Norma Nichols kindly shares her memories, information, and photos with us about
her roots in Bryan County (Oklahoma) and Fannin County (Texas). She's a true
Red River Valley Girl! Thanks so much, Norma!
County, in southeastern Oklahoma (Kemp). When he presented me with an engagement
ring (in 1963) we were sitting on the banks of Red River under the Carpenter Bluff's
Bridge. I am attempting to write my family history and would love to have a copy of your
picture of the bridge! The picture looks as though it was made when cars still used the
one-way piggy-back side of the bridge. Loose planks rattled as you drove across and
terrified me the first time I made the trip to Kemp, Oklahoma. I don't know when trains
quit traveling across the bridge, but I can only imagine how frightening it must have
been to cross the bridge at the same a train did! Today, concrete has been poured over
the railroad track and cars traverse on that side (one-direction-at-a-time, of course). The
piggy back side is still there but very treacherous.
I graduated High School in 1960 and my dad owned a Texaco gasoline service station at
that time so I was trying to recreate that scene. My family has deep roots in Fannin
County. Both my grandfathers settled in Fannin County and Honey Grove in the late
1800's. Have you ever visited the Honey Grove Historical website? I can't get this link to
work, but the address is: www.honeygrove.org or e-mail Mary Anne Thurman,
administrator (thurman@honeygrove.org). She helped me comprise a list of businesses
and she posted a couple of my pictures of the downtown area made in 1951. Anyway, just
FYI for what its worth.
Jang" when she had guests over for games. I didn't realize until I viewed the Honey
Grove historical info that "Slang Jang" is peculiar to Honey Grove and the recipe is
included there.
sauce, salmon and whatever else you want to throw in...sounds terrible, but I remember
enjoying eating it when I was young.
the details on the event. The legend of Davy Crockett naming the town is also posted on
the website.
made in 1951. You can see the Western Auto Store in front of the car, and next to
Western Auto you can barely make out "Food Market" - this is where Collins Grocery
(later known as Collins Piggly Wiggly) started out, and across to the left in the
background is the Jackson and Self Goodyear store.
small white sign in front of the Ford car on the left was a "Taxi Stand" sign. Kold Kash
Store, owned by J. W. Hammack, is pictured on the left. Next to it is Baker's Pharmacy,
then the State Theater. You can barely see the big white 1cent scales in front of the
theater. Next to the theater is Dial Hardware. The Texaco station visible in the photo
was operated by my father, George Simmons.
around 2000. But the town supported a great number of businesses. There were
numerous gasoline stations, several hardware stores, two clothing stores, movie
theaters, variety stores, jewelry store, shoe repair, grocery stores, barber/beauty shops,
etc. Of course that was before mass marketers like Wal-Mart; small businessmen thrived
- the rural community came to town every weekend to take care of everything from
entertainment to buying groceries to getting haircuts. I think it is interesting that so many
merchants could survive in such a small town and I never realized that until I started
writing and looking back!
her roots in Bryan County (Oklahoma) and Fannin County (Texas). She's a true
Red River Valley Girl! Thanks so much, Norma!
County, in southeastern Oklahoma (Kemp). When he presented me with an engagement
ring (in 1963) we were sitting on the banks of Red River under the Carpenter Bluff's
Bridge. I am attempting to write my family history and would love to have a copy of your
picture of the bridge! The picture looks as though it was made when cars still used the
one-way piggy-back side of the bridge. Loose planks rattled as you drove across and
terrified me the first time I made the trip to Kemp, Oklahoma. I don't know when trains
quit traveling across the bridge, but I can only imagine how frightening it must have
been to cross the bridge at the same a train did! Today, concrete has been poured over
the railroad track and cars traverse on that side (one-direction-at-a-time, of course). The
piggy back side is still there but very treacherous.
I graduated High School in 1960 and my dad owned a Texaco gasoline service station at
that time so I was trying to recreate that scene. My family has deep roots in Fannin
County. Both my grandfathers settled in Fannin County and Honey Grove in the late
1800's. Have you ever visited the Honey Grove Historical website? I can't get this link to
work, but the address is: www.honeygrove.org or e-mail Mary Anne Thurman,
administrator (thurman@honeygrove.org). She helped me comprise a list of businesses
and she posted a couple of my pictures of the downtown area made in 1951. Anyway, just
FYI for what its worth.
Jang" when she had guests over for games. I didn't realize until I viewed the Honey
Grove historical info that "Slang Jang" is peculiar to Honey Grove and the recipe is
included there.
sauce, salmon and whatever else you want to throw in...sounds terrible, but I remember
enjoying eating it when I was young.
the details on the event. The legend of Davy Crockett naming the town is also posted on
the website.
made in 1951. You can see the Western Auto Store in front of the car, and next to
Western Auto you can barely make out "Food Market" - this is where Collins Grocery
(later known as Collins Piggly Wiggly) started out, and across to the left in the
background is the Jackson and Self Goodyear store.
small white sign in front of the Ford car on the left was a "Taxi Stand" sign. Kold Kash
Store, owned by J. W. Hammack, is pictured on the left. Next to it is Baker's Pharmacy,
then the State Theater. You can barely see the big white 1cent scales in front of the
theater. Next to the theater is Dial Hardware. The Texaco station visible in the photo
was operated by my father, George Simmons.
around 2000. But the town supported a great number of businesses. There were
numerous gasoline stations, several hardware stores, two clothing stores, movie
theaters, variety stores, jewelry store, shoe repair, grocery stores, barber/beauty shops,
etc. Of course that was before mass marketers like Wal-Mart; small businessmen thrived
- the rural community came to town every weekend to take care of everything from
entertainment to buying groceries to getting haircuts. I think it is interesting that so many
merchants could survive in such a small town and I never realized that until I started
writing and looking back!
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| The old plank portion of Carpenter's Bluff Bridge. Read my article about it at Texas Escapes! |
| Norma's grandmother in downtown Honey Grove, 1951. |
| Honey Grove and Carpenter's Bluff Memories |
| Reader Bette (Bates) Babers: I grew up in Honey Grove, TX. The street she says is hwy 82/56 is actually Market Street. The highway is to the left out of the picture. Thanks! (I graduated in 1966) |
| Some parts of Honey Grove are now worse the wear, like this old Trading Post. But downtown is still swinging, with the Bertha Voyer Library, restaurants, shops, the post office, and a feed store. |