Published: May 14, 2008 02:58 am            

Living history performances set Tuesday at library

Library on the Move

This is a test: What happened in Palestine, Texas on July 26, 1888?

That was the date that Christopher Columbus Rogers was stabbed to death by his “friend” Bill Young.

Chris Rogers is probably not as well known to the citizens of Palestine as he should be. He certainly was in the 1880s! Chris Rogers was the town marshal. He had the very difficult — and dangerous — job of keeping the peace in wild and wooly Palestine. In those days, Palestine had a very sophisticated part of town and the bustling rough, railroad part of town. Spring Street, known as Front Street, consisted of one saloon and brothel after another. Rogers worked hard to make Palestine a peaceful and safe place for all to live. He lived in that transition period that moved from the Wild West to a modern police force.

Here’s another test: What massacre occurred Oct. 5, 1838 in Cherokee County?

Known as the Killough Massacre, it was the largest massacre in Texas at the time. The four survivors, two women and two young children, walked through the woods and across the open fields to Fort Lacy near modern-day Frankston. The massacre was attributed to Indians but in reality, Indians, Mexicans, and white men dressed as Indians, perpetrated this depredation.

Learn more about these historical events in two short one-act living-history performances at Palestine Public Library on Tuesday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. Get a preview of the plays before they are judged at a national competition in Llano, Texas on Saturday, May 24. Performed by talented, award-winning actors Dwayne Hagemeier and Ed Smith, “Life and Death of Chris Rogers” and “Uncle Billie’s Story” will give you a real sense of “being there.”

Hagemeier and Smith are members of the reenactment group, Texas Top Guns, and are members of the national Reenactment Guild of America, some eight hundred-plus members strong.

———

“Are Historic Construction Methods and Materials Different from Today’s?” The answer may surprise you! Learn what is the same and what is different (besides air conditioning) at the May installment of “Your Old House … or Building” by Historic Preservation Officer, Neely Plumb, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22.

I don’t think enough can be said about the positive impact Plumb has made on Palestine in the short time he has been here. It does my heart good to drive around and see the result of pride that people are taking in their properties, private and commercial, and the “can do” spirit that is being seen in promotion of our town and county.

Palestine has so much to offer, not just for tourists, but for those of us who live here, in beauty, natural and man-made, in friendly people, and in Victorian charm that has been described as “not done until it is over-done.”I remember some “expert” saying a few years back, “Why leave the ‘good china’ in the cabinet for company; doesn’t your family deserve the best, too?” The same could be said of Palestine: Let’s make Palestine beautiful, friendly, and charming for us! If tourists benefit as well, so much the better. We deserve to enjoy all those good things, too.”

———

Summer Reading Club starts June 3 with sign up beginning May 30.

Free programs are scheduled five days a week and feature something for all ages. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday programs feature a guest reader or performer usually at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays; 2 p.m. on Wednesdays; and 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Thursday is Music Appreciation Day. A new staff member who majored in piano and voice will join us for the summer. We will enjoy singing and performing with non-traditional instruments. Also on Thursdays is computer gaming from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays feature tween and teen crafts at 2:30 p.m. Decoupaging and jewelry making are just two of the crafts that will be enjoyed. Saturday will also feature, as always, a teen-only movie.

The purpose of Summer Reading Club is to encourage reading for fun and as a life-long activity. Young readers, including the very youngest, who have books read to them, receive rewards at the end-of-program party on Aug. 9. Because of generous local merchants, all participants receive rewards. Teens have their own Reading Club logs and rewards for reading. Last summer, a digital camera was awarded to a reading participant. This year will have an equally “cool” reward. The more books read, the better the chances for being drawn for the reward.

———

Carol A. Herrington is the director of the Palestine Public Library. Contact the library at 903-729-4121, and visit online at www.palestine.lib.tx.us, or cherrington@palestine.lib.tx.us

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.