Notice Program for August 16th General Meeting · See pages 3,4,5 & 8 for recipients. 1 Brad Hamilton Brad Hamilton is an East Dallas native, a product of Dallas ... Certiﬁcates

Grand Prairie Historical Organization P.o. Box 532173, Grand Prairie, TX 75053-2173

www.gphistorical.com facebook.com/GpHistorical

Next Meeting August 16, 2018, 6:30 p.m.

Notice The August meeting will be

held at the Grand Prairie Memorial Library

Inspire Room 901 Conover Dr.,

during the restoration of the GPHO Museum.

Thank you for your patience during this time.

Program for August 16th General Meeting Speaker: Brad Hamilton

Topic: Grand Prairie State Bank Robbery

Please invite family and friends! Dinner: 6:30 p.m./Program at 7:00 p.m. at the

Grand Prairie Memorial Library Inspire Room

901 Conover Dr., 75051 Dinner (Lasagna, Salad and Bread from Roma’s) for $10.00;

You are welcome to come to the program only.

Please RSVP to to [email protected] or [email protected]

before noon on Monday August 13th with the number of those eating.

Dechman and Goodwin Awards Presented Grand Prairie Historical Organization presented special awards to local citizens of Grand Prairie on Saturday, June 9. Previously presented through the GP Historical Commission, GPHO will continue these awards each year. Due to the restoration of the Historical Organization Building/Museum, the ceremony was held in the Inspire Room at the Grand Prairie Memorial Library. See pages 3,4,5 & 8 for recipients.

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Brad Hamilton

Brad Hamilton is an East Dallas native, a product of Dallas ISD graduating from Bryan Adams. He earned his bachelors in history at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Since 1995, in addition to leading tours and giving presentations utilizing his Dallas history collection, he has served as a freelance researcher and consultant. Just this past year, two pieces from his collection were added to the archives of the Dallas Historical Society.

http://www.gphistorical.com

http://facebook.com/GpHistorical

mailto:[email protected]






May 17, 2018 GPHO Meeting

Program: Pete & Tony’s Alamo Restaurant

Grand Prairie

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Dechman Award (Group)

A group which assists the Grand Prairie Historical Organization to further the preservation of Grand Prairie’s history, and has given time and effort through dedication to a project or projects and enlisting the help of others, while following the mission of the Grand Prairie Historical Organization.

The Grand Prairie City Council is receiving the 2018 Dechman Award for their interest in preserving our Grand Prairie Historical Organization building/museum. The GPHO board and members contacted individual city council members regarding the historical importance of our building. GPHO Historian/Archivist, Stephanie Moreno, gave a presentation regarding the building’s historical facts to the city council in a November 2017 briefing. The council voted 9 to 0 in December of 2017, to spend $370,000.00 on the Historic Jaycees State Headquarters to restore its 1951 style of architecture. The council members were interested to know that GPHO wanted to continue to open the building as a museum and be able to acquire more artifacts to display. Not only that, but they learned that GPHO intended to make sure that all artifacts would be archivally stored to prevent as much deterioration as possible. This restoration will pay tribute to the Grand Prairie firm of Smith and Warder, (Sr.), who designed many mid-century modern style buildings during Grand Prairie’s huge growth during the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. With the city council making this decision, it allows GPHO to be able to correctly display and archive the collection of historical artifacts of the city of Grand Prairie. GPHO is very appreciative of this action by the council.

See page 8 for related picture.

Bonnie Steever Cockrum presented the Dechman Award to Cole Humphrey and Jorja Clemson, representing the City Council, at the

Awards Ceremony on June 9th.

Please welcome new

member Andrea Carter

Thompson.

Goodwin Award (Individual)

An individual who gives his or her personal time and dedication to a project or projects to promote and preserve the history of Grand Prairie while making others aware of the importance for this

preservation.

GPHO Life member, Tom Chennault is receiving the 2018 Goodwin Award for his generosity in giving copies of his father’s collection of Grand Prairie historical photos. This allows GPHO to be able to print and display these photos. Tom also donated several items to our archives so others who visit the museum may enjoy them. He also shares historical photos and facts of Grand Prairie history on Facebook. These posts pique the

interest of so many who comment and add their memories. This also gives information to anyone who was too young or not living here at that time, what Grand Prairie people were doing. This is a valuable resource to all who enjoy the memories of Grand Prairie’s past.

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Stephanie was recognized for her research and presentation to the Grand Prairie City Council in a briefing in November 2017. After our board members and others emailed the council members personally, there was a quick decision on the council’s part to listen to how GPHO felt about preserving our building. Stephanie researched old newspaper clippings and photos to show the importance of the building’s existence. She put together a power point presentation and presented the fact that Smith and Warder, (Sr.) were influential in Grand Prairie’s growth and in creating the 1950’s mid-century modern “look” all along Main Street, as well as, other places in the city. This award is just a small recognition of her many years of dedication to the Grand Prairie Historical Organization and her desire to see it continue to grow and improve.

