Hometown Helper Grant

The following essay was submitted to the hometown helper grant program. At some point our project will be published on their website.

Our small town is almost dead. But, we are hopeful because we have a new theme and dream. Goree, Texas: Gateway to Miller Creek Reservoir. We are the nearest town with easiest access to the 3rd ranked fishing lake in Texas. In our area, farmers and ranchers have been innovative in discerning the trend of the times. They are catering to people who want guided hunting and fishing opportunities. All they have is the land and the heart to put it to good use.

With our new found purpose, the GGG Group wants to create an environment where dreams become reality. Based on casting the vision alone, businesses and ideas have already sprung to life. Deer processing, lodging, storage buildings, and for more info...
http://cityofgoree.org/goingforgreatnessingoree.aspx

Dreams are coming true, but we need a helping hand. What dream do we need your help with? A Hometown Makeover! We have talented volunteers with the heart, but we don’t have materials. We need to build two welcome signs, tin awnings and wooden sidewalks. The labor will be provided by volunteers which is priceless and we already have $891 from donations and fund-raisers. How can your $6800 help? $2,000 for signs, $3400 awnings, and $1400 sidewalks. The trex material is more expensive than wood, but durability is imperative.

This project will first of all let the world know that we exist with signs by the new highway and second of all help us create an aesthetically pleasing downtown area when they do exit. By revitalizing our downtown area, our existing and prospective businesses will flourish.

(Picture that inspired our downtown vision)

Golden Spice

Well, renovation began on the Memorial Building. First, a new roof and completed just yesterday was painting on the kitchen area. The color, golden spice, was chosen because it matches the cabinetry. (Look at me defending my color choice) ~It was ruff in the beginning of the painting process...some called it mustard and others called it baby poop. I can laugh about it now that it's done, but I think it turned out beautifully. Tiling on the floor will be the finishing touch for these two rooms at some point in the near future.

A BIG, HUGE THANK YOU to those who volunteered for the paint party. Six volunteers and fifty hours in two days! You guys are awesome: Vickie Huffman, Caroline Garcia, Kent and Tammie Trainham, Nancy Birkenfeld and Glenn Huffman.

Clean up~

Saturday, several Goree citizens helped in cleaning up around town. After salvaging some treasures from trust property that will soon be demolished, they proceeded to work on the building next to the post office. The plan for this structure is to clean it out and have a courtyard. We didn't finish but we are off to a good start.

Nancy Birkenfeld treated everyone to a wonderful lunch in her home at the end of a hard workin' morning. Thanks to our volunteers...Caroline Garcia, Vickie Huffman, Michael and Jeannie Wilson, David Birkenfeld, Kent and Tammie Trainham, and Jonathan Birkenfeld. Great Job!

Movin' Out...

With mixed emotions, we said goodbye to Mrs. Peggy Hosea as she moved last Tuesday morning. We are happy for her, but we will certainly miss her. The truck in the picture is backed up to her front porch. She is now residing in Seymour in a cozy, crunchy apartment. The best part for her....no yard work! Miss Ethel Birkenfeld will be soon moving into Mrs. Hosea's house. And someone new is buying Miss Birkenfeld's home.

We also said our goodbyes to Taylor and Margie Allen. They moved on Tuesday afternoon to a home in Munday directly across from the nursing home. Grady and Cathy Weaver with their boys will make the Allen place their new home. The Ezzell's, a retired couple, moved in a mobile home on Poplar Street. What brought them to town? The lake! We are the "gate to the lake". The Castro's moved to Goree last week and live in Debra's house. And Mr. Gillentine, Dorothy H's cousin, now resides in the late Dolan Moore home.

We have lost some, but we have gained more.

Good Times~

The Memorial Building has a new roof! And paint has been picked out and will soon be up on the walls of the kitchen area. "Golden Spice" is the flavor. It will be beautiful!

The City's buildings across the street received a 'new' roof, as well. I might add, the 'haunted house' building that exists above City Hall is cleaned out and ready for windows, electricity and sheet rock. The vision for this structure is a City Lodge which will have about seven rooms for rent for homecoming, reunions and hunters. Our dream is that this lodge will be filled with antiques and furniture that folks will have the opportunity to buy. Therefore, bringing in income to benefit the upkeep of the Memorial Building. A name for this new 'venture is being sought..."Lake Creek Lodge" is a possibility. Any others?

Class Reunion~

The Class of 67 is having a reunion on Saturday - October the 6th from 2-10pm in our home. We are celebrating our 40th year from Goree High – If there is anyone that has any information on our classmate Elva Ponciano – we would love to get in touch with her. Elva is the only one from our graduation class that we have lost contact with.

Thanks –
Jeanie Turek

In Loving Memory~

Jimmie Don Jordan passed away yesterday Sep 13th. He has been in the hospital since May 31st with a multiple medical problems. His lungs were filled with fluid and they weren't able to get him over it. Jim has 2 surviving children - Alan and Cheryl. We lost Debbie a year ago. We have 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Lee Jordan - Jim's brother and his sister Cleta. Jim loved his hometown and really loved going to the class reunions.

Nell Jordan

City Cafe

It was a sad day in Goree. We lost one of our fathers, grandfathers and friend. Billy Don Hutchens was laid to rest this afternoon. A huge crowd gathered to honor his life and say goodbye.

The Latham Family was present for this special occasion. Jackie, Linda, Charley and Dusty were in town for the funeral and afterwards desired to take a walk through their past. Their parents had a café, The City Café, where the current City Hall is located. They lived in an upstairs apartment that is accessed through a door between the City Hall and the garage sale building. The last known use of this structure was for haunted houses, which was apparent when touring the rooms. The remnants of body parts, spiders and fake blood littered the trail. Surprisingly enough, the second story was in fair condition.

What an honor it was for me to join the four of the five Latham kids as they pulled out memories from their childhood. And, I might add, some of that sibling spunk bubbled to the surface. Charley found where he had carved his initials on the door. Dusty remembered baths where water was dumped over his head. Linda was amazed to see the black trim from when her and her sister painted their room pink and black. Jackie claims that when some of her siblings climbed the water tower, she stayed behind. From time to time she would holler for them to come down or she was gonna tell Momma. The park was their personal playground.

After all these years, these folks still care. I think they care about preserving their memories, but they also want those who call Goree home to enjoy making new memories. As a matter of fact, they care so much that they made donations towards the “Going for Greatness in Goree” Campaign. They thanked me for the tour through the building, but I want to thank them! So here goes, thank you for the generous donations and thank you for the tour through your memories and your hearts. God Bless!

Myrna (not present on this trip), Charley, Dusty, Linda and Jackie

In Loving Memory~

GOREE - Billy Don Hutchens, 65, of Goree, died Thursday, Sep. 6, 2007, at Hospice of Wichita Falls. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, at the Goree First Baptist Church with Rev. Royce Denton & Rev. Jimmy Rogers officiating. Burial will be in the Goree Cemetery under the direction of McCauley-Smith Funeral Home in Munday, Texas.

Mr. Hutchens was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Survivors include his wife, Mary Hutchens of Goree; two daughters, Pamela Lawson of Levelland, Texas, and Stacy Westbrook of Shallowater, Texas; one son, Billy Jay Hutchens of Graham; one stepdaughter, Cathy Cooper of Euless, Texas; two sisters, Glenda Arant of Lubbock, Texas, and Mary O'Dell of Woodson, Texas; five brothers, Lewis Wayne Hutchens of Gorman; Jerry Lynn Hutchens of Mission, David Lee Hutchens of Petrolia, Gary Kirk Hutchens of Cisco, and Richard Dean Hutchens of Seymour; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.