Feed My Sheep October

Howe's Feed My Sheep organization totaled number of 71 families that were served during the month of October (not including supplemental snacks)

The total number of clients fit into the following age groups

Children (17 & under): 82

Adults (18-59): 97

Seniors (60+): 48

Learn about antiques and collectibles with Dr. Georgia Caraway

national Thanksgiving Day Thi came after nearly 20 years of petitioning by a woman named Sarah Hale She wrote editorials for years encouraging the 150,00 readers of the “Boston Ladies Magazine” and “Godey’s Lady’s Book” to join with her in soliciti support for this national observance

Well Halloween is behind us and we are entering the gorgeous Fall season and our thoughts turn to the Thanksgiving holiday This holiday seems overshadowed by Christmas with all the stores pushing December 25 and skipping over a month devoted to gratitude So I am devoting my columns for this month to Thanksgiving

Q. Each Thanksgiving my grandmother uses this lovely plate from her china closet to set her table The mark on the back says “Three Crown China Germany” in a circle surrounding three crowns The turkey decoration looks handpainted with the signature “Huchs ” Can you tell me anything about it?

A A proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln on October 3, 1863, set aside the last Thursday in November as a

The Thanksgiving holiday provi some of the most popular holida collectibles Most are turkey ba (not basted) Turkey salt and pepper shakers, figural glass covered dishes; turkey plates and platters; cast iron gobbler doorstops; glass, composition and papier mache candy containers; tin, aluminum, pewter, or wooden food molds in turkey forms; turkey cookie cutters; tissue paper fold-out decorations; Wild Turkey whiskey containers; blown glass turkey Christmas ornaments; turkeyprinted tablecloths and napkins; turkey bookends; turkey stuffed animals and figurines; restaurant menus for Thanksgiving featuring turkey drawings; sweetmeats and bowls; toothpick holders and postcards all delight collectors

Your grandmother’s plate is a lovely example of hand-painted German china popular in the early 1900s I looked in my books on German porcelain and could not find this mark or signature From the picture, the turkey design looks like a transfer print with a handpainted edge Hand-painted plates and platters this size usually sell in the $100-150 range

Other turkey plates and platters are very popular as well, even though they are usually only used on one day Howe Mercantile has some great turkey platters and turkeyrelated items So come on in and gobble them up!!

D Georgia Caraway, former tor of the Denton County ums for 14 years, and her ds opened the Howe Mercantile 7 East Haning Store hours are sday through Saturday noon 8 p m She has written five on history books She hopes ext book will be the history of e If anyone has photographs or ments that she can copy, please them to Howe Mercantile ntown Howe has two gift and ue shops Howe Mercantile tark Farms Gifts SHOP AL We can show you Howe!

FBC Howe's XYZ gets visit from Howe Mercantile's Georgia Caraway

The XYZ (Extra Years of Zest) group from First Baptist Church Howe enjoyed a presentation from Georgia Caraway of the Howe Mercantile Store in Downtown Howe recently She presented information about “Our Stuff: What’s Valuable and What’s

Not ” As we age, we realize that we have far more material possessions than we really need; so, as downsizing becomes necessary, that topic is pertinent Her presentation was very enlightening and enjoyable

Thank you, Georgia Caraway

Dr. Ken Bridges

Dr Bridges is a Texas native, writer, and history professor He can be reached at drkenbridges@gmail com

War was near in November 1941

The men of the Second Battalion of the 131st Field Artillery of the Texas National Guard prepared for the worst as they sailed to Hawaii

These men had come together from North-Central Texas to serve their country, and hailed from Abilene, Decatur, Lubbock, and the Wichita Falls area Their capture three months later and the fate of what became the “Lost Battalion” became one of the most harrowing stories of Texas troops during World War II

Their initial voyage in late 1941 proceeded with little incident

They docked briefly at Pearl Harbor in late November and were sent on to Australia to bolster Allied forces in anticipation of Japanese action The troops heard the news of the attack on Hawaii while on the high seas Army officials briefly considered recalling them to Hawaii, but the decision was made to send them onward After spending Christmas 1941 in Australia, the men were then ordered to assist Australian, British, and Dutch troops in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia) against Japan

Though only a small contingent of troops, the Second Battalion prepared to defend the large island of Java Japan invaded on February 27, 1942 Pressure from Japanese forces mounted, and the Allies fell back into smaller and steadily less defensible corners

The USS Houston was sunk, with the loss of 700 American sailors More than 300 survivors reached Allied lines Cohesion soon broke down, and it was every force for itself The Americans were cut off in the mix, unable to rally and unable to communicate with other units On March 8, Java fell to Japan, and the Texans were captured, along with more than 32,000 other Allied troops

The news stunned America, but the