It's the REAL THING. But how did the Coke mural come to be? August/September 2020 VOL. 3, ISSUE 4
These items can be found at Josey Wales Antiques and More in Kilgore.
EAT! • ARE YOU GONNA PULL THOSE PISTOLS? • PLAYGROUND PARADISE
GRAND OPENING
COMING IN SEPTEMBER Arbor Grace of Kilgore Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center announces construction of a 20,000 square foot expansion and major remodel of the existing facility. The new construction adds 22 private rooms with private bath and 4 semi-private rooms, a 2500 square foot rehabilitation space, and a new modern spacious dining area offering restaurant style dining. The current facility, originally built in 1964, will undergo a facelift and modernization. The planned expansion will increase Arbor Grace's bed capacity to 127 beds making Arbor Grace of Kilgore the largest skilled nursing facility located in Kilgore. The renovation and expansion will be completed in early summer 2020. The current facility will continue to provide resident care for the duration of the project with no interruption in service.
Skilled Nursing Facility & Rehabilitation 2700 S. Henderson Blvd. | Kilgore, Texas 75662 | 903-984-3511
Above Kilgore is the City of Stars -- always evident driving past the derricks in historic downtown, on Commerce Street. Photo by Mitch Lucas KILGORE NEWS HERALD
August/September 2020
5 EAT! 6 Coke and a Smile 10 Josey Wales Antiques and More 12 Accessible Playground
On the Cover: "Josey Wales Antiques & More" A collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia, alluding to the Coca-Cola mural/sign on the side of a building in historic downtown Kilgore, artwork that has been there for about 60 years, and is as much of the scenery downtown as the famed derricks. Photo by Mitch Lucas KILGORE NEWS HERALD
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ETc MAGAZINE August/September 2020
With you every step of the way Trina Griffith Broker
903.736.3754
25 Years of Experience Counts
I pride myself in making the real estate process easy for my buyers & sellers! When you hire me, I’m here for YOU every step of the way. You can count on me and my professional resources to make your next home buying & selling experience as stress free as it can possibly be! Please LIKE US on Facebook • Trina Griffith & Company Real Estate, LLC
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Ted Townsend All contents of the magazine are copyright © M. Roberts Media, LLC. No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner without prior written consent of the publisher. The publisher and editors are not responsible for any changes in event dates after the deadline. Etcetera is published by M. Roberts Media.
Phone 903-984-2593 107 N. Kilgore ST. Kilgore, TX 75662
Coffee And A Biscuit
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903.981.5800 www.facebook.com/ coffeeandabiscuit
EAT!
Coffee And A Biscuit is on a mission — and you're gonna like it! They’re bringing you Coffee and a Biscuit – after all, that’s the name of the restaurant – but so much more. This little downtown eatery brings a big menu, serves breakfast all day and plans to be an integral part of your week, every single week. They’re open every day except Monday, 8-3, and invite you to come with a big appetite, or they can match little ones. Pictured: owners Daniel Shaw and Mary Kimbell.
One day Mary Kimbell’s best friend, Daniel Shaw, looked at her and said, "Hey, do you wanna own a restaurant?" Three weeks after finding a spot, Coffee and A Biscuit opened in Kilgore. "We came into Kilgore and rolled into downtown, and we saw the spot where The Catch used to be and just fell in love with the property," Kimbell said. Kimble and Shaw co-own the business, with Kimble as sole proprietor, running the front of the house and Shaw as general manager, running the kitchen area with their executive chef. Continued on Page 8
Words STELLA WIESER • ETcetera 5
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Having a COKE a SMILE for over 60 years
... But who came up with the idea to make the Coca-Cola mural a Kilgore landmark? Words JESSICA HARKER Well, you know what they say: Have a Coke and a smile. Surely one of the most well-known sites visited in downtown Kilgore is the historic Coca-Cola mural/ sign, located in bold red and white colors on the bricks at 205 North Kilgore Street. If you’re having a hard time finding it, then you need to follow the crowd: like, the prom crowd, the new Rangerettes crowd, the sight-seeing crowd, the Continued on Page 14
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THIS IS PRIME REAL ESTATE in downtown Kilgore: the Coca-Cola mural on North Street, where thousands of photos have been shot over the years. Bobby Speer knows how the Coke artwork came to adorn the building, and tells us in this issue of ETC. (Photo by MITCH LUCAS)
Daily Specials MONDAY
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Call for In-Home Appointments (903)445-9901
TUESDAY
TWO REGULAR TACOS WITH RICE & BEANS
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WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
THREE CHICKEN FLAUTAS W/RICE & BEANS
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THREE ENCHILADAS W/RICE & BEANS
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216 E. Main Kilgore, Texas • Phone 903-984-3800
WE CATER • ETcetera 7
This pretty-good-sized plate of food is typical fare you can get all day at Coffee and A Biscuit in downtown Kilgore. Breakfast food of all types are available as long as they're open: traditional like eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and omelets, but also all sorts of entrees, like chicken fried steak, and a great burger. Lunch menu items include chicken salad sandwiches, burgers, a chicken fried steak plate and more. They also offer fresh vegetable sides. The business keeps its tables spread apart and has hand sanitizer stations available as well as spray sanitizer at the cash register area. They offer curbside-to-go as well.
