TRAIL

Runs Through It

article by

Legends & Life Leaves Lasting Legacy

E. BRETT VOSS

Come along, boys, and listen to my tale; I’ll tell you of my troubles on the old Chisholm Trail; I started up the trail October twenty-third; I started up the trail with the 2-U herd; O a ten dollar hoss and a forty-dollar saddle; And I’m goin’ to punch in Texas cattle; I woke up one morning on the old Chisholm Trail; Rope in my hand and a cow by the tail. Meridian sits on The Top of the Hill Country. Valley Mills provides the Gateway to beautiful Bosque County. Clifton ranks as the Norwegian Capital of Texas. And the trail runs through it – right through the Heart of Texas. In fact, the historic Chisholm Trail remains the one common thread that weaves through Bosque County, the entire Bosque River Valley and the Heart of Texas. Instrumental in making the American Cowboy an enduring folk hero, the Chisholm Trail began simply as wagon tracks made by ScotchCherokee Jesse Chisholm in 1864 when he started hauling trade goods to Indian camps about 220 miles south from Kansas to his southern trading post near the Red River in Texas.

photographs courtesy of

TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION & BOSQUE COLLECTION

On The Chish hishOL OLm OL m Trai raiL L in the heart Of texas

HERITAGE

LEGENDARY LEGACY: Jesse Chisholm (left) helped establish the route that became known as the Chisholm Trail after his untimely death in 1868.

JESSE CHISHOLM: THE MAN Although Jesse Chisholm died before the heyday of the Texas-to-Kansas cattle drives, his participation in several important Texas and Oklahoma historical events led to becoming the namesake of the legendary trail. Moving to Oklahoma during a period when Cherokees migrated voluntarily, Chisholm became involved in a goldseeking party in 1826, which blazed a trail and explored the region to present day Wichita, Kansas. Answering the call as a trailblazer, Chisholm helped establish a route from Fort Gibson to Fort Towson in 1830. He went on to become a member of the Dodge-Leavenworth Expedition, who made the first contact with the southern plains Indians on behalf of the United States federal government in 1834. After Chisholm married Eliza Edwards in 1836, the couple resided in the area of her father’s trading post on the Little River near its confluence with the Canadian River, where Jesse worked in the Indian trade. As an interpreter and general aid, Chisholm took part in several treaties between the Republic of Texas and local Indian tribes, as well as between the United States federal government and various tribes after Texas joined the United States. While his diplomatic work spanned 20 years (1838-58), Chisholm also continued

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in the Indian trade, trading manufactured goods for peltry and for cattle. During the Civil War, Chisholm mostly remained neutral as many residents of Indian Territory feared they might be massacred, either intentionally or as an accident of war if either side attempted to contend for control of the territory. Chisholm led a band of refugees to the western part of the territory, where they suffered privation as the trade had dried up during the North-South conflict. At the end of the war, Chisholm settled permanently near present-day Wichita, and recommenced trade into Indian Territory. In doing so, he built up what had been a military and Indian trail into a road capable of carrying heavy wagons for his goods, soon to become known as Chisholm’s Trail. Later, when the Texas-to-Kansas cattle drives started, the users of the trail redubbed it the Chisholm Trail. But before that happened, Chisholm died at his last camp near Left Hand Spring due to food poisoning on March 4, 1868. Interestingly, Chisholm never participated in driving cattle along the trail named after him, which has led some modern historians to question the validity of the country’s most famous cattle trail being named after him. Some argue that the trail should be named after John Simpson Chisum, a wealthy cattle baron in the American West.

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But even though Chisum moved his family to the Republic of Texas in 1837, he made his name in the cattle business by becoming one of the first to send his herds to the New Mexico Territory eventually owning a large ranch in Bosque Grande south of Fort Sumner with over 100,000 head of cattle. So that’s a debate for another time. ESTABLISHING THE TRAIL From those humble beginnings, the Chisholm Trail became the major route out of Texas for livestock. Although it was used only from 1867-1884, the longhorn cattle driven north along it provided a steady source of income that helped the impoverished state recover from the Civil War. Youthful trail hands on mustangs gave a Texas flavor to the entire range cattle industry of the Great Plains. The war between the states proved devastating to the South, crushing the entire economy. Cotton had been the major industry for decades, but the Civil War ruined much of the land and diminished the labor force. Texas fared better than most states, since no battles were fought on Texas soil. However, Indian depredations wreaked havoc. Then came one of the most important questions in American history – where’s the beef? The answer proved to be the salvation of Texas. When the Civil War ended,

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HERITAGE

9 the state’s only potential assets were its countless longhorns. Easterners had developed a taste for beef, and demanded all they could get. Thanks to the Spanish, Texans had plenty of beef and plenty of men who needed steady work. For a period of about 12 years, millions of longhorn cattle, mustangs and cowboys traveled from South Texas northward to Kansas, creating the legend of the Chisholm Trail. The “Beef Trail” or “Santa Fe Trail” turned west and on to the Canadian border. J.J. Cureton and his son W.E. drove cattle west to California. At first, the route was merely referred to as the Trail, the Kansas Trail, the Abilene Trail, or McCoy’s Trail. Though it was originally applied only to the trail north of the Red River, Texas cowmen soon gave Chisholm’s name to the entire trail from the Rio Grande to central Kansas. The earliest known references to the Chisholm Trail in print were in the Kansas Daily Commonwealth in 1870. On April 28, 1874, the Denison Daily News mentioned cattle going up “the famous Chisholm Trail.” The legendary name stuck. Historians claim that the actual Chisholm Trail did not extend south of the Red River

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HERITAGE as anything further south consisted of a multitude of feeder trails established well before 1867. Purists object to calling the Texas route through Austin, Waco and Fort Worth part of the Chisholm Trail despite the Texas Historical Commission marking spots along that route as the Chisholm Trail. While technically, the Texas trails do not represent anything Jesse Chisholm traveled, all of them became known as a part of the Chisholm Trail over time. Traveling along the Chisholm Trail, the herds followed the old Shawnee Trail by way of San Antonio, Austin, and Waco, where the trails split. The route continued on to Fort Worth, then passed east of Decatur to the crossing at Red River Station. From Fort Worth to Newton, Kansas, U.S. Highway 81 follows the Chisholm Trail. Resembling a tree, the roots were the feeder trails from South Texas, the trunk was the main route from San Antonio across Indian Territory, and the branches were extensions to various railheads in Kansas. LIFE ON THE TRAIL Consequently, cowboys began to gather and brand wild cattle and drive them north. There were many branches of the beef trail, but one main trail followed present day Interstate 35. At Waco, the Brazos River had to be crossed. Due to the volatile nature of the Brazos, the city of Waco built a suspension bridge over the river to help the cattle and wagons and drovers to cross more easily. Some trail bosses opted not to pay the three cents per head charge for the use of the bridge, so the cattle splintered off from the main herd at Waco and crossed the Bosque at old Valley Mills. Presenting a great opportunity for the cattle to spread over the prairie between the Bosque and the Brazos and fatten up before heading north, it also served as a merging point for herds coming from the west. Enterprising Bosque County locals waited for these “cowpunchers” with their locally grown fruits and vegetables, and the cowboys eagerly bought their wares. Eating beans from the chuck wagon everyday must have been monotonous. Mrs. Higginbotham, who lived on Mesquite Creek, ran what was known as the “Chisholm Trail Roadhouse” where she sold pies and cakes, bread and butter and fresh buttermilk. The herds left old Valley Mills, making only about eight miles a day, stopping for

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TRAILBLAZING: For the cowboys, cattle drives meant hardships and danger on the trail.

the cattle to rest and feed on the prairie. So it was some time before they reached the next town, Kimball. “I am certain that they had to replenish personal items such as tobacco and such, not to mention libations, possibly post letters, fresh bread and so on,” said Ruth Crawford, the Bosque County Historical Commission archivist and retired director of the Bosque Collection in Meridian. “There was a ferry that the wagons could use when the water was too high, and a holding pen, which I’m sure had a fee. “More important than any meager monetary gains the citizens received was the excitement of the event. People were struggling to get back on their feet and reconstruction was difficult. Soldiers were still healing from emotional and physical wounds. The cattle coming through was a welcome diversion, sort of like the circus coming to town. “Excused from school for the event, the school children would put their ears to the ground and could gauge how close the herds were getting. Watching the cowboys come through must have been thrilling.” With the influx of strangers, travelers and newcomers, maintaining law and order took on new challenges. “Meridian had several saloons,” Crawford said. “Gambling was illegal, but it was still enjoyed by many of our upstanding citizens as evidenced in the criminal minutes. I’m

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sure some of the cowboys must have rode over in the evening to visit the saloons.” For the cowboy, trail drives meant weeks of grueling monotony and hardship interspersed with hours of very real danger. River crossings proved dangerous, while lightning storms and stampedes could be fatal. Violence, vigilante groups, and cattle rustling caused further problems for the drovers. A trail herd was moved by a trail boss with eight-10 cowboys accompanied by a horse herd, a cook, and a chuck wagon, which carried a two-month supply of groceries, cooking equipment, and the cowboys’ bedrolls. On the trail, the chuck wagon was the center of the cowboy’s universe. In the early years, most of the cattle moved along the Chisholm Trail came from South Texas, where they were raised by ranchers who practiced a system of openrange ranching characterized by unfenced pastures, annual roundups of cattle, and long trail drives to markets. The cattle did not follow a clearly defined trail except at river crossings; when dozens of herds were moving north it was necessary to spread them out to find grass. The animals were allowed to graze along for 10 or 12 miles a day and never pushed except to reach water; cattle that ate and drank their fill were unlikely to stampede. When conditions were favorable longhorns actually gained weight on the trail.

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HERITAGE

END OF THE TRAIL: From 1967-1884, cowboys moved more than five million cattle and a million mustangs along the Chisholm Trail.

After trailing techniques were perfected, a trail boss, 10 cowboys, a cook, and a horse wrangler could trail 2,500 cattle three months for 60-75 cents a head. At the time, it proved far cheaper than shipping by rail. END OF AN ERA But when the Plains tribes were subdued and the buffalo decimated, ranches sprang up all over the Plains stocked with Texas longhorns and manned by Texas cowboys. Raising cattle on open range and free grass attracted investments from the East and abroad in partnerships. Texas tried to outlaw alien land ownership, but failed. As a result, barbed wire closed the Chisholm Trail by 1885. In its brief existence, it had been followed by more than five million cattle and a million mustangs, the greatest migration of livestock in world history. By 1890, railroads had penetrated into Texas, and there was no longer a need to drive cattle to Kansas in order to ship them to market. Combined with the introduction of pastures fenced with barbed wire, it meant the end of the era of the great trail drives. Even so, the end of cattle drives merely marked the beginning of the world’s fascination with the legendary Texas cowboy. And in reality, the legendary trail still exists. In 2014, the North Texas Tollway Authority constructed a 26-mile-long toll road named after the trail – the Chisholm Trail Parkway – connecting downtown Fort Worth to Cleburne. So for all practical purposes, the legacy lives on as we continue to traverse the Chisholm Trail through the Heart of Texas today.

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The Old Chisholm Trail is covered in concrete now; And they truck ‘em to market in fifty foot rigs; They blow by his market never slowing to reason; Like living and dying was all he did; This is the last cowboy song the end of a hundred year waltz; Voices sound sad as they’re singing along another piece of America’s lost.

