2007 Homecoming Report
The Baxter homecoming was on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, and this was also the 100-year anniversary of the Baxter school. The school at Pilgrim Rest closed and students started coming to Baxter with classes held at the WOW lodge hall. This was in early winter of 1907. So this year was a special occasion for all of us.
We had about 65 guests, which is about half of 10 years ago. Still, it was a good turnout. The weather was partly cloudy and not too hot, so the ceiling fans in the old school building kept things fairly cool. It was a good day.
It was really good to see LaVerne Morgan Butler once again after a couple of years absence. She is in her early 90s but came all dressed up, looking very pretty and nice. Also, after five or six absence, Odie Vee Perkins Hickman and husband Nick made it this year. Both have been in fairly bad health but were in good spirits on this day. It would not be homecoming without several of the Perkins clan! For the first time in nearly 40 years Mary Lou Perkins Tapley was unable to attend due to a death in her family. But, as always, she sent a very generous contribution.
Since maintaining the building and paying utilities depend solely on contributions, quilt raffle and jellies sales, a large gift like Mary Lou's is greatly needed and appreciated.
There were a number of younger people this year, but I'd say most were over 65 or 70. Some have been slowed down because of age but, all in all, most of us are in good health. Perhaps the healthiest ones were the World War II veterans. The four who attended this year are really interesting to talk with and listen to. I've known them most of my 69 years. One was in a German POW camp, one landed at Normandy on D-Day and two fought at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. They are 82 and 83 years of age. It's hard to imagine, just looking at these men, the things they did in Europe as soldiers. They have my total respect.
The food must be mentioned! As always there was more than could be eaten. Several kinds of ham, mashed potatoes with sour cream mixed in, candied sweet potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, chicken and rice, baked beans made from scratch, pinto beans, a big dish of lasagna, navy beans with ham, fried chicken (of course) and many other main dishes. Desserts ranged from coconut pies to fresh peach cobbler to chocolate cakes and some with no names but that have been baked by certain families for generations. You eat and eat and eat!
Special thanks must be given to Lana Hughes Nelson for her work in chronicling in narrative form the early rural life around Baxter. So far she has worked with the Neely, Corder and Morgan families. Lana is a gifted writers and her account of these families make for some very interesting reading for those of us with roots in Baxter. Copies of some long, long ago pictures are priceless.
After the Depression and the War, the face and economics of Baxter, Texas, changed forever. From a thriving rural community with a school, post office, general store and other businesses, to a hand-painted sign marking the location of "downtown" Baxter. Such is rural life all across America.
We, however, will continue to have our annual homecoming on the first Sunday of each October. We hope to see you next year!
— Jimmy Smith
From last year: 2006 Homecoming report
The Baxter Community Center Association is a duly recognized 501(c) association by the Internal Revenue Service. All contributions are tax deductible.
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