Anniversary in Texas

We celebrated out 36 year anniversary here in Texas while serving on a mission at the Employment Center Our next anniversary will be in the Great State of Nevada.

The good folks here tell us, What is there to celebrate when it is 113 degree's?

Just like here in Carrollton Texas in the dead of winter, you go in doors.

What a great location to celebrate 36 years young!

Jack n Gaye

June 27th 2010

27 June 2010

This has been a blessed week. We are so grateful for the safe and healthy arrival of Brian & Jill’s sweet little Anna Isabel. We have seen a few pictures and have heard her sweet baby sounds in the background. Our arms long to hold her and give her kisses but we know that the Lord is and will bless us all as we continue our service here in Texas. We are so grateful that the baby, Mom, Dad and the big brothers are doing so good
Thanks for all of those who have been able to help in many ways with so many things that need to be taken care of when a new baby arrives. I have a new perspective from this distance – how grateful we are for those who are able to help and do the things that we would do if we were there. The thought occurs to me that maybe that’s a bit how our Heavenly Father feels when we help our fellow man, his children, as we serve others.
I am always amazed at how many different experiences we continue to have. Each week I think, now next week I will probably just report that we are doing more of the same and there is nothing new to report, but that is not the case for this week. – maybe next, who knows. Many things are getting more ‘usual’ for us, such as endless miles of freeways, with stack after stack of freeway spaghetti bowls. We still meet, visit and help so many people from such a variety of races, cultures and walks of life, from the high executives to the homeless and destitute. At church today a young man was speaking and I thought, ‘his accent sounds like he is an English person from South Africa.’ Sure enough a little later in the meeting someone mentioned that was where he and his family are from.
Tuesday of this week Donna T. and I went to Fort Worth and attended a community resource meeting. It was how to help people with employment that have mental disabilities. We left at 8:00 am and got back at 5:00 pm, so it worked out to be the exact hours we work at the Center. It was interesting and I learned a lot but also realize how much I don’t know. I always enjoy being out with Donna T. She’s an amazing lady. She helps a lot of people at the Center. Much to learn from her for sure!!
With more missionaries serving in the Center we have more time to call candidates in our assigned Wards and Stakes and/or those with whom we’ve worked with personally in the Center and see how things are going for them. Most are grateful to have some call and see how things are going, of course occasionally you get one that doesn’t say much or open up much and that’s okay too. Sometimes you get off the phone and think, now I was really able to pass on some information to them that they can really use. One such gal was moving with her husband to Indiana soon, he had finished his education here and will be moving there for him to work on his Master’s degree. She is needing to get a job when they get there. She registered on the site but thought that she would have to wait until she got there to begin looking. I showed her how she could start looking now and how to get in touch with the Center and Employment Specialist in the area she’ll be moving to. We have quite a few Utah college graduates who do the opposite thing – who will be coming to Texas looking for work. She was very appreciative of the information and the call.
I’ve probably contacted 15 people this week (some days I felt like I was working in a call center, with many hours spent on the phone getting in touch with people.) Six of those people have found jobs – HOORAY – a couple will be starting this coming Tuesday after the holidays. It’s always so great to be happy and excited with them over this great accomplishment.
Jack continues to stay busy with the new companies that are signing on. They have different options of posting their jobs but several of them don’t want to do it so they email him the details of the job and then he posts it for them under their company name on the web site.
He also volunteered to help clean the Dallas 6th Ward SunBeck building Saturday morning. He dropped me off at the Center and then went over and helped for an hour or so. It’s very odd not to be able to volunteer for a lot of these types of things in a Ward very often so he enjoyed being able to do this.
Donna T, Julie P. and Sister Wolfley have all been out of the Center for the past couple of days with family being in town so we haven’t had so many people working there some of the days this week. But it always works out; we always have the help needed. That’s the great thing about doing the Lord’s work, it always works out.
The Sr Sister missionaries, Sister Groch and Sister Wolfley attend the SunBeck Spanish Branch. They don’t have anyone who plays the piano in their Branch so they have started some music classes, and have 4 keyboards from the Harmon Grant ordered and on the way. I also will be helping, this past week is the first week I’ve been able to go and teach. The past 2 weeks they have had around 8 people come and participate. So I thought I would be safe to plan on 12 people attending. I copied off some keyboards on cardstock and several of the first pages from the church’s piano course.
The class began at 6:00 Wednesday evening at the church. By 6:15 there were about 23 people there! We set up more chairs and did a lot of sharing. We learned about quarter notes and half notes, down beats, finger numbers and hand position. At 5 minutes to 7:00 we wrapped it up and expected to be finished for the evening BUT another 26 people showed up! So we excused the first group and did it all over again. So we helped right at 50 people that night – they had their first piano lesson – with no pianos. We had a great time and everyone was so excited about it. One lady said that she had a little experience with the piano and had been praying for a way to be able to take some lessons.
