Old Folks Day

Lea County Families and Histories, Then and Now" Vol I, 1979

Submitted by: Lafara Harbison Phillips

     Beginning in 1911, the people living in the Prairieview, King, Tatum and surrounding communities formed a singing convention and meetings were held four times a year, moving from one community school to another. On other Sundays singings were held in each community.

     On the first Sunday in June, 1926, the Convention was held at Prairieview. At the singing there the next Sunday, Oscar Powell called Ellis Taylor, Riley Cobb Ware, Carl Crutchfield and Roy Coggins outside. Mrs. Crutchfield knew some boys had been stealing chickens and was afraid Mr. Powell had tracked down the culprits. Afterwards she asked Carl if he were among the guilty and he laughed and said, "He was wondering about old people not taking part in the singing and asked if we would help if he started and Old Folks day." Mr. Powell knew boys of that age would do anything.

     The next Sunday Mr. Powell called together four other men and explained that he wanted to set aside a day just for old people. O. C. Stanbro, T. C. Hennington, T. E. (Tom) Taylor and E. L. (Lem) Harbison were anxious to help. On Saturday the committee met to get the water fixed-the windmill- and on the following day, the fourth Sunday, the first Old Folks Day was held.

     In the early years, most people came by horse and buggy. The roads were scaresly more than trails and were sometime so muddy or sandy that people had a hard time getting through. But they kept coming back every year and some came from far distances.

     For forty-five years Lem Harbison stood at the gate and greeted people and to help register those over sixty. Oscar Powell served as Master of ceremonies for many of thise years and kept the program interesting by encouraging the ld people to lead the singing or talk on any subject they wished. A minister has always been present to speak and special music has been presented.

     At the meeting the second year a large tent was borrowed from a church in Brownfield since the school was to small for the crowd. An organ was used at the beginning with Clara Lattimer as one of the players. In 1928 a new school was built and a piano was bought from Ethyl Travis (now Mrs. Tom Bell of Hobbs). Today, fifty years later, that piano is used for Old Folks Day and at community functions in Prairieview.

     H. F. Yadon of Lovington came to the second meeting in 1927 when he was 72. He attended regularly each year and the occasion became the highlight of the year for him. He looked forward to the time when he would win the top prize, possible when he reached the magic age of 90. Then Stephen Dupree of Brownfield started coming and who could outclass a man that was ten years older and approaching 100. When Mr. Dupree came in 1948 he was 103. Ethyl Yadon said her father came home each year disappointed and said, "Well I didn't win the prize. That old man Dupree from Brownfield was there.  I wish he's stayed home." In 1949, Mr. Yadon came home with a sparkle in his eyes and a big smile. He said, "That old man Dupree finally got to old to make the trip and since I was 94 I won the prize." In possession of his cherished dream, Mr. Yadon died in September.

     Old Folks Day was for the old, but it was also a day for the young. Butter and egg money went for new dresses and shoes for mothers and daughters. It was the "IN" place and the pinnacle of the summer for all the kids. "Everyone" was there - even your boy friend (or yo wished he were that) and this was a chance to see him, and you we wearing your new dress, too! As little ones you played on the swings and seesaw, and after getting a little older you slipped off in the car and maybe took a swim in a rancher's stock tank. It was a long dusty, hot day, but the happiest of the entire year.

     There were cleanup chores too, especially if your father was the caretaker of supplies. Washing and meticulous drying (before and after) one hundred tin cups with remnants of coffee and cold greasy barbecue was a task. As young emptied the cups, in the bottom you read, " Drink and Think of Dean Hardware."

     As evidenced by the records of earlier years, persons usually on the committees were Oscar Powell, Tom Taylor, Lem Harbison, who was president for many years, A. B. Hennington, O. A. Pope, Charlie Spears, Mrs. L. C. )Louise) Crutchfield, Nola Stanbro Bigham, C. A. Fort, T. C. Hennington and O. C. Stanbro. Over the years many others have contributed to the organization.

     Those registering at the first Old Folks Day the fourth Sunday in June, 1926, are shown with place of birth and age:

Old Folks Day registration 1926

These are persons registering at the second Old Folks Day, June, 1927, who were not present in 1926:

Old Folks Day Registration 1927