howeenterprise.com
Page #9
Monday, January 12, 2015
The man who saved downtown Howe It wasn't long afterwords, that he was off to California for a new position with a new company for few years. But he always came back to the Luella house. He and his wife also lived around Lake Lavon, but again came back to Howe. "I bought a house over in Western Hills." said Leavenworth. "I completely remodeled that and then was looking to build a shop and then I found the place I have now. I made an offer and they took it." 1998 was the year that Leavenworth adopted Howe as his home 50 years after his birth in Northville, Michigan. In 2004 and already experienced the retired life, he became bored with traveling all over and started his mission. "I looked at downtown and decided that I could clean up downtown." said Leavenworth over As the Christmas season came and downtown After teaching at Southeastern, Leavenworth took lunch at Abby's Restaurant. "I started looking for a project and I saw a for-sale sign at 106 E. a job in Richardson in the telecom industry. Howe was decorated to the hilt with lights, Haning St. (former Howe Enterprise building) candy canes and even a downtown lighted "I only worked there for two years and then went and it was in pretty bad shape. So I found out Christmas tree, one man may have felt more that O.B. Powers and Jimmy Don McMillion pride than any other citizen in Howe. There was to Denver for two years." said Leavenworth. had it for sale, so I made that my first project." one man who invested his retired life to remake "Then I went down to Boca Raton, Florida and then I came back here. Since my son-in-law and downtown to a place of community pride. The back of the building became his first daughter were living here in Luella, I started Jack Leavenworth came to the Texoma region in looking for a house and property around here that project and he extended the building and put two bathrooms in it. Before he finished with 1977 to teach electronics at Southeastern State I could move in to." the restoration, Ryan Snapp of Finn's said that University. Leavenworth's and his wife, and in his lease with Powers that it was to be their three children lived in Durant, Oklahoma While Leavenworth was looking for property, renovated and leased to him. Hawkins deceided to go to Tyler to college and where the kids attended school. The oldest daughter, Ellen, met a young Luella boy named that left their house open for Leavenworth to "One of my real estate friends told me to look Richard Hawkins and after marriage, they stayed move in to. in the Howe area. Continued on Page #10 Jack Leavenworth in front of the front of the remodeled Chisum's building.
