ETC Magazine Holiday 2023

Etcetera Holiday 2023

Kilgore’s people, places — and the rest

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Peddler’s Pizza

serves up love, pizza to its Kilgore customers

‘GOD BRINGS THE PEOPLE’ Forest Home Baptist Church continues Nativity tradition in Kilgore

‘HAPPY HOLLOW’ shantytown was by-product of East Texas Oil Boom

F

s od

Christmas In s ’ e m Th o H eW t s e r o o

Drive-Through Nativity Thurs-Sat December 7-9, 2023 6-9 p.m.

Candlelight & Carols, Dec. 24th, 2023 - 6:00 p.m.

Worship Services -Sunday: 9:15 a.m. Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 5:00 p.m. Sunday Night Bible Study Wednesday - 5:00 p.m. Family Dinner - 6:00 p.m. Bible Study

15746 CR 173 North , Kilgore (off the loop - Danville Rd) | 903-984-2117

FROM THE EDITOR

I

t’s the most wonderful time of the year: The time we ship out our holiday edition of Etcetera. On an annual basis, we try to highlight some of the wonderful Christmas-related things happening in the City of Kilgore.

This year is no different, from Mike Elswick’s feature on the annual Forest Home Baptist Church’s Drive-Thru Nativity to photos from the Lighting of the Derricks to tips on disposing of your Christmas trees.

“People come from all over to attend,” Patrick Monk, director of education at Forest Home, told Elswick about the nativity event. “They come, have a good time and enjoy the fellowship.”

“For many families it has become a part of their Christmas tradition,” Monk said.

The work to put on the drive-thru nativity each year takes weeks of planning and rehearsing and construction. They start around Thanksgiving, and the end result is hundreds of cars lining up each performance night to hear the good news, and enjoy

some time together during the Christmas season.

It’s at this point I should mention that although the Derrick Lighting is always a favorite event of mine to cover, I’m always baffled by how early it is each year. It feels too soon, and yet also too late, because who doesn’t want to celebrate the Christmas season and sing Mariah Carey at the top of their lungs and enjoy all the twinkling lights?

The Derrick Lighting kicks off the annual holiday whirlwind.

From Rangerette shows to Mingle & Jingle, you’ll be hard pressed to find nothing to do these next few weeks. Enjoy all the wonderful activities that Kilgore has to offer.

If you start to feel peckish, look no further than Peddler’s Pizza.

A Kilgore tradition, we highlight the delicious pies and future plans of the company in another story in this Etcetera.

Owner Falisha Reeves has been in the restaurant business specializing in pizzas for 23 years and says she loves serving Peddler’s Pizza to both longtime loyal customers and newcomers alike.

“I love people and I especially love seeing the smiles on our customers’ faces,” Reeves said.

Looking towards next year, let us know what kind of stories you’d like to read. Let us know if there’s a special person or group we should highlight. As always, you can reach us at news1@ kilgorenewsherald.com.

MEREDITH SHAMBURGER, Editor

Etcetera Fall 2023

Vol. 6 | Issue 4 PUBLISHER

Alexander Gould • agould@mrobertsmedia.com

EDITOR

Meredith Shamburger • mshamburger@kilgorenewsherald.com

ON THE COVER Grant Reeves is pictured Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Peddler's Pizza trailer on Houston Street in Kilgore.

PHOTO BY LES HASSELL

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Nikki Blakeley • nblakeley@mrobertsmedia.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Linda K. Ballard • lballard@kilgorenewsherald.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kimberley Bailey

CONTACT US

(903) 984-2593 • news1@kilgorenewsherald.com 4 Etcetera | Holiday 2023

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.

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

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Forest Home Baptist Church continues 31-year Drive-Thru Nativity tradition in Kilgore

Peddler’s Pizza serves up love, pizza to its Kilgore customers

PHOTO FEATURE

A Very Derrick Christmas: A downtown tradition lights the way and sparks holiday festivities

GARDENING

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Seasonably dispose of Christmas trees

PET TALK

Home for the Holidays: Introducing your pets to new guests

HOUR GLASS

'Happy Hollow' shantytown was a by-product of East Texas Oil Boom

1708 Judson Rd., Longview, Tx | PH: 903-753-4930 Holiday 2023 | Etcetera 5

FEATURE STORY

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G N I R B D GO

6 Etcetera | Holiday 2023

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Forest Home Baptist Church continues 31-year Drive-Thru Nativity tradition in Kilgore

BY MIKE ELSWICK | Contributing Writer PHOTOS BY LUCAS STROUGH and MICHAEL CAVAZOS

K

ilgore’s Forest Home Baptist Church will be continuing a 31-year East Texas Christmas holiday season tradition in early December as the congregation plays host to a drive-thru nativity scene.

