View Magazine - November/December 2019 by news-journal

CA LE NDAR OF EVEN TS | PI C TUR E TH I S! | H I STO RY V I E W

VIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

COVER STORY

Captains Nick & Michelle Hutchinson

FAITH IN

ACTION

ALSO INSIDE

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

contents RE VIEW

TO EAT: Tuscan Pig

COVER VIEW

Captains Nick & Michelle Hutchinson: Faith in Action

HEALTH VIEW

A Healthy Start

DESIGN VIEW

Everest Rehabilitation Hospital: Designed for Recovery

HISTORY VIEW

Longview Train Depot: History on the Move

EVENT VIEW

26 28

Marshall Memorial City Hall Longview 150

IN EVERY ISSUE 30 Calendar of Events 32 Directory 34 Picture This!

20 ON THE COVER Fifth-generation commitment and first-generation enthusiasm. That’s what Capts. Nicholas “Nick” and Michelle Hutchinson embody as leaders of Longview’s Salvation Army. Being a Salvation Army officer is “a calling. … There are days when it’s extremely difficult. But also, seeing lives changed is incredibly rewarding,” Capt. Nick said.

4 VIEW | N MO AV RE CM H /BAEPRR/IDLE C E M B E R

Left: Newgate Mission Executive Director Hollie Bruce. Middle: Salvation Army Captains Nick and Michelle Hutchinson. Right: Amtrak Texas Eagle Product Line Agent Griff Hubbard looks over a photograph of the station taken in the 1954 as he gives a tour of the Historic Longview Train Depot.

weater weather. As I’m writing this, the temps are still hitting

with hope as they face daunting situations and not forgotten during

the 90s each day, and the heat continues to sap my desire to

the frenzy of holiday celebrations and gift-gifving. They’re people

step outside.

whose work embodies Christ’s call for us to love our neighbors as

Our Charm fashion feature for this edition, however, tells

ourselves and to especially care “for the least of these.”

me that sweater weather is just around the corner, probably

This edition of the magazine will take you on a tour of a

by the time you’re reading this. I’m holding out hope it’s true

building whose past and future are cemented in the fabric of

because I’m ready for a season change, and with it more than just

Longview’s story: the Historic Longview Train Depot. You’ll also

cooler weather.

read about the many activities Longview has planned for its big

Sweater weather means Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sweater

sesquicentennial bash and take a look at Marshall’s newest event

weather means the promise of a new year. Sweater weather means

venue — Memorial City Hall. You’ll also meet Morgan Strong,

pecan pie and hot chocolate will soon be in season.

owner of Morgan Abbigail — a great place to find items for your

It’s also the return of the giving season, and an important time of year for local nonprofit organizations that work to spread holiday cheer to people in our community who are struggling. In this edition of Charm and View magazines, we’re profiling the people who lead two of those organizations — Hollie Bruce at Newgate Mission and Capts. Nick and Michelle Hutchinson at

fall and winter wardrobe. We hope you enjoy the last edition of these magazines for 2019. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, a very merry Christmas, and we’ll see you in 2020.

the Salvation Army. I’ve loved learning more about these three people who are responsible for ensuring hundreds of people are fed daily, filled

jferguson@news-journal.com

EAT. SHOP. PLAY. LONGVIEWMALL.COM |

news-journal.com 5

REVIEW

eat

Tuscan Pig

Words by FINN O’CONNOR

y wife and I and a few friends went to eat at the Tuscan

The Italian Meatballs appetizer was smothered in cheese, which

Pig Italian Kitchen on a Friday night. The place was

takes away from the taste of the meatball. I would have served the

busy, and I noticed the owner making a point to greet

meatballs just like the initial bread and sauce plate were served,

most of the diners as they entered the restaurant. He was vigilant, making sure from the moment the guests were seated they had attentive service. That was impressive.

with just the meatballs, a bowl of sauce for dipping and maybe a piece of garlic bread. For dinner, we ordered the Eggplant Parmesan over Pesto

In one corner, there was a gentleman singing to music. He was

Corkscrew Pasta, Tuscan Style Pork with Ragu sauce, Corkscrew

dressed like one of the Rat Pack from the Las Vegas days of the past,

Pasta, and Country Lasagna, which includes their Tuscan style pork,

with a white tuxedo jacket, black vest and red tie and sunglasses.

classic Bolognese and creamy Be’chamel sauce layered between

His attire went well with the 1940s standards he was singing. We

sheets of pasta. We also had the Spaghetti and Meatballs.