Sarah Terrace, teacher and sponsor, and the RHO KAPPA Social Studies Honor Society

Jorja Jackson ClemsonStephanie Moreno, Past Past President of

GPHO and current Historian/Archivist

Jorja currently serves on the Grand Prairie City Council Place 1. She was the one who brought the BIG EVENT to Grand Prairie, March 24, 2018, so individuals and charities in need of extra volunteer efforts could receive help. People signed up who needed assistance of various kinds and volunteers signed up to help those people. GPHO was offered the help of moving all of the contents of the museum that the board had been packing.

That day, volunteers moved GPHO furniture, supplies, and other items to a storage facility. This was an enormous help that was accomplished in a matter of a few hours.

Without Jorja’s excitement over Grand Prairie being involved in the BIG EVENT, GPHO would have spent money to hire a company to do this.

In 2017, Sarah and RHO KAPPA received the Dechman Award for their group participation in several areas of researching and presenting Grand Prairie history. This year, GPHO felt that they deserved an Award of Appreciation for their continued work at the Antioch Life Memorial Park Cemetery. They clean the cemetery and place flags on the graves of veterans at the special times of the year. The students have also continued this year to present programs at the Veterans Memorial Park.

Certificates of Appreciation

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Larry and Karel served on the First Annual Pioneer Day Committee to plan a new GPHO event held October 7, 2017 on the grounds of the GPHO building/museum. It was also the Grand Opening of the Museum.

Larry and Karel play in a string band and travel around the state performing authentically researched period music. They brought to the committee an abundance of ideas, many of which will be continued. It is hoped that more of their ideas will be added to the 2018 Pioneer Day on October 6. Due to their experience with other venues around the state, they were able to provide ideas that helped us know what to prepare for.

Michael Inman, Minister of Students at First Baptist Church and the Youth Group

Larry and Karel Wheat - Lifetime GPHO Members

Certificates of Appreciation, continued

GPHO wants you!

Grand Prairie Historical Organization has been busy as you will see in this issue of our newsletter. Please feel free to pass the word to your friends and relatives that we would be happy to have

them in our organization and participate in the many activities we offer. Keep up with us on the following Facebook pages:

Grand Prairie Roller Rink, Keep it Grand, Grand Prairie, Texas: Remember the Good Old Days, You know you grew up in Grand Prairie, TX if…

and don’t forget our website: www.gphistorical.com.

We post activities, events and photos on these sites.

First Baptist Church Youth Minister, Mike Inman, accepts the Certificate of Appreciation from GPHO President Bonnie Steever Cockrum, on behalf of the Church’s Youth Group.

The Youth Group signed up through the BIG EVENT to volunteer to help wherever needed. They signed up willing to do whatever was needed of them without realizing how hard they might work. Trucks, trailers, and many youth were hard workers and cheerful on Saturday morning, March 24 at 8am.

They came in full force and worked non-stop almost like professionals. GPHO could not have accomplished the task so quickly without them. Not only their help, but also their joyous attitude made a lot of hard work much easier.

Larry and Karel were unable to attend the Awards Program. This photo was taken at the

2017 Pioneer Day Celebration.

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Are you on Facebook? Did you know that there is a new way of celebrating birthdays? If you create a fundraiser for a nonprofit, the nonprofit will receive donations directly from Facebook or from Network for Good. Facebook encourages you to “invite” your closest friends or groups to make a donation to a charity of your choice. The Grand Prairie Historical Organization would be an appreciative recipient of these donations. For more information, search “Facebook Birthday Fundraisers”.

So you know: Facebook does get a cut of the donations The company takes a fairly standard 5% fee from donations. Of that, 3% is to cover payment processing and 2% goes to administrative costs like vetting nonprofits and fraud protection.

Our own Kathy Ritterhouse chose to do this for her birthday and received around $115.00 in donations she designated for GPHO. She indicated that there were no fees or charges deducted.

To further our mission to preserve, collect, and promote Grand Prairie’s history, we are striving to preserve the historic Junior Chamber of Commerce State Headquarters building, which is owned by the City of Grand Prairie, and convert it to an attractive museum which displays and preserves the rich history of our community.

To help us accomplish this mission, we have opened a GoFundMe campaign at:

https://www.gofundme.com/grand-prairie-historical-museum

Built in 1951, the 2400 sq. ft. building originally operated as the state headquarters of the Texas Jaycees. The funding and building of the structure was a local community effort. Local Jaycees and Grand Prairie businessmen raised the $30,000 needed to build the brick building which was designed by local Grand

Prairie architects, Smith & Warder.