As you and I both know, I’m sure there will be quite a few that won’t continue on, but we were really ‘wowwed’ by this initial response. The students range in ages from 7 to 60. We can have one more week of teaching w/o pianos then we plan to divide the groups in half, half will go with the other Sisters and learn rhythms, conducting etc. The other half will go with me for half the time and we will work at the piano/keyboards. If we are in a room with a piano plus the 4 keyboards – we can double up students on each of the keyboards – that keeps 10 busy at a time. If after a month or so the numbers stay high we will petition for more keyboards to be sent and see what happens there.
Obviously I teach in English, most seem to be able to understand, those that don’t a neighbor translates for them as we go along.
When Dustin & family were here, one day we were walking back into the apartment and little Mark was ahead of us. He went to our neighbor’s door and knocked on it. She answered the door and Lauren apologized and explained what had happened. Of course she was okay with it all, but then I asked how things were going for her. She said not good and then told me about her daughter, who was in her early 30’s, had died just a couple of days earlier due to some health problems. She had left behind two children, a 4 year old and an 8 year old. She was in the middle of planning the funeral and taking care of the many necessary arrangements. We visited for a few minutes then Jack & talked about some things we might be able to do to help support her and show our love and concern for her.
Thursday morning Jack & I were still at the apartment, waiting for a call from Brian about the arrival of the new baby. Our neighbor knocked on the door, she was sharing some of the food with us that people had brought to her over the past week. I invited her in and she stayed and visited for about an hour. (It was nice to have a diversion while I was waiting.) She’s a very nice, pleasant lady, lives by herself and teaches elementary school. In the course of our conversation she mentioned that she was looking for some simple ways to talk to and explain to her grandchildren about death. I was able to share with her the analogy using the glove and your hand to explain about the body, spirit and resurrection. It was very good to be able to visit with her.
Charlie Morell invited me to play with him a couple places this week. He has a group of friends, mostly from his ward but not all, that gather once a month for a Book Club Review. This month the book was, ‘Seven Miracles that Saved America,’ by Stewart. Jack read the book and really enjoyed it. He and I played a Telemann Sonata on the recorder/harpsichord to start the evening. There were about 14 people there that gathered in their living room. An enjoyable evening.
This morning we played 20 minutes prelude and then a special musical number in his Sacrament meeting in the Plano 4th Ward. Nancy Bishop Pierce lives in this area so I called and visited with her a couple of days ago and told her we would be going to that ward. Her Ward meets in that building too but at a later time. So she was able to come to this ward and listened to us play. She invited us over to dinner afterwards. It was so good to see her and visit with her and Gary for a few hours this afternoon. We had a great time remembering people from the valley and reminiscing about the ‘good ol’ days’ in Moapa Valley. They have been here about 23 years now.
As we were getting ready to leave, their Home/Visiting teachers came. They happened to be a couple that I had met in the Employment Center a couple of weeks ago. He is the guy who is responsible for all of the service missionaries in this entire region. He was in the Center and the Storehouse checking on the needs for local service missionaries.
I sat by Carla Morell in Relief Society, they asked her to play the piano, but they were also looking for someone to lead so she volunteered to lead and have me play the piano. There was also a couple visiting their children for the weekend from Las Vegas, so of course we had to visit with them afterwards.
Another interesting thing was a talk that was given in Sacrament mtg by Brother Monson. He told a story about his gr gr gr…. Grandfather – John Tanner and his life of sacrifice. Sacrificing his wealth for the cause of the church in the early days in Kirtland etc. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him afterwards but this sounds like the story of our Jim Tanner’s gr gr gr ….. grandfather. What do you think Tanner girls? Maybe we’ve found you a relative here in Texas.
The other talk given was by a returning missionary who had served in Puerto Rico. While he was over there Elder Bednar came and visited so he shared some of his thoughts in his talk.
It’s amazing how you can show up at a ward and feel so at home no matter where you go. But today had so many things happen, it’s just amazing.
We went over to the Morell’s on our P-day to practice for the upcoming performance/musical numbers. While there some of their grandkids were there. The one boy has his 15th birthday tomorrow so the family was getting together for a b-day dinner and gathering. The young man invited us over for it all so after leaving Nancy’s we went over to the Morell’s for more food and visiting.
When the Morell’s introduce us they often say ‘These are the Nelson’s from Nevada. They are serving a full time mission here and we’re looking for a house for them.’ Now he adds, ‘Their son was here last week and we told him we would find him a job here too.’ We smile and just shake our heads, ‘No way.’ We appreciate the many wonderful experiences we are having and the many wonderful friends but there is
NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!
We love and miss you all so much. Thanks for your love and prayers you give to us. May the Lord continue to bless our lives.
Dad & Mom, Grandpa & Grandma, Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson
Jack n Gaye