enjoyed him and he made the evening fun. He performs on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant has a unique way of introducing food on the menu. Every dish is featured on a tablet device the servers carried around with them, so they can show diners how it is prepared and what it looks like when it is served. I like that a lot. So often in a restaurant you order something based on how a server describes it, and then it’s not what you expected when it arrives at the table. When we first sat down, restaurant staff gave us some bread and a bowl of the house red sauce. I liked that because it gave us a chance to taste their sauce, which would be in so many of their dishes. The menu has quit a few interesting appetizers and main dishes, including create-your-own-pasta dish with four options for pasta — linguine, spaghetti, corkscrew or penne, and five sauce options — ragu, alfredo, creamy pesto, marinara or Tuscan Pig’s signature creamy pink sauce. You can add just about anything to the pasta dish, including sautéed diced chicken, meatballs, fried eggplant, chicken breast cutlets, shrimp and the restaurant’s signature Tuscan Shredded Pork. For appetizers, we ordered the Italian Meatballs, Fried Gnocchi, the sampler of Bruschetta, which included toppings of eggplant parmesan, Margherita and Tuscan Style Pork. We ordered the special that night, which was a rice ball topped with Pesto. The Bruschetta was excellent, as were all the appetizers, except that I feel they used way too much cheese on most of the dishes.

The eggplant was delicious. It was thin, with a great crunch to it. Their pesto sauce on the eggplant dish was good. The pork was tender and tasted good, and my meatballs were very good, too. The spaghetti sauce, though, had a little too much heat for my liking. In my opinion, heat or hot spices are more common in Mexican food than Italian food. Italian food seasonings are more flavors than heat. For desserts, we had Tiramisù, Limoncello Mascarpone Cake, a chocolate lava-style cake with ice cream and mini cannolis. As you may know by reading my reviews, I like Crème Brulee and judge a restaurant by how well it is made. I do the same with Cannolis at Italian restaurants. They were very good but not great. The Tiramisù, which is made in-house, and Limoncello Mascarpone Cake were both delicious. If there was any disappointment with the desserts it is that they were not all homemade. They did have wine and beer. The wine list was small, but the wines were reasonably priced with a variety of Italian wines. The Tuscan Pig Italian Kitchen had good Italian food and fun entertainment that made the evening enjoyable. Overall, I give it a rating of B+. I don’t normally break up my ratings into different categories, but I must this time because of the owner’s attentiveness, the great service by the staff and the great, fun entertainment. For service and entertainment, I give the Tuscan Pig Italian Kitchen an A+. TUSCAN PIG ITALIAN KITCHEN 401 S. High St., Longview | 903-651-1833 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday

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COVER VIEW

faith in action Words by ANNTOINETTE MOORE | Photos by LES HASSELL

8 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

ifth-generation commitment and first-generation enthusiasm. That’s what Capts. Nicholas “Nick” and Michelle Hutchinson embody as leaders of Longview’s Salvation Army.

Being a Salvation Army officer is “a calling. … There are days when it’s

extremely difficult. But also, seeing lives changed is incredibly rewarding,” Capt. Nick said. “When we become Salvation Army officers, we sign a covenant. And that covenant says we are to love the unlovable and to befriend those who have no friends,” he added. Capt. Michelle said, “For me, it’s being faith in action. … When Jesus

Capt. Michelle Hutchinson visits with guests at the Salvation Army’s new Day Center.

says to go and help those who are hurting, those who are lost, those who are marginalized, that’s what the Salvation Army does.” Both Hutchinsons are fifth-generation members of the ministry. Captain Nick, 39, is a native of Bangor, Maine, where he grew up. Capt. Michelle, 38, was born and raised in Southern California. They came to Longview in June 2017, after four years in Paris, Texas, their first appointment as officers. Before that, they spent two years at the Salvation Army training college in Atlanta. The Hutchinsons have three children: daughter Kaia, 12, and sons Jonah, 9, and Lincoln, 6. Kristen Glover served on the Lamar County Homeless Coalition with Capt. Michelle when the Hutchinsons were in Paris. Glover was impressed by “their willingness to work with others and their ability to reach out across boundaries.” They “experiment and take risks, and find what works in their communities, wherever they are planted,” said the youth minister at Paris’ First United Methodist Church. “They were really invested in people’s lives” while in Paris, Glover said. “It’s not about what they want to see done, it’s about what fits the context of the community,” she said. The Salvation Army is a Christian evangelical ministry founded in London in 1865. It now serves in 130 nations around the world and has 1.5 million members, according to its website. It helps about 25 million U.S. residents annually. “Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination,” the website says. Capt. Nick said his family stayed with the Salvation Army through generations, “because it’s such a holistic movement.” “We’re a church, and church involvement is often generational. But there’s also true community, caring for each other. … My family has really found its home in the Salvation Army, even on different continents,” he said. “That’s what I love about it. You can find lots of people who come from a long line of Salvation Army history, but at the same time they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with first generation Salvation Army,” Capt. Nick said.