EAT! Continued from Page 5 The restaurant opened its doors June 30. "We just felt like it was the time to start something," Kimbell said. "I was in a place in my life where I needed a change. I've never done the restaurant business before. I had 15 years in children's behavioral health, and so I needed a change, and this is something that's always kind of been in the back of my mind, and I was like 'well now's a good opportunity,’” she said. “And you know at the time that we were planning on opening, the state was moving forward to 75 percent capacity; our economy was going back up again, so right as we got to open, the state kept it at 50 percent." The business keeps its tables spread apart and has hand sanitizer stations available as well as spray sanitizer at the cash register area. They offer curbsideto-go as well. "We serve both breakfast and lunch," Kimbell said. "We serve a breakfast all day long, and everything that we cook is from scratch. Biscuits are handmade every morning. Our pancake batter, our French toast batter, everything is made in-house, and it is fresh and fresh
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ingredients. I don't own a microwave; I don't own a can opener or a freezer. Everything is hand-made and hand-scratched." Lunch menu items include chicken salad sandwiches, burgers, a chicken fried steak plate and more. They also offer fresh vegetable sides. Kimbell wants Coffee and A Biscuit to become an asset to the community. "That's one of the biggest things to me," she said. "We want to be a community resource. Do we want to be a successful restaurant? Yes. But we also want to be a community resource and be available for anybody who would need our services or need our space." The business means quite a bit to Kimbell. "I have put my heart and my soul and my life savings into this, and I want not only to be successful for me, I want to be successful for my employees, and I want to be successful for the community," she said. "My goal, I want people to be comfortable enough to come in, sit down, stay as long as they would like. I want people to feel welcomed and feel comfortable and feel a sense of caring and love like they're at their mom's house. That's what it means to me. I want my extension of my home to be part of this."
Food and artwork like this adorn the tables and walls at Coffee and A Biscuit, co-owner Mary Kimbell had a blank canvas with which to work when she and Daniel Shaw decided to enter into the business of food.
Business is picking up, she said. "I'm not gonna lie, I was a little worried the first couple of weeks, but our name is getting out there; our reputation precedes us," she said. "A lot of people have commented on how well the service is and how good the food is, and we want to continue that reputation. So, there's been a lot of word of mouth, and it's been great." Coffee and A Biscuit is located at 107 North Kilgore St. in Kilgore. They are open Tuesday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and closed Mondays. The restaurant’s Facebook page is updated daily with specials and tons of photos to see just what you’re getting: good, homemade food.
We serve a breakfast all day long, and everything that we cook is from scratch. Mary Kimbell, co-owner Coffee And A Biscuit
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JOSEY WALES ANTIQUES AND MORE
What's old is new:
WELCOME TO KILGORE JOSEY WALES Words JESSICA HARKER
The newly opened Josey Wales Antiques and More in historic downtown Kilgore offers a wide variety of unique items for sale, ranging from antiques, to vintage, to retro and even new. Owner of the store Kimberly Pollard said that she officially opened on June 3, after moving to 116 North Rusk Street, and rebranding from her previous antiques shop Paisley’s, which was also located downtown. Pollard said that she wanted to re-brand the store, so that the community was aware of the wide-range of items available at the location. “The name (Paisley’s) almost sounded like a children’s store,” Pollard said, “Josey Wales sounds much better.” It is, of course, a play off the 1976 Clint Eastwood classic, “The Outlaw Josey Wales.” Pollard said that owning a small business in East Texas is no small feat, but that she loves the work that she does and has a passion for antiques.
