Freestone County, Texas Reflections Freestone — Past & Present By J.R. (Sonny) SESSIONS Special to The News Tommy J’s Independence Day Parade On July 4th this year joined Ken, Tina, Kenzie and Devin in riding in the Streetman Parade in their Polaris. About 10 years ago Tommy J. Bryant a Streetman native who returned here when he retired says he thought it Independence Day and no one there recognizing it, so he decided to have his own parade. He decorated his lawn mower and proceeded to parade the streets of Streetman. Each July 4th following this he did this, each year more joined him on their mowers, tractors, four wheelers, bicycles and more. Young and old participated and enjoyed by all. It became known as the Streetman Mower Parade and became larger each year. The last several years a hot dog dinner has been served after with games and entertainment. I missed the first couple but been to the rest, Kyle, JR, Kali, Cooper, and Sara with me along with Kenzie and Devin. The first I attended. Tommy J. pulled a small trailer behind his mower with Wilma Berry dressed like the Statue of Liberty and holding I think a lighted sparkler. Wilma didn’t ride in the parade this year, don’t know why as only 91 and looks and get around better than I do. Wilma a great lady, she and I go back to old US 75 days. This year Verita Davis dressed as the Statue of Liberty on float pulled by husband Larry, did great job and won first place. Angie Ridge has taken prize for most original on her 4 wheeler. Some years there have been lawn mower races and other contests. This year Grandma and I took in the Hot Dog Dinner and visiting after. This the first year Tommy J. hasn’t led the parade or acted as Grand Marshall. Tommy J. a longtime friend and true character, recently had to shut down the infamous Domino Hall, said the undertaker closed them down, this probably one of the best known domino games with all its TV coverage. There not much to down town Streetman today, just the ghosts of many past buildings and business. the old Post Office, feed stores, banks, mercantile stores, drug stores and the newspaper to name a few. Riding the streets on the parade route by the cotton yard which stored thousands of bales of cotton and later a baseball field that entertained for many years, the old cotton gin that ran 24 hours a day some seasons. The homes brought back memories good and bad of days gone by. The Zora and Herbert Burleson’s, the Akie Carroll home which ordered from Sears-Roebuck, a vacant home where nearly had shoot out with Federal Agents who didn’t identify themselves properly, and many others with stories. Thank you Tommy J. for being my friend and bringing a little life to Streetman again. For several years during the I45 construction this little town divided by the endless traffic on US 75, it virtually impossible for many to cross either way, there many wrecks and some fatalities, usually older citizens. Funeral processions to Cade especially a very dangerous undertaking.