HORACE MCQUEEN: East Texas History Captured on Film
Those who have been around for sixty years, or more, have many memories of the “old times” in East Texas. Mary Wallace, a friend who lives on Houston County Lake, was born and raised in the Grapeland area.
She and husband Darrell (also a native) well remember the plum business that put Grapeland on the national map back in the late 40’s and 50’s.
Grapeland sent plums by the train car load to markets near and far.
For those of us who admire those early farmers and ranchers, who made do with limited resources, there is an internet website that has hundreds of film clips of those “olden times” on Texas farms and ranches.
One of those film clips is about the Grapeland plum orchards in the late 40’s. Featured “actors” include Houston County Extension Agent Phillip Nicks, his assistant Jerry Brown and plum grower Johnny Wilkins. Many other films are available on the TexasArchive.org website that depicts working farms and ranches around Texas in the middle of the 1900’s. It’s free and a welcome relief from the junk that too often masquerades as “news” today.
There is room and a growing opportunity for our landowners to get involved in growing produce for the folks who want locally raised products. Just a small garden area can raise a lot of fruits and vegetables.
Yes, it does take some work to raise a crop — but well worth it in the long run. Whether selling the fruits of your labor at a roadside stand on the farm, or at a local farmers market, dollars are generated and consumers welcome those fresh tomatoes, potatoes, beans, peas, sweet corn, watermelons and other produce.
Those folks who want to plant fruit and nut trees need to get moving. No better time than now to locate a source of quality fruit and nut trees. Then determine which varieties of pecans, peaches, plums and other species fit your needs.
Most of our farm stores and nurseries stock the varieties that will fit our area. Dr. Larry Stein, Aggies horticulturist, says by planting those young trees soon, your chances of success are 100 percent. Sounds like good odds!
And capping off this week, there are a lot of television shows worth watching — rather than the networks or Fox-CNN for what they often mistakenly refer to as “news.”
Many viewers are watching the reruns of Matlock, Bonanza and the other oldies that are just plain good watching!