FREESTONE PAST & PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS RED & WHITE GROCERY Recent information published on Fairfield National Bank new construction and the Red and White Grocery Store brought back personal memories. Some preceded Ernest Stewards Red and White as originally McIlveen & Steward Red and White. Before the new store built it located where the Abstract Co. offices are today. At one time they may have also done funerals as provided ambulance for public service. Albert McIlveen ran a watch repair shop here for many years, finally in Willy Frank Tate's drugstore. The first sliced bread I remember came from here in the early 30's while we lived in the old Jail across the street at one time Boyd and Opal Loper ran a bakery on the south side of the square, the fresh bread always smelled good while being baked at night. In later years my friend Harold Day worked here on Saturdays and I worked at Utley's, these weren't 8 to 4 jobs but usually 7 till late at night after the farmers went to the movie and ready to go home. After work and all closed down Harold and I sometimes met at Sambo Daniels little café for bowl of his delicious homemade chili which might have cost a quarter. Sambo a lifelong friend, the only one I remember always calling me Jimmy, might even play a few marble machine games on his penny machines. Red and White closed after the War and several businesses operated here until bought and the Streetman Bank moved to Fairfield . When it opened its new building was probably the fanciest in area. The McIlveen's were early Fairfield settlers and merchants. *** Original Sheriffs Report July 1968 Mac Baker's Texaco burglarized. Car stolen Donie found stripped in Louisiana , Bronc rider in local rodeo transferred to Houston , probably in more trouble than fracture as lady with him not his wife. Hippie's migrating to Lewisville for Labor Day music festival, some walking, some riding everything imaginable, the favorite a junked up Volkswagon station wagon.. Bosley Store in Kirvin burglarized. THP in high speed chase up to 130 mph, wrecked out, jailed. Short talk to Teague Rotary Club after dinner. Emergency Corps meeting. Wife had husband jailed after tried to tap her with stick of stove wood. Lots of activity around County with drilling rigs trying for poison gas Smack Over wells, power plant construction, sulfur plant and gas plant near Streetman. Country Club, Federal Building and I45 construction, plenty of business and still same amount of deputies started with. "Soul Sisters Café" burglarized. Search for Mexia State School escapees, stole car Waco , joy riding here caught in house and held until officers arrived. Local took mothers car without permission robbed Longview service station, jailed there. Checked out building believed booby trapped. Emergency Corps purchased boat, motor and trailer. Dead baby found in Leon Co. trash can. *** Grandpa's Report Memorial services for longtime friend and Reserve Deputy Edward "Chief" Johnson after lengthy battle with cancer which never took his spirit away. Chief one of last real "Peace Officers" known. He would much rather find a solution to a problem other than the Jailhouse. He could usually talk down most problems and solve them without today's police attitude of throw their a__ in Jail which many times creates more problems for all. Chief I appreciated you and you and Lee Earl more than I know how to say. Mr. Robert Keathly, Corsicana educator presented very informative and enjoyable program at the June meeting of the Freestone Co. Historical Comm. on the Normandy invasion in WWII. Nancy Pickett Rulla did program. at the July meeting on historic Driver Cemetery. Woodland Cemetery annual Memorial, looked like going to be rained out, ended a beautiful day. Music provided by the Christian family with a short history on the Davis family. Fine basket dinner after. Last year very dry, this year very wet.