(ROCKWALL, TX – Jan. 22, 2016) The Rockwall County Historical Foundation introduced its new officers for 2016 and recognized one of its longtime members during its annual meeting at the Rockwall County Library on Thursday, Jan. 14.
RCHF’s 2nd Vice President in charge of programs Carolyn Francisco presented Carolyn Holt, RCHF museum curator, with the Outstanding Individual Award 2016 for her excellent service to the foundation and her efforts in preserving Rockwall County’s history.
This year’s officers for the foundation include: Leslie Barrett Jamgochain, recording secretary; Jan Johnson, director; Connie Rogge, director; Lucille Bell, 1st vice president (membership); Carolyn Francisco, 2nd vice president (programs); Leigh Plagens, president; Jan Self, treasurer; Carolyn Holt, museum curator. Those not in attendance who were inducted as 2016 officers were Nancy Beaty, corresponding secretary; Mike Donegan, director and Susan Reinhardt Mills, director.
The foundation presented residents in attendance, many of whom were attending a RCHF lecture series for the very first time, with an oral history of the Pullen farmstead, as told by Jackie and Connie Pullen. Jackie’s grandparents bought the farmstead back in 1919 and grew mainly cotton. The farm consisted of a vegetable garden, a smokehouse, a chicken house and a large mule barn. Jackie’s grandad was said to own the best mules in the whole country, and was a very skilled blacksmith.
Jackie farmed with his father full time from 1969 until 1992. He said often a good breeze would blow in and stave off the heat, but it would get really hot in lower terrain areas where the wind would get blocked. Onions were grown on the farm in the 1950s, and according to Jackie they made a lot of money selling onions in the field and at the onion shed near the railroad tracks in Rockwall.
The Pullen farmstead is home to five generations and currently consists of 325 acres of mainly grass and cattle.
RCHF will hold its special Black History Month lecture series on Feb. 12 when legendary local hometown hero Gloria Williams will share her life story and love for education in a pre-recorded oral history. The lecture will start at 12 p.m. in the third floor courtroom of the Historic Downtown Courthouse, 101 E. Rusk St.
Story and photos by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News staff writer.
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