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Good,

Goo

article & photographs by

SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

, Good, Good . . .

od Vibrations WORTH THE WAIT: Bosque County luthier Glenn Quarles produces exquisite mesquite custom guitars with attention to detail Outside a workshop, an organized pile of mesquite lays seasoning naturally next to a pile of scrapes, ready for smaller projects. Upon entering the nondescript, utilitarian building at the back of the yard, the workshop transforms into a treasure trove for the senses. First the warm, earthy smell of wood oils, bark and musky mossy notes reaches your olfactory nerves. Then your eyes feast on all the different types of wood organized along the back wall, the different self-engineered instruments and molds. As you run your fingers along the planks, you feel the roughness of the bark, the relief of a knot in the board, the smoothness of a perfectly planed plank. The whirr of the Computer Numeric Control laser as it precisely cuts out a delicate inlay, or the hiss of the varnish sprayer’s compressor stimulate the auditory sensors. And sometimes you can just taste the fine sawdust as a board is sanded. This special workshop – on the interface where the science of sound meets artistry and skill; where beauty and function are expertly fused to produce exquisite guitars with crazy good vibrations – is the birthplace of all GQ Custom Guitars. Always doing woodworking and building “stuff” his whole life – taking wood shop in junior high and building model airplanes and boats with his dad – upon retirement, Bosque County resident Glenn Quarles picked up the not-so-common, and not-soobvious, creative and detail-oriented work of being a luthier. A luthier is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box like the ukulele, banjo, mandolin, lute, and the bowed string instruments like violin, cello and contrabass. Quarles concentrates on building acoustic guitars. And it might seem an unorthodox choice for a

retired Air Force test pilot and simulator trainer to embark on this journey to produce specialized musical instruments. According to Quarles, being a pilot also requires a lot of “touch and feel” of the airplane: feeling the stick, applying minute pressure one way or the other. “At that level, it kind of becomes art,” Quarles said. “When you get past the preflight checks, all the procedures and such, you get down to the art of flying.” It is the artistic, creative drive in the man that unfolds and blossoms in his new métier. Thanks to using the left and right side of his brain, Quarles is able to marry beauty, science, form and function in equilibrium where one does not compromise the other. Like so many of us, Quarles always enjoyed listening to guitar music – especially to people that play it well. “I’ve always liked looking at nice guitars, and thought ‘man that’s the kind of woodworking I would like to do,’” Quarles said on why he specifically chose to concentrate on guitars. “It’s got the artsy part and design things that make it look special. And then, there’s the super technical part to try and get just the perfect sound. So that’s a really good combination of technical and art.” Quarles’ foundation is never to compromise, and he welcomes the internal challenge to achieve superior craftsmanship in everything he does. Besides the manual, organic aspect of his craft, Quarles relies on technology like the precision CNC laser and Computer Aided Design software to achieve the delicate and sophisticated inlay designs. A very sensitive app on his phone and a more advanced one on his laptop measures the frequency of the different elements. Quarles demonstrates the

use of this frequency app and the graph it makes – the peaks, the shapes – to check if the guitar is functioning at the sweet spots he wants for the top, the sides and the air frequency out of the sound hole. “I challenge myself on every wood joint, trying to get it perfect. And to give the guitar perfect sound. But I’m never satisfied. I see my mistakes and it drives me crazy. At a certain point though, they’re done. But I still haven’t gotten to the point that I can say ‘this is as good as it’ll ever get.’ I’m not doing this to be just ‘okay’ at this.” It is that self-critique and drive to perfection in itself that is the mark of any artist and master craftsman – they are their own worst critics. They know where they struggled; they know where perfection was not achieved. The wood joints and large components usually meet Quarles’ extremely high standard and approval. It is typically in the design elements, aesthetics and cosmetic stuff where he is most critical and sees areas for improvement. At the end of the build process though, Quarles and his customer will know that he paid extensive attention to each and every detail, on all the different and complex steps it takes to build a guitar. Each small and big step is equally important to the process and the end product. Quarles produces the guitar with relentless patience, great expertise and precision, whether it is applying the many layers of lacquer, applying the special glue or sanding down a strut a hair. “There is no compromise on sound;

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LIFESTYLES

there is no compromise on craftsmanship,” Quarles said to emphasize that point. “The structural stuff is either perfect, or they are broken and thrown away.” And many a time, he has had to discard a piece of inlay wood, so thin that it broke upon handling. With endless patience, a new 1/11,000 or 1/25,000 of an inch piece is cut and placed, very, very carefully. Passionate about his craft, Quarles strives to make it better than the last one; always pushing himself with new techniques, creating new designs, using out of the box solutions to accommodate the nature of the wood or a customer’s special request. And that takes a lot of research. Even though Quarles is reluctant to call himself an artist, his customers would emphatically disagree. In their eyes, Quarles is a master in the art of building unique, intricately decorated, beautiful and perfectly sounding guitars. Phrases his customers use when describing a GQ guitar are “a well rounded, very full sound,” “all of the notes are very even.” Country singer and regular guest at the Grand Ole Oprey in Nashville, John Berry was especially impressed with this aspect of his new guitar – which is inlayed with his initials on the sound board, and a specially-formed head stock. Berry played the guitar at the Grand Ole Oprey. After his first song, he recognizes Glenn and his wife Donna, saying “Glenn and Donna Quarles are here with us tonight; first timers at the Oprey. Glenn is the man who took this hunk of wood and carved this guitar for me.”

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Quarles is absolutely thrilled with this accolade from the renowned country musician and found himself smiling big the whole time. There is just no better advertisement than that. And even more so, many recent photos of John Berry prominently display his GQ guitar. With his extensive country music network, Berry has gotten his GQ guitar in the hands of some of the world’s famous guitar players, like the Grand Ole Opry’s resident guitarist Mike Noble and Australian Tommy Emmanuel – also known as the best acoustic guitarist in the world. Quarles has video of Emmanuel playing “his” guitar. Others impressed by the GQ guitar are Texas Country singer Deryl Dodd, who is a regular guest at the bimonthly GQ Jam Sessions, Ranger Doug of the Riders in the Sky, and Christian and Gospel musician Jason Crabb. With raving reviews from customers and people seeing and hearing his guitars on stage, Quarles has had a waiting list since day one. Depending on the inlays, a GQ guitar build takes about two to three months of solid work, with over 300 hours of labor. So with making four to five guitars a year, the wait for a GQ guitar is now two to three years. But the musicians are happy to wait that long for their all custom, superior, mesquite wood guitar. All of his guitars are unique. While some design elements and structural improvements might be incorporated in a future project, Quarles unequivocally says he is never going to repeat a guitar. Quarles choice for mesquite – his niche

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LIFESTYLES

MASTER CRAFTSMAN: In his workshop, luthier Glenn Quarles inspects the joints on one of his custom mesquite guitars (far left); A specialized tool for gluing guitar body elements together in Quarles’ workshop (near left); Quarles places a guitar side panel in a mold (above).

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and exclusivity – stems from the aesthetic aspect of the fullness of patterns, whorls and grain for the backs and sides of the guitars. It is a dense, rigid wood, which offers fullness of sound without being too heavy. And being a Texan, he likes the fact that mesquite is synonymous with Texas. A large percentage of a guitar’s sound is based on the sound board. Spruce is ideal because it is lightweight, yet strong, making it a very expressive tonewood with well-balanced dynamics and articulate tone. Thanks to Chris Jenkins, a fellow member of the Luthiers of North Texas – a network that helps with connections regarding resources and supplies – Quarles got in touch with an Italian company that supplies him with top quality spruce for the sound tops. As important as the choice of wood is for the guitar’s sound and weight, every other detail in the build is taken into account, from the different type of glue, the finishing material (nitrocellulose lacquer), engineering the truss rod, using bone (feral hog tusk material) instead of plastic for the bridge. Quarles adds very light but strong carbon fiber for added strength on the inside sides. One customer wanted a piece of wood with large natural knots in the wood. To ensure optimal sound, Quarles added carbon fiber plates to close off the holes. When defining what is important in a guitar, Quarles pictures a guitar customer coming into a specialty shop. According to Quarles, the customer’s choice narrows down to three basics: It has to look pretty – is the wood appealing, is there pretty paint job and inlays? It has to sound good – when the customer runs the fingers along the strings, does it sound good?

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LIFSTYLES

PRECISE PERFORMER: First Baptist Church Cranfills Gap Pastor Brian Barrett playing his custom made GQ guitar during an event (left); The specialized truss rod on a custom GQ guitar for Barrett (center); Luthier Glenn Quarles with Country Western Singer John Berry and his custom GQ guitar (right).

It has to feel right – does it feel right in their hands when they pick it up, is the action right, is the fret smooth, is it easy to pick without wearing out your fingers? GQ guitars hit all the above check marks at an exceptional level, but additionally each customer has a unique story to tell about their guitar, since his customers are involved in the creation of their guitar. Inspiration for the intricate designs usually depends on the customer. One customer said “go crazy, do something nobody else would let you do.” “I want the guitar to feel absolutely perfect in their hand, with string height, the action,” Quarles said. “I want it to be the best guitar they’ve ever picked up in just everything about how it feels and how it plays. And they get to say they were part of the build, picking the type of wood and the details.” Prior to settling on building guitars, Quarles attended a year-long boat building school in Washington state and learned taxidermy at a school in Montana – both

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activities where attention to detail is imperative and where there is a balance between science and aesthetics. What additionally appeals to him is the art and skill of putting something together perfectly. In 2017, Quarles found the Bryan Galloup School of Guitar Building and Repair in Michigan that offered summer courses in guitar making. As soon as he started there, he knew he was on the right track. The school offers three training options – Journeyman, Technician and Master; each step taking the student deeper into the complicated world of building a good sounding guitar. The main factors contributing to an acoustic guitar’s sound are the overall build design, the body shape and the tonewoods used for the top, back and sides. Secondary contributing factors include the materials used for the bracing and kerfing inside the guitar body, the actual bracing pattern the materials used for the neck, the materials used for the nut and saddle, the material

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and gauge of the strings, and the material and gauge of pick used to play the guitar. There are a lot of elements in the mix, and the combinations and possibilities are endless. With every variable, the physics of the guitar body changes. And failure to get each factor right could potentially result in poor sound and/or poor durability. Even the guitar’s lacquer finish affects how the instrument feels and sounds. Its up to the luthier to determine what combination of factors is going to work best for a customer’s special requests. Luthiers are always seeking the balance between strength and durability versus lightness of materials. While Quarles can figure out the technical aspects and frequency numbers he knows the guitar should be at every step along the way, he is not a musician. So he has the Chuck Yaeger of test guitarists to test run the nearly completed guitars. As a guitar player and musician, First Baptist Church Pastor Brian Barrett does different chord progressions up and

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LIFESTYLES down the neck, assesses the tonality and intonation, the string placement and string height, listens for fret buzz and drop out spots. With this feedback, Quarles sets to shaving braces inside the guitar or sanding down the bridge, fine tuning the guitar as close to perfection as possible. Barrett usually confirms the things Quarles already suspected. The ability to fine tune the guitar to the specific customer makes all the difference between a GQ guitar and a good production guitar where all the elements are standardized. “Glenn is a real artist,” Barrett said. “His guitars are completely a work of art that takes hundreds of hours to build. They are so technically precise. But there is usually a 10 percent unknown on how a guitar will sound once the strings are on. It can always be tweaked. And in the end, you get a real masterpiece.” More general feedback includes how the guitar feels, how the action is, how the neck feels comes from other “test pilots” including local guitar players Kevin Chambliss of the Chad Holt and the Chizlers, and First Baptist Church of Meridian youth and music minister James Gilbert. Chambliss is the lucky owner of

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19 serial #1901, one of the first CQ guitars to be sold. His wife commissioned it for a Christmas present. “They’re really good guitar players that I trust, and who aren’t afraid to voice their findings,” Quarles said. Not one to shy away from a challenging project, the guitar Quarles is working on at the moment is a hybrid acoustic/electric guitar for Barrett. The build has the Bosque County luthier once more extending his knowledge and skills. Besides the hybrid character of the instrument with volume knobs necessary for an electric guitar, it has several new and special design features, like triangular sound holes instead of one round sound hole. The instrument also has an arm bevel to improve the ergonometrics of the guitar and a special truss rod cover. Personalizing the guitar further is the addition of Psalm 33:3 – “Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully on the strings with a shout of joy” – inlayed in cursive on the back of the guitar. The number three is also a nod to Barrett’s early 355 Epiphone guitar and Chuck Berry’s 335 Gibson. With over a year of building the guitar, Barrett was perfectly content to wait

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because “you can’t rush an artist.” “A GQ guitar is always a precision instrument and a piece of art,” Barrett said “It is an instrument you can always be proud of. And this guitar is extremely special to me.” As pretty as his guitars are, Quarles emphasizes that he wants his guitars to be used, preferably by good musicians. “Dude, don’t worry about it being pretty or wearing out,” Quarles told Berry. “If it breaks, I’ll fix it. Don’t baby the thing. I don’t want it to stay pretty and shiny. I want it to look like it’s used.” With each GQ guitar, made in Bosque County, Texas by a master luthier with amazing attention to detail, and precision, there will be a proud customer with a finely crafted, pretty perfect instrument, with more than just good looks. All of which makes the guitar something worth waiting for and cherishing for years and years. One day, Quarles hopes to teach his craft more. But for now, he is not ready to give building guitars himself. It is too much challenging fun in his specialized, sensory stimulating workshop, just steps away from all the satisfying comforts of the family’s Bosque County home.

