HUMAN INTEREST

In the 1930s, it was difficult for black people to get the supplies they needed as they were often not allowed in white owned stores or allowed to buy what they wanted. During this time a Polish immigrant named Krolczyk arrived and set up a store near Racoon Bend, where he allowed the black people to shop. It was a deli of sorts and he allowed them credit and bartered for livestock and crops. The shop was pretty remote from both Hempstead and Racoon Bend and Krolczyk realized that they were not able to buy gasoline to get out to him. He opened a gas station solving that problem as well.

Lisa's family still shops there and uses it to cater their yearly family reunion.

Settling back at the house, it was lovely just to watch their family dynamics and marvel at how similar families are. “Is that my shirt”, rang out. Along with, “where are you going?” “How are you getting there?” “I ride my bike everywhere!” “Can I get my nails done?” Having been away from home for a while now, a taste of family life was just what I needed!

While we didn’t watch the Super Bowl, we certainly did watch the halftime performance by Usher. Based on the amount of singing and squealing in just this one room, I’d say his performance was a hit!

Heading out on Monday, Lisa was taking me to where “our” family came from This took us west of Houston to Hempstead and ultimately Racoon Bend.

But first, we had to stop at Buc-ees.

This is a Texas tradition Similar to taking all our visitors to Niagara Falls. On our drive down to Florida, we had passed several of these “gas stations” along I-75 but had not stopped at one Well we missed out! These are huge stores offering just about everything With, as Lisa described, the “cleanest bathrooms anywhere”! We loaded up with a couple bags of snacks and continued.

In the 1930s, it was difficult for black people to get the supplies they needed as they were often not allowed in white owned stores or allowed to buy what they wanted During this time a Polish immigrant named Krolczyk arrived and set up a store near Racoon Bend, where he allowed the black people to shop. It was a deli of sorts and he allowed them credit and bartered for livestock and crops.

The shop was pretty remote from both Hempstead and Racoon Bend and

Krolczyk realized that they were not able to buy gasoline to get out to him. He opened a gas station solving that problem as well.

Lisa's family still shops there and uses it to cater their yearly family reunion. We bought some summer sausage and cheddar cheese, along with a box of crackers. Very good!

Hempstead is a small Texas town close to where her grandparents lived in Racoon Bend She had a specific spot in mind to show me here in town and we had to turn around once to find it.

We drove slowly past a nondescript storefront.

Lisa told me this story

My grandparents were sharecroppers. “Do you know what that is?” Not really, I guessed farmers.