Capt. Nick Hutchinson serves lunch to guests at the Salvation Army’s new Day Center.

continued on pg. 10  news-journal.com 9

“MAN & WOMAN of action.” When (the Hutchinsons) say something, they do it. They are a

-Major Anthony Juliana

He and Capt. Michelle met in 2003 at an urban ministry school – called the “War College” – in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. They were both in their early 20s. “We lived in the slums. We lived among those who society deems unlovable. It was extremely formative for all of us who were there. A large part of our class of 17 has gone on to become Salvation Army officers,” Capt. Nick said. The area was one of the poorest in Canada. Two-thirds of the population had HIV or AIDS, and 97 percent had hepatitis C, Capt. Michelle said. These infectious diseases were rampant because so many residents abused injectable drugs. Yet the couple felt God’s presence in the midst of misery. “God really revealed his heart to us. He really showed us how his heart just breaks when people are hurting,” Capt. Michelle said. “When we’re being Christ-like, we get to experience God’s kingdom now,” she said. In Longview, the Hutchinsons reinstated the ministry’s food pantry. The Salvation Army also provides rent and utility assistance. Its “Pathway to Hope” helps families stuck in poverty become self-sufficient by supplying assistance such as car repair money. The Hutchinsons opened the ministry’s church building from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, furnishing a place for people to socialize. It’s also open on days when a weather advisory exists because of extreme heat or cold. 10 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

Lunch is provided, and the computer lab is open so individuals can search for jobs. There are also movies and board games. The ministry is about to open a new thrift store, with proceeds funding social services. Because of his Salvation Army service, Capt. Nick discovered that he has a far greater capacity to love others than he thought. “Being able to look someone in the eye and tell them that you love them – it can bring incredible freedom to people,” he said. “It can heal wounds that people didn’t even know were there.” Capt. Michelle said, “There’s a tremendous amount of joy to empowering people to care for themselves. … There’s just so much joy in that.” Major Anthony Juliana, divisional secretary for program at the Salvation Army of Texas in Dallas, has known the Hutchinsons for five years. “Nick and Michelle … are passionate about helping people. … They listen to what people need, and find ways to meet those needs,” he said. For example, Capt. Michelle helped design a public transportation system for Paris while she was on its homeless coalition. “When (the Hutchinsons) say something, they do it. They are a man and woman of action,” Juliana said. “I think that’s the thing that sets them apart,” he added.

‘tis the season

For Giving Words by ANNTOINETTE MOORE | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS

t just wouldn’t be the holidays without the Salvation Army’s red kettles and angel trees. In Longview, Salvation Army Capt. Nicholas “Nick” Hutchinson

coordinates the Red Kettle Campaign, while his wife, Capt. Michelle Hutchinson, oversees the Angel Tree Program. The red kettles officially debut the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29. “Our final day of bell ringing is Christmas Eve. We stop ringing

at 5 p.m.,” Capt. Nick said. For the first time, bell-ringing volunteers in Texas can sign up online at registertoring.com. Volunteers enter their zip code on the website, which lists

Lakishia Fountain and her granddaughter Keala Willis, 1, make a donation to the Salvation Army as Larry Roberts rings his bell while taking donations on November 21, 2018, at Hobby Lobby.

“That provides a great Christmas for them, while avoiding the excess that commercial Christmas foists upon us,” Capt. Nick said. The family of each angel tree child also receives a gift card to

available kettle locations. They select where and when they want

Super 1 Foods so they can have a good Christmas meal, Capt.

to volunteer. The website then emails that information to the

Michelle said.

Salvation Army responsible for the selected site, allowing it to approve and create volunteer schedules.

Children’s Angel Trees can be found at Longview Mall, area Walmarts, McAlister’s Deli and Slim Chickens.

Volunteers receive an email or text confirming their time

The Salvation Army has also started a Senior Angel Tree

and kettle location. They also can receive reminders a few hours

Program in partnership with Tower Honda of Longview. That tree

before their stint begins.

is located at the Honda dealership.

Money donated during the campaign “stays here in Gregg

Senior adults often request items such as slow cookers and

County. It helps provide soup for our soup kitchen and keeps the

hand towels; each also receives a “fun” gift, such as a crossword

lights on in our shelter,” Capt. Nick said. The money also funds

puzzle book or perfume.

Salvation Army social services. Because Thanksgiving is late this year, “kettle season” is shorter, making volunteers crucial, he said. When volunteers are lacking, the ministry has to hire paid workers. This year’s Angel Tree Program hopes to serve 1,200 children, up from almost 1,000 in 2018, Capt. Michelle said. She stressed that, when someone chooses an angel and buys items from its list, those items go to the child associated with that angel. “We really work hard to provide something the kid wants, something the kid needs, something the kid wears and something the kid reads,” Capt. Michelle said. The Hutchinsons follow these guidelines when buying Christmas presents for their own three kids.

you go SALVATION ARMY OF LONGVIEW EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

Where: 504 E. Cotton Street, Longview, TX 75601 Information: 903-215-8463, www.salvationarmytexas.org/longview/ Services Offered: • Emergency financial assistance • Food & nutrition programs • Seasonal services • Men’s and women’s ministries • Music and arts programs Church Services:

Sunday: Breakfast & Sunday school, 9:45 a.m. Worship service, 11 a.m. Wednesday: Prayer meeting, 9:30 a.m. Men’s and women’s ministries, 10 a.m. Bible study, 11 a.m.