The outreach ministry of the church has touched an audience of thousands over the decades, according to Patrick Monk, director of education. This year’s production is scheduled from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., Dec. 7-9.

“People come from all over to attend,” he said. “They come, have a good time and enjoy the fellowship.”

In more recent years, several family members attending have indicated they are now parents or grandparents who first make their visits as youngsters or young adults themselves.

“For many families it has become a part of their Christmas tradition,” Monk said. While bringing the Biblical Christmas story to life in a very visual production is the focal point, he said parts of the event change up about every year and include more modernday holiday traditions, including Santa Claus and elves, Mrs. Claus’ kitchen and more.

“We try to change things up each year so it’s fresh and different,” he said.

Wanda Billings, secretary, and member of the church said the event serves as a bonding experience for the congregation.

“It’s such a blessing to everyone involved,” she said. “This is something we love to do.”

Monk has been involved since the event’s inception in 1993. The event evolved from an idea of creating an outreach ministry unique to the Kilgore area, which was followed by researching what other congregations were doing.

“Our drama crew committee got together and visited with other churches in the region hosting nativities,” Monk said.

In the 30 years since, the production has gained a reputation

CONTIUNED ON PAGE 8 Holiday 2023 | Etcetera 7

drawing guests from throughout the region, across the nation and even internationally. Last year the three-day event drew hundreds of cars and trucks with more than 3,000 people attending over the three days, “God brings the people,” he said of the attraction. “Our church members have a good time and enjoy the fellowship of preparation and working together.”

The process of setting up the production is time consuming and starts in earnest right after Thanksgiving.

“It takes about a week-and-a-half to put up all the sets,” Monk said. Guests are greeted with free hot chocolate and hot dogs. The drive through the two-acre depiction takes about 15 to 20 minutes, depending upon traffic, he said.

Monk said about 150 people are involved in staging the extravaganza each evening. The scenes include shepherds, choir members singing, a Biblical era marketplace, the three wisemen presenting gifts and a story of salvation at the cross with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Tracie Gaut serves as the Mother’s Day out coordinator at Forest Home Baptist Church and has been a member of the congregation for about four years. She and her family had driven through the production for years prior to joining the church.

“It’s a lot of fun and really brings church members together in a most loving way,” Gaut said. “Being a part of this is like being part of a huge family.”

If You Go WHAT: Drive-Thru Nativity

WHO: Hosted by Kilgore's Forest Home Baptist Church, WHEN: Nightly, 6-9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 7, 8 and 9 WHERE: Off U.S. 259 at 15746 County Road 173 North, Kilgore COST: Free HOW: The event is made possible by volunteers from the Forest Home Baptist Church congregation 8 Etcetera | Holiday 2023

2

1

1. Forest Home Baptist Church’s annual free drive-thru Christmas Nativity, on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 at Forest Home in Kilgore.

Michael Cavazos 2. Dozens of cars line up at the entrance to Forest Home Baptist Church's Drive-Thru Nativity in 2021. Hundreds of visitors enjoy the event each year, which has its final night of the season this evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Lucas Strough 3. Carolers sing joyous songs of the Christmas season at Forest Home Baptist Church’s 2021 Drive-Thru Nativity 3

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(903) 834-3679 Holiday 2023 | Etcetera 9

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

AFICIONA-DOUGHS Peddler’s Pizza serves up love, pizza to its Kilgore customers

10 Etcetera | Holiday 2023

BY MIKE ELSWICK | Contributing Writer PHOTOS BY LES HASSELL

F

alisha Reeves uses the word “love” often when discussing her affection for loyal customers, seeing smiles on their faces and the care that goes into each slice of pizza served out of her popular Kilgore eatery, Peddler’s Pizza.

Falisha has been in the restaurant business specializing in pizzas for 23 years and says she loves serving Peddler’s Pizza to both longtime loyal customers and newcomers alike.