Music with the Plano 4th Ward

This Good man is brother Jack Semonis. He is the Stake patriarch of the Carrollton Texas Stake. He and I and 2 other brothers cleaned the Sunbeck ward building Saturday Morning. He told me he could remember when there was one building down on Turtle Creek Parkway. Now there are 16 stakes. He has been a bishop twice and a Stake President. It was as if I got to spend the morning with a Alma Whipple kind of guy. He told me much about the History of the church in the Dallas area. Then Sunday after meetings we had the fun opportunity to meet and have lunch with Sister Nancy Bishop Pearce in Plano. She was a schoolmate of Sister Nelson at Moapa Valley
She and her husband Gary were wonderful hosts and we talked much about Moapa Valley and family.

This is the Pearce home in Plano Texas

If you look behind Sister Nelson you see a great picture of Lee and Noreen Bishop. It did my heart good to see that photo. They are a Wonderful example. They served a mission to Ireland.

The Plano 4th Ward Building. Sister Nancy came to hear Sister Nelson play a special musical number with Brother Morell

Brother Morell and Sister Nelson played some prelude as well, Harpsichord and Recorder. When they began the "Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" you could feel the spirit settle in. Many ward members mentioned it as well!

We love the Morell family and feel they are our family here in Texas. He builds these fine instruments and plays with a chamber group around the Dallas area.

We had dinner with them and their married children who like to get together on Sunday afternoon. They have 3 married children that live within 10 miles of them. That does have a familiar ring to it!

Brother Morell grew up in Phoenix Arizona and got his degree at ASU. He teaches a class at the employment center on Mondays. What an honor to labor with this good man.

Jack n Gaye

Frontiers of Flight and Reunion Tower

A Thursday visit to Reunion Tower in Downtown Dallas A great view of the city

Reunion Tower is a 561 ft observation tower and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Dallas, Texas. Located at 300 Reunion Blvd. in the Reunion district of downtown Dallas, the tower is part of the Hyatt Regency Hotel complex, and is the 15th tallest building in Dallas.

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck opened the fine-dining restaurant, If you have $60.00 a plate, the tower's rotating top level would be a great stop for you.

It is a city landmark and a fun stop.

A tour of the Frontiers of Flight Museum is a great experience. During your experience, you will bridge several lifetimes starting with the pioneers who realized their earliest dreams of flying; identifying with the aviators of the 20's and 30's, known as the "Golden Age of Flight"; understanding the sacrifices of the fliers of World War II; and progressing to the jet and rocket age of today. This solid mass greets you. It is to allow a continuous flow of space through and around the monolith. With the round apertures framing the surrounding landscape and the richly varied green patina of the bronze, the overall effect of the sculpture is one of natural forms and forces.

I could get in, however, the can of diet coke couldn't get in at the same time

The Air Force had guides that would take you through the museum

Sister Nelson was so excited about the arrival of her new Grand Daughter, Anna Isabel,that she couldn't enjoy the flight

Jack n Gaye

June 20th 2010

Happy Father’s Day !!!!!!
What a great blessing to have such wonderful father’s in our life. We have two wonderful fathers, three wonderful sons who are great fathers to our grandchildren, 9 wonderful brothers who are wonderful examples and have great’ father hearts’ to all of us. Last and not least, the wonderful father to my children. What a wonderful blessing you are to us all!!!! I pray that you have a wonderful year.