Drop-in center: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Also open days when weather advisory issued because of extremely hot or cold temperatures

news-journal.com 11

HEALTH VIEW

healthy start Words by BECKY BELL | Photos by LES HASSELL

abits children learn about fitness can last a lifetime —

“This is basically just for moms and dads to come out and have

with several local women leading efforts to provide a

a sense of community that we are all in this together and we have

variety of opportunities for physical activity.

these kids and maybe not feeling great about going to the gym or

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says children

working out or can’t get child care,” she said. “It will be an hour

who are obese are more likely to become obese adults. Obesity

fitness class and we can sing to them while moving our bodies. It

brings with it increased risk of a number of serious health

will be cardio and there is some weight training. It is a good fitness

conditions, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and cancer.

class to keep that community and keep that bonding experience

Jade Killingsworth, who operates Toddler Tippy Toes in

with caregiver and child.”

Longview, was herself a student at her mother Tena Vogel’s dance

Stroller fitness classes will be $10 each.

studio as a child. Today, she offers 45-minute classes for children

Toni Dussex, owner of Freedom Yoga at 175 Beechwood

ages 12 to 36 months at The Dance Studio at 2309 Gilmer Road

Drive, said her studio has offered children’s classes in the past and

as well as other pop-up classes at Longview preschools. The four-

plans to do so again. She has heard feedback from adult students

week classes are $75.

about how yoga has helped them with anxiety — something she

“It introduces little ones to dance and movement and is a great bonding experience with a little boy and girl with their caregiver,”

said young people are dealing with more than in the past. She believes yoga classes could help them.

Killingsworth said. “There is so much research that backs up that

“If you know anything about anxiety you know it is affecting

physical movement in toddlers will help in cognitive and motor

kids more now these days,” she said. “I wish I could have learned

skill development and social development. And all these things

yoga at a young age. A lot of kids are on blood pressure medicine

are so, so important.”

and anti-anxiety medicines and yoga is a nice alternative or a

She keeps class sizes to about eight students, with her mother

complementary treatment for anxiety.”

handling classes starting at the age of 3. This is Toddler Tippy

Christy Collins, community coordinator for the Healthy

Toes’ third year, with Killingsworth saying she is adding a stroller

Kids Running Series Longview, said she didn’t get into

fitness class at local parks and at Longview World of Wonders.

running herself until she was an adult, but she said it has made a

12 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

remarkable change in how she feels. She wants her kids to have a better chance for a healthy start than she did. “One thing I feel like a challenge of adult life is learning about health and fitness,” she said. “I did not have a very active background in my childhood and was pretty sedentary with a pretty poor diet. Across the board, I think there is so much research that ties exercise to endorphins and sort of anxiety management. I am also a huge fan of yoga. I’m getting yoga teacher training, so I can be a yoga instructor.” The Healthy Kids Running Series in Longview will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. on Sundays through Nov. 3 at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church at 2500 McCann Road. “This is something where the younger children can get involved and it’s just really great to cheer everyone else on as they race for the finish,” she said. The length of the run depends on the children’s age. Two year olds run an 8 yard dash. There’s also a 50 yard dash for 2 and 3 year olds. The 4 to 5 year-olds run a 75-yard dash. Kindergarten and first grad students run a quarter-mile, while second and third graders run a half-mile and fourth through eight graders run a full mile. Children can sign up for all races at once for a $40 entry. Call Collins at (713) 689-4603 for information.

Hazel Doom, 2, and other children participate in Jade Killingsworth’s Toddler Tippy Toes dance program.

Also offers: • Heated Indoor Pool with Lazy River Theme • On Site Catering provided by our F&B Director, Joshua Fahrenholt-hunt • 122 Rooms with 5 Suites • On site Restaurant, bar

news-journal.com 13

DESIGN VIEW

designed for recovery Words by ANNTOINETTE MOORE | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS

14 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

news-journal.com 15

f you missed the signs saying “Everest Rehabilitation Hospital of Longview,” you could mistake this hospital’s waiting area for the lobby and reception desk of a boutique hotel.

During a recent visit, boxy chairs upholstered in royal blue

fabric clustered around a round, white table in a two-story-high atrium walled with glass. Hanging “O”-shaped light fixtures and recessed LED lighting illuminated a corridor ending in a large counter placed before a wall of blue tiles. The 41,000-square-foot facility at 701 E. Loop 281 in Longview was designed to take advantage of natural light, said Jay Quintana, chief executive officer and co-founder of Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals, based in Dallas. The building is divided into patient-care and administrative sections. Ceilings are high, and spaces are open. Corridors in the $23 million inpatient rehabilitation hospital are lighted by clerestory windows – a row of windows high above eye level – as well as LEDs, Quintana said. “There’s LED lighting throughout the hospital,” he added. Its color scheme of royal blue, white, tan and dark brown unites the interior features and furnishings. The Summit Café provides cafeteria-style meals for patients, families and visitors; they can dine inside or eat outside on the patio. continued on pg. 19 