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TRANSFORMING A TOWN: Already known for its historic and picturesque Bosque County Courthouse, Meridian Parks & Recreation has added two venues and numerous outdoor activities to encourage community engagement. Four of the main players – volunteer Paul Hardcastle, board president Don Hatley, board member Jim Ballard and board vice president Jack Cameron in the saddle on Cowboy (inset).

Together, anything’s Possible article & photographs by

SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

The first impression of a town is always important to people driving through, to people looking for a new home, for the current citizens. They like to see a pretty, safe, wellkept town – a town to be proud of. Even though the town is the county seat with a magnificent courthouse, in and around Meridian there are improvements to be made that would enhance the town considerably. Years ago, Meridian Grassroots started a movement with individuals helping out the city with things like potholes, weeds, mowing of the parks, hauling brush. The City of Meridian instated a Code Enforcement officer to help citizens be aware of their responsibilities regarding fencing, abandoned cars, mowing of yards and more.

As important as those tasks are and continue to be, there were those that dreamt big and hoped for more. They wanted to convert the fuzzy caterpillar with incredible potential into a splendid butterfly. And in a relatively short time, they planned, initiated and completed some pretty impressive projects like the John A. Lomax Amphitheater and the Chisholm Trail Plaza with public restrooms. The projects embody the main focus of the Meridian Parks and Recreation – projects and activities that enrich the lives of residents, build a healthier community, strengthen the community image and a sense of place and make the city a better place to live, work and play. Residents are slowly, but surely seeing “Our Town, Our Tomorrow” take form.

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22 MERIDIAN MASTER PARK PLAN The initial steps regarding a comprehensive Master Parks Plan to extend parks, connectivity and walkability for Meridian were taken in 2017 when Bosque County AgriLife Extension Office agent Kate Whitney brought several civic groups together that were expressing wants and needs in that regard. They were Meridian Grassroots, the Meridian Farmers Market, the Ministerial Alliance and the City of Meridian. It became a detailed plan of how the community could enhance their outdoor activity spaces and increase the town’s quality of life. Thanks to financing by the Meridian Economic Development Corporation, the Meridian Master Park Plan project was initiated under the direction of the Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Department with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Urban and Municipal Parks development’s Dr. Jamie Rae Walker. And with the creation of the parks master plan, the big picture emerged. Ideas and discussions generated in community workshops were evaluated on feasibility, necessity and maintainability for more park space, an amphitheatre,

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a community garden, public restrooms, improving the town’s connectivity, adding walking trails and a splash pad. The projects were designated short, medium and long term projects. Together with a group of graduate students, Walker started with an inventory of the towns existing assets. Engaging citizen input was another important aspect of their inventory. They connected with citizens at local places around the community to understand what activities citizens participate in at parks and recreation facilities. “You already have wonderful amenities; it is time to make them more accessible to more people.” said Walker, summing up the plan. “Not one person gave a sentiment against park development. This is exceptional. “I see a climate you can capitalize on. You all have a very positive attitude towards working together. This is what you need, a bunch of people in a room that want this.” Little did Walker know that these workshops and talks triggered a proactive approach in a group of enthusiastic and determined citizens who would not shy away from large projects with high visibility.

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What’s even more remarkable is that this group of engaged, enthusiastic citizens is well past the age considered to be “prime,” yet they’re the ones pulling this cart. “I want you to be excited, encouraged. Start with the small stuff, because you have people and money for that, then progress to the larger stuff. I want you to be my success story for the next community I’m asked to assist.” With the lifespan of Bosque County Jail on Morgan Street coming to an end, several local civic organizations and individuals started thinking on how to turn a deteriorating eyesore into a city asset. With that in mind, the long-drawn process to convince the Bosque County Commissioners to donate the old jail site to the City of Meridian was started. The site would allow for a considerable extension of the existing Meridian Park between Morgan Street and River Street. Many presentations by Parks & Rec board president Don Hatley and Grassroots’ Paul Hardcastle for the commissioners and Meridian City Council followed. And they were received with much skepticism. Showing their commitment to improving the quality of life in Meridian, the Meridian

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OUTDOOR FAMILY FUN: Paul and Pam Hardcastle kick up their heels at the first in the quarterly Bosque Boot Scootin’ Live Music & Dance Series during the Chisholm Trail Plaza Grand Opening March 26 (left); Meridian Parks & Rec volunteer Andy Williams testing the nine-hole disc golf course that connects Lion’s Park with Meridian Park through a pathway under the Bosque River Bridge (right).

Economic Development Corporation backed several projects with funding and loans. Their goal is to attract more tourism to the town, and thus increasing sales in local stores and restaurants. And extending parks, outdoor venues and activities surely will draw visitors to town. The MEDC additionally committed $50,000 to the demolition of the old jail facility in order to kick start the process of creating the extended park area. With the grant, the MEDC took away any cost concerns, allowing the city to receive the donation of the property from the county. “Demolishing and cleaning up the area alone, regardless on future development, will leave a huge positive impression on people,” MEDC board president at the time Brett Voss said. “Additionally, so much of the master park plan hinges on that area.” It was up to the city and its Parks and Recreation committee to decide which projects to tackle first. Voss had recommended doing something highly visible first on the short term to get people excited so more people would want to get involved. But instead of going for the “low hanging fruit,” which would be an easy, inexpensive projects with high visual impact, the group started planning the town’s amphitheater. JOHN A. LOMAX AMPHITHEATER The amphitheater project itself was

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initiated by Jack Cameron of the Bosque Farmers Market. Long before the Master Park Plan was created, Cameron was wondering what should be done about the old jail site. He had visions of the extension of the existing park, and adding a gathering place for all ages, a place to reflect. He attended both the Bosque County Commissioners Court and Meridian City Council several times, helping county and city officials visualize how the area could become an asset to the town instead of an eyesore. “It was a vortex of like-minded individuals and organizations that came together at the same time,” Cameron said. “We all want to help make Meridian a destination for tourists, and to increase the sense of community at the same time by enhancing its assets. The amphitheater was a good first, very visual step in the plan.” As it was being built, Meridian citizens could see and feel the venue take form in the limestone-block amphitheater at Meridian Park, a scaled-down version of a Greek amphitheater. Naturally nestled in the sloping terrain – one with the earth – the aesthetically appealing, circular structure embraces those seated, allowing for a bucolic view of the park with old pecan trees, offering a peaceful place to rest. Actors, musicians and other future performers will instantly have a beautiful

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backdrop to their performances. Every step of the structure’s build – from the delivery of the rock, the earthwork, the pouring of the cement path and center, laying of the flagstones – was very visible to passersby, and much anticipated by those individuals and organizations that had a hand in the development. The innately beautiful structure has already been the venue for several important events like free monthly Outdoor Movie Nights, the Bosque Museum Lomax Gathering, and the Bosque River Valley Daughters of the American Revolution Memorial Day tribute. The site was perfect for a Easter Sunrise Service that brought over 130 people to worship. And thanks to an initiative from the Meridian Public Library, the beautiful amphitheater is designated a national Literary Landmark honoring the John A. Lomax legacy as an author and ballad hunter. In choosing a name for the striking structure, Cameron wanted to tie in local history with the location. Meridian sat on a Chisholm Trail feeder trail, and with it came the authentic cowboy. A young Meridian lad was captivated by these cowboy chansons, and started writing them down, preserving them for future generations what had been passed only by word of mouth. It was the start of a lifelong preserving and promoting of American folk

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USING THE PARKS: Providing the opportunity for all citizens to enjoy – monthly free Outdoor Movie Nights at the John A. Lomax Amphitheater (top left), a beautiful Easter Sunday Sunrise Service at the amphitheater (bottom left) and the weekly Bosque Farmers Market from May-October at Meridian Park (above).

songs by John Avery Lomax and his son Alan. Besides Texas cowboy country, his travels took him to the Mississippi Delta, recording the slaves chanting in the fields, and the development of the Blues. A historic marker at the roadside park just outside Meridian on Highway 144 commemorates this special Bosque County citizen. With the approval of Meridian City Council, the exquisite limestone block amphitheater now bears his name, ensuring the Lomax legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of his town folk. CHISHOLM TRAIL PLAZA Spearheaded by project manager Paul Hardcastle, the recent completion of the new, multi-functional Chisholm Trail Plaza and public restrooms was an exercise in blood, sweat and tears combined with determination, perseverance and patience. Like the amphitheater build, because of its very visible location, every single step could be followed by passersby. And it seemed forever until the Parks & Rec Committee could plan the grand opening March 26. Walker had urged to celebrate small successes. But because of the magnitude of the first major projects, it turned into celebrating big successes.

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“Wow, just wow,” Hatley said in his speech prior to the grand opening ceremony of the Chisholm Trail Plaza in Meridian to the crowd of about 200 people present on a beautiful Saturday evening. “That wow is for you, your presence. Because you are most important. You being here to enjoy this facility makes all this worthwhile.” And the Grand Opening party was the first in quarterly scheduled dances called Bosque Boot Scootin’ Live Music & Dance Series at the Chisholm Trail Plaza. Demolition costs could have been exorbitant, if not for assistance from Powers Construction and their heavy equipment that reduced the old jail to a pile of rubble in a matter of days. The county precinct barns offered their assistance, coming in with their trucks remove the debris. Prior to the final plan for the plaza, several options were explored regarding renovating the old jail into a visitors’ center. To circumvent demolition costs, the Parks & Rec Committee looked into renovating the front office to ultimately serve as a welcome center and meeting place, along with storage for the Bosque Farmers Market in the old jail cells. But Meridian City Council members were increasingly

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concerned about black mold, replacing old airconditioning units, sewage and plumbing problems and more, which could cause costly reconstruction. After discussing many different options and variations, in the end, with expert advice from engineers, it was decided to cap the old slab and create an outdoor plaza, also with a name reflecting the Chisholm Trail heritage of the area. And while these two major projects were being completed, several other projects were taken on. Some of the finished projects include: • Creating a community garden area – the debris from the old jail site transported by Bosque County precinct trucks filled up the defunct pool area. • A projector and outdoor screen at the amphitheater for free outdoor movies. • Thanks to a grant from the Meridian EDC; decorative ridge lighting on the square businesses and on Main Street lights up the town green for St. Patrick’s Day, red, white and blue for the Fourth of July, orange for Thanksgiving, giving downtown a festive, welcoming feel – also an Meridian EDC investment. • Thanks to private donations, the Meridian Parks and Recreation

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Beautification Committee added picnic tables in the Meridian Park, decorative garbage cans and trees around the amphitheater. • Thanks to a grant, lights and safer sidewalks are in the works, putting down town is a bit of a mess at the moment. But the new sidewalks will make a huge difference. • To offer people a fun way to spend time outdoors, a nine-hole disc golf course was created. Because the course goes from Lions Park to Meridian Park by way of the river’s flood plain, increased mowing and weed control opened up a much-needed, safe walkway under the Bosque River Bridge. But the Parks and Recreation Committee remains far from done. There are a multitude of future projects in the works, like: • A LED sign for community announcements next to the Chisholm Trail Plaza. • Playground equipment donated by Meridian Independent School District will be placed in the area between the Chisholm Trail Plaza and the John A. Lomax Amphitheater, along with a flag pole. • Two competition pickleball courts as well as a practice/warmup court at the Chisholm Trail Plaza. • Improving the lights at Lion’s Park for the basketball court, horseshoe and washer pits. • Opening up river access and hiking trail along the river. • And a designated committee is researching a community splash pad – finding a suitable location and financing is the main obstacle there. So, why do these groups and individuals seemingly tirelessly want to put a lot of time, effort and money into spearheading these projects? They care for their city and community and they want

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to increase the quality of life within the community they life in; for themselves, for their neighbors, for the families, for all age groups from children to seniors. “Building these facilities and organizing all these events, activities and sports have one sole purpose,” said Voss, now the Meridian Parks & Recreation Director of Entertainment and Events. “We hope to bring back the sense of community that is vital for the survival of small towns. And we are seeing an increased interest in the activities going on, which is making us hopeful.” At the grand opening of the plaza, Bosque County Commissioner Precinct 4 Ronny Liardon shared that his first thoughts on hearing the monumental plans for the old jail site were “Are they out of their minds?” But emphasizing the group’s tenacity, determination, gumption and grit, Liardon said the group proved two age-old idioms wrong – that you can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, and that you can squeeze blood out of a turnip. He compared their vision and drive to the same kind of determination the first group of Norwegian and German settlers showed when developing their communities in the new county. Meridian Parks & Rec might not have fought off American Indian arrows but they had to ward off many “arrows” in the form of challenges. “Hats off to you guys,” Liardon said. “This is a great monument to our original settlers.” It is the energy, vision and “get ‘r done” attitude that took the town from “daring to dream,” to “Wow, look what we’ve accomplished!” – taking the somewhat unsightly caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly just out of its cocoon, slowly unfurling its wings in the sunshine, getting ready to fly.