“I love people and I especially love seeing the smiles on our customers’ faces,” Reeves said. In addition to providing love in every bite, she says among the secrets for the success of Peddler’s Pizza is freshness across the board.

CONTIUNED ON PAGE 12 Holiday 2023 | Etcetera 11

“We start with dough made fresh daily,” Reeves said. “Then we add our original fresh sauce and fresh-cut vegetables.”

While she has been in the business since August 2000, Reeves has been the proprietor of the Kilgore Peddler’s Pizza since 2015.

She said he got involved in the pizza specialty restaurant from years of working for a major national pizza chain.

“Actually, my brother and I were in friendly competition for some time,” Reeves said. Her brother was working for prior owners of Peddler’s Pizza while she was working across WHAT: Pedder’s Pizza the street at a Domino’s WHERE: 907 Houston St., Kilgore Pizza location.

WHEN: Open Monday, 11 a.m.

Their sibling rivalry until 7 p.m.; Tuesday through included seeing who Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; other would have the most times as needed to serve parties customers. Reeves said and special orders. while she considers WHO: Owned by Falisha Reeves Kilgore her home, she and operated by her and nephew, left for a time and came Grant Reeves back in August 2015 and has owned and operated FYI: Peddler’s Pizza is a womanthe business since. owned and operated family While the pizza oven business. For orders to go operates out of a trailer, or information, please call she hopes to one day (903) 983-1444.

If You Go

12 Etcetera | Holiday 2023

bring Kilgore back to a “brick and mortar” location with dine-in capabilities, and an expanded menu with perhaps extras like a salad bar. Peddler’s Pizza had a location in a building previously but has been operating out of the popular Peddler’s Pizza trailer after needing to move out of the previous storefront.

“I’d love to eventually be able to go back to a brick-and-mortar building,” Reeves said. But, for the time being, the trailer location is working fine for both her and nephew Grant Reeves, who is her main employee. She said Grant and she take care of operations day-in and day-out with occasional help from others when there is a large order for parties and other special events.

While the trailer may look like a small operation, Falisha says it works well and can even accommodate as many as four people working at once when orders demand more hands-on deck.

The most popular menu item is Peddler’s Supreme Pizza loaded with a variety of toppings. Her single topping pizza most often requested is for pepperoni.

For information or to place orders to do, please call (903) 9831444. Peddlers is located at 907 Houston St. in Kilgore.

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Holiday 2023 | Etcetera 13

PHOTO FEATURE

Christmas A VERY DERRICK

A downtown tradition lights the way and sparks holiday festivities

14 Etcetera | Holiday 2023

MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 16 Holiday 2023 | Etcetera 15

16 Etcetera | Holiday 2023

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GARDENING

AGRILIFE EXTENSION OFFERS TIPS TO

Sustainably dispose of Christmas trees SPECIAL TO ETCETERA | Contributed Photo

M

any enjoy having a real Christmas tree for the holidays. And when the holidays are over, there are several eco-friendly ways to dispose or recycle a Christmas tree.

Living Christmas trees benefit the environment by sequestering carbon, supporting local businesses and tree farmers and filling families’ homes with the smell and feel of a real tree.

“As Christmas trees grow, they provide many of the same benefits our urban and natural forests do, such as clean air, soil stabilization and carbon sequestration,” said Alison Baylis, Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Urban Ecologist. “Further, buying a Christmas tree can help support a business or your local economy.”

According to the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, there are 175 Christmas tree farms in Texas producing over 200,000 trees each year. For the month of December, the tree has served its purpose of bringing light and beauty into your home. Sadly, many of these trees end up in a landfill as their final resting place.

“Even though trees are a renewable resource, we should opt to recycle or dispose of them in a way that helps the environment and gives our trees a second life,” said Baylis. “By recycling Christmas trees, we can reduce our carbon footprint and support a more sustainable holiday season.”

There are many ways to sustainably dispose of Christmas trees.

RECYCLE Real trees are biodegradable, and many communities have tree recycling programs. Check with your local waste management company, a nearby garden center or conservation organization to find out if Christmas tree recycling, whether curbside pickup or a drop-off station, is available in your area. Recycling trees is recommended over burning them to help prevent wildfire danger.

MULCH The most common recycling option is chipping Christmas trees into mulch, which can be used for a variety of needs around homes and yards. Mulch can be placed around the base of trees and gardens as an insulator to help plants withstand cold temperatures and prevent soil erosion and compaction.

