The streets were paved with brick. At this time, the post office was located in the back of where the hardware store is currently located. I don’t know how long the post office was located in this building, but I remember as a child that the post office was in this location on into the 1940's.

The building where Jackie’s Hardware is now located was a wood frame building that contained the doctor’s clinic. In the back of the building was the Grey Furniture and Undertaking business.

The photo this week is of the Aubrey Band taken in 1906. The Aubrey Band performed in the Aubrey Opry House. This old photo is in excellent condition. It was taken inside of the Opry House. You will notice there is an old kerosene lamp in the middle of the building with a large shade on the globe to reflect the light down on the band.

Also notice that the United States flag in the background has only forty-four stars. The windows in the building are very similar to the old windows that were in the Baptist church. The floor is made of wooden tongue and grove lumber. The floor was spotlessly clean.

The identification of all of the men is written on the back of the photo. The first person playing the snare drum, on the top left is unidentified. The other members left to right are: Edd Coffey playing the baritone, Neal McNatt playing a baritone, R.P. Hollar playing a baritone, Jim Sims playing a tuba, Dan Griffey playing the sousaphone, Dan Lanford with the bass drum. In the middle row are left to right, Hugh Crawford playing the trumpet, Regan Looper playing the trumpet, W.R. Gates playing the trumpet. On the bottom row, left to right are Earl Gates with a trumpet, Roland Peipelman playing a baritone, and Earnest Smith playing a baritone.

This photo was made about twenty-five years before the town burned to the ground.

Upon review of the names of the band members, it is obvious that a number of these band members were part of the early day old settlers that are so often referred to as Black Dutch descendants. These early day settlers are Cherokee people who changed their identity to Black Dutch.

Also, remember that obtaining an education was more difficult during this period of time. The educational facilities were not readily available. Just thirty years before this photo was made, The Onega citizens were providing a small part of their education in a log house that was located in the Key Cemetery. This was one of three free schools located in Denton County.

This free school was only in operation three months of the year. It is obvious that the parents of these children were busy with home education, as their children were lovingly taught in the home. The talented musicians in the Aubrey Opry House are examples of these home taught musicians.