This is the second part of a two-part article. Look to last week’s issue on Wednesday, May 28, for the first part.
The Friends of Edna board has a plan to identify honorees to consider for the “Welcome to Edna, Hometown of…” signs. Being considered are people such as professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hortense Sparks Ward, the first woman to pass the Texas Bar Exam, and Curtis Cavielle Taylor, an African American pioneering Criminal Attorney and Civil Rights Attorney, to name a few. They are considering numerous names to consider for this project.
One idea the board is particularly fond of is developing QR Code signs for the 10 oldest houses in Edna.
Patt Schiewitz said Roy Ortolan is in the process of helping FOE identify some old, famous cornerstone houses.
“I saw this program in Chicago,” Schiewitz said.
“They were houses of historic significance with a real estate-like yard sign in the front yard. Each sign had a large QR Code on the sign. If you clicked on the QR Code with your phone camera, you could learn more about the house and who lived there.”
FOE is considering some bigger “legacy projects” for families who might want to put their family name behind the project and help fund it. Schiewitz said these are a little more expensive and higher profile projects.
For example, a miniature sculpture of the old Traylor family house (Johnny Dugger’s Great, Great Grandmother) which was moved many miles with 120-200 mules and numerous logs.
The house was between Jackson and Calhoun counties located on Swan Lake.
“Johnny Dugger showed me a picture of the Traylor house. The house was gorgeous for its time, but the mosquitoes were quite troublesome in that location”.
“Those 120 or more mules pulled the house from its foundation and dragged it on numerous logs for many miles. We’d love to see a tabletop sculpture of that memory.”
Another example might be a 100-feet flagpole near the Cowboy Pride sculpture. A flag that high could be seen for miles.
Another possible legacy project could be a bust of Lucy Flournoy to honor the “Mother of Edna”. Another idea is to give downtown a small makeover, like the “Painted Ladies”, an idea that came to fruition by an artist in San Francisco.
Check it out online to learn more.
“None of these ideas are set in stone until we do them. We came up with an initial list of potential projects, but there are many more ideas to consider,” he said.
Friends of Edna would welcome volunteers or donors interested in helping with any of these projects.
Some other projects FOE has finished include: the Cowboy Pride Sculpture; lights around the CP Sculpture; Memory Stones near the CP Sculpture; a small flag field circling the Sculpture; a beautiful military mural on a building in downtown Edna (in process); contributing the final funds needed to complete the playground equipment at the Edna alternative school; and enhancing the annual Christmas light display at the county courthouse, City Museum, Old Jail and County Services Building (including two new 25’ light trees being added this year).
Friends of Edna is a group of Edna supporters who are united in identifying, supporting and seeking funding for civic projects that will enhance, beautify and enrich the value of the city. FOE is a non-profit 501(3) organization.