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Looking For Light AQUARELLE BEAUTY: Watercolorist Ann Patton’s yellow/green/blue floral was sold in the Botanical Show in Fort Worth a few years back.

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SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

An aquarelle life: Artist Ann Patton paints what she loves most in her luminous watercolor medium

Because of the fluid, water-soluble pigment, painting in watercolor holds the contrast of bold, immediate action with a delicate brush stroke; striking colors with transparency and feathered outlines. It is as direct of a medium as can be; there can’t be any hesitancy while painting. These characteristics seem like contradictions, but if done well – which takes years and years of practice – they are in balance. These qualities reflect watercolorist Ann Patton’s empathetic, vibrant character. Like her watercolors, she has a certain luminosity and softness combined with confidence and spontaneity. “I love the vibrant, pure colors of watercolor, and I strive for transparency and the effect of light in my paintings,” Ann said.

“It is a challenging medium, but nothing is more beautiful when you do actually get it right. The best part of painting to me is when someone looks at my painting and sees and feels what I felt and saw when I did the painting.” She paints what she loves, and that love is evident in Ann’s artwork – it adds an intangible depth to the bucolic scenes – all pleasing in their natural simplicity: birds, horses, cattle, landscapes, family and friends, or anything else that brings her joy and satisfaction. Her work is honest and straightforward, much like herself. “A Cowboy and his Coffee” is Ann’s favorite portrait of her favorite cowboy – her husband Jim. It shows an exceptional moment of Jim without his hat, contemplatively enjoying

his early morning cup of Joe. She feels it captures a real life expression and the light in it focuses the attention on the darker features. Ann was thrilled that the painting obviously appealed to the Society of Watercolor Artists when it was accepted into the 2021 Membership Exhibition. “I love painting flowers – especially wildflowers,” Ann said. “I have had more than one case of serious chigger bites due to my desire to photograph them at their level. Wildflowers are the most perfect gift from nature in their own unruly, random way.” The Devil’s Claw is one of her favorite wildflowers. The bloom is stunning, but usually scraggly and insignificant. Ann has planted their seed in a protected environment, and they are so beautiful. “These are bigger, more vibrant and more colorful than real life – my usual view of things,” Ann said of her Devil’s Claw painting. According to Ann, to truly observe, to really see something, you have to care about it. “I see things differently than other people do. I am drawn to the beauty in ordinary life, and I create my version of it on my paper.” Sometimes this might mean that a scissor tail has more yellow hues than nature’s design; or that a house finch is nearly as vibrantly red as a cardinal. But there is no denying what you’re seeing. Because she has been selected to exhibit more than five times at one of the Society of Watercolor Artists of Fort Worth shows, Ann can proudly call herself a signature member; an important milestone for her as an artist. In spite of the obvious beauty of aquarelles, the medium is an outlier in the art world. The

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society provides a great, supportive network with a generosity of spirit for its members. Ann learns as much from other artists as from consistent individual practice. Never one to dwell for long on an achievement though, Ann’s next goal is to be accepted as a member of the National Watercolor Society. “If you don’t sell your art, if you are not reaching people, it’s like music in a forest without people,” according to Ann. And she’s happy that her work is for sale at the Bosque Art Center Gift Shop in Clifton and at the Tiemann Art Gallery in Round Rock. Being chosen three times into the Bosque Art Classic (2016, 2017 and 2019) was another important achievement for Ann, because she has a lot of respect for the special and supportive art culture in Bosque County. Last fall, she had a one-woman show in the BAC Atrium Gallery. “This was a first for me and a true joy to be able to show a body of work which represents me as an artist, to enjoy sharing my paintings with family and friends, and to support the Bosque Art Center for being such advocates for artists,” Ann said. “It was very successful, with many paintings sold.” She has also entered the Bosque Museum Wildflower Art Show and Sale in the past. And in 2019, she had a piece accepted into the American Plains Artists Juried Art Show in Corsicana. Entering and being selected for such shows all help with recognition and subsequent sales. Ann was born in West Columbia, but was raised on the legendary King Ranch in South Texas, where her father Leonard Stiles – former Texas and Southwestern

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Cattle Raisers Association brand inspector – oversaw the Santa Gertrudis operation. Growing up with the sprawling outdoors with horses and cattle around all the time, nature became part of Ann’s DNA. Always inquisitive and creative, the intelligent young girl loved art, and it was always a satisfying part of her life. In spite of a college degree in Art and English from Texas A&M in Kingsville, Ann’s practical side chose the world of banking, becoming the first female loan officer in Arizona. She had left her beloved Texas for the better career opportunities in Arizona. And while she was proud of the satisfying success in her banking career, there was something missing in her Phoenix city life, althogh she just couldn’t put her finger on it. All she knew was that she was ready for a big change. Very, very reluctantly, Ann agreed to a detested blind date thanks to a mutual friend Tona’s interminable insistence she meet a certain gentleman she knew. With an “allor-nothing, California-or-bust” attitude, Tona organized a day-long trail ride. Consequently, that day was not a complete disaster, leading to a second meeting shortly after. It was meeting Jim, who was a ranch manager at a magically beautiful, remote ranch in the Arizona Huachuca Mountains, which put a name to what was lacking in Ann’s life – nature and the great outdoors. “I never knew how much I missed the open spaces,” Ann said. “It was then that I realized my city life was soulless.” Apparently, you can take the girl out of

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MORE COLORFUL THAN REAL LIFE: Watercolorist Ann Patton and her husband Jim during her one-woman show at the Bosque Arts Show late 2021 (above); The House Finch painting is a favorite -- it is in Clifton’s Bosque Art Center Gift Shop (far left). Ann’s gelding, the 30-year-old Rooster and two King Ranch mares that Jim rode for many years – “partners on the job” (left); Ann and her husband Jim working cattle at a remote ranch in the Arizona Huachuca Mountains when they first met in the 90s (top right); Nature and particularly florals are Ann’s favorite subjects to paint (right).

nature, but you can’t take nature out of the girl. And whoever said cooking was the way to a man’s heart was being one-sided. It is also the way to a woman’s heart. With his sourdough biscuits, bacon and raspberry breakfast, Jim inadvertently sealed the deal, hitting all the check marks and winning Ann over on her second visit to the ranch. Little did Jim know that cooking was one of Ann’s other creative outlets, and an expression of caring – something she inherited from her mother Mary Hooge Stiles. And Ann saw his caring in his carefully executed breakfast. Ann’s blond Labrador Ruby knew all along the two were meant to be together, because after that second meeting, the pup did not want to get into the car back to the city. Ann never left again, except to pack up her city life and move out to the rugged and remote ranch,

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THE ARTS where they happily worked the cross breed cattle together on the 100 square miles forest grazing permit. Ann, of course, became the ranch cook. After Jim’s retirement in 2002, the couple looked to find a place of their own, but nothing was available in Arizona. With Jim’s daughter living in Waco, they ended up in Hamilton. Because Ann had always wanted to run a restaurant but felt she was too old to go full bore, she started her monthly “Rolling Pin” dinners in the old bakery in town for a maximum of 42 people. With her fantastic food and eclectic décor, the dinners were always sold out. A cupboard in her workshop is dedicated to that passion, filled with cookbooks and recipes she has tried over the years and loved. “We had so much fun,” Ann said. But after 10 years, they found a perfectly beautiful spot on Mustang Creek in Bosque County, which felt like coming home. And when Ann misses the mountains and the dessert, the couple retreats to their cabin in the Lincoln National Forrest near Cloudcroft, New Mexico, or for a complete change of scene they enjoy going to the Gulf Coast for the sun, sand and sea. Both places a very inspirational to Ann’s painting. “Galveston beauties” are part of the beautiful floral scenery that goes with the lovely beaches and abundant birds, all of which draws the couple there every year. Ann always painted as an outlet for her creative mind, and discovered a real love of watercolor in her twenties at college. But it wasn’t until 2015, at their perfect place in the world that she took up her tapered paintbrush to put a colorful palette onto the beautiful creamy textured paper in earnest. And in aquarelle painting – just another pretty word for watercolor – the choice of paper is as

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CLOSE TO HOME: Watercolorist Ann Patton at work in her Mustang Valley, Bosque County workshop (left); A portrait of Ann’s favorite cowboy, her husband Jim and his early morning coffee (right).

essential as anything else. “I do regret not starting focusing on my art more seriously earlier,” Ann said. “I wish I had listened to my inner voice earlier. Because the more consistent you are about doing it, the better it is for the quality of your work. I haven’t even scratched the surface on knowing about colors and water as a big variable.” With her present focus, her work has evolved greatly – getting closer and closer to her vision of what she wants her work to look like. “I paint most days, entering juried shows and studying with artists I admire when I can,” Ann said. “I am interested in all kinds of art and see as much new art as I can, in galleries, online, and in shows.” “It’s more than a medium for me – it is an attitude,” One of the watercolorists Ann admires William Matthews says about the medium: “It has to do with feeling slightly out of control. It has to do with capturing the gesture. Watercolor has a mind of its own, and it goes where it wants to. For me, it is important to work in partnership with the medium, and thereby yield some control. It’s important that a watercolor appear fresh and not overworked. And mostly, it’s important to know when to stop.” Ann admires Matthew’s unconventional use of color. In Hazel Soan’s work, she admires the loose, soft, watery feel of the painting, with not all spaces filled in, but what is there is just perfect. “My best watercolors are often those I feel happened despite me, rather than because of me. And I stare in wonder at the way

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the pigment dries and settles on the paper in an array of exquisite blends,” Soan said reiterating the evasive character of aquarelle. To Soan, the excitement of watercolor is “watching paint dry, patience, adrenalin, angst and wonder.” Other inspirational watercolorists for Ann are Korean War Veteran Tom Hill and Western watercolorist Don Weller. “His work is the closest of what I want to be as a watercolorist,” Ann said, who is the proud owner of one of Hill’s works. “There is always a balance. Hill marries looseness with detail.” Ann also has a special way with words – she paints an image with the descriptions she gives her artwork. You don’t even have to see the related painting to get a “feel” of the emotion of the image she wanted to convey. The meaningful words enhance her art. “The painting of the F-1 heifers is a favorite of mine. It was called “Spring of 2021” and was a tribute to the beautiful lush spring,” Ann said. “The heifers were raised together and they reminded me of a school of fish, always moving together, sharing the light and the shadow, and so very expressive. I followed them around photographing them, an endless opportunity of motion, like a ballet. They were sold recently, but I still enjoy the memory.” Or another example: “This is the last photo is of a painting of my gelding Rooster and the two King Ranch mares that Jim rode for many years, both of whom are dead now. It is not for sale, but an example of a way to honor your favorite horses. These were three great ranch horses, all of them a pleasure to work with – partners on the job.”

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Patton sees her life’s journey a “a life of change, growth and discovery. And mastering watercolor and its unpredictability as part of her life is an exciting, intuitive journey without end. Her brain is in constant overdrive, and she has more ideas than she could ever create. She is always inspired and regularly has five to six paintings in her head she wants to put to paper. For example, a heron photographed at the edge of the stock tank just below their house in the early morning shadows “Birds are among the most perfect critters, always elegant and always with some attitude,” Ann said. Presently, she is experimenting with a polyurethane spray coat to preserve the color without adding a glass barrier. Her “House Finch” is an example of that. She also is experimenting with dark backgrounds, as can be seen with the painting of the Haflinger pony and yellow blooms. “Like me, my painting is a work in progress and I hope never to stop learning and growing and painting from my heart,” Patton said. “I am working toward painting in a more expressive manner and spotlighting the inherent strengths of the medium.” This year her talent was recognized again because another painting, “Headed Down to the Creek,” was accepted into the Society of Watercolor Artists 2022 International Juried Exhibition in Fort Worth. Ann called this most recent success “A bit of happiness in a troubled world - that is what art brings!” It is a painting is of her niece Heather’s heifers. The artwork will hang at the Atrium Gallery of the Fort Worth Central Library, 500 W. 3rd St., Fort Worth, from April 16May 22. “I am in awe of the beautiful paintings that will hang – it is an opportunity to see some great watercolors,” Ann said. “I am very grateful to be included.” Coincidentally, Heather has a similar life path – born on the King Ranch where her father Joe managed the Quarter Horse division, Heather chose to work in the lucrative futures trading business in Chicago and the Big Apple after college. But then she realized she was unhappy without horses in her life, she came to East Texas to train cutting horses with the brother. Heather has also ended up in Bosque County, next door to her beloved Aunt Ann, surrounded by Mustang Valley’s natural beauty.