As with any old building, our GPHO Museum building was in need of extensive maintenance projects, including asbestos removal, re-roofing, electrical and technological upgrades, among many other issues. Museum upgrades planned include display cabinets, an archival storage room, archival storage materials, along with the collection of Grand Prairie historical memorabilia to preserve and display in the museum.

Thank you, Kathy Ritterhouse, Fundraising Chair

Grand Prairie Historical Organization appreciates donations in honor or memory of family or friends. Your donation will be recorded in the name of that person.

Questions- [email protected]

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SAVE THIS DATE: October 14th. Fundraiser at Legal Draft Beer Company.

Further information will be sent later

June 19, 2018



https://www.facebook.com/help/1251484118194936


https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1127216777360764






https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1127216777360764




Use the URL/website name: smile.amazon.com and choose Grand Prairie Historical Organization. Amazon will donate 0.5% of each purchase to our organization. You pay the same prices and you can still use

your Amazon Prime membership. Please sign up now!

$$$$ Grand Prairie Museum Fundraising $$$$

Books and Wine Glasses for Sale!

The wine glasses which are 8 oz. and clear glass with the frosted “etched look” GPHO logo are

$10.00 each.

Grand Prairie History Books are available for $25.00 each.

Both items are available and can be purchased at: Grand Prairie Historical Organization Museum 1516 W. Main Street, Grand Prairie, TX 75050

Contact: fundraising @gphistorical.com

Kroger Community Rewards Program

is now set up

GPHO Group Number 60144

This link www.kroger.com provides our number and the instructions for how to register and link your Kroger card to our account so we can start receiving a percentage (determined by the total amount spent by all of the participating rewards participants) of the amount spent by our supporters. How to Register a Digital Account Simply visit www.kroger.com or download the Kroger mobile application from the appropriate app store for your device and follow these instructions: 1. Select the ‘Register’ button. 2. Enter your information. 3. Select ‘Create Account’.Please make sure that you add your card number or create a virtual card number while registering your Digital Account. This is required for the Community Rewards program so that your transactions apply towards the program.

Simply fill out the Good Neighbor program section and the top part of a Tom Thumb Reward Card Application indicating GPHO’s number 13779 and return it to the Courtesy Booth at any Tom Thumb.

Tom Thumb will pay 1% of your grocery purchases to the Grand Prairie Historical Organization fundraising efforts.

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http://smile.amazon.com

http://www.kroger.com


http://smile.amazon.com





With attending Grand Prairie Historical Organization members looking on, the Dechman Award was officially presented to Mayor Ron Jensen at the Grand Prairie City Council meeting, Tuesday, June 19th.

Save This Date: Saturday, October 6 From our Events Chairman,

Harry Grant

This year’s Pioneer Day Celebration will be held at the historic Home of Dr. H.V. Copeland this year. We are excited about the anticipated participation in this year’s event. Volunteers, sponsors and vendors are needed to assist so please contact Harry Grant at 214-980-4657. The first volunteer meeting date will soon be here. Details will soon been on the GPHO website and Facebook page.

Also, check out GPHO Pioneer Day 2018 on Facebook, for continued information!

Although the Grand P r a i r i e H i s t o r i c a l Organization didn’t win the “big” prize, the morning was fun for those attending the Ice Cream Challenge Cup at Grand Prairie Farmers Market, Saturday, July 7. Stephanie Moreno entered her Big Red Strawberry Ice Cream and was assisted by Sarah Moreno, Barbara McDonald and City Councilman and GPHO member, Cole Humphreys with the serving.

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Ice Cream Challenge Cup

About the Building…by Jim Parker, Building Restoration Chairman

As most of you know, the interior of the building was gutted due to the complicated process of asbestos removal. Most of the faux white wall board was removed from the exterior revealing the original building. The goal is to restore the exterior to its original look as much as possible. Rouch Architects of Dallas has been selected for the restoration project and the GPHO Building Committee members have met twice with representatives of the architects and Grand Prairie city officials. After much discussion, a floor plan has been selected. It will give GPHO a large general meeting area, family/video room, archive/storage space, an office and a small kitchenette. New and updated restrooms are included. With the final drawings nearing completion, construction should start in the early fall and the restoration should be completed by the end of the year. GPHO will then take possession of a great building for the citizens of Grand Prairie and the GPHO.

A note from the editor:

We all have Heroes who are very special in our lives. I have two. GPHO President, Bonnie Steever Cockrum and Special Events Chairman, Harry Grant are my heroes because they noticed something different about me Friday, July 27, at the Pioneer Day planning meeting. They insisted on calling 911 to check me out and I was taken to the hospital where it was determined that I had had a stroke. Fortunately, I am okay but their observation and insistence probably prevented something more serious. Thank you Bonnie and Harry from the bottom and top of my heart and, from my husband.