POND AND WILDLIFE HABITAT Place Christmas trees in yards or nature landscapes or in bodies of water to create habitat for wildlife. When Christmas trees are 18 Etcetera | Holiday 2023

A Christmas tree that has been thrown away at the end of the holiday season is shown.

sunken into water bodies, they increase the complexity of the aquatic habitat. Woody debris provides a place for aquatic species to flourish, which increases overall biodiversity. If you do not have a pond or lake on your property, contact local officials to see if there is a suitable body of water in which you can properly dispose of your tree.

You can also choose to set your tree in your yard, creating a wildlife habitat. Birds can use your old Christmas tree as a shelter.

Enjoy the view by tying bird feed, orange slices, popcorn and other bird-friendly treats to your tree and watch the birds fill the branches.

FUN FAMILY CRAFTS Keep the holiday spirit alive after Christmas by using parts of Christmas trees to make fun family activities such as tree cookies and coasters. Cut the trunk of your tree to make coasters or other decorative accent pieces in your home. Go a step further and let kids paint the tree cookies for one-of-a-kind artwork.

As the joy of having a Christmas tree in your home comes to an end this season, use one of the many ways to sustainably dispose of your Christmas tree to prevent it from ending up in a landfill.

Make sure to remove all decorations such as ornaments, lights and ribbon. If the tree is sprayed with flocking (fake snow), it should not be recycled. Tree limbs are a great way to insulate garden plants, and some cities even have free mulch available after the holiday season.

For more information on how to sustainably recycle your Christmas tree, contact your Texas A&M Forest Service district office. Visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/ContactUs/ to find contact information.

PET TALK

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS:

Introducing your pets to new guests SPECIAL TO ETCETERA

T

he holiday season is a great time to invite new and old friends alike to join in the festivities. But introducing these guests to your pets has the potential to be either an exciting playtime or stressful evening for them.

Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers some guidance on how to introduce pets to new guests in hopes of keeping the holidays enjoyable for everyone.

“Many dogs and cats may be distressed when there are changes to their environment,” Teller said. “This can be especially apparent when there are guests in your home.”

Typically, distressed pets will try to find a place to hide. This may be another room, under the bed or in a kennel.

“Pets that can’t find a safe place to disappear may instead become reactive — they could hiss, growl or even scratch or bite,” Teller said.

Another telltale sign some animals will exhibit under stress is a change in body posture — tail tucked, ears down, dilated pupils or hunched over; some may even urinate on the floor.

While new people can be frightening for some animals, not all pets will be hesitant around guests.

“Social animals may be very comfortable greeting each guest as they arrive, whereas others may prefer to join the party once the initial excitement has dissipated and the energy level in the room has stabilized,” Teller said.

“Ideally, pets should be allowed to approach the guest when the pet feels comfortable doing so,” she said. “The guest should be calm, move slowly and not bend over the pet.”

Similar to an introductory handshake, owners can have their guests extend a closed hand or fist for the pet to sniff. They can also try feeding the pet their favorite treat as a peace offering.

As new people arrive, energetic dogs may have a tendency to jump on guests. If this occurs, guests should turn around and move away from the dog.

“It is never too soon to start training a dog not to jump on people,” Teller said. “If the dog knows the word sit, this can be used as a substitute behavior, but it will only work if the owner is consistent about reinforcing it.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY ERIC SONSTROEM

Dogs with a history of jumping should either be left in another room or kept on a leash as a preventative measure.

Alongside new guests may also come new younger friends, such as infants or toddlers. Owners should take particular precautions when younger friends come around their animals for the first time.

“If your pet is not used to being around children, especially young ones, it may be best to save introductions for a time when they can be done slowly and in a calm environment,” Teller said.

This can be for the pets’ benefit as much as it is for their human counterpart. Some animals may be spooked by kids who tend to run around and make quick, unpredictable movements, while others may want to join in the fun.

“Young children, especially when excited, may pull an animal’s ears or tail, causing pain and potentially leading to injury,” Teller said.

It is important that this type of play is supervised, as pets also may accidently knock down the child or scratch them when playing.

“If an owner has concerns that their pet may be anxious around guests, they should have a conversation with their veterinarian about some short-term medications to manage their anxiety,” Teller said.

The holidays are a great time for friends and family to come together. Keeping pets’ emotions in mind as their daily routines change is key to helping keep this season the most wonderful time of the year for owners, guests, and our furry friends.

