On August 13, 2021, Union Pacific’s Big Boy No 4014 to stop in Pottsboro
The world’s largest steam locomotive returns with “The Big Boy 2021 Tour” leaving Cheyenne, Wyoming, August 5, and making stops in communities along the origianl route. It will stop in Pottsboro at Grayson Street from 1:45 pm – 2:15pm on August 13, 2021.
“Weighing in at 1.2 million pounds, the Big Boy makes a big impression in communities it visits, reminding us of bygone days and the important role the railroad continues to play in our global economy,” said Scott Moore, senior vice president – Corporate Relations and chief administrative officer. “This summer, we are proud to announce that the Big Boy will be back to tour through 10 of the states and hundreds of the communities which Union Pacific serves.”
Twenty-five Big Boys were built exclusively for Union Pacific, the first of which was delivered in 1941 to handle the steep terrain between Cheyenne and Ogden. Of the eight still in existence, No. 4014 is the world’s only operating Big Boy. The other seven can be found on display in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Denver, Colorado; Frisco, Texas; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska; Scranton, Pennsylvania; and St. Louis, Missouri.
Union Pacific strongly encourages visitors to keep safety top of mind while viewing and photographing No. 4014 on its journey. For everyone’s safety:
Remember, trains can’t stop quickly to avoid people or vehicles on the tracks.
A train’s distance and speed can be deceiving.
The average train overhangs the track by at least three feet – take extra precaution and stand back at least 25 feet.
Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and right of way are private property.
Never assume tracks are abandoned or inactive – always expect a train.
The Experience the Union Pacific Rail Car, a multi-media walk-through exhibition providing a glimpse at the past while telling the story of modern-day railroading, will accompany the Big Boy on its tour. A steam tracking map showing No. 4014’s location and route will be available at upsteam.com
The Preston Trail National Society Daughters of the American Revolution of Pottsboro, Texas had a busy two weeks at Denison’s Frontier Village and Museum.
On April 10th, many of the chapter Daughters, along with the cooperation of Museum President Dr. Charla Harris and other staff from the Frontier Village, especially Village grounds Manager Mark Harris, completed the inside re-chinking to one room of the Price/Shaw Cabin. Some members of the Preston Trail DAR who volunteered in this all-day effort were: Regent Jeanne Groff, Sandy Sharp, Natalie Bauman, Lynda Fleming, and prospective members Roma Waidner and Angela Rodriguez. The Preston Trail chapter as part of its Historical Preservation mandate adopted this cabin to act as year-round caretakers and docents during special events. The NSDAR awarded a grant to the Frontier Village to restore the cabin, and April 10th activities were part of that ongoing effort. The cabin is a dog-trot style house, so one more interior room remains to be re-chinked. It is hoped the work can be completed before the Frontier Village’s 50th Anniversary celebration in June. Other members that day met to plan the upcoming Memorial, help chink and give the finishing touches to the completed room of the cabin by cleaning up and arranging the furniture. They also cleaned the nearby church building across from the Price/Shaw cabin. These members included: Jeanne Groff, Natalie Bauman Gloria Huhtala, Lisa Lettie, Vicki McComack, Katie Strief, Sandy Sharp, Lynda Fleming, Johnnie Templeton, Margaret Alverson, and Michelle Alverson.
April 17th there was another special day. It started with a brunch to welcome the Texas State Regent, Mrs. Susan G. Tillman and Texas State Registrar, Mrs. Susan Johnston at the Bay at the Lake, aka “Bon Appetite Y’all” at 10:00 am. The chapter Daughters enjoyed visiting on a more personal level at he relaxed event.
In the afternoon, at Frontier Village, the DAR chapter and guests assembled for two services in the Village Museum. The first service was to dedicate a flagpole, flag, and bench, donated to the Frontier Village, and placed in front of the Price/Shaw cabin. These items were donated in memory of departed Daughters and husbands of Daughters of the chapter. After these proceedings, the Memorial Service began in honor of our departed members, complete with religious hymns, prayers, patriot rituals and further tributes to those departed.
Those memorialized were as follows: DAR Daughter Eva Desse Pinchard Anthony, DAR Daughter Mary Lou Madden, DAR Daughter Ruby Jane Kusgen Latham, DAR Daughter Martha Butts Neyman, DAR Daughter Linda Spradling McAnaney, Johnnie Smith, husband of DAR Daughter Barbara Smith, Gerald Alverson, husband of DAR Daughter Margaret Alverson, Norman Denton, husband of DAR Daughter Rebecca Denton, Charles Morton, husband of DAR Daughter Gloria Morton, Paul Strief, husband of DAR Daughter Katy Strief, Robert Moorehead, husband of DAR Daughter Patricia Moorehead, David Landers, husband of DAR Daughter Elizabeth Landers, Amos “Pat” Templeton, husband of DAR Daughter Johnnie Templeton, George Pauksta, husband of DAR Daughter Melissa Kerr-Pauksta, and Bill Neyman, husband of DAR Daughter Martha Neyman. Their names will also be placed on the Preston Trail chapter’s flagpoles in remembrance.