16 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

news-journal.com 17

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Both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation rooms have walls of floor-to-ceiling glass. The outpatient rehab has a small car, allowing patients to practice getting into and out of it. A day or two before discharge, patients stay in a small apartment with a regular bed, kitchen – with a stove and microwave – and bathroom, to practice handling daily tasks. It’s critical to know if they can do simple tasks such as turning the knob on the stove or setting the microwave, said Everest Vice President Kimberley Lero. “We get them as independent as we can before they go home. We do a lot of training with families” before patients leave, she said. Inpatient rooms resemble expensive hotel rooms, Quintana Jay Quintana CEO/Co-founder of Everest Rehabilitation Hospital speaks about the interior design of the facility.

said. Each has a 55-inch, flat-screen television mounted on the wall opposite the bed. In-the-wall oxygen supply ports and other medical outlets are not located above the patient’s bed, he continued. Instead, they are set into a wall parallel to the bed, out-of-sight of patients and visitors. A large, round light in the ceiling above the bed can be bright enough for a physician’s examination or dimmed to a yellow glow for a night light. A built-in desk for family members or health-care providers is next to each bed. Lero said they avoided a “hospital sterile-like look. We want patients to feel super comfy” during their stay, which averages from seven to 14 days. From the nurses’ station, staff can see all the way down each hallway with patient rooms, she said. That means nurses have a clear view of call lights outside the 36 private rooms. Offices, staff breakrooms and two large education or conference rooms in Everest’s patient section have glass walls, she added. “There’s no place (for staff) to hide. They are more available to patients and family members,” said Lero, head of quality and compliance. An outside courtyard has long, sloping ramps and short flights of steps for patients to practice on. Patients can also walk on concrete, cut stone, artificial turf and several different types of paving stones.

information

EVEREST REHABILITATION HOSPITAL OF LONGVIEW Where: 701 E. Loop 281 in Longview Info: (430) 240-4600 info@everestrehab.com www.everestrehab.com/longview

news-journal.com 19

HISTORY VIEW

history on the move Words by JO LEE FERGUSON | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS

20 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

ts location in the area long known as Longview Junction is fitting. The Historic Longview Train Depot is a relic

from the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earliest days as a train town, but whose place in the modern world is secured as a functioning Amtrak station and cornerstone of the Longview Transportation Center, where local train and bus services are headquartered. continued on pg. 22 ď ˝

news-journal.com 21

In the view of one who’s watched the comings and goings at the depot for nearly 50 years, the depot also serves as a junction between the past and the future. “The truth about this building is this is the footprint for the next generation,” said Griff Hubbard, the last of the employees of the old Texas and Pacific Railway in Longview. He now is product line agent for Amtrak’s Texas Eagle. “The airline industry wants out of the short haul market. They want people riding higher

A photograph of the Historic Longview Depot taken in 1954.

speed trains to and from the DFW and Shreveport regions. This is going to be the next generation’s mobility access to the world. What’s old is new again.” Longview’s rail roots can be traced back to 1870 and O.H. Methvin’s award of 150 acres to Southern Pacific Railroad in 1870. Then, in 1872, International Railroad began building a line between Longview and Palestine — to the area that was at that time just east of Longview, known as “the junction.” The Texas and Pacific railway later acquired Southern Pacific, and, in 1939 and 1940, replaced a station built on that site with the current depot.

THE SURVIVOR The building at 905 Pacific Ave. has survived many changes since then, at one time serving as Longview heaquarters for the Union Pacific Railroad and welcoming passengers on Amtrak’s Texas Eagle passenger train route for decades. Longview once was home to three depots. The one at Pacific Avenue is the only one to survive, with its lasting influence secured after the city of Longview acquired the depot from Union Pacific. A two-year, $2.2 million renovation and restoration project completed in 2014 turned the depot’s clock back to 1940. “Designed in the Colonial Revival Style, the train depot, also called the T&P/MO-PAC depot, includes stylized quoins, a brick cornice and grey stone trim used to highlight the coping, keystones and lintels,” the building’s state historical marker says. “The oneand-a-half-story building contained a ticket office, waiting rooms, restrooms, telegraph office, yard office, baggage/express office and mail room. The original dormers were removed sometime after construction but were later restored. Two porches were part of the original structure for a waiting area, baggage and freight.” Hubbard stood outside recently, recalling how the front covered porch, defined by square-shaped brick columns, is part of the building’s original footprint. It had at one point been enclosed for Amtrak office, but was opened up again during the city’s construction project. 22 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

continued on pg. 25 

Amtrak Texas Eagle Product Line Agent Griff Hubbard gives a tour of the basement of the Historic Longview Depot.

A phone booth converted into a phone charging station at the Historic Longview Depot. news-journal.com 23

Amtrak Texas Eagle Revenue Manager Griff Hubbard looks over the area that was once the location of the telegraph machine as he gives a tour of the Historic Longview Depot.

