Loose Strings From The Past

Category: Early Days to 1955

  • Small Town Cops

    Citizens felt safe in Breckenridge in the 1940s and 1950s.  The town had three policemen (no women in those days), a chief of police, and one patrol car.  I believe the chief also had a car. There was a designated parking space for the car at the intersection of Walker Street and Breckenridge Avenue.  The…

  • FURRY FRIENDS

    When our Weimaraner, Babe, was nearing the end of her life, Ken said, “We don’t need another dog.”  I did not say anything.  As Babe continued to decline, Ken again said, “We don’t need another dog.”  I didn’t say anything.  When the vet told us she possibly had six to eight more weeks to live,…

  • A HIGH RIDE

    The Standifer home in Ada, Oklahoma, bordered the Frisco railroad tracks.  A siding was between the property and the main track.  A circus used the siding during their annual visit to Ada.  Elephants were used to unload and move their carts to the performance site. Ken was sitting on the section house * watching the…

  • Billy Graham

    We have been listening to TV tributes and memories of Billy Graham today. In high school, the only out-of-town trips for Ken and I were football games.  My sister-in-law went along as chaperone for us and our friends.* There was one exception.  In 1951 Billy Graham held a crusade at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. …

  • The DAIRY BARN

    The barn was so much a part of life on the dairy that it was taken for granted.  Every day’s activities began early as Holstein cows lined up outside the barn to be milked. There was a brief quiet time in the middle of the day.  By 4 PM spotted cows were standing quietly waiting…

  • A HIDDEN TREASURE

      I called to Ken to come take a look at the inside of my sister’s secretary desk.  I had broken a piece and hoped that he could fix it.  He took one look, and without saying anything, removed the piece from the slot.  He didn’t even tell me that it was not broken.  I…

  • GIRL FRIDAY

    Enough has been written about Kate Bailey’s accomplishments and long teaching career in Breckenridge.  This is about my impressions and relationship with her. I learned early that the name Bailey was respected, if not revered, in Breckenridge.  My birthday is in mid-September.  My Dad consulted John Bailey regarding enrolling me in first grade at age…

  • A TOWN CALLED NECESSITY

    Necessity is located in southeastern Stephens County, Texas.  It was first called Mountain Valley and later Cotton Plant. It got the present name when the community applied for a post office.  The application stated that it was a necessity that the town have a post office.  The approval came back for a post office at…

  • BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL

    I wrote this piece two years ago upon the death of Stan Musial. The story tells why his obituary interested me: January 21, 2013 BASEBALL and FOOTBALL Stan “The Man” Musial died yesterday at age 92. He was a baseball great who played for the St. Louis Cardinals. The house where I grew up had…

  • TRAUMATIC TEST

    The card read that it was time for my in-person driver’s license renewal. I had done that a few days earlier. As I tossed the card into the trash, I thought back (way, way, back) to my initial driving test. It was not as cut and dried as this one had been There was no…