HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.16.1994 Baker, Joycina Info on the GatheringJune 16, 1994`•�J CC: ci & Wi.
TO THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD:
I have just received the invitation to THE GATHERING, 1994,�d `.'s� e? C
read the history as presented on the back. My research of _I 9L9C,n
Friendswood's history does not agree with some of the information as
given in the flyer, particularly, the second paragraph.
I do not want to make a fuss or put a damper on a great event.
I just request that this letter be attached to the Gathering flyer
when it is filed in the permanent city records. I think, perhaps,
over -exuberance has clouded the facts, and completely erroneous ideas
are being circulated under the cover of "rumor."
HERE ARE THE FACTS I HAVE DOCUMENTED:
The first July 4th celebration was held in Friendswood in 1896, and
has been held each year since that date.
From 1896 until 1954, the 4th was a PICNIC sponsored by the Friends
Church. Sometimes it was held in the timber along Clear Creek,
sometimes on the church grounds, and in the early 1950s, was held on
the school grounds. It was a church affair, but nearly all the
community attended. I re -checked this today with our oldest natives.
July 27, 1954, the VFD acquired Old City Park and held a barbecue the
next July 4 as a fund-raiser. The men, led by Ransom Glines, put the
meat on the pit about midnight to have it ready for noon July 4. They
were in charge of the event through 1959. In 1960, the Chamber of
Commerce took over the event and continued the barbecues. Ransom
retired after July 4, 1969. Since that date the City has sponsored
the event, and the barbecue has been catered.
The 50s and the 60s were the dates of the barbecues the Gathering is
re-creating. That is not 80 years ago. I have interviewed several of
the men who worked then, and they find the rumor foreign to them.
They do remember their sons sometimes accompanied them to the event
because they loved to hear Ransom's stories.
Alcohol has always been in Friendswood, but was not a part of
community -family events until more recent years. Since the barbecues
took place thirty years after Prohibition days, the second paragraph
of the flyer does not make sense. Yes, the Quakers were aware of the
moonshiners in the 1920s, and they were also cognizant that some of
the orchard workers, itinerants, and a few other residents have
always used alcohol; but it was not a part of Friendswood's_ July 4th
activities.
Thanks for this opportunity to record the facts.;v
1
t
1
GATHERING
In the year of 1895 a group of Quakers led by Frank J. Brown moved into
this area which we now know as Friendswood. Quakers, being a very
religious and patriotic group of people, observed a celebration in the
settlement each year on the 4th of July honoring America's birthday of
independence and freedom. On the 3rd of July, the Quaker men would either
kill the local game or furnish a pig or calf to Bar-B-Que. The' entire
community was invited.
Rumor is this was the one night of the year for "men's night out". Rumor
also has it that the men would spend the night telling "spicy stories",
smoking "ready -rolls" and drinking white liquid from Mason jars. The
filled Mason Jars were donated by a gentleman whose enterprise: was
located on Clear Creek between Friendswood and Pearland.
In the 1960's the city having grow in size, the Chamber of Commerce and
the Volunteer Fire Dept. accepted the task for the next decade of BAR-B-
QUEing on the 3rd for the community celebration on the 4th.
The city continued to grow and later the City Council accepted the
responsibility of keeping the tradition alive. When the crowd became too
large for the facilities at the Old City Park, the Council decided to
have the Bar-B-Que meal catered and to move the celebration to the new
Stevenson Park. A group of citizens decided it just wasn't right to
discontinue a tradition which had existed for some 80 years.
That is when the name "THE GATHERING" was born.
THE GATHERING is dedicated to those men and women who serve the city of
Friendswood either as an employee or a civic volunteer.
The traditional fire is lit in Old City Park at 10:00 p.m. on July 2nd.
Breakfast is served the following morning from 8.00 to 10:00 a.m.
Approximately 20 volunteer cookers spend the day cooking hundreds of
pounds of meat, beans, and trimmings for a true Texas celebration.
THE .GATHERING is funded by contributions from Citizens and Businesses in
our city as a way to say thank you to those employees and volunteers.
Each -contributor- and"their family is invited to attend the celebration
any time through out the day but especially at 6:00 pm when they will be
recognized as one who keeps this tradition alive.
As we begin preparation for the July celebration for 1994 we solicit your
participation in the 99th Annual GATHERING. We thank you in advance for
your support to the community of Friendswood'.
BEN MALEK JANIS LOWE
482 5182 482 1122
BENNY BAKER DR. SKY HOFF
482 1120 482'3958