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KIMBERLY POLLARD'S NEW STORE downtown on Rusk Street -- Josey Wales Antiques and More -- is a labor of love, and one of which Kilgore folks will reap the benefits. The store is a good one-stop-shop for home decor of a classic feel. (Photos by MITCH LUCAS)
KIMBERLY POLLARD AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER Brooklyn, 8, sort children's books and lollipops in Josey Wales Antiques and More. The new store is closed on Mondays, but open Tuesdays through Saturday, and has a very active Facebook page. (Photos by MITCH LUCAS)
“We have a lot of loyal customers. I get people coming in and saying that they feel bad when they go shop somewhere else like they are cheating on me,” Pollard said with a laugh. “I think that’s so sweet, but I always tell them to go out and spend their money at many local businesses, everyone needs it right now.” She stated that she started her antique shop out of her home originally, simply because of her love for it, and eventually it grew into what it is today. “It’s tough, things can be tough, but I really enjoy what I do,” Pollard said. However, Pollard’s not alone, with a number of her family members involved as vendors at the shop, including her daughter and her sister who make homemade candles, car fresheners, and more that are for sale at her new location.
The day the News Herald visited, even granddaughter Brooklyn, eight years old, was helping out. “When you walk into most shops you see the same few things, but here we have a huge selection of things, and if someone is looking for something and we don’t have it available, I am always able to look around and try to find what they are looking for,” she said. Some of her items include handmade Kilgore Texas signs, antique Coca-Cola merchandise (visible on the cover of this very publication), clothing from a variety time periods and much more. Josey Wales’ store hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information on this new location visit the businesses Facebook page under the store’s full name, Josey Wales Antiques and More.
. . . owning a small business in East Texas is no small feat, but that she loves the work that she does and has a passion for antiques. Kimberly Pollard, owner, Josey Wales Antiques and More • ETcetera 11
ULTIMATE IN FRIENDSHIP Accessible playground complete, with community members help Words LUCAS STROUGH
VOLUNTEERS HELPED CONSTRUCT this complete accessible playground over three (hot) days in late July at the Harris Street Park in Kilgore. The playground is one-of-a-kind here in town: designed so its equipment can be enjoyed by children no matter limitations. The project was steered by the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce's E4 leadership, the city of Kilgore and the Special Abilities Family Fun Event (SAAFE Day). (Photos courtesy of the CITY OF KILGORE)
Friendship Playground is quite different from any of our other playgrounds within the city as it has many features that allow for inclusive play. Stacey Cole, Kilgore Public Library Director 12
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Kilgore is now in a better position to offer fun and recreation to community members of all ability levels. A two-year planning, fundraising and construction process was completed early this month as city officials, staff and a slew of volunteers of all ages placed the finishing touches on the brand-new Friendship Playground at Harris Street Park. Construction took place Monday through Wednesday this week. Surfacing work at the park will take place over the next few weeks before the amenity officially opens to the public. Specially-tailored so everyone can enjoy its equipment without regard for any medical, physical or mental limitations, the playground development was spearheaded by Kilgore Chamber of Commerce’s E4 leadership participants in partnership with the City of Kilgore and the Special Abilities Family Fun Event (SAFFE) Day. First proposed in 2017 by the E4 Leadership Class, the completion of the Friendship Playground marks a milestone for the city in its efforts to create an inclusive community for all. “I ‘played’ on it yesterday and I think that everyone will be amazed at how inclusive it is,” said Kilgore Mayor Ronnie Spradlin. “Regardless of a person’s condition or abilitiesthere is something for everyone. It has slides, musical
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE EARLY WORK, including dirtwork, done at the new all-accessible playground on Harris Street, one assembled by community volunteers, but to be enjoyed by all. (Photos courtesy of the CITY OF KILGORE)
