May 10, 1006

The past week was filled with visitors complementing me for something I didn’t do. The rewarding compliments came to me from the readers that read and enjoyed the short story I shared last week that was written by my Aunt Sis. She wrote the story some seventy years ago while she was traveling around the state with her Ball Fruit Jar distributor dealership.

She had enough college hours to receive ten college degrees. She was a brilliant young lady. Her life was filled with many things which included taking care of her children, Billie and Bub and her husband H.D. McKinney.

The readers enjoyed her description of the beauty and color of the coastal area that she loved so fondly as she was driving her new 1935 Ford. One person said, "You know, Bouncer, when I read the story, I felt like I was in the new 1935 Ford riding along beside her in the front seat." He further commented that she was a magnificent writer.

Aunt Sis was born on Black Jack Hill. The land where they lived was two acres that was donated to the school district by my Grandfather Wood Goin.

Aunt Sis loved to interrupt my busy life to bring me up to date on historical events that had happened in Aubrey. I was always very busy, but she had a way of commanding my attention when she shared her stories with me.

Aunt Sis shared with me that the largest orders of Ball Fruit jars were sold in Aubrey.

Back in 1883, when the conductor of the trains passing through Aubrey, would yell "Next stop, is Fruit Jar Junction," just before they stopped in Aubrey. The long black passenger trains came to a chugging stop with scraping brakes with steam coming out in big puffs in Aubrey. The thirsty people riding on the train would get off for refreshment while the water crew filled the big black engine with water.

An old Aubrey newspaper in 1883, describes Mr. Newt Henderson’s experience of riding the first passenger train that came down the newly built railroad. Mr. Henderson said that the nice ride to Denton was smooth and on time as it made its maiden journey. He described how the animals ran and scattered as the friendly Cherokee Indians waved at the train as they were passed. They did, however, remain in the trees and bushes.

The farmers that enjoyed the open free range (no fences) country came out to see the chugging piece of steaming steel as it arrived at Mingo. Mingo was a small residential community that was established as a stop for the train because there was a huge water source there for the steam engine.

My cousin, James Harmon came in last week, and shared with me that the Harmon family had lived on the farm place since 1881. James’ Grandfather, J.A. Harmon and his wife Rachel Harmon, helped to prepare the cross ties for the new railroad. They cut the hard wood trees in the area, whittled and formed them into cross ties. The railroad began making the cross ties in 1871 near the Sherman depot. The railroad project from Sherman to Fort Worth required ten years to complete.

My Aunt Sis was the organist at the Aubrey Methodist Church for many years. My grandfather hauled the organ in his wagon pulled by mares, to and from the church each Sunday. The organ is still in excellent condition and is currently in the living room in my home.