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It all started as a casual suggestion by Bosque Film Society founding board member and filmmaker-in-residence Matt Wallace. As the non-profit society was planning its first free four-day movie weekend with 2021 Halloween Free Film Fest at the historic Cliftex Theatre in Clifton, Wallace thought it might be fun to produce a horror short film to show the public. Wallace probably should have opened with “only a mad man would come up with this project” to embark on such an ambitious creative undertaking less than a month before Oct. 30. But he had no doubt that founding board president Brett Voss, a man with endless energy and a bucket list item to check off, would take the bait – hook, line and sinker. Not a man to be weighed down by practicalities or shy away from a challenge, Voss’ creative brain began producing ideas within moments. The how, with whom, when, where and time crunch were just mere inconveniences as the seed grew to write, shoot and produce a short film entitled, Gal

Manns Skrik: Mad Man’s Scream.

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SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS Together with his wife and partner in crime for all his projects, Voss started brainstorming to develop a storyline by asking board members to submit a favorite horror/thriller movie scene. Bringing the area’s Norwegian heritage and the “it’s a bit mad” statement together was Norwegian painter Edvard Munch’s 1893 masterpiece, The Scream. Slowly but surely, the idea developed to very loosely re-imagine scenes from Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 The Shining, George A. Romero’s 1968 Night of the Living Dead, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 Psycho, Roman Polanski’s 1968 Rosemary’s Baby, Jonathan Demme’s 1991 The Silence of the Lambs, and Wes Craven’s 1996 Scream, putting to use classic thriller cinematography techniques – the use of edgy black-and-white as an example – and ample sound design effects. Why these iconic scenes? Beginning with an extensive list, the scenes were chosen by the budding film crew in a round table

IT’S A WRAP: The Bosque Film Society founding board members celebrate the conclusion of the third and final day of shooting for the short film, Gal Manns Skrik: Mad Man’s Scream (far left). Producer & Co-Director Matt Wallace and Skrik on location at Clifton Legacy Park’s “Little Alamo.”

34 discussion developing the storyline. With that in mind, let’s take a glance at each one. The Shining’s “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” scene also known as “the typewriter scene,” when his wife discovers her husband’s work is nothing but gibberish and a sign of his mental deterioration, is a shocking and pivotal moment of the movie. Night of the Living Dead might not be the first-ever zombie film, but it unquestionably ranks as the godfather of the slew of zombie movies that followed in its wake. Hitchcock’s Psycho shower scene, which runs just three minutes and involves 50 quick cuts, stands out as the most-watched scenem, not only in horror, but in all of film history. As actress Janet Leigh starts to take a peaceful shower and wash off all her stress, we see an anonymous figure approach from behind the blurry murk of the shower curtain. It rips the curtain off its holders and proceeds to stab Leigh to death as Bernard Herrmann’s unforgettable screeching-violin composition called “Murder” amplifies the terror. The first time we meet Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, he tells Clarice, “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice

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THE ARTS Chianti.” Wes Craven’s Scream takes the classic slasher movie template and makes it so much more. Consequently, the first scene of the film, ranks the most iconic horror movie opening and the most quoted of all time. Alone in the house, Drew Barrymore’s character is making popcorn when she receives a call from a strange man who asks her if she likes scary movies. The iconic Scream mask remains a very popular Halloween costume. In Rosemary’s Baby, Mia Farrow finally sees her baby after being told it had been stillborn. While the baby is never shown to the audience, Rosemary is horrified. She screams “what did you do to his eyes?” Her neighbors assure her that nothing is wrong with the baby, and that he has his father’s eyes – revealing to Rosemary that Satan, not her husband, is not the father of her child. With the scenes selected and a basic concept in mind, Voss began to write a script, piecing these scenes together cohesively, something Voss happened to have some experience in. While teaching film appreciation and video production at Temple High School, Voss wrote a feature length script, producing and directing the

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film using a mixture of high school, college and community stage actors. The Bosque Film Society film observes a weary writer battling to meet his deadline to complete a manuscript in the late night/early morning hours. As the overwrought writer labors away at his typewriter, glimpses of the developing novel are revealed – or are they? Together with an enthusiastic crew of BFS board members with no budget whatsoever using borrowed equipment from Mustang International and Southern Cross Creative, the first steps to making the thriller short film began. Wallace, with his extensive filmmaking experience served as director of photography, co-director and producer. As the principal writer and visionary, Voss served as co-director and associate producer. Both guided the crew with their new and unfamiliar roles, whether as actor or as support crew. During the first day of shooting, BFS founding board secretary Nathan Diebenow somewhat uncomfortably, but gallantly stepped into the spotlight as an actor in the first scene shot at the Walnut Springs Cemetery, In later scenes, he proved to be an excellent sound and boom assistant, a

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THE REAL DEAL: Gal Manns Skrik: Mad Man’s Scream movie poster ties Norwegian artist Edvard Munch’s Scream to Skrik – the Bosque Film Society short film’s evil presence (above); Co-director Matt Wallace and Skrik on location at the Walnut Springs Cemetery (top right). Wallace gets a different angle on set with lead actor Will Godby (right). Actors Angela Smith and Nathan Diebenow along with sound assistant Simone Voss on location in Walnut Springs Cemetery (bottom right). Co-director Brett Voss discusses blocking for the Psycho shower scene with leading lady Angela Smith (below).

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LOCATIONS & PROPS: Shooting on location in the Davis Family home with Director of Photography Matt Wallace, co-director Brett Voss, actress Lorana Rush, Will Godby and Nathan Diebenow on sound and actress Miriam Wallace (top left); Wallace and Voss work together to set up a shot (above); Actors on Day One of shooting, Bryan Davis (far left) and Miriam Wallace (center) also set up props. “Kitchen Skrik” Simone Voss stands ready in costume to cook up some liver to go with a nice Chianti (near left).

role he thoroughly enjoyed. The cemetery scene introduces the audience to the ominous Skrik – Norwegian for “scream.” After the shoot at the cemetery, long-time Tin Building Theater actress Lorana Rush joined Bryan Davis and Miriam Wallace at the Davis residence to re-imagine the Rosemary’s Baby scene. During Day Two of shooting, the kitchen scene very loosely based on several lines from The Silence of the Lambs was shot at the Clifton Civic Center kitchen and The Shining scenes with the author played by Will Godby were shot at the Legacy Park rock building known as the “Little Alamo.” In the third and final day of shooting, founding vice president Angela Smith quickly deserved the nickname “one take Angela” thanks to her ability to translate the director’s scene explanation into an excellent performance every time. Nevertheless, the reinterpretation of the Psycho shower scene kept her cold and wet for hours due to the many different angles that were needed to

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recreate the feel of the iconic scene at the Goodall-Witcher Fitness Center. Skrik – played by four different people – and “the author at the typewriter” are the red thread in the short that tie the very different scenes together. To recap, yes, the liver was real in the kitchen scene, the corpse was not. Diebenow did a great “Nailed it,” channeling Kevin Costner’s role in the Big Chill. And fun fact, the blood dripping off his fingers was diluted chocolate syrup. As much as Wallace and Voss enjoyed the process of directing and filming, they both spent considerable time coaching the crew and cast on the filmmaking process. Everyone experience “on the job training” – how to start the audio, how to hold the mike, what props to have or make, rehearsing dialogue on the fly as it changed somewhat to the circumstances. Wallace himself had a new video camera and new editing software he was trying out. With each scene, details became important – from the whiskey bottle, to ingredients

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and utensils for Skrik to prepare liver in the kitchen, to the bar of soap, dressing up a crib using Skrik’s cloak, making a baby’s head with a bag of pasta, polishing up a tarnished bowie knife to shine, to getting the wrinkles out of the shower curtain, waiting for the sun to come from behind a cloud, making a ream of paper fall correctly, lugging around props, lights, mike booms, and having lots and lots of towels for the shower scene, and a heater to keep the leading lady warm between shot setups. “Working with a helpful crew is very enjoyable,” Wallace said. “This project confirms that it is worth the time to train and invest in people. Because with the next project, you can rely on them again.” And as they continue to do film projects, the BFS wants to recruit students from the area schools that would be interested in learning hands on what making a movie, commercial, infomercial is all about. Part of the society’s mission is to actively pursue offering education. Besides giving extra information on films at film appreciation

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evenings, new film projects offer that opportunity. After hours of shooting footage came the tedious and time consuming task for Wallace to piece the shots and scenes together, to correct color balance, to add sound effects and add wild lines if there was not enough on the original footage. The team relied heavily on his experience and knowledge as they say in filmmaking “to fix it in post.” On viewing the raw cut, Godby with his expertise in video editing joined the co-directors to tweak, adapt and polish the film until they felt the end product had the feel and timing of a thriller and was finally ready for viewing. Following a private premiere showing to Bosque Film Society members at The Cliftex Theatre, the trio deemed the thriller short was worthy of entering a variety of film festivals in state, as well as a few nationally and internationally. “What we did is how you make real movies,” Wallace said. “It’s a script, then a story board, you shoot film, and then you edit.” Adding to the authenticity and legitimacy, Voss produced an attention-grabbing two-minute trailer, Wallace produced a oneminute trailer for festivals and the co-directors collaborated on a movie poster using parody art from Max McCormack. Ironically, the BFS charter member survey reveraled that horror films were their least favorite genre. But technically, this production could be considered more of a thriller. Speaking of thrills, the cast and crew recently were informed that their short film had been selected for its first film festival. Be careful what you say around these people. Simple questions like “What keeps you awake at night?” and “Tell me, do you still wake up screaming?” could be enough to get them started on a next project, ready to bark “Quiet on set! Roll camera! Roll audio! Action!”

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POWER article by

SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

photographs by SIMONE

WICHERS-VOSS & courtesy of TEXAS-NEW MEXICO POWER

R TO THE PEOPLE Providing electricity to the Heart of Texas, lineman battle nature to overcome outages When a severe thunder storm begins to roll in, people start getting worried about an electricity outage. For a lineman, a major storm signals the time to go on high alert – ready to put on their boots and work gear – because outage calls are bound to come in, and there will be power to restore. Winds can damage equipment directly, along with broken and blowing tree limbs contacting wires and other equipment. Lightning strikes also are common causes of outages. Flooding resulting from tropical storms can impact service. The more it rains, thunders, blows and snows, the more valuable linemen become. After all, linemen and women are first responders in their own right their work should not go unnoticed and the workers deserve recognition for what their service to their communities. They are on the front lines, keeping the power pumping. Their dedication and sacrifice is therefore celebrated and appreciated. In the aftermath of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, the 113th Congress passed a bill designating April 18 as National Lineman Appreciation Day. The bill became law in 2013, and therefore, April 18th was established as National Linemen Appreciation Day. To keep electricity flowing to people’s homes and businesses, linemen’s work is demanding and dangerous – working with thousands of volts of electricity, high atop power lines for long hours – and is full of unique challenges. Additionally, fixing outages often means going out in tough conditions – torrential rain, sleet, high winds, often at odd hours. According to Clifton foreman Ben Gardner, the head to toe safety work gear with thick rubber sleeves and gloves is an additional challenge in the Texas heat. Working conditions are always more difficult outside in extreme cold, wind or rain, and makes it imperative for linemen to slow down and focus on safety, and all the while wanting to get the power back on as soon as possible, so people can enjoy the amenities that electricity makes possible, aside from the necessities. On April 18, the Texas-New Mexico Power North Central region linemen started their day with an “all out” breakfast at the Clifton, as an appreciation for their hard work, and commitment to their jobs. An electrical lineman is someone to look up to; literally because they often are at work on the poles or towers, high up in the air, but also because they do important work that benefits their communities. Their work is essential to keeping the lights on, and in scorching hot Texas summers, the airconditioning, fridges and freezers. The past winters, even in Texas heating during the long cold snaps has been vital too.

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT: A lineman climbs a utility tower during an equipment check (left); Working on a high voltage power line across Highway 6 in Bosque County at dusk (above).