We have had a blessed week. (That is a term you hear here in Texas a fair amount, upon parting someone’s company they will say, ‘Have a blessed day.’ Kinda nice.) I will go in order and not jump to the middle before we cover the beginning, however.
Last weekend the Phelp’s had some of their family here so we covered for them a bit. Monday is the Sr Sister’s P-day, also Donna T day off. We had Sister Lyle at the front desk, she is such a blessing to us all, keeps things running smoothly up front, answering phones, greeting people etc. Julie P was there but basically Jack & I had the ‘floor’ to ourselves. We had 21 people come in that day – that is a lot for one day by any standards, especially if only two of you are handling it. There was one time in the afternoon when each of us were working with 3 people all at once. But it worked good and we got everything taken care of. Those days sure go by fast.
Each morning we start the day with a spiritual thought, prayer and training as needed. We usually tell people that we open the doors at 8:00, they are welcome to come then but we are ready to start helping them by 8:30. Some people will come in early and work on the computer or they are can join with us. (If someone is needing help during that time one of us will go over and help as needed.) Tuesday morning a lady came in for the Resume Workshop but got there early. She wanted to work on a computer for a while before the workshop. She was busy so we didn’t bother her about coming to join us for the morning devotional.
Afterward Sister Groch’s thought and prayer and we broke up she asked if I could come over, she had a question. She told me that she was very touched by the thought and especially the prayer. She thought it would be such a great thing if all businesses started their day like that – indeed it would! We visited a few minutes and then she asked if we had any information about our church that I could share with her. I gathered up a Book of Mormon and a few other items and gave them to her. She was very appreciative. Of course I told her to let us know if she wanted for information or had any questions. It was a very sweet experience.
As we get to know more people we can pair them up with each other at times to share information. I met with a lady who is interested in working at the Denton Rehabilitative Services and wanted to learn more about it. Bro./Doctor Hanks has recently worked there so I was able to call and get information from him that she needed – the whole networking idea becomes so important, each one helping the other. Some have difficulty catching the vision but most are more than willing to meet and help another one. Therefore the weekly Networking mtgs that are held in Stakes and one sponsored by the Center are a great thing.
Jack visited with a man who is going to be helping at the Center as a service missionary. He is a businessman and he and Jack will go out to many of the businesses to talk to them about signing on their companies with us. Turns out that he and his wife served a mission in Panaca, NV. A few years ago. They took their travel trailer and stayed at the trailer park where we stayed for our Whitney Reunion a couple of years ago. The guy was pretty impressed that Jack knew the owner Chad Young, a friend from college days.
And then things got really good. The Phelps’ got their family to the airport and we left to meet Dustin, Lauren and kids. We traveled up to Decatur and met them there. We hugged and visited, had some lunch, then Allie and Estefan got in with us and we drove on into Carrollton. It was so good to see them and have them around for a couple of days. We visited the Dallas Zoo, my it was hot. It was about 95 degrees, the same as in Logandale that day but in Logandale the humidity was 7%, in Dallas it was 79%. I guess that is the first time we’ve really spent a day out in it. There was not much shade there so we were really feeling it. However it did not dampen our spirits and we enjoyed the day and each other.
The next day we visited the Employment Center and took them on a tour of the Bishop’s Storehouse, warehouse, grainery etc. After lunch at the apartment we went out to Forth Worth and visited the Stock Yards. We had a lot of fun, it was a bit overcast and there was more shade. We could also go inside a store and cool off a bit. Afterwards we went out for some yummy pizza.
On our off times we went swimming at the swimming pool at the apartment building. We had a lot of fun with the kids doing this. A great place to cool off and work off any extra energy.
The next morning we visited, swam, had lunch and then it was time for them to head back to Nevada. The time went by so fast but what a treat to have them come and visit for a few days. They have now experienced the fun of finding your way around as you ‘exit right while keeping left and going North on I-35 East.’
I guess it’s alright to say this, but we were so excited about their announcement of a new baby on the way. Expected arrival is in January. Another super great blessing! I can’t believe we will miss the birth of 2 grandbabies while we are gone but we so grateful that these little ones are coming to our family.
Our love and prayers are with Jill as she prepares to deliver their new little baby girl this Thursday. I was very tempted to stow away with Dustin and family, then fly back in a week or so….but I’m still here in Texas. I know that they will be watched over.
Jack went back to the Center and finished out the last 3 hours of the day at the Center. I stayed and cleaned up and enjoyed the sweet thoughts of having the family here.. . I wasn’t quite ready to break the spell and get back to our new reality.
Saturday we were both back at the Center doing our missionary work and loving it too.
We heard from Dustin this afternoon, he reported that they made it home safe and sound.
I was asked to play the piano for Relief Society today, they may need this for a few weeks since they don’t have anyone called right now and don’t have anyone in mind that is available right now. It is nice to be able to help out and do something in the Ward, I’m more than happy to do it.
The Morells invited us over for dinner for Father’s Day. They had two of their three children and their families getting together. It was so nice to spend the afternoon with a family. Charlie and I played a Telemann Sonata for them that we have been playing together for a little while. Carla is such a gracious host and always fixes a delicious meal.
Afterwards we stopped by and visited Jim Dahl and his wife. She had broken some bones and has had to use a wheelchair and walker for several months now while it heals. Elder Dahl is a retired attorney and comes in on Mondays to help candidates with legal issues that they might be having. Gives many advice who are starting up self-employment/small businesses.
We have a wonderful group of people that we are serving with. Such a blessing to be serving here in Texas.
We just read the latest unemployment reports. Texas has added jobs in the last month, their/our unemployment rate is the lowest in the country right now. On the other hand --- Nevada has moved to the #1 spot in unemployment at 14%. Not good, I feel bad for the situations in Nevada and hope that it will turn around soon. I know that is affecting so many of our friends and family.
Well, with that happy thought,…..I guess it’s time to say goodbye for another week. We love you all so much. We are grateful for this time to be in the full time service of the Lord. May he bless and keep each of you in his safe keeping.
Our Love,
Grandpa & Grandma, Mom & Dad,
Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson
Jack n Gaye