The stairway that was once used for passengers to get to the trains at the Historic Longview Depot.

Amtrak Texas Eagle Revenue Manager Griff Hubbard gives the history of the Historic Longview Depot. 24 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

Hubbard motioned to what is once again the front door to the depot. “In 2014, one of the last things done, was this door was ground down to put this original paint back on it. This was just covered up with plyboard over the years,” he said of the door and its windows.

SEPARATE WAITING ROOMS He recalled, though, what was revealed as a worker was grinding through layers of paint on the door: “The old paint chips off, and it comes out as if it was 1939 again, and it says ‘white patrons only.’ ... It just came out in big bold black letters on the original white surface.”

As he spoke, a fan was blowing to dry out water in the area on a recent day. It’s particularly bad during heavy rains, Hubbard said, but groundwater seeps in at other times. “What’s happened is since 1939, the drainage and the topography around this whole building has changed,” he said. The basement, however, still contains the original coal chute. Coal would be dumped down the chute and used to heat the depot with a steam generator, as well as passenger cars while trains were parked at the depot. Back on the main floor, Hubbard shows where there once was a telegraph office that served the railroad and Western Union.

That also explains why the depot has two waiting rooms, now

“That’s why this window seal is lower than all the rest,

referred to as the west and east waiting rooms. The west waiting

because it was where the telegraph operator sat,” he said. “You

room originally was for white passengers, while black passengers

could actually come right there and receive or send a Western

were restricted to the east waiting room, with the ticket office in

Union message.”

the middle, Hubbard

MORE HISTORY

The design wasn’t unique to Longview.

Outside the window is an area where the “telegraph boy”

“Most of the Texas and Pacific railroad stations between

would chain up his bicycle between delivering messages.

Texarkana and El Paso and between Marshall and New Orleans

Hubbard recalled that when old flooring was removed in years

were built this way,” Hubbard said. “This is the last one still left

past, it revealed that the telegraph area had been painted red,

standing with its original footprint.”

with words warning that there was “sensitive equipment.”

Amtrak passengers currently walk out from the depot to board. That process functioned much differently when the depot first

“I can’t tell you the thousands of wires that crisscrossed this,” he said.

was built, which Hubbard explains as he stood at the stairs to

Past the two waiting rooms, the depot has a passenger lounge

the depot’s basement. Passengers then walked through a tunnel

area, where the Gregg County Historical Museum has a rotating

under the tracks to board on the other side of the tracks.

display and a phone booth that once stood guard outside the depot

“You ingressed and egressed the train down through these

has been repurposed for modern times — into a charging station.

stairs, through a subway platform and up onto a platform,”

Today, the depot’s original baggage area is once again being

Hubbard said. “You didn’t walk straight out.”

used for its intended purpose. At one point, Union Pacific had

TUNNELS TO THE PAST

chopped portions of the building up for office space. The company

People driving under the Mobberly Avenue train overpass

still occupies an area for a communications room, Hubbard said.

might have noticed a door in the east side of the overpass’ wall, on

The Longview Police Department’s Police Outreach Services

northbound Mobberly Avenue.

Team, which focuses its work on the homeless population, also

“There’s a big silver door that’s welded shut,” Hubbard said. “That was the original cab stand ... “ Passengers could exit the train, follow the subway tunnel down the stairs to catch a cab or to be picked up by a family member under the bridge. The tunnel has since been filled in.

has offices in the building. Hubbard said before Longview stepped in to become the building’s owner, there had been plans to raze it and turn it into parking. “A great, great debt of gratitude is owed to then-Mayor Jay

Hubbard said original restoration plans had called for using the

Dean and then-City Manager David Willard, who had the

basement area for meeting space and maybe a gift shop, but the

vision and the foresight to realize the truth about this building,”

facility has encountered a problem with water in the basement.

Hubbard said. news-journal.com 25

EVENT VIEW

marshall’s

memorial city hall Words by BECKY BELL | Photos SPECIAL TO VIEW

arshall’s newly renovated Memorial City Hall will sing

seat auditorium, meeting space and conference center began

a new song this fall and Christmas season, when the

several years ago. The building also houses a military exhibit by

more than 100-year-old building welcomes a Texas

the Harrison County Historical Museum.

country music legend and an internationally known performing group to the stage. The building at 110 E. Houston St. was built in 1907 as Marshall City Hall. It was renamed Memorial City Hall in 1927

“City leaders and members of the community decided they wanted a performing arts center and started renovating the building,” said Memorial City Hall Performance Center Director Glenn Barnhart .

to honor people who lost their lives in World War I. It was an

Gary P. Nunn will be the second performer to take the

integral part of the community before City Hall was relocated in

Memorial City Hall Stage, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9. Then, Celtic