Gardner is a Clifton High School Graduate, and all four of his children attended CHS. After school he had job plans that took him away from Bosque County. “I had seen linemen in the field,” Gardner said. “And I always looked up to them. So after a while I started off contracting. It was the icing on the cake to come back to the area where I grew up.” The TNMP North Central area covers a lot of miles and a lot of small towns. And all that extreme weather brings dangerous driving conditions for the repair crews and their equipment. TNMP prepares crews for power outage work in areas that are forecasted to be affected by incoming weather. They also have plans for quickly calling in additional crews, if needed. And their first focus is on ensuring public and employee safety. Restoration efforts then prioritize fixing damage that is disrupting power for key community services, like hospitals, water and sewer lines, etc. The crews then work

on repairing outages affecting the largest numbers of customers. In Central Texas, brush fires also are a big concern for the electric companies. When the poles burn, the wires become floating and electricity needs to be cut off. Break points are mapped, so the least amount of people are affected by the repairs. Linemen are trained to expect the unexpected. Because outages and electrical hazards just do not work on a schedule, no day is the same. So, it is rare that a lineman gets to start work at 8 a.m. and be done at 5 p.m. A day can be 24 hours long, working in shifts. The job demands attention 365 days a year; so yes, even on holidays and weekends. When bad weather rolls in, there is no hunkering down at a lineman’s house. And the linemen are not the only ones making sacrifices – their families sometimes have to miss ‘their lineman’ on a fun family barbecue or that icy cold Christmas Eve because someone’s power went out for whatever reason. In spite of high turnovers, of people that decide the work is too strenuous, stressful or dangerous, there is an increasing interest with youth wanting to get into the field according to Gardner. Being outdoors, the physicality, the excitement of giving people relief and helping them out, the travel all are appealing. With natural calamities in other states, mutual aid takes the linemen across state lines too. “The job takes a lot of knowledge, confidence, and good work ethic,” Gardner said. “You have to have a good head on your shoulders, because you have to make good decisions all day. And you

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have to be focused. You have to be able to put everything aside and make the best decision for yourself and the crew because you are always your brother’s keeper in this job. You also have to take pride in and being committed to helping others.” Electricity linemen are responsible for installing and maintaining the physical power lines and cables that provide homes and businesses with electricity. They go through long hours of field training and classroom work to understand how the electrical delivery system works so that when there is a problem, they’ll know how to fix it. And that includes anything from installing, maintaining, and repairing power lines that transmit electricity; stringing power lines between poles, buildings, and towers; identifying defective devices, transformers, voltage regulators, and switches; inspecting and testing power lines and auxiliary equipment; operating power equipment; climbing poles and transmission towers and using truckmounted buckets to reach equipment, first aid and Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation and driving work vehicles to job sites. But first and foremost, their job is doing their work is following safety standards and guidelines and looking out for their crew mates. Even with changing technology the industry the dedication of the lineman and the need for safety on the job is unchanged. Because the possible adverse conditions, the stress, the dangerous and strenuous physical aspects of the job a lineman – or woman – must be mentally and physically strong. Working on the line means hauling gear, pulling thick cable and wire, and not

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LINEMEN STILL ON THE LINE: The workday never ends for area linemen(left); An ice storm causing power outages has linemen working extra shifts (top); Lift buckets aiding electricity lineman doing maintenance work on power lines (above); The traditional view of a lineman high up in a pole doing maintenance work (right).

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minding having to work long hours day or night. And working with high-voltage lines leaves absolutely no room for error. Mistakes from fatigue can be life-threatening in this job. And a lineman cannot be afraid of heights. Every day they are in buckets high above the ground, or climbing poles. And a lineman needs to be on point and focused all the time. They cannot have “a bad day” because that could result in hundreds of people being without power, or fatal accidents. While some recruits start the job from the ground up, Gardner feels an applicant has the best job options after finishing a community college course. The first step to working on highvoltage lines takes about 15 weeks to learn the basics. But then comes at least four years of on-the-job education and training as an apprentice before becoming a journeyman lineman. It might not have occurred to some, but electricity linemen – and women – are first responders in their own right. More often than not, firemen, police and Emergency Medical Services cannot do their jobs safely until an electricity crew has come out to cut the power to that live wire, or to that burning structure. And we all breathe a sigh of relief when the lights, air and heat, fridges and freezers kick back on after a couple of hours without electricity. Next time you see a lineman crew at work with new line construction or maintenance, remember that they are also out in horrific weather conditions, for you and your neighbors. So, give them a thumbs up. They’ll really appreciate it. #thankalineman.

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article by

SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

STRONG, BRAVE WOMEN: Texas Woman’s University’s Pioneer Woman statue serves as the historic symbol for the university known as a pioneer in the education of women. Armed with a dream, a family has the wagon loaded for the trek West in search for a new life (center). Bosque County Historical Commission Archivist Ruth Crawford tells stories of the pioneer days at the Meridian Elementary School (far right).

BOSQUE COLLECTION, TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION & by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

photographs courtesy of

Historian Ruth Crawford offers a glimpse into the enduring spirit of the Texas pioneer women in Bosque County

“Marking a trail in a pathless wilderness, pressing forward with unswerving courage, she met each untried situation with a resourcefulness equal to the need. With a glad heart, she brought to her frontier family her homeland’s cultural heritage. With delicate spiritual sensitiveness, she illumined the dullness of routine and the loneliness of isolation with beauty and with awareness of her value to civilization. Such was the pioneer woman, the unsung saint of the nation’s immortals.”

JESSIE H. HUMPHRIES,

Dean of Texas Woman’s University Led by men, the history of the Lone Star State conjures up frontier images of solitary riders on the plains, brawls in saloons, and an occasional wagon train. But behind every good man there stood a great woman. Without the women, the Texas would have never developed further. Embodying this strength and spirit of the pioneer woman, the quote serves as the inscription on the base of Texas Woman’s University’s Pioneer Woman – the historic symbol for TWU, a university known for being a pioneer in the education of women. The statue faces westward, wearing a blouse and full skirt, her long hair pulled back and secured at the nape of her neck, striding off into the unknown, with only her gumption, grit and grace to ensure her survival. Picture a young woman, sitting in the dark on a crude wooden stool facing the door of a one-room wood cabin, two young children sleeping under her grandmother’s quilt. Hair tied back with a cloth ribbon, sweat beads in her neck, her fingernails dirty from harvesting some corn, her apron covered in soot smears from cooking over an open fire. In

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one hand, she is holding a fussing baby. In the other, she has the shotgun ready. And at her feet, a skinning knife and her daddy’s revolver. She strains her ears for any sound, her eyes scan for any movement outside. She hopes the horses and cows will alert her to anything out of the ordinary. The hunting dog is away with her husband and eldest son. A coyote howls at the moon. The noise of crickets seems deafening. And in the stifling, oppressive heat in the dead of night, she thinks of their former home, the family they left behind, the treasured heirlooms sold off, the sanctuary she found in her church, her dearest sewing group, the weekly visits to the mercantile. She was surrounded by things and people that made her happy, things she loved. Until her husband said, “Pack the wagon, we’re going to Texas.” Why would her husband want to go to Texas, of all places? For the opportunity to start over and maybe a better future; maybe to escape an old grudge? Some came to escape debt. Others came to speculate on increased land prices with all that immigration Anglo-Americans from Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri, packed up their belongings,

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left everything behind and their newlyissued land grant titles and headed out West. Settlement managers, or empresarios, such as Stephen F. Austin, Green DeWitt, Haden Edwards, and Martin de León, found the areas around the Brazos, Colorado, and Trinity Rivers to set up the first colonies. But as Charles Goodnight once said about a Pioneer woman in Palo Pinto County: “Texas is great for men and cattle, but hell on horses and women! And this woman’s new home was a one-room log cabin much like the Olsen cabin at the Bosque Museum – no water close at hand, just searching for firewood to cook or to heat the home was a major chore. One day, her husband might build out to make it a two- building structure cabin with a middle breezeway – a “dogtrot” cabin.” Like other women pioneers, she had to have great strength of character, courage, resolve, resilience and ingenuity. Without these qualities, they could not survive the harsh frontier in the Heart of Texas. And with that, there was the strange contradiction. On one hand, the women at the time were completely dependent on their men. In Texas, these women were not allowed to vote, couldn’t transact business without male assistance, could not go

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into a bank or the courthouse unless accompanied by a man. Yet, on the other hand, they were independent overseers of farms and family while husbands were out hunting, chasing Indians or waging war against Mexicans or later the Yankees. Whereas the Tonkawas – who only stole livestock from time to time – generally lived in peaceful coexistence with the new settlers, it was the Comanche the young woman feared. Recently, the raiding hordes were coming down from the North, wreaking havoc and suffering. She, like the other pioneer women, was expected to hold down the homestead during Indian raids or other threats, protecting harvest, livestock and family, with guns and ammo. The women bled, sweated, and cried – they managed in hardships. The women lost children at childbirth to disease, famine, being killed or kidnapped by Indians. They lost their husbands to wars and Indian expeditions. And on that lonely night, the young woman waited for her husband and son to return home. But if the husband did not come home, marriage to another man was often the only way to survive in this frontier. For example, Sarah Creath married McSherry, Hibbins, Stinnett and Howard in her

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HISTORY lifetime – not because she flitted from one to the other, but for pure survival and protection of her babies. For the very earliest settlers in Bosque County, the nearest supplies were in Waco Village. Anything else was produced, made and developed at home. And with all the daily chores and tribulations, the women started the building blocks of any new settlement, forming schools and churches. And out of necessity, without a doctor nearby, they learned general nursing skills. Bosque Historical Commission archivist and former Bosque Collection manager Ruth Crawford presented histories of strong, resilient Bosque County Pioneer women that helped shape the county in its early days during a recent Bosque County Genealogical Society meeting. Among others, Crawford highlighted the lives and times of women like Elizabeth Barnes and Creath, who were among the first women to settle in Bosque County during the 1850s. The chronicles of their lives lay hidden in diaries, letters, court deeds and census records in the county archives and museums. “I loved to uncover their stories,”

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MAKING A HOME: Early Bosque County women and their daughters (left); Men, women and children gather in their Sunday best (above).

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Crawford said. “I felt they became like friends. I got to learn their personalities through their letters.” “If I could be anybody else in life, I would want to be her,” Crawford said of Elizabeth Barnes. “She had such an interesting life, making a home in the wilderness, without an established supply or mail chain, dealing with Indian raids, protecting the home when the men were away. She was such a go-getter.” ELIZABETH BARTON BARNES Naturally astute, Elizabeth Oakes married Albert Barton and moved to Bosque Territory in 1850 on Steele Creek, across the Brazos from Fort Graham. Albert established a ferry, which was a vital link on “the Old Military Road” between Fort Graham and Fort Gates, an important trade route in the Heart of Texas. The Brazos River was prone to “rises” – sudden surges of water. One tragic day, a record rise capsized the ferry, spilling Albert, Elizabeth’s young brother, Pleasant Haney Everett, another passenger, a wagon and team of mules into the raging river. Pleasant managed to grab Elizabeth’s young brother and get him to safety. But Albert drowned, his body never recovered from the surging water, leaving Elizabeth a widow. Instead of giving up, Elizabeth stayed on the farm, raising her two children Josh and Tea, selling corn to the soldiers at Fort Graham. In 1852, she remarried dashing, young Texas Ranger Robert Samuel Barnes, who was often away fighting hostiles and establishing Bosque County. In the course of their marriage, Elizabeth gave birth to eight more children – Andrew, Samuel, William, Jeff, Ann, Mollie, Sallie and Robert Barnes. The youngest child, Robert, was born after his father’s death in 1865. Elizabeth also raised a granddaughter, Roberta, daughter of

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Tea, who died in 1880 leaving the infant. Their home was located across from the fort, which was also a trade center for local tribes. One morning as she was doing laundry, a friendly band of Indians passed by the house. One squaw with a papoose took quite an interest in the baby resting in a basket. After the Indians left one of the older children yelled, “Momma, this ain’t our baby.” Within seconds, Elizabeth grabbed the shotgun and the Indian baby, told the older children to stay put and marched off in the direction of the Indians. Showing her gumption and grit, sometime later, she returned with the correct baby. After Robert was killed at the Battle of Dove Creek, Elizabeth used her pension money to build a rock house in 1888. A stone in one of the chimneys bore that date. Soon after, the railroad got right-of-way through her property. As part of the right-of-way agreement, shrewd Elizabeth insisted that the train stop close to her home and she negotiated free passage on the trains for the remainder of her life. Imagine, she was able to ride a train to Waco. Another story includes an unidentified party of Indians raiding the area, taking much livestock, including Elizabeth’s horses, which grazed on open range near her home. Instead of leaving it at that, she filed a suit against the Comanche tribe for stealing 13 head of horses with a value of $40 per head and $25 per head for colts. She died in 1899 before the case was settled. However, her sons were eventually awarded $525 from the Comanche tribe. Elizabeth lays buried in the Kopperl Cemetery. Although neither of her husbands are buried there, all six of Elizabeth’s sons are buried close to their mother.

