From The Director

The Depot greeted 20,486 guest in 2010. This brought the total of patrons served in 30 years up to 423,354. The total planned field trips were 27 groups, which included several school districts. The staff and volunteer docents conducted 72 guided field trips. There was a total of 928 children here for Folk Art Day. Forty-six people from eight families attended Grandparents Day. Although attendance of the Syrup Festival was slightly down, there was still a big turnout. Volunteers donated 1792 hours of their time throughout the past year.

Jim and I attended a conference in College Station. He received a certificate in Collections Management and I received an Administrations certificate.

The calendar for the new year is filling up daily with field trips and special events. In April, the museum will begin reconstruction of a new syrup mill. The pan was donated by Commissioner Bill Hale. Thank you, Bill.

Thanks to Mr. Busher for the new team of mules for the Syrup Festival.

The Heritage Folk Art Day will be May 4, 2011. This is only for school groups and if needed, we can add an additional day on May 11. Call 903-657-4303 to check availablilty of openings. Click on the FOLKART link above to see what it is all about.

The Lake Forest Park train engine is now on our grounds. It was first open at the park in 1948, and ran until the early 1970's. Originally there were 3 cars, but only the engine was found. It was donated to the museum by Sidney Allen of Longview Scrap Metal. Scott Hammet of Hammet Wrecker Service moved the engine and Cindy Vivion with C&E Collision Center painted it. Commissioner Mike Pepper and crew prepped and placed the Centruy Flyer back on it's tracks while Blazer Electric welded the tracks. Partin Construction built a cover for it. Thanks to all of you for helping put the train engine on the Depot grounds.

Thanks to the following for donating artifacts to the Museum's collection: Nelson Hall, Linda Craig, Bill Hale, Nelwyn Gray, James Wood, Johnny Walker, Jerry Busher, and James Duran. Also, thanks to Mark Howard and his crew for all their help around the depot and Jo Foley for being our webmaster.

I am happy to report that William Ashby is home and getting stronger.

If you would like to volunteer for Folk Art Day on May 4, or any other time, please call Vicky or Jim at the depot. The number is 903-657-4303.

Vickie Armstrong