1994. Work to turn the facility into an event center with a 550-

Angels Christmas, an Irish vocal quintet group will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19. “They are on a national tour and we are very lucky to have them stop through East Texas. They are going to sing favorite songs and then have Irish dancers to accompany them,” Barnhart said. “There will be a beautiful Irish spectacle on stage with beautiful harmonies and beautiful music. It will be like the Christmas trees lit on the square. It will be a lot of fun.” The renovation revealed some surprises at the building. “Since the building was close to 100 years old, there were a lot of things they were not aware of,” Barnhart said. One of those things was a steel beam that supported the roof and was shimmed up with license plates. This kind of short-term

Renovations recently were completed at Marshall Memorial City Hall. 26 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

fix had maybe worked for the building in the past, but much labor has gone into bringing the building up to modern codes, with

air conditioning and wiring and major construction to turn the

WE MAKE SMILES!

former city hall into a cornerstone of the community again.

903.753.3531

The state-of-the-art, 550 seat performing arts center was designed in an art deco style of architecture. The building also

907 Walnut Hill Dr. Longview, TX 75605

houses the Harrison County Veterans Museum, with 2,900 square feet of military history exhibited at the center. Barnhart said he knows the center is not as large as the Belcher Center in Longview, but he wants to bring that kind of variety of performing artists to Marshall. “We want country and western, rock and roll, dramatic theatre, comedy, world music, international touring artists,” he said. “This

A HEALTHY SMILE IS A BEAUTIFUL SMILE A winning smile is both healthy and dazzling. That is what we want for you and your family.

will be our focus, something for everyone.” Eventually, Barnhart would like to add children’s programming such as shows during the week for school children, a classic film series, and host community and civic events. The building includes 1,400 square feet of meeting space and a conference room with kitchen access. Barnhart said the center is on the Marshall square facing the courthouse and overlooking the red brick streets, making it a great place to host meetings. “This will be available for lunches, business meetings, corporate parties or Christmas parties for law firms, doctor’s

“You would get 6 stars if I could. You and your staff are super.” - DARYLE J .

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offices or banks,” he said. “Anyone can use it to do a luncheon. We have a TV monitor in there and internet capabilities.”

IN IS STA SU NT E!

For more information visit www.memorialcityhall.com or call 903-934-7992.

you go

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES AT MARSHALL’S MEMORIAL CITY HALL PERFORMANCE CENTER Gary P. Nunn, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9, Texas country, tickets $30 to $40 Celtic Angels Christmas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, internationally-known Irish vocal quintet of Ireland, tickets $40 to $50 Farewell Angelina, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24, all female country group, tickets $20 to $30 One Night in Memphis, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15, more than 90 minutes of authentic rockabilly, country, gospel and 1950s rock and roll, tickets $30 to $40 “1984,” 7:30 p.m. March 28, Aquila Theatre brings “1984,” George Orwell’s cautionary novel, to the stage, tickets $20 to $30

r Pride. Show You hool! Your Sc Support

“The Wonder Bread Years,” 7:30 p.m., April 17, a fast-paced, hilarious production that gracefully walks the line between standup and theater, tickets $25 to $35 Information: www.memorialcityhall.com

OTHER HOLIDAY MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT IN THE AREA: Longview Symphony: Home for the Holidays, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, www.longviewsymphony.org

Texas Bank and Trust will donate $4.00 to your school for every new card issued!

Ken Ludwig’s “Twas the Night Before Christmas;” 6 p.m. Dec. 15, Belcher Center, www.belchercenter.com Sing! An Irish Christmas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Belcher Center, www.belchercenter.com Radio Theatre: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever;” 7 p.m. Dec. 14, www.artsviewchildrenstheatre.com

TBT Charm fan 2019.indd 1

news-journal.com 27 7/12/19 2:10 PM

EVENT VIEW

longview 150

Words by NELLA KOPP | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS & JIMMY DANIELL ISAAC

ongview is celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary

an historically-themed concert by the East Texas Symphonic

in 2020. That’s 150 years of East Texas traditions that

Band. Find information about those and other events at www.

will be celebrated in a series of events collectively titled

longviewtexas.gov under the “Government” tab, then “Special

“Longview 150.” Laura Hill, community services director for the city of Longview, is working with the committee planning the celebration. The committee started working in 2017, and more events and programs are being added weekly. “We started out planning some events that would capture the history of Longview, and from there similar events have been added,” Hill said. She was present for the centennial celebration, and she said she expects the sesquicentennial would match or surpass the events in 1970. “Longview has grown so large that we knew getting everyone together for one day wouldn’t work. With the city being so

Events” and “Longview 150.” Tracy Stopani, advertising manager for the Longview NewsJournal, explained that “Longview 150” encompasses the events all the various organizations are planning. “The city put it out there to pull everyone in to work together and explore all the history,” Stopani said. Among these events, Stopani is most looking forward to the “O. H. Methvin Beard Contest,” which the News-Journal will be launching online in November. Methvin was the founder of Longview and was known for his signature classic beard. Hill said a committee member’s relative had saved many

community oriented, so many organizations have created an event

newspaper clippings from the Longview Daily News and

for the celebration,” Hill said.