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HOMESTEAD LIFE: The reality of homestead life in early Bosque County captured in a glass negative at the Bosque Collection in Meridian.

SARAH CREATH If ever there was a true Texas heroine, four-time widow Sarah Creath represents just that. Her life is like something you read about in a novel, almost larger than life, facing seemingly insurmountable trials and tribulations. Sarah Creath was born in Illinois in 1810. She married her first husband John McSherry (the Mc was dropped later) at the age of 14, and they headed off into adventure when they immigrated to Texas. The couple settled in DeWitt’s Colony, with the nearest neighbor 10 miles away. Her first born son, Joseph Lewis Sherry was born in 1829. In that same year, John went for water and was killed and scalped by Indians, while Sarah tried to defend herself and the baby. After the Indians left, Sarah spent frightful hours alone not knowing what to do. Fortunately, John McCrabb came and rescued her and the baby, delivering them to a neighboring family. Sarah and Joseph lived with this family until she married her second husband John Hibbins. When she learned of her father’s death, Sarah went back to Illinois to visit her family, and she brought her brother George back to Texas with her. John met them in an ox cart at Columbia on the Brazos.

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But the journey home was to be a tragic one. John and Sarah, their infant son, Joseph Sherry and George Creath started home on the old Bahia road. They got within 16 miles of their home when they were brutally attacked by Indians; an attack John and George would not survive. Sarah and her two sons were taken captive. This all took place around March 1, 1836. Sarah was but 25 years old. During the grueling, four-day trek back to the Indian camp, Sarah and her son were beaten and starved. The young mother’s milk dried up. The distressed, crying baby was ripped from Sarah’s arms and killed – its head brutally smashed against a tree. Sarah finally managed to escape, making the heart-wrenching decision to leave Joseph behind. Being a healthy young lad, she hoped and prayed the Indians would keep him alive, as they wanted to put him up for ransom. Sarah crept along the Colorado River banks, finally hiding within a herd of cattle. Ultimately, a friendly couple found her and took her in. They found a band of rangers willing to rescue Joseph and restore him to his mother’s care. Can you just imagine the anguish of the young woman during these trials and tribulations?

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Not having much time to catch her breath, or grieve, or heal her wounds, she became part of the Run-Away Scrape – the name applied to the flight from their homes when Antonio López de Santa Anna began his attempted conquest of Texas in February 1836. In the time she left her home, Sarah married husband number three, Claiborne Stinnett in 1837. Claiborne became sheriff of Gonzales County. He too would wind up prematurely dead. On a return trip from the coast – the closest place to buy supplies – he was attacked by two robbers. Only the overturned wagon was found; the oxen missing. His fate remained a mystery until one of the robbers confessed to another prisoner in a Mexican jail around 1842. Claiborne’s remains were found close to Victoria. Once again, Sarah found herself alone with her 11-year-old son. She married husband number four Phillip Howard, a Texas Ranger, in 1839. They moved to Halletsville after several more harrowing experiences with Indians. Phillip served as Lavaca County Judge until 1848. Phillip had bought property that had been part of the Nashville Colony along the Brazos River – now Bosque County. And in 1855, the Howard family moved near Meridian, where Sarah could finally find peace and happiness, watching her family grow. Three daughters were born to the Howard’s in Bosque County – Eugenie, Minta and Susan. Sarah lived out her final years in Bosque County. Someone wrote about Sarah Cutbirth Mabry: “Mrs. Thomas was a noble woman and one whose pathway was blighted by deep sorrow and grief, but she did not murmur nor complain. She was never able to accomplish great heroic events, but she did her full duty as a noble Christian mother and lived the life of a true heroine in this world of sorrow and suffering.” This could have been written about every single pioneer woman, which stood by their men and were determined to make a good life for their families in the newly-established counties in the Heart of Texas, in spite of the dangers and hardships they faced. Each and every one is a heroin and deserves to be remembered just as much as any founding father mentioned in the history books.

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E. BRETT VOSS photographs by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS article by

TRADITIONS

After exceeding expectations last year, 71st Annual Clifton Rodeo continues small town cowboy tradition CLIFTON – While football may rank as the most popular sport in the Lone Star State, the rodeo stands out as the official sport of Texas. For Bosque County rodeo fans, it’s once again time to cowboy up – either as spectator or as participant – in the 71st Annual Clifton Rodeo to be held Friday and Saturday, June 10-11 at the Clifton Rodeo Arena on the Clifton Fair Grounds, opening at 7:30 p.m. each night. Presented and sponsored by the Clifton Chamber of Commerce, rodeo tickets cost $10 for adults or $5 for children 12-and-under.

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The event will kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday in downtown Clifton with the Rodeo Parade as line up starts at 5:30 p.m. in front of Blossom Shoppe. After the parade, fans can head on down to the rodeo grounds to watch the cowgirls run for the best time on barrel racing while the cowboys will compete in bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, tiedown calf roping, breakaway calf roping and team roping. With the Clifton Chamber of Commerce under a five-year contract with the Clifton Horse Show Association to produce the rodeo, the much-enjoyed and highly-

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anticipated event returned to its roots by running in conjunction with the Central Texas Youth Fair in 2021 and will do so once again this year with Hat Brand / Rocking M providing stock and producing the show. Providing fun for the whole family, the Clifton Rodeo will feature a carnival starting Thursday evening and running until Saturday night. Mutton Bustin’ for the young contestants will take place Friday and Saturday where children at least three years old and weighing no more than 55 pounds will compete for a belt buckle and

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TRADITIONS

SUCCESSFUL RESTART: Following COVID-19 shutdown, Clifton Rodeo reopened in 2021 with near-capacity crowds (left), exciting action (above).

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the thrill of riding in the rodeo. The 4-H / FFA Calf Scramble will once again offer entertainment and provide certificates to help purchase animal projects for the stock shows. With cowboys and cowgirls of all ages and sizes offering thrills and spills in the return from a pandemic shutdown last year, the Clifton Rodeo gave the more than 1,200 rodeo fans in attendance their money’s worth during the two-day event. “I think it was fantastic,” Clifton Chamber of Commerce President Paige Key said. “We were so excited to take it on, and can’t wait till next year’s rodeo. It worked out great to move the rodeo back to run in conjunction with the youth fair. I think it increased the attendance overall. I think people were wanting to get out and do stuff since the pandemic is getting over. We had over 1,200 people attend last year, and we hope more will attend this year.” With the history of the Clifton Rodeo dating back to 1931, the collaboration between the Clifton Horse Show Association and the Clifton Chamber of Commerce proved to be an instant success. “It takes a lot of effort from a lot of people to put on a rodeo and make it successful,” said Drew Leigh of the Clifton Horse Show Association. “The Chamber of Commerce seemed like the natural transition to carry on the tradition of rodeo in Clifton. I helped them with the logistics of putting on a rodeo, and I think we put on a good one that hopefully our community can be proud of. We’re going to be looking forward to 2022, and work toward making it bigger and better.” For more information on the rodeo or if you would like to sponsor an event, call the Clifton Chamber of Commerce at 254675-3720 or email: office@cliftontexas.org.

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Heart of Texas

MAY May 13-15 – Bosque County Cowboy Church Old Settler’s Spring Festival Bosque Bottoms, Meridian Gates open daily at 9 a.m. The events for this family fun festival include food and vendors, a classic car show organized by Cen-Tex Classics and Hot Rod Club, a variety of cowboy culture entertainment and demonstrations and live music by Riley Gilbreath and Lone Star Blues, Chad Holt and the Chizlers, The May Brothers, Pocket Change, Dave and The Throwtogethers, Vesperam and Branded Cross. The event concludes with a Sunday Service from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For the latest news: Bosquecountycowboychurch. com or their Facebook page@ CowboyChurchBosqueCounty. May 15 – Bosque Museum Sights & Sites Art Show - Clifton The Bosque Wildflower Show which began in 2011 as a celebration of the designation of Clifton as a Cultural Arts District in the State of Texas is expanded to include historic sites and structures in Bosque County. This year’s judge is Nancy Boren. Landscape and Wildflower Show and Sale opening reception will be held at the Bosque Museum from 2-4:30 p.m. During the opening reception, awards will be presented at 3:30 p.m. Attendees get to vote on the Popular Choice award between 2-3 p.m.

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There will also be a Best Depiction of Bosque County chosen by the Bosque Museum staff. Deadline to enter the show is May 3. Please see the Bosque Museum website at: www. bosquemuseum.org/wildflower-art-show for guidelines, entry forms and information. The Sights & Sites Art Show is open to the public during normal museum operating hours until June 5: Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m and Sundays from noon-5 p.m. The Bosque Museum is located at 301 S Ave Q, Clifton. May 14 – Second Annual Gravel Locos Race - Hico A host of high-profile names are set to take part in a 155-mile gravel bicycle race. There are three courses with three untimed/noncompetitive races and one timed, competitive race. Promoter Fabian Serralta hopes to put down gravel racing roots in Texas, as well as build a cycling community in the region. The race is also helping to raise funds for the Hico Volunteer Fire Department. Come and cheer on the cyclists in Hamilton and Bosque County. Start times TBA. May 15 – Bosque Farmers Market, every Saturday through October - River Street Park, Meridian Come check out the vendors with fresh produce, eggs, arts, crafts, baked goods, jellies and pickles from 8 a.m.-Noon. May 16-31 – 24th Annual Lucky Clover Golf-a-Thon Tournament - Bosque Valley Golf Course, Meridian Choose any day to play in this 16-day

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EVENTS

54 windown to play in the 24th Annual Lucky Clover Golf-A-Thon Tournament. The tournament begins at Bosque Valley Golf Course on Saturday, May 16 at noon and ends May 31 at noon. Scorecards must be turned in by5 p.m. on May 31 at the Bosque County Extension Office. The awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31 with a steak dinner served from 5-7 p.m. at Meridian Civic Center. Each player is welcome to eat; additional plates for $20 each. Please RSVP meal counts by May 27. It will also be broadcast over Facebook Live on the Bosque County 4-H & Youth Development page. The Lucky Clover Golf Tournament is Bosque 4-H’s largest fundraiser of the year and supports many different youth development programs and activities including Texas 4-H Congress, County Camp, Leadership Lab, and State and District Competitions and Scholarships. You can register as an individual and be placed on a team, or submit any or all team members with required information and entry fee. The cost is $50 per person or $200 per team - golf cart is extra. You can register online at https://bosque.agrilife.org/, at the Extension office 254-435-2331, or at Bosque Valley Golf Course. For more information, please call the Extension office at 254-435-2331. May 19 – Concerts in the Park - Birdsong Amphitheater, Stephenville Davin James starts at 7 p.m., with headliner Asleep at the Wheel to follow at 7:30 p.m. May 20-21 – 19th Annual Texas Steak Cookoff - Hico The Original Texas Steak Cookoff starts with a kickoff party Friday, May 20 with the Burger Bash and Street Dance. The next day, the actual event begins at 10 a.m. in the Historic Downtown Business District of Hico. The

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cookoff is a competition for the best tasting 12-ounce Texas rib-eye steak. This familyfriendly event offers a chance to look on as backyard chefs from all over the Southwest compete to see who cooks the best steak in Texas. Eat a steak and enjoy artisan vendors, local shopping, and live music on the main stage. Additional activities include a Wine Tasting, Beer Garden and a VIP Dinner. Purchase tickets at https://hico-edc.square. site/ May 21 - 2022 Bosque Tour de Norway Bicycle Rally - Clifton For the 11th year in a row, the popular bicycle rally along Bosque County’s natural beauty offers four routes – 20, 40, 60 and 80 miles. Last year, the rally drew approximately 600 cyclists from all over the state.

