Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.
   
   Washington, 1994.
   
   Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
   
   This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
   
   For more information about this text and this American Memory
   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
   Congress.Copyright status not determined.
   
   00011
   
   [?] M. Hamilton
   
   Palestine City Guide
   
   Pioneer.
   
   Writer's Project
   
   District #6,
   
   Palestine, Texas [?]
   
   Page 1
   
   MY FIRST YEARS IN PALESTINE - Written
   
   by Mrs. Katie L. Persons.
   
   I was born in Tuscrumbia, Alabama, Sept. 18th, 1846. I was named for
   Colonel Gabral Long of New Orleans. I came to Palestine in May 1882.
   
   When General Forrest was major in the Battle of Harrisburg he was
   brought to my Aunts house after he was injured. They dressed his foot
   on the front porch of her home, and my Aunt gave him my room for the
   night so he could proceed on to the army next morning. I still
   remember when the doctor came and dressed his foot and the bullet fell
   out of his foot and rolled on the floor. The next morning they put him
   in the brack-board and he went on even though the doctor told/ him to
   be still. I was only a child 12 years old at that time. Not long ago I
   was r reading the book "None Should Look Back," written by Charlotte
   Gordon and this very scene was described. Speaking of books I have the
   first edition published of "The War Poetry of the South" published in
   1868.
   
   Over fifgy years ago there were no paved streets. I remember walking
   from where I live at present, 412 South Sycamore Street, to the
   railroad before I could cross over to Magnolia Street to go to Miss
   Harrietta Dexters, just beyond the Jewish Synagogue. The mud was ankle
   deep the whole length of the streets. We used kerosene oil for
   lighting purposes and maybe you think we didn't have good lights, we
   did though, and good eyes too. Now I am not wanting to go back to that
   made of lighting - that was our improvement on tallow candles. What
   would we do without electricity? We used all kinds of lamps - some
   very beautiful hanging lamps for our halls and parlors, some were
   bronze and brass bases. We housekeepers took great pride in keeping
   our lamps filled and burning. Every morning each lamp was cleaned,
   filled and the wick trimmed just so, and each lamp put in its proper
   place. Now, we only have to push a button and there is your light,
   with no work - but extra cost.
   
   As for water there was our deep bricked up wells, water as clear as a
   crystal, and cold as ice. Then came a day when we had progressed so as
   to have city water from the water works, and another day when we had
   to drink and bathe in very muddy water. most wells had been filled, to
   the regret of many people. 00022In those days we had no picture shown,
   no automobiles. We hadn't forgotten how to walk. It is a long jump
   from those days, but a quick jump.
   
   We had no Y.M.C.A. building. On its present site, (Which was owned by
   the Gould's at the time) was a vacant lot where the farmers left their
   wagons and teams while in town. There was forest trees to provide
   shade for the horses.
   
   I think Palestine has always had a majority of good citizens, I have
   found it so anyway.
   
   For many years the Episcopal Church stood on the corner where it was
   first built in the 70's, right where Bratton's Oak Street Drug Store
   is now located. The church sold that corner to the Link's and moved
   the church across the street on the present Post Office site. This
   property was willed to the Episcopal Church by Mr. Maxwell. There was
   a very nice two-story residence on the corner of Sycamore and oak that
   was used for the Rectory. (Mr. Andrews was our Rector at that time) He
   was a fine young man, and Englishmen, and he brought his bride here
   with him. They were with us for a good many years, but later went to
   Florence, Alabama. H He has passed on to his home in Heaven. While he
   was with us the church sold that property to the Government for a Post
   Office site, and the church had to be moved a second time to its
   present location. The church was brick veneer, with a basement. The
   enterior was very beautiful and was not changed. The front window,
   "Christ In Gothsemane" was donated by Mr. A. R. Howard in memory of
   his first wife, and his father. The window over the altar "The
   ascension of Christ" was given by the Old Woman's Guild" in love. This
   church was built in the 70's.
   
   End.