Kerens.Com - Kerens.Com #123<br>July 4th on Main Street<br>July 8th, 2002

I had a couple of comments on the July 4th historical story from last week’s column and one came in a phone call from my old history teacher, Coach James Kelley. He told me of an additional event associated with that same day in history, July 4th, 1826 that was as momentous as the entire story of Adams and Jefferson. I could go ahead and tell you what it is, but after scratching my head a bit I think I have a better idea. Next July 4th, only 11 months and a few days away now, I will re-tell that story and you will see what else the Coach had to add to this tale of history.

There was almost a breeze on Main Street this July 4th as activities ramped up during the afternoon, and then ramped down right along with the Sun that evening. By the way, when the Sun is going down, the very front of the Kerens Alumni Center makes a very comfortable shady sitting area. Travis Horn and Nora Lee May already knew about this shade and that is where they were parked. Official Raffle Ticket Collectors, that was their title and they were handing them out to all takers.

Some of the most entertaining minutes of the day came while watching who was riding behind Charles Henry Harrison in his Too Too Train. Fannie May took the shotgun position once and the Mayor and Cindy Scott were not far behind. Also spotted riding this train with her hair waving in the air was the new Methodist Preacher, Pastor Cathy Mordecai. Look for these pictures out on Kerens.Com very soon and get ready for a smile. These folks made some good pictures while cruising around in those fifty gallon barrels.

There were people in the Garden Park on the fourth, quite a few people in fact, with their own lawn chairs and many filling up the picnic tables. Most of the time I was sitting on one of the concrete benches in the Garden Park directly in front of the old Kerens Bank, now known as City Hall. Looking straight across the street, I could see the refreshment stand that was put up early in the morning by the Chamber of Commerce volunteers. Working hard and wiping the sweat from their brows, Janie Quinn, Hope Reese and Evelyn Baxter were toiling away selling their wares all evening long.

The kids would go back and forth in the middle of Main Street, some on bicycles and some on foot, while screaming and laughing on a holiday afternoon. The greyer haired folks were parked in chairs that Calvin Franklin had kindly provided in front of his store and were watching all the others make their way through the evening. These other folks, well they would congregate in groups on the street and exchange the latest versions of gossip that might happen to be circulating. Don’t let anybody fool you, there is always gossip on Main Street. No doubt about it. I wrote it all down too, but I cannot repeat it.

Jim Bob and Betty Ivey owned a couple of the Garden Park lawn chairs. They had a few things to say. Gail Franklin Henson made a few remarks, but clearly stated they could not be repeated. Queena Allen, Bobbie Jo Darby and Angelene Darby owned a bench in the park and I know they were making their conversational contributions. Veteran gossipers. Homer Wasson had a few folks around him, but I did not hear what his topic was revolving around. Buster Atkeisson held stage more than once while Brenda pushed a stroller around the Garden Park with a grandchild. And actually, Buster was the one that caught my interest intensely. Why was that? He was talking about going to a meeting with Neal Williams to tour some property in Corsicana that Wal-Mart has an option to buy. Now there is some real gossip.

Watching this scene as it evolved through the day, I tried to imagine something similar in Dallas, or even Corsicana. Hmmmmm. Maybe not. I have been to Derrick Days in Corsicana on Beaton Street and it is not the same. I have been to the Texas/Oklahoma weekend celebrations on the Dallas Main Street, and it is sure not the same.

Here is the difference. I look across the street in these other places and the people ring no bells and tell no tales. They are strangers in a strange land themselves and do not even comprehend it. They look at you with vacant eyes, because your face brings no memory to them either. They do not know the difference because they have never sat on a park bench for hours on a holiday afternoon and watched a flow of people that are relatives, people with grandparents and parents that you know or knew, people with children that you are watching grow up. Roots is an old television series to them and nothing you can actually reach out and touch. Kerens folks know what I am talking about.

You know because you have been there. Right there on Main Street in Kerens, Texas.

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