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Starting at Clifton High School at 8:30 a.m., registration opens at 6:30 a.m. at the high school gym. Pre-registration is available at ww.bikereg.com. For more information, including maps of the routes, contact the Clifton Chamber of Commerce at 254-675-3720 or visit the website www.tourdenorway.com. May 21 – Bosque Museum Fifth Annual Sporting Clays Fundraising Event - Clifton Join the Bosque Museum for a familyfriendly, fun-filled day with two flights of shooting. Gates open at 8 a.m., coffee and lunch are provided for the event participants and sponsors. Family members are encouraged to join their shooters for a lunch donation. Raffle prizes will be announced during lunch. Awards to high individual and first and

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EVENTS second team winners, top youth and female shooters. The entry fees include 100 clays per shooter, coffee and lunch. Personal carts are allowed and encouraged as is friendly competition. The event will be held at 3R Farms - two miles west of Hwy 6 on the north side of FM 2136. Register online at: https://www. bosquemuseum.org/registration May 21 – Tin Building Theatre Dinner and Play “Four Old Broads” - Tin Building Theatre, Clifton In the Tin Building Theatre spring show, Four Old Broads, retired burlesque queen Beatrice Shelton needs a vacation. A Sassy Seniors Cruise through the Caribbean may be just the ticket if she can convince Eaddy and the rest of her cronies to go with her. But things have not been very pleasant at Magnolia Place Assisted Living since Nurse Pat Jones began working there. And to make matters worse, the residents have started developing strange medical problems. Is it coincidental? Hilarity ensues as the girls go undercover along with Sam, the retired Elvis impersonator and ladies man. If they can solve the mystery they might just

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55 make it to the cruise ship after all! Reservations to Four Old Broads by Leslie Kimbell are available online at www. bosqueartscenter.org under the tickets tab. Dinner Show begins at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $45 each. Other show dates are May 22nd at 2 p.m. and 27th at 7 p.m., and a dinner and play evening on May 28th at 6:30 p.m. The Bosque Arts Center is located at 215 S. College Hill Drive in Clifton. For tickets or more information, visit www.BosqueArtsCenter.org or call 254-6753724. May 29 – Free Outdoor Movie Night at the John A. Lomax Amphitheater Meridian Park, Meridian The Meridian Parks and Recreation Committee invites everyone to their monthly free outdoor movie showing at the John A. Lomax Amphitheater in Meridian. May’s feature film will be Pixar’s Cars (2006). Bring your lawn chair, or a blanket. Free popcorn, water and other snacks available. Check the Meridian Parks and Recreation Facebook page for the exact times. May 30 – Memorial Day Ceremonies Clifton & Iredell

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Bosque County communities are invited to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8553 at the Clifton Cemetery on Hwy 6 at the south edge of town to honor those who have given their all for their country. The time and guest speaker are to be announced. In Iredell, the Field of Flags off Highway 6 at the Guinn Sports Park will be set up at 8 a.m. in memory of fallen soldiers.

JUNE June 1 – Summer Movie Nights - Santa Fe Park, Valley Mills Bring your lawn chair and picnic basket to enjoy the movie Ferdinand at the park at 8 p.m. The chamber will be selling popcorn and drinks. The movies for July and August will be announced at a later date. For information, call Jennifer Pliscott at the Valley Mills Chamber of Commerce office at 254-855-6132. June 2 – Concerts in the Park - Birdsong Amphitheater, Stephenville Concert features Scott Kirby with Headliner Old Crow Medicine Show as music starts at 7:30 p.m.

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EVENTS

56 Concerts in the Park are free. BYOB and snacks, lawn chairs, blankets for a great time in the park. The Birdsong Amphitheater is located at 644 S. Graham in Stephenville. June 3-4 – Moo-La Fest - City Park, Stephenville. Join Stephenville Parks and Recreation on June 3-4 for the magic of vibrant, colorful hot air balloons, twilight balloon glows, Carnival Americana, vendors, live music, delicious food, dairy activities and more! Moo-La Fest is a salute to the rich dairy heritage and features fun for the whole family at the Stephenville City Park. On June 3, enjoy free live music at 7:30 p.m. from Scott Kirby and Gary P. Nunn. BYOB and snacks, lawn chairs, blankets for a great time in the park. The Birdsong Amphitheater is located at 644 S. Graham, Stephenville. On June 4, Scott Kirby and Rodney Crowell take the stage. Music starts at 7:70 p.m. Keep updated with last minute information through the Stephenville Parks and Recreation Facebook page. June 4 – Calf Roping & Breakaway Roping Clinic - Tophand Cowboy Church, Valley Mills The clinic from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. is taught by Jeff Copenhaver - World Champion calf roper, founder of the first cowboy church, leader of Jeff Copenhaver Ministries and writer of “God Wants You to Win!” Entry deadline is May 30. Please bring a lunch. To sign up or for more information, please contact Joe Gary at 254-253-0725. The arena is located at the church at 15123 Highway 6 in Valley Mills. June 7-11 – Annual Central Texas Youth Fair - Clifton Livestock Fairgrounds, Clifton The annual CTYF starts June 7 with the cake judging and runs through June 11 this year, and the event offers many things for visitors to enjoy. The highlight of the five-day event is the

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auction and sale on Saturday. The annual fair allows exhibitors from Bosque County schools and 4-H members to present their projects to be judged - whether it is showing broilers or demonstrating an ag welding project or a crafts project in Home Economics. Home Economics is the only category open to adults as well. June 10-11 – 71st Annual Clifton Rodeo Parade & Rodeo – Clifton Rodeo Arena, Clifton The Clifton Chamber of Commerce proudly presents the 71st Annual Clifton Rodeo. The event kicks off with the rodeo parade on Friday evening at 6 p.m. with the rodeo beginning at 8 p.m. each night. After the parade, head down to the rodeo grounds to watch the cowgirls run for the best time on barrel racing, and then

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sit back and watch the cowboys rope, ride, and get bucked on the broncos and bulls. Also enjoy some time at the carnival in the next field. For more information, please call the Clifton Chamber of Commerce at 254-675-3720. June 10-11 – 7th Annual Bosque Arts Center Quilt Show - Bosque Arts Center, Clifton Quilts will be hanging throughout the BAC in specific categories for judging and awards, including a People’s Choice. Friday and Saturday will host a variety of vendors - quilt-specific vendors and non-quilt vendors - open for business and shopping enjoyment and demonstrations at scheduled times during the day. The raffle quilt will be drawn at 3:45 p.m. Friday. Check the BAC website for demonstration times. For more information, contact Deb Phinney at the Bosque Arts Center at 254-6753724. June 11 – Central Texas Horseshow Association Play Day - Robinson CTHSA is a play day association that provides competition in over five events for the entire family beginning at 6 p.m., from speed race, flag race, straight-a-way barrels, cloverleaf, and poles. The first day of the 2022 schedule is June 11. Other play days are June 25, July 9, July 16, August 6 and August 20. The CTHSA is comprised of multiple riding clubs around the Central Texas area and individual members of the association. They offer competition on a family level and a family atmosphere while promoting good sportsmanship. There are no alcoholic beverages permitted at any CTHSA point show. Follow information on their Facebook page at CentralTexasHorseShowAssociation June 16 – Concerts in the Park - Birdsong Amphitheater, Stephenville Free live music by the Tejas Brothers starts at 7:30 p.m. Concerts in the Park are free. BYOB

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EVENTS and snacks, lawn chairs, blankets for a great time in the park. The Birdsong Amphitheater is located at 644 S. Graham, Stephenville. June 20-23 – Bosque Arts Center Imagination Factory Summer Camp, Clifton Offer your (grand)child the unique experience through a camp offering Arts, Crafts and Music. The camp is for kids grades First through Fifth beginning at 9 a.m. each day. There is a Final Performance on Thursday, June 23 at 3 p.m. showcasing children’s activities. Refreshments served. Per student fee, scholarships available. For more information contact the Bosque Arts Center at 254-675-3724 or www. bosqueartscenter.org. June 24 – Crystal Gale Concert - Bosque Arts Center, Clifton For updated information, please check the Bosque Arts Center website at: www. BosqueArtsCenter.org. Tickets go on sale May 16 and show will be June 24 at 7 p.m. June 25 – National Championship Barbecue Cookoff Fundraising Dinner – Meridian Civic Center, Meridian Hospitality at 6 p.m. with silent auction, followed by BBQ dinner and live auction. The money raised is for the NCBC scholarships to area high school graduates and an annual beneficiary. This beneficiary is Bosque Animal Rescue Kennels. June 25 – Free Outdoor Movie Night at John A. Lomax Amphitheater - Meridian Park, Meridian The Meridian Parks and Recreation Committee invites everyone to their monthly free outdoor movie showing at the John A. Lomax Amphitheater in Meridian. June’s feature film will be John Wayne’s Cahill: U.S. Marshall (1973). Bring your lawn chair, or a blanket. Free popcorn, water and other snacks available. Check the Meridian Parks and

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Recreation Facebook page for the exact times.

JULY July 2 – Freedom Festival Fourth of July Celebration - Clifton Join the City of Clifton as it reinvigorates the Freedom Festival with fun day activities and a spectacular fireworks show in the evening. July 4 – Annual Fourth of July Parade Valley Mills Participate in the parade beginning at 10 a.m. or watch the action while waving the

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Star Spangled flag celebrating the nation’s birthday. Then walk to the Santa Fe park for refreshments, games, music and more. At “Dark-Thirty” enjoy the annual fireworks display at the youth baseball park on Highway 6 July 4 – Concerts in the Park – Birdsong Amphitheater, Stephenville Free live music by the Courtney Patton, Larry Joe Taylor and Leeroy Parnell beginning at 7:30 p.m. Concerts in the Park are free. BYOB and snacks, lawn chairs, blankets for a great time in the park. The Birdsong Amphitheater is located at 644 S. Graham, Stephenville.

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58 July 9 – Chisholm Trail Roundup & Chisholm Chili Cookoff - Meridian Meridian celebrates the county seat’s Fourth of July birthday and the Chisholm Trail heritage with a fun-filled day featuring an open Chili Cookoff, a Show & Shine Car Show by Centex Classics and Hot Rod Club. Activities will include bounce houses for the kids, ax throwing, horseshoe, washer, cornhole, disc golf and three-on-three tournaments. Numerous vendors and food trucks will be on hand. The event will culminate with the second in the Bosque Boot Scootin’ Live Music and Dance Series featuring the award-winning Kristyn Harris Band at the Chisholm Trail Plaza at Meridian Park. Gates open at 9 a.m. July 12-15 – Sewing Camp - Bosque Arts Center, Clifton For children 10 years and up, the Sewing Camp will be held from 9 a.m.-Noon each day. Tuition fee is $15. For information, please contact the Bosque Arts Center at: www. BosqueArtsCenter.org or 254-675-3724. July 14 – Concerts in the Park - Birdsong Amphitheater, Stephenville Free live music by the Bellamy Brothers beginning at 7:30 p.m. Concerts in the Park are free. BYOB and snacks, lawn chairs, blankets for a great time in the park. The Birdsong Amphitheater is located at 644 S. Graham, Stephenville. July 14-16 – 135th Hico Old Settlers Reunion – Hico City Park, Hico A long-time tradition organized by the Hico Civic Club that celebrates Hico’s first settlers. The event kicks off with the Miss Hico Pageant, followed by a carnival, a parade, live music entertainment and dancing, the 5K Run to Remember and lawn mower races. Check out the website for the program at: https://sites. google.com/hico-isd.net/oldsettlers July 18-22 – Bosque Civic Music Association Music Camp - Bosque Arts

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Center, Clifton A special exploration of music and instruments for kids grades First through Eighth, held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day Final concert performance on Thursday. Refreshments served. Per student fee, scholarships available. For more information contact the Bosque Arts Center at 254-6753724 or www.bosqueartscenter.org. July 23 – Free Outdoor Movie Night at the John A. Lomax Amphitheater – Meridian Park, Meridian The Meridian Parks and Recreation Committee invites everyone to their monthly free outdoor movie showing at the John A. Lomax Amphitheater in Meridian. July’s feature film will be Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004). Bring your lawn chair, or a blanket. Free popcorn, water and other snacks available. Check the Meridian Parks and Recreation Facebook page for the exact times.

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July 28-31 – Bosque Film Society’s Cowboy Crossroads Free Film Fest featuring John Wayne & Clint Eastwood The Cliftex Theatre, Clifton Hosted by the Bosque Film Society, the Cowboy Crossroads Free Film Fest will feature six classic western films over four days July 28-31 at The Cliftex Theatre in Clifton. Featuring film fan favorites from John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, the free film fest will open with Thursday 7 p.m. John Wayne’s Rio Bravo Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday’s Clint Eastwood double feature will present Outlaw Josey Wales at 4 p.m. followed by Unforgiven at 7 p.m. Saturday’s John Wayne double feature will present The Cowboys at 4 p.m. followed by The Shootist at 7 p.m. The free film fest will conclude with Clint Eastwood’s classic western musical Paint Your Wagon at 4 p.m. Sunday. Check the Bosque Film Society website for more information at: www.BosqueFilm.com.