Father's Day in Dallas with Texas Family

A perfect Father's Day

A book about grandpa's, a book about "Driven" A tie with Isaac Allen, and Jackson Scott's pictures on it!
A Wonderful dinner with the Morell Family and their Father Charles Morell

A birthday for Cameron Morell born on Fathers Day 15 years ago

Music to end a wonderful dinner!

A visit to Jim and Trish Dahl Home in Plano Texas

Thanks for the Wonderful visit From the Dustin and Lauren Nelson and all the excitement they brought to our lives here in Dallas Texas Mission~

Jack n Gaye

Nelson n Nelson in Texas

Arrival at the Fort Worth Stock Exchange Visit to the Nelson's Office with Sister McPherson
Grandpa Jack and Estefan at the Stock Exchange

Estefan taking the Nelson kids for a Cruise


The Two older Nelson boys wanted to cruise as well! Mark said, "where is my hat?"

Lauren and Kids overlooking Monument Valley on the trip down

Dustin and Mark in Jail

Okay Dad, have some of this !!

Checking the elephants out

Grandpa Stan taught me what to do here!

The Wagon Train to Logandale Nevada. We felt very alone for a few minutes until we got to the center and were swamped with call backs and notes.

Jack n Gaye

Morelo Music & Alto Recorder

Brother Morell and Sister Nelson Organ and Recorder duet, "Come Thou Fount"


Brother Morell Playing an 1876 Pump Organ he just restored. Brigham Young would have been the President of the Church and Rutherford B Hayes the President of the Nation.





