History

In October, almost seventy-three years ago, the first school opened at the present site of Dew, in a little hewn, log house, with split log benches and no desks. Among the first teachers were Miss Molly Ruff and Mr. Thyman, with a teacher load of twenty-five pupils this being the largest number of pupils attending school at this time. The opening of the Dew School this year was quite different. With a faculty of six teachers and an enrollment of one hundred and sixty pupils. Dew has one of the most modern schools in Freestone County. A beautiful main building of rock equipped with all modern equipment Science room, library, six class rooms, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of three hundred. On the school campus we have a teacherage and a lunch room equipped to serve hot lunches to the children in cold weather. Our faculty consists of Mr. Gibson, superintendent; Mrs. B.B.

A new exhibit is slated to be delivered to Freestone County Historical Museum in the next six months. The museum is working with Mark Thacker, AIA, a commercial and preservation architect in Tyler. The house will serve as an example of an early 1900s farmhouse and Thacker plans to also relocate and restore a log smokehouse and a detached kitchen. The house will be partially disassembled and then moved to the museum where it will undergo a restoration. The overall floor plan, according to a Facebook post from Thacker, is almost a square. “The house has some of the most amazing geometry I have ever seen in a “farmhouse,” said Thacker in an email to owner Sherry Matthews. “Whoever designed the house knew a lot about cross-ventilation and prevailing winds.” Over the next six months Thacker and his crew will be rebuilding the house.

September 2, 1943

Ira’s – “Alaska Highway” starring Richard Arlen and Jean Parker; The Constant Nymph starring Charles Boyer and Joan Fontaine; Assignment In Brittany starring Pierre Aumont and Susan Peters; Pilot No. 5 starring Franchot Tone and Marsha Hunt

Hill Cash Store Sale Sept. 4

August 19, 1943

Negro Children Burned To Death – It is reported that two Negro children, one about three months old, the other about three years, were burned to death in a tenant house on the Williams place in the Winkler community a few days ago. It is reported the parents had left three children in the house alone, and that the oldest got out when the house caught fire from matches they were playing with.

August 12, 1943

Ira’s – Bataan Patrol starring Robert Taylor and Lloyd Nolan; Dixie starring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour; Gildersleeve’s Bad Day starring Freddy Mercer and Harold Peary; Coney Island starring Betty Grable and George Montgomery

Lee Judson Davis Reports For Army Service – Lee Judson Davis, who has been employed by the Mexia Production Credit Association in Mexia for several months, reported the first of the week for Army service. He was registered in Travis County, and was drafted by the Limestone County Board. His wife and baby will make their home in Fairfield during the duration.

August 5, 1943

Life Citizen Of County Found Dead – Coleman Hill, 72 year old blacksmith of Streetman, was found dead Monday morning on a work bench in his shop, having died sometime during the night. An inquest was held by Justice Willis Young, and his death was declared to have been from natural causes. Burial was in the Hill burying ground half a mile east of Streetman, Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Hill was a native of Freestone County and was born near Streetman, his parents being pioneer settlers. The only near surviving relative is a sister, Mrs. Caddie Smith, of Claude, Texas.

July 22, 1943

Fifth Case Of Polio Develops East Of Fairfield – The 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Cox, living at the Humble Pump Station, nine miles east of Fairfield, was carried to a Dallas hospital, Sunday, and is pronounced to have infantile paralysis. This makes five recent cases to develop about nine miles east of Fairfield, two being at the pump station, two of the Bishop children and one Crouch child. All are being treated in hospital.

May 13, 1943

Twister Strikes New Providence; Three Injured – A twister swept through the New Providence community, west of Freestone, about 10:30 Monday morning, devastating a strip of three or four miles long. Mr. and Mrs. Delmer Wren and Mrs. Wren's mother, Mrs. Rogers, lost their homes and were seriously injured and are in a Teague hospital. Jim Rockey's house was completely demolished. Considerable damaged was done to homes and outbuildings on the farms of W.B. Bond, Green Miller, John Stephenson, and Ben Cockrum. Other damage was done throughout the path of the storm.

Published in the May 6, 1943 edition of the Recorder.

April 28, 1943

Native Citizen of County Dies Tuesday – Henry York, 61, lifelong resident of this immediate section died Tuesday. Burial was in Steward's Mill cemetery Wednesday afternoon under direction of Burleson Funeral Home, after religious services conducted by the Rev. H.L. McKissack. Near surviving relatives are three children, Mrs. Irene Beck of Houston; and Edward York in the armed services; two sisters, Mrs. Madison Henderson and Mrs. Wealthy Smith of Fairfield; and a brother, Jim York of Fairfield.