From Coryell County News, Dec. 23, 1932, Issue No. 1

CORYELL MUSEUM

From Coryell County News, Dec. 23, 1932, Issue No. 1

Christmas

By Jann Dworsky

Coryell Museum has a copy of the first Coryell County News printed in 1932 and below are stories from the front page.

“Responding to a request from many prominent people over the rural sections of Coryell County and the urging of some of the leading businessmen of Gatesville, we are now placing before you a copy of the first Coryell County News. Take this paper, read it, study its present news sections, and then come to our office and have your name placed upon our rolls as a permanent reader, Sincerely C.W. Roberts, Editor and Owner. Our telephone is #69 and cost is $1.00 yearly.”

Gatesville streets will be lighted with many Christmas lights. In addition to approximately three blocks of colored lights, many of the business houses present a beautiful array of lights and decorations that quickly imbues the visitor with the Christmas spirit. Among the most conspicuous decorations are the large sized Christmas trees well covered with electrical displays at the homes of Fred Prewitt, Robert Arnold, Jr., and The Bennett Hotel. Wm. Cameron Lumber Co., the Community Natural Gas Company and the Texas-Louisiana Power and Light Company, display miniature Christmas trees that have been erected on the store awnings and covered with electric lights, adding much beauty to the scene.

Fifty families are to be remembered Christmas by working through the Gatesville Chamber of Commerce. After a systematic check of all the unemployed, aged and sick of Gatesville, it was revealed that there are approximately 50 families, totaling something like 200 men, women and children, who would appreciate a visit from “Old Santa.” After a careful check, it has been found that, in some cases, considerable illness prevailed and medical attention is desired as well as food and clothing.

Fred G. Pruitt, secretary for the Chamber, also states that a general drive is being made for clothing for every age. Anyone may bring clothing to City Hall, where it will be received. Those not having any means of delivery will please call Mr. Prewitt and he will see that someone calls for it. 

Actual work is now underway by hauling stone and other building material to the building site of the J.R. Graham Lumber Company’s new and modern fireproof concrete building which will be located on the same lot as now occupied for the past few years, just west of the City Hall building, according to Mr. J.R. Graham Tuesday afternoon when talking to a representative of the Coryell County News. The building will be 35-feet wide and 100-feet long with a similar building on the south side of the same lot while a covered driveway will be in between the two buildings. Mr. Graham only recently added a full line of harness and other farm necessities to his line of building material. (In the 1980s, J.R. Graham Lumber Company building was Coryell Museum’s location.)

Come by Coryell Museum and visit our 26,000 square foot building. Our exhibits include: The Madge and Lloyd Mitchell Spur Collection, the Military Room, Doll House Room, School Room, Doctor’s Office, and Log Jail Room. We also have a delightful gift shop with many Coryell County authors represented. Our hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.