Roma’s Italian Bistro was the site of one of our recent Dining Out Fundraisers. Several member of GPHO dined there throughout the day, Wednesday, July 25. Similar fundraisers will be announced in the future.





Building Progress June 19, 2018

Meeting room

Back of building Front of building

Inside rooms

Antioch Cemetery Memorial Day Flag Placement Ceremony

May 28, 2018

Historical Medallion

#12

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South Grand Prairie High School’s Rho Kappa Chapter Social Studies Honor Society, Herb Summers Chapter, along with sponsor and GPHO member, Sarah Terrace and Co-sponsor AnnMarie Tipps, took time from their busy end-of-school schedule to conduct the ceremony of placing a wreath at the Chinook Crew Iraq Memorial aboard Grand Prairie Reserve Base, on Saturday, May 19, 2018, in observance of Armed Forces Day. An honorary Life Membership in Rho Kappa was presented to Lt. Philip Bullard, Head of Security at the base by Kennedy Gardner, President of Rho Kappa and in-coming President Miranda Ynostrosa. Sgt. 1st Class Joshua L. Bain was the Sergeant in Charge. Others participating in the ceremony were: Joy Lin, Brandon Silva, Frances Imarhia, Tyler Joyce, Madison Huynh, Jessica Nwankwo and Keaton Vines, bugler. Prior to the ceremony, Rho Kappa members cleaned up the Fuget Cemetery located on the base. The land for this cemetery was patented in 1843 and is recognized by Texas Historical Marker #6716.

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Many thanks go out to the Grand Prairie Police Recruits for taking action after the GPHO Cemetery Tour in June. The recruits cleaned up the overgrown Small-Upchurch Cemetery.(See page 11, bottom left for tour photo)





Stephanie Moreno, Tour Guide, Historian

Right: John Wylie at Ford

Cemetery

Left: Clyde and Verna Bargsley, members of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, pose by the church’s Columbarium

Barbara McDonald, Stephanie Moreno and John Wylie stepping over into Jordan-Hight Cemetery

Left: Stephanie and Sarah

Moreno stop by the resting place of Paul Moreno at Southland

Cemetery.

Cheryl Dover, Verna Bargsley, Barbara McDonald and Bonnie

Cockrum entering the overgrown

Small-Upchurch Cemetery.

Graves of members of the Motley and Spikes families,

important residents of Grand Prairie.

Lunch at Romas Italian Bistro

Grand Prairie Historical Organization’s Bus Tour of local historic cemeteries, June 16, 2018

Stephanie Moreno, John Wylie, Harry Grant, and Barbara McDonald

at Shady Grove Cemetery


#5


#16


#10


#7


#13


#37

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GRAND PRAIRIE HISTORICAL ORGANIZATIONP.O. BOX 532173GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS 75053-2173www.ghphistorical.comfacebook.com/GPHistorical

Mission Statement The mission of the Grand Prairie Historical Organization (GPHO) is to preserve and share the history of Grand Prairie, Texas, by researching, collecting, properly preserving, and archiving items that tell the history of Grand Prairie and its citizens. The Organization will share the history with others through avenues throughout the city by committed volunteers who will provide a standard of excellence in support of the organization.

Vision Statement The Grand Prairie Historical Organization (GPHO) is a non-profit group working to preserve the history of the city of Grand Prairie, Texas, by sharing that history through regular meetings with informative speakers, involvement in the community, participating in events with the city, civic groups, the school district, and by collecting and displaying historical archives in the GPHO museum.

In pursuit of this vision, GPHO will:

•Search out, collect, catalogue, properly preserve, and exhibit materials related to Grand Prairie, Texas. •Provide the opportunity for all who attend regular meetings to hear accurate historical information. •Provide leadership for the collection, proper documentation, storage, and the preservation of the collected historical materials. •Stimulate an interest in research, collection, documentation, and preservation of historical materials. •Foster an appreciation of the importance of preserving historical materials to enrich the public understanding of the importance that the past has in the future. •Promote a pride in the heritage of both the community and the individuals who built and lived in it. •Encourage and support the efforts of the citizens’ initiative in historic preservation. •Encourage mutually beneficial relationships and cooperative alliances with educational institutions, city government, the business community, and other community organizations.

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http://www.ghphistorical.com

http://facebook.com/GPHistorical

http://www.ghphistorical.com

http://facebook.com/GPHistorical

Documents

Notice Program for August 16th General Meeting · See pages 3,4,5 & 8 for recipients. 1 Brad Hamilton Brad Hamilton is an East Dallas native, a product of Dallas ... Certiﬁcates