Mabank water tower and the churches...Church of Christ...
Presbyterian...
Boe's Cafe...a wonderful memory for many Mabank folks... with an active modern day e-mail club following. A place where town folks, pull up a chair, in front of their computer...poor a cup of coffee and promote the town's goings on, brag about grand kids, pray for the sick, go down memory lane and gently shoot the breeze. It is a wonderful on line community, headed by the son of Boe's Cafe.
Bowls filled with amazing ornaments, pine cones, and snow...
The hardware store, remember when I blogged about, Where I come from, well this was the building we "cut through" to get to Market Street...the back of it faced the house, where I was born...
The old ice house...notice the blocks of ice out front. When I was growing up the smaller part on the end was where my daddy played dominoes, with a bunch of other old men...Daddy would be 100, if he were still here.
The movie theater where I lost my...
first tooth!
First Baptist Church~ where I was baptized!!! Central Baptist was also made, but I'm not finding a photo.
The village was nestled all snug in the garland...
while visions of branches and pillars flickered candlelight
as winter white penguins pranced up a ladder and
peeked through cloches wanting to frolic all night!
Many of these buildings are sadly gone now, but thanks to the creative talents of Mary Ann Odom, local resident, who was Hallmark's very first consulting stylist, among many other distinguished achievements, designed our village and along with the Garden Club members hard work and burnt fingers, we have these precious replicas to cherish...I heard a few comment this Christmas, saying as long as they had some sort of a tree, the Nativity, and their Mabank Village, that would be all the decorations they needed. I know I wouldn't take for mine.
These villages seem especially dear at this time. New Year's Day we awoke to this...
Yes, we lost another building to fire, between tornadoes, fires, "progress" and don't forget a flood, a tole has been taken on Market Street... So thank you, ladies, who worked so diligently on our Mabank Christmas Village and thank you Dick for being the keeper of our small town memories with Boe's Cafe! But mostly, the biggest thank you to all of our fire department, police and city workers and all the other folk, who took care of us on New Year's Day.
I'll leave you with a happier picture...
P. S.
Josh made a replica of our house to go with my village, but I am to tired to hunt up the pics, another time...
13 comments:
I so love this IDEA! I will show some other ladies here and see if some of us can't design some of our losses. They are taking down the high school next year.
I am so sorry for your fire. It seems like every 7-8 years we loose a building here to fire. We had 4 major losses and 2 rebuilt right back where they were, for the better, but there are 2 empty lots sitting up there still.
They lost several buildings when they were wood back in the 1800s here- card playing in the back- a little fight and a lantern on the floor.
But it did bring the brick buildings in and they are still there.
It is always sad to loose a part of the past and a part of your heart.
Wow Lezlee, those pictures of the burnt out building are sad!
I think it is wonderful that someone took the time to make those little replicas of the town back in it's hayday...
it is wonderful for you to post them for us to see.
This is something that could be done by whole families-- wouldn't it be cute to make replicas of the home you lived in when each of the kiddos were born. Or the very first house a young couple owned...etc...
very crafty idea! Would make really cute ornaments for the trees.
How fun that you have those little Mabank treasures! What a great idea and special memory...so very sad about the fire!
Your vignettes look lovely, as always :) Laurel
Lezlee, every time I see one of your posts I think that you can't outdo it but the next time you wow me even more. This post shows an amazing effort put forward by the garden club. The picture of the burned building is so sad. I hope no lives were lost or no one was injured putting out the fire.
Some day I'm gonna talk Grampy into "taking a long ride" and I'm coming ot Mabank to see that town. Between you and your momma you've described it to where I could almost recognize it without seeing a sign at the edge of town.
love the old style of those little replicas. i have a few little buildings of my parents and am waiting for the big church(hint, hint to mom). thanks for sharing lezlee.
Oh my goodness - that's so sad about the building! But I am so glad there are replica's! That is amazing what those ladies did - I'm just in awe!
Of course - I'm in awe over the WHOLE tour!!! It's all so fun - and amazing!
;-D robelyn
I loved reading this post!! I never had a town that I could say "this is where I grew up". My family moved a lot. I can see why you would have such wonderful memories. I'll be praying that nature, pestilence and all will by pass what is left of your little town filled with memories.
I think I want to move to Mabank. My goodness, your community does so many unique and wonderful things. It seems like its full of warm and wonderful people too.
Very nice post, girl! It's obvious so much love and time went into those sweet little buildings. I'm so sorry about the building that burned, that's a sad way to start the new year.
We are iced in and are missing school...can you read my disappointment?:-)
Rest up and post Josh's house. Vicki
Lezlee,
I am so sorry to here about the fire. What a wonderful treat to have the precious village. I have been out of the loop so long. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I am in Australia with daughter and grandson.
smiles, alice
I LOVE that you're able to remember your town through these SWEET ornaments....How LUCKY for you....The Churches are GORGEOUS & Boe's Cafe sounds DIVINE....If I'm ever LUCKY enough to find myself over your way I'd love to sit a spell there with a cup or THREE of coffee while you & I chat about all things 'junk'.... :o) !!
Well Lovey I must away....I have my fingers crossed 2011 is a SPECTACULAR year & am looking forward to sharing it with you....!!!
Enjoy your weekend when it rolls around,
Tamarah xxx
What a marvelous way to commemorate such wonderful places in your town. Are those putz houses?
How sad to wake up to such a tragedy. We have a lot of Victorians and adobes here and people are trying very hard to preserve them.
This is such a charming way to preserve history and your memories! So sorry to hear about the fire!
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