Dignitaries participating in and present at the Dedication and Memorial Service included special guest, Mrs. Susan G Tillman, Texas Society DAR State Regent; Honorable Mayor-Pro-Tem J. C. Doty, City of Denison; Honorable Bill Magers, Grayson County Judge; Honorable David Plyler, Mayor, City of Sherman; Mrs. Susan Johnston, Texas DAR State Registrar; Dr Charla Harris, President Frontier Village Executive Board of Directors; Mrs. Jeanne Groff, Regent, Preston Trail NSDAR Chapter; Michele Alverson, Vice-Regent Preston Trail NSDAR Chapter; Mrs. Janet Wagnon, Regent – Martha Jefferson Randolph Chapter, NSDAR; Honorable Horace Groff, Grayson County Judge, Retired; Mrs. Gay Hilbert, Chaplain, Preston Trail Chapter, and NSDAR; Mrs. Dianne Pratt, Chaplain Elect, Preston Trail Chapter, NSDAR and Historic Preservation Co-Chair, Vicki McComack.
One of the chapter’s foremost areas of service is to America’s veterans. The entire Preston Trail chapter participates in fundraisers that fund a program called “Opening Doors for Disabled Veterans,” which remodels the bathrooms of disabled veterans of Grayson County so they will become handicap accessible.
Would you like to be involved in the good works that DAR participates in? Anyone interested in receiving help to prove their ancestry for qualification to become a Daughter of the American Revolution are welcome to contact our chapter at www.facebook.com/PrestonTrailNSDARPottsboroTX75076 on Facebook or www.DAR.org.
The Preston Trail Chapter of the DAR next meets the first Thursday of the month at 5pm for snacks and fellowship and at 6pm for chapter meetings and programs from September to May. There is no meeting in December. The meeting location is at the Georgetown Baptist Church north of Pottsboro at 207 Georgetown Road.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 177,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. DAR members are committed to volunteer service having served more than 12.5 million hours in communities throughout the world during the past three years. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org or connect with DAR on social media at facebook.com/TodaysDAR, twitter.com/TodaysDAR and youtube.com/TodaysDAR.
“Fairies and Trolls” are coming to the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum for the annual Daddy-Daughter Dance. For this year’s event at the Children’s Museum, Main Street will become Troll Town; the west end of the museum will become Fairy Land. The event will be at the Children’s Museum in Commerce on February 6 with one session from 5:00 to 6:30 and another session from 7:00 to 8:30.
“There will be several changes from our traditional event. We hope these changes will increase the safety of those attending”, said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director for the Children’s Museum. “We will have two sessions with each session limited to 50 tickets or couples. The first session will be from 5:00 to 6:30; the second session will be from 7:00 to 8:30. Tickets will not be sold at the door, but may be purchased on our website.” The Children’s Museum will follow the state guidelines for wearing masks which is masks for those ten and over.
In addition to the dance, crafts will follow the “Fairies and Trolls” theme. Local businesses and individuals will sponsor a variety of crafts under the leadership of Lonnie Plunkett. These will include fairy wings and troll hair. Majette Murrey will sponsor Cards by Majette for the girls to make for their mothers. Girls and dads, granddads, uncles, or brothers can feast on Fairy and Troll food. Brenda Estes, food chairperson for the event, said, “I am so excited about the food for this event. It includes Troll Pops, Sleeping Logs, Snails, Forest Fruit, and Fairy Wands. Thalian Culture Club will again sponsor the food.
Photographers Emily and Joe Shipman will be taking special photos for the evening. The photos are a special memento for each couple. These can be purchased at the event. With decorations by Elana Barton, the museum will be transformed to Fairy Land and Troll Town. Jim Ayres will return as MC.
“Having the ladies that help with this event make it all possible. Lonnie Plunkett’s amazing decorations, Brenda Estess’ artistic food creations for the girls, and Elana Barton’s decorations make this event so very special for the girls and their dads, uncles, grandfathers, or brothers,” said Sharline Freeman.
Tickets are $40 per couple with $10 for an additional daughter. The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum had their first Daddy-Daughter Dance in 2009. With a variety of themes, the event has continued for 12 years. The themes for the most popular evenings were “Frozen” and “Unicorn”.
Reservations can be made through the Children’s Museum website netxcm.com or by calling the Museum at 903-886-6055.
“Weighing in at 1.2 million pounds, the Big Boy makes a big impression in communities it visits, reminding us of bygone days and the important role the railroad continues to play in our global economy,” said Scott Moore, senior vice president – Corporate Relations and chief administrative officer. “This summer, we are proud to announce that the Big Boy will be back to tour through 10 of the states and hundreds of the communities which Union Pacific serves.”
