- Norma Nichols kindly shares her memories, information, and
photos with us about her roots in Bryan County (Oklahoma) and
Fannin County (Texas). She's a true Red River Valley Girl! Thanks
so much, Norma!
I love your website. I grew up in Honey Grove, Texas and my husband grew up in
Bryan County, in southeastern Oklahoma (Kemp). When he presented me with an
engagement ring (in 1963) we were sitting on the banks of Red River under the
Carpenter Bluff's Bridge. I am attempting to write my family history and would love
to have a copy of your picture of the bridge! The picture looks as though it was
made when cars still used the one-way piggy-back side of the bridge. Loose
planks rattled as you drove across and terrified me the first time I made the trip to
Kemp, Oklahoma. I don't know when trains quit traveling across the bridge, but I
can only imagine how frightening it must have been to cross the bridge at the
same a train did! Today, concrete has been poured over the railroad track and
cars traverse on that side (one-direction-at-a-time, of course). The piggy back
side is still there but very treacherous.
In my writings, I've done a little research about Honey Grove business during 1955-
1960. I graduated High School in 1960 and my dad owned a Texaco gasoline
service station at that time so I was trying to recreate that scene. My family has
deep roots in Fannin County. Both my grandfathers settled in Fannin County and
Honey Grove in the late 1800's. Have you ever visited the Honey Grove Historical
website? I can't get this link to work, but the address is: www.honeygrove.org or e-
mail Mary Anne Thurman, administrator (thurman@honeygrove.org). She helped
me comprise a list of businesses and she posted a couple of my pictures of the
downtown area made in 1951. Anyway, just FYI for what its worth.
You mentioned recipes on your website. I recall as a child my mother often made
"Slang Jang" when she had guests over for games. I didn't realize until I viewed
the Honey Grove historical info that "Slang Jang" is peculiar to Honey Grove and
the recipe is included there.
"Slang Jang" is like a cold soup...it is made from canned tomatoes, oysters,
onions, hot sauce, salmon and whatever else you want to throw in...sounds
terrible, but I remember enjoying eating it when I was young.
Davy Crockett Day is celebrated October 1st. I'm sure Mary Anne Thurman would
have the details on the event. The legend of Davy Crockett naming the town is also
posted on the website.
One of the attached pictures is of my grandmother, Myrtle Lair, sitting in a car. It
was made in 1951. You can see the Western Auto Store in front of the car, and
next to Western Auto you can barely make out "Food Market" - this is where
Collins Grocery (later known as Collins Piggly Wiggly) started out, and across to
the left in the background is the Jackson and Self Goodyear store.
The other picture is of the South side of the Honey Grove square. I've been told the
small white sign in front of the Ford car on the left was a "Taxi Stand" sign. Kold
Kash Store, owned by J. W. Hammack, is pictured on the left. Next to it is Baker's
Pharmacy, then the State Theater. You can barely see the big white 1cent scales
in front of the theater. Next to the theater is Dial Hardware. The Texaco station
visible in the photo was operated by my father, George Simmons.
At the time I graduated High School in 1960, I think the population of Honey Grove
was around 2000. But the town supported a great number of businesses. There
were numerous gasoline stations, several hardware stores, two clothing stores,
movie theaters, variety stores, jewelry store, shoe repair, grocery stores,
barber/beauty shops, etc. Of course that was before mass marketers like Wal-
Mart; small businessmen thrived - the rural community came to town every
weekend to take care of everything from entertainment to buying groceries to
getting haircuts. I think it is interesting that so many merchants could survive in
such a small town and I never realized that until I started writing and looking back!
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Bluff Bridge. Read my article about it
at Texas Escapes!
downtown Honey Grove, 1951.
Oklahoma side. It's a
one-car-only bridge!
is to the right. Check out the Kold Kash Store and
the old Texaco Star! Love those cars!