Jack n Gaye

June 13th 2010

13 June 2010

Greetings from Texas,
I hope this finds you cool, with your air conditioner working, except for the Utah folks, they may just be glad to have their heat off for a few days it sounds like. It has been warm here and quite humid but nothing too unbearable yet. Being indoors all day, we have nothing to complain about.
This has been a good week, steady but not too busy. Several people we have been working with have reported that they have gotten jobs this past week, we have rung the bell and cheered!!
Every Tuesday there is a ‘Satellite’ Employment Center open in the Arlington Stake Center. This is housed in the Family History Library. It works out very nicely because it is much closer for the people in Fort Worth and Weatherford. There are several local service missionaries called that work there. This past Tuesday they were short handed so Elder Nelson and I were asked to go out there. It was good to be out there and help. We had gone out with Julie P. when they were finalizing the plans for it all. They had about 8 people come in, which is good for a new program. However, at the Carrollton Center (our daily spot) they had 28 people that day. They were really swamped. At least we were missed! Brother Lawler will be gone the next 2 weeks also but I’m afraid they are on their own.
Being at that Center in the Family History Library it inspired me to spend some time on Family History however, so that was fun. We got away from there at 8:00 pm, so back to the apartment by 9:00.
Scot E., the fellow who moved to Las Vegas for work, has been living there for a couple of months. Now that school is out he came back to move his family out too. He was rounding up people to help him pack this past week and Jack hoped to be able to help but when it came right down to it he wasn’t able to leave the Center. After having such a busy day on Tuesday without us there Julie didn’t dare let him go.
Of the 2 sister missionaries, one of them speaks Spanish so they are going to the Carrollton Spanish Branch. The Branch doesn’t have any one who plays the piano so they are getting some classes started. They have requested and have been approved to get 4 keyboards from the fund set up in SLC. They should be here in a couple of weeks. They had their first class this past week, the sisters are teaching them about time signatures and note values etc. They have asked me to come and teach them at the piano. I willingly accepted the invitation. That should be fun to be involved with.
Wednesday the McPhearson’s come to help at the Center. We really enjoy their friendship. That evening we went out to eat together to the Cheesecake Factory. Yummy food and lots of it. Fortunatley Jack & I shared a plate or we never would have been able to eat it all.
For our P-Day we went to downtown Dallas and visited some sculptures of a cattle drive. They have art here that even a cowboy can enjoy. It was really amazing with more than 50 head of cattle and several horsemen.
We also went to the Dallas Historical Village. That was very interesting and enjoyable. We decided Texans really appreciate their history.
That evening Charlie and Carla invited us over for dinner and music. Another enjoyable evening with them. What great friends.
As you drive through the city streets on Sunday morning its interesting to see that near the bigger churches (not to include the LDS churches) there will be several police officers out directing traffic, allowing the members to get access into the buildings without creating a bottleneck of traffic. It’s nice so many people are going to church!
The Phelp’s have their daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren with them this week. Their little 2 year old granddaughter had the swine flu while they were in the MTC and was very ill. She reverted back to an infant stage, unable to walk and talk, they were pretty concerned for quite a while. We added our prayers with theirs for a full recovery. We were all so excited to see her happy, talking and running around when they visited the Center Friday.
The Phelp’s take their family to the airport Tuesday morning, they will return to the Center and then Jack & I will leave to go meet Dustin, Lauren and the kids. We are so very, very excited to have them come!! They are on their way now. It is working out perfectly at the Center for us to cover for each other.
We are glad that Kayde was not hurt any worse than he was in his accident and hope for a speedy recovery.
We love you all so much and miss you. We are so glad we are busy, other wise we just get too homesick!
It sounds like the school kids are enjoying the summer. We are excited for the arrival of a new little granddaughter in less than 2 weeks. We know the Lord will bless Jill & Brian and their little family as they prepare for this new arrival.
Our love and prayers are with you each and everyday.
Mom & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma
Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson

Jack n Gaye

Dallas Heritage Village

A visit to the Heritage Village of Dallas. Nestled in 13 wooded acres just south of downtown Dallas, Dallas Heritage Village provides visitors, young & young at heart, a unique museum experience Sister Nelson giving me my ticket for Dry Lake, Nevada
A stop at the Fort Worth Boarding house & Hotel

The Landscaping was beautiful throughout the village

The church had a nice pump organ, Texas Flag in the background

The great Lone Star flag in the background, you can't have enough Texas flags!
I don't believe the resident actor believed me when I told her I use to carry wood for one of these!

The was the Sullivan House, typical of late 19th century neoclassical revival architecture, the house boasts fluted columns on the porch. This is one of the first houses with indoor plumbing.

Come on and I will give you a refill before you head to Dry Lake

Our happy home in Downtown Dallas Texas, really it was a typical dwelling for a railroad section crew. The railroad companies divided the tracks into sections one every 30 miles. Here is the Citizens Bank built in Justin, Texas, a small community north of Fort Worth, the Citizen's Bank provided necessary credit for farmers and security for local depositors. Housed in a brick building with classical architectural elements and located on a prominent street corner, the bank was typical of many banks built in North Central Texas around 1900. As usually, a withdrawal!

Here was the first house at Heritage Village the Miller House. This house was constructed by William Brown Miller between 1855 and 1862, not far from his original log home. Its design was an adaptation of the Greek Revival architecture popular at the time, reflected by its symmetrical facade and the original square Doric portico at the front door. The front porch with the ionic columns was added during a 1912 renovation. The fine furniture inside the house indicates the success enjoyed by many pioneer families within 25 years of settling in Dallas County.

The farmstead is composed of a dog-trot house, detached kitchen, cellar house, blacksmith shop, feed shed, animal barn, outhouse, a small family cemetery, a herb garden, a vegetable garden and a crop field.

The Dr Pepper mural

It looks like it would work in Alamo Nevada as well!

Taking a break from the tour at the main street fountain

Built in 1888, this structure served the community of Renner, Texas (now part of North Dallas) as a school until 1919. The exterior displays elements of Greek Revival architecture typical of schools, meeting houses, and Masonic Lodges constructed across the South in the 19th century. Inside are a foyer, a large restored schoolroom downstairs, and one large schoolroom upstairs.

Another chance to teach school here in Texas

In front of the class in Dallas

Jack n Gaye