I ‘played’ on it yesterday and I think that everyone will be amazed at how inclusive it is. Ronnie Spradlin, Kilgore Mayor instruments, games and something for every level of agility. The leadership class had an incredible vision that they made a reality.” The new setup at Harris Street Park includes a wide variety of inclusive elements: from swings designed for individuals in wheelchairs to a fully-accessible twostory ‘treehouse’ structure. There are sensory toys as well, each piece of equipment specially picked to make Friendship Playground a welcoming place for anyone regardless of mobility restrictions or learning disabilities. Fundraising for the playground began in 2018, with the E4 class raising $50,000 for the project and City of Kilgore contributing an additional $75,000. Kilgore Public Library Director Stacey Cole helped to organize the project, fundraising and volunteers for the project. “The volunteer build was finished yesterday but we do not anticipate being able to open the playground until late August,” Cole said. She added the playground was unlike anything seen before in the city and its completion marks a new chapter in the drive to create a more inclusive community. “Friendship Playground is quite different from any of our other playgrounds within the city as it has many features that allow for inclusive play. I am very excited to see all of the children and parents who
may be unable to play on traditional playgrounds utilize Friendship Playground. It is another way we can promote inclusiveness, provide an amenity for our citizens and make all feel welcome.” Cole said the playground was purchased from Game Time, who also gave a matching grant towards the equipment. The group received feedback and direction over a two-year period, setting up a booth at Kilgore’s annual SAFFE Day event to learn more about what type of equipment and activities would be most useful at the playground. “People don’t realize, it’s not only for the kids with mobility or medical or any kind of physical limitations, Cole said in 2018, “but also for the adults with limitations to be able to play alongside them. “Our community doesn’t have anything like this, but SAFFE Day is already fueling a sense of togetherness for people of all abilities. That’s already brought awareness to our community, and this is a way to take that even further. For more information and photos, visit the Friendship Playground Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ FriendshipPlaygroundAtHarrisStreetPark. EDITOR'S NOTE: This story originally appeared in the Aug. 1, 2020 edition of the Kilgore News Herald.
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The building downtown that's now the BTH Bank building (on the corner of North Street and Commerce Street) has featured this Coca-Cola mural since the 1950s. Bobby Speer owns the building, and even though there are similar spots in other areas, it's one of a kind here in Kilgore. (Photo by MITCH LUCAS)
MURAL Continued from Page 6 we-love-tradition crowd, and just about every other sort of crowd – the Coca-Cola “sign” is maybe one of the top two or three most photogenic spots in town. While the building is now used by BTH Bank, owner Bobby Speer said that the Coca-Cola artwork was originally painted on the building in the 1950’s, when the building served as the old United States Post Office. Speer and his family have owned the building for 70 years. His wife, Latane Speer, and her family owned the building for many years before their marriage. When Latane and Bobby got married, they owned a portion of the property, until eventually buying it from Latane’s relatives. During his ownership of the building Speer said that he has only had the mural touched up once, back in the early 1960’s. “I originally contacted the Coca-Cola Company about coming to repaint the advertisement and they were rude, they weren’t interested,” Speer said. He decided to hire a painter personally to retouch the sign, which still stands on the building today. Speer said that the sign was an old advertisement done on the side of the post office as a way to earn some extra money. When the post office was moved and the building was re-done he said that everything in the original post office, including the boxes, was taken and dispersed. “I even know someone who has one of the boxes
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from way back then, box number 99,” Speer said. However, since it was originally added in the 1950’s the advertisement still stands on one of Kilgore’s oldest buildings, according to Speer. He said that he was even in the process of organizing for the building to be marked as an historical site, before the passing of his wife. Since then, he has also considered dedicating the building to her. Coca-Cola had a number of manufacturing plants around East Texas back in the 1940’s and 50’s, including plants in Marshall and Tyler, but also in South Texas in Galveston. Those buildings also used to have Coca-Cola advertisements on them similar to the one in Kilgore, though none have survived the decades, except for a few plastic signs located at the former Tyler plant. The attraction is listed on a number of sites advertising downtown Kilgore, including Kilgore Main Street and www.texasescapes.com. The location has become a traditional stop for tourists and even locals to come and take pictures in front of, during their time in Kilgore, and is a regular spot for – well, the regulars, as in Kilgore High School students for senior photos, prom photos, and just anyone who’s downtown and knows that making their photo in that spot is just flat-out cool. So, next time you’re downtown and someone says, “Let’s go to the Coke sign!,” you can tell them who they can thank for their selfie spot – Mr. Speer – and just how long it’s been there.
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