Praying For Rain Is Nothing New
Everett Taylor
By EVERETT TAYLOR
Georgia's drought problems have gotten national attention with a report of an Atlanta official calling for prayer asking for divine intervention.
The news from Atlanta sounded familiar to James Wilkins, of Tyler, who is interested in all things historical and enjoys delving into history. He often finds reminders that things happening today are something of a repetition of events from the past.
One of those reminders came in looking through the Saturday, June 19, 1875, issue of the Tyler Democrat.
On page 3, column 3, he found a reproduction of a letter from Garden Valley, Smith County, dated June 17th, 1875, to: Editors, Tyler Democrat, as follows:
"At a prayer meeting last night, we appointed Saturday, the 26th inst., 2 days of fasting and prayer to God to give us rain, as our crops are suffering by the drought. Should it please God to send rain before that day, we will observe a day of fasting, prayer and thanksgiving for the blessing received." It was signed by David Peebles.
Another item unrelated to the weather also caught his eye on the same page, but in column 1. It reported:
"Last Sunday, a party of citizens from the vicinity of Garden Valley brought in a horse thief by the name of Lewis, who had been deprecating in that vicinity. He is in jail, awaiting the meeting of the criminal court."
CHRISTMAS PARADE
Christmas shopping already is off to a fast start, but the official welcome to the 2007 Christmas season might be the Jaycees Tyler Christmas Parade scheduled for Thur-sday, in conjunction with the annual lighting of the city Christmas tree on T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza.
The parade will step off at 6 p.m. and the feature attraction as always is Santa Claus, who will be bringing up the rear but traveling in familiar style for the Tyler appearance.
The East Texas Historical Society again has been invited to furnish transportation for Santa and again, Engine 10 will be pressed into service, reports David Crim, editor of the society's highly informative quarterly publication, The Back Step.
Engine 10 is the Society's 1949 American LaFrance that served Tyler for many years and is now owned by society members.
As best as can be determined, Crim said, this will be about the 21st time Engine 10 has transported Santa Claus in the Tyler parade. This tradition originated when Engine 10 was first placed in service with the fire department, and has continued through the years with the ETHFS.
This information is offered in the November edition of The Back Step. Among other items in this issue is a report on a "Fireman's Bed Key Wrench" recently donated to the Society by Bob and Karen Heisterman, members who live in Austin.
"I have heard of bed key wrenches, but had never seen one before," said Crim.
The donated item appears to be from the 1780s to 1820s period and "is showing wear, likely from being carried in pockets for a long period of time, and used on numerous occasions."
Wrenches were carried by volunteer firemen in the early years of this country, Crim wrote. There were no paid firefighters in those days. Firefighting methods were very primitive, dependent mostly on bucket brigades.
In many instances, when a fire obtained sufficient headway, a large area of businesses or homes might be destroyed and it was the duty of firemen to salvage as many items as possible from the path of the fire.
Many families had only a few possessions and in many instances the most expensive furniture might be a bed. If a bed was destroyed a new one might have to be made or possibly ordered by mail.
By use of a "Bed Key Wrench" firemen could work in advance of the fire, disassembling beds and more easily removing them from structures through windows or doorways, Crim explained. "In conjunction with the "wrench," firemen also might carry a "Salvage Bag" to remove smaller items from threatened homes and buildings.
Other items have been donated by the Heistermans, including a 30-foot section of Leather Rivited Fire Hose of mid-1850s vintage which has previously been considered the oldest item owned by the "Fire Society." The "Fireman's Bed Key Wrench" now may claim this distinction.
Georgia's drought problems have gotten national attention with a report of an Atlanta official calling for prayer asking for divine intervention.
The news from Atlanta sounded familiar to James Wilkins, of Tyler, who is interested in all things historical and enjoys delving into history. He often finds reminders that things happening today are something of a repetition of events from the past.
One of those reminders came in looking through the Saturday, June 19, 1875, issue of the Tyler Democrat.
On page 3, column 3, he found a reproduction of a letter from Garden Valley, Smith County, dated June 17th, 1875, to: Editors, Tyler Democrat, as follows:
"At a prayer meeting last night, we appointed Saturday, the 26th inst., 2 days of fasting and prayer to God to give us rain, as our crops are suffering by the drought. Should it please God to send rain before that day, we will observe a day of fasting, prayer and thanksgiving for the blessing received." It was signed by David Peebles.
Another item unrelated to the weather also caught his eye on the same page, but in column 1. It reported:
"Last Sunday, a party of citizens from the vicinity of Garden Valley brought in a horse thief by the name of Lewis, who had been deprecating in that vicinity. He is in jail, awaiting the meeting of the criminal court."
CHRISTMAS PARADE
Christmas shopping already is off to a fast start, but the official welcome to the 2007 Christmas season might be the Jaycees Tyler Christmas Parade scheduled for Thur-sday, in conjunction with the annual lighting of the city Christmas tree on T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza.
The parade will step off at 6 p.m. and the feature attraction as always is Santa Claus, who will be bringing up the rear but traveling in familiar style for the Tyler appearance.
The East Texas Historical Society again has been invited to furnish transportation for Santa and again, Engine 10 will be pressed into service, reports David Crim, editor of the society's highly informative quarterly publication, The Back Step.
Engine 10 is the Society's 1949 American LaFrance that served Tyler for many years and is now owned by society members.
As best as can be determined, Crim said, this will be about the 21st time Engine 10 has transported Santa Claus in the Tyler parade. This tradition originated when Engine 10 was first placed in service with the fire department, and has continued through the years with the ETHFS.
This information is offered in the November edition of The Back Step. Among other items in this issue is a report on a "Fireman's Bed Key Wrench" recently donated to the Society by Bob and Karen Heisterman, members who live in Austin.
"I have heard of bed key wrenches, but had never seen one before," said Crim.
The donated item appears to be from the 1780s to 1820s period and "is showing wear, likely from being carried in pockets for a long period of time, and used on numerous occasions."
Wrenches were carried by volunteer firemen in the early years of this country, Crim wrote. There were no paid firefighters in those days. Firefighting methods were very primitive, dependent mostly on bucket brigades.
In many instances, when a fire obtained sufficient headway, a large area of businesses or homes might be destroyed and it was the duty of firemen to salvage as many items as possible from the path of the fire.
Many families had only a few possessions and in many instances the most expensive furniture might be a bed. If a bed was destroyed a new one might have to be made or possibly ordered by mail.
By use of a "Bed Key Wrench" firemen could work in advance of the fire, disassembling beds and more easily removing them from structures through windows or doorways, Crim explained. "In conjunction with the "wrench," firemen also might carry a "Salvage Bag" to remove smaller items from threatened homes and buildings.
Other items have been donated by the Heistermans, including a 30-foot section of Leather Rivited Fire Hose of mid-1850s vintage which has previously been considered the oldest item owned by the "Fire Society." The "Fireman's Bed Key Wrench" now may claim this distinction.
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