Holiday 2023 | Etcetera 19

HOUR GLASS

‘Happy Hollow’ Shantytown was by-product of East Texas Oil Boom

BY MEREDITH SHAMBURGER | mshamburger@kilgorenewsherald.com

T

oday the area once known as Happy Hollow contains a skate park, a city pool and a public library. But during the height of the East Texas Oil Boom, Kilgore’s City Park was the site of a shantytown that welcomed fortune-seekers and other down-on-their-luck residents.

In a July 6, 1980 article titled “Kilgoreites recall sweeping changes produced by oil boom,” Harry Kellar recalled he came to Kilgore in 1931 when he got a job with Sun Oil Co. He initially lived at the Sun Camp, where he recalled “We had a tent to put our clothes in if it rained. We pitched camp out there, until they got a bunkhouse built.” But unlike Kellar, former City Secretary Crown Dickson noted many men who came to Kilgore in those days had no job and no house, settling in an area called Happy Hollow in tents, shacks, cardboard houses and dugout shelters.

“It was kind of a no-man’s land,” Dickson recalled.

An October 2005 article by Brenda Allums included an interview with Gladys Thompson.

“You can’t begin to imagine what it was like…

20 Etcetera | Holiday 2023

People were living in their cars, cardboard boxes, towsack tents.

Anything for shelter,” she said.

Happy Hollow was owned by the late Jack Elder’s dad and Uncle John, Thompson recalled.

“The people came in, they’d be up town scrounging around to get a bunch of boxes and cardboard to use for their home…

Of course, my dad and Uncle John didn’t mind. They had a kind feeling toward these people. They know they were hard up.”

In that same article, Olive Dickson Bates recalled a campfire and big old can.

“Anybody that had a can of food of any kind would come in and pour it into that place. They’d have a pan or something to eat out of and they’d dip out of a big can. Then they’d sit around that fire and eat.”

A November 1934 article by Jay Cross noted “Happy Hollow Is No Longer A Land of Free Rent.” Plans for a city park and playground meant citizens were being told to leave.

“The migrattes of its citizens started early last week when they obtained trucks and automobiles and, in a manner reminiscent of Indian treks, started seeking new locations.

“The movement has been rapid and only a few shacks and shanties are left to tell the story of another day. These will be moved soon, city officials say.

“Very little is known about the origins of the place or the first settler. It was probably a convenient place to stop and so it began.

“Aside from the fact that it was a scenic klotch to civic minded persons, it seemed

ideal for the location of such a place. It was protected by the terrain and by trees.

“Houses there were rudely constructed of anything that might have been available when the builder settled down. Cardboard boxes formed side walls. Cast off merchandise boxes formed complete rooms. Roofs were of assorted materials – canvas, wood and there were a few which had shingles.

“It is possible that the name, if retained, will fit the occasion more in the future than in the past.”

Former Mayor Foster T. Bean, in an October 1993 article about the dedication of a historical marker at City Park, noted Happy Hollow was initially considered of little value because of its terrain, with uneven surfaces and ditches.

It became a crowded shantytown when the East Texas oil boom took off.

“They came with practically nothing except the clothes on their backs,” Bean said. “They crowded into Happy Hollow, living in tents, hastily built shacks and even good boxes.”

Later in the article, Bean is paraphrased as noting City Park “served as a reminder of the strong municipals program and the in-depth and progressive planning that marked the change from a boom town to measured growth.”

“In a larger context, the park is a symbol of governmental changes that took place throughout Texas during the great depression,” Bean said.

(903) 983-9314

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WITH ADMIRATION AND GRATITUDE FOR THEIR DECADES OF SUPPORT AND DEVOTION TO PRESERVING KILGORE HISTORY HONORING SUE MARTIN BROWN & THE LATE F. E. BROWN, JR. KHPF’s mission is to honor Kilgore’s unique history as a railroad and oil boom town by restoring and maintaining its iconic ‘boomtown’ skyline, preserving its historic buildings, important landmarks, and documenting its history.

Join us in ongoing efforts on the World’s Richest Acre, at the historic Dean-Keener-Crim Home, in renovating the Kilgore Arts & History Center in the old post office and in other ways to safeguard the community’s heritage.

Become a part of KHPF’s initiatives: Call 903-984-1333