Longview Morning Journal — the predecessors of the Longview

Those events include: a parade; the Sesquicentennial Ball,

News-Journal — and some memorabilia from the city’s centennial

a “throwback” baseball game between Pine Tree and Longview

celebration. These photos and clippings have been uploaded to

students posing as the “Cannibals,” the semi-professional team

the “Centennial Diary” which can be found on the Longview

that once called Longview home; a transportation show; and

Public Library’s website.

28 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

“Back then, when Longview was much smaller, it was much easier to gather up old photos and memorabilia from founding members of the city. Every organization, church, school and business had an ad in one of the two newspapers for Longview’s birthday,” Hill said. “Today, so many organizations are pulling together and contributing to the 150 celebration, and more events are being added almost daily.” Longview’s “birth-month” is in May, and Stopani said the NewsJournal will be publishing daily and weekly accounts of historical events and upcoming events for Longview 150, in print and online. A Longview native, Hill reflected on the changes she has seen in Longview over the years. “There have been some huge and dramatic changes. I remember when Kilgore College was the Sears and Roebuck, phones were on the walls, when ‘going to town’ was really an affair before the loop was there and when the mall was built,” she said. Stopani said the News-Journal is seeking sponsors for its sesquicentennial articles and features. “The more people that get involved, the more information we get and the more fun stuff we get to do,” she said. For sponsorship opportunities through the News-Journal,

Director of Community Services Laura Hill shows off the logo for the upcoming Longview sesquicentennial celebration.

Vahan ®, Alwand Vahan ®, Moiré Pattern ® are Regd. Trademarks Designs © Alwand Vahan Jewelry Ltd.

contact Stopani at tstopani@news-journal.com.

Henry & Moore Jewelry (903) 663-1515 303 W. Loop 281 Ste. 105 Longview, Texas 75605

news-journal.com 29

EVENTSVIEW

calendar of events LONGVIEW

Whacky Music Nov. 9

Turkey Trot Nov. 22

The Art of Listening: Portraits from the Memory Bridge Project Through Feb. 22

Longview World of Wonders

www.lmfa.org

Longview Jaycees Trade Days Nov. 9-10

Light Drawing Nov. 23

www.greggcountyfair.com/ Trade_Days

www.longviewow.org

Longview Museum of Fine Arts

Discovering Abstract Expressionist Victor Thall Through Feb. 22

Longview Museum of Fine Arts

www.lmfa.org

Downtown Live Nov. 1 Heritage Plaza

www.facebook.com/ LongviewMainStreet Longview Arboretum Grand Opening Nov. 2

Longview Arboretum Visitor’s Center

www.longviewarboretum.org

The Magic of Bill Blagg Live! Nov. 2 Belcher Center

www.belchercenter.com Longview Symphony — Community Chamber Concert Nov. 3 Longview Community Center

www.longviewsymphony.org ”Making God Laugh” Nov. 8-10 Grace Crossing Church

www.theatrelongview.com Carmela’s Magical Santa Land Nov. 8-Jan. 5 6085 Hwy 259 N.

Facebook

Upcycling: Make Your Own Turkey Nov. 8 Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewwow.org

Longview Exhibit Building

Riverside Trade days Nov. 9-10 3711 Texas 42 North

(903) 295-9800

Black & White Party & Comedy Show Nov. 9

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex

starsonstage.com Santa’s Arrival Nov. 16 Longview Mall

longviewmall.com/events-news Painting with a Parent Nov. 16 Longview Mall

longviewmall.com/events-news Circuits Nov. 16

Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewwow.org

Classic Arms Production: Gun & Knife Show Nov. 16 Longview Exhibit Building

www.capgunshows.com

”Newsies: The Broadway Musical” Nov. 21-23 ArtsView Children’s Theatre

www.artsviewchildrentheatre.com

www.longviewwow.org

Longview World of Wonders

Upcycling Art: Advent Calendars Nov. 23 Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewow.org

Community Christmas Tree Lighting Nov. 24 Heritage Plaza

www.facebook.com/ LongviewMainStreet Paws & Clause (pet photo night) Nov. 24 Longview Mall

longviewmall.com/events-news Mad Mattr Nov. 30

Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewow.org Scholastic Book Fair Dec. 2

Longview Public Library

(903) 237-1350

ArtWalk Downtown Dec. 3 Downtown Longview

www.artwalklongview.com An Evening with President George W. Bush Dec. 3

LeTourneau University’s Belcher Center

www.belchercenter.com

Loblolly Holiday Model Train and Village Exhibit Dec. 4-21 Gregg County Historical Museum

www.gregghistorical.com

30 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

Longview AMBUCS Christmas Parade Dec. 5

Downtown

Longview Main Street/Facebook Longview Symphony: Home for the Holidays Dec. 6

LeTourneau University’s Belcher Center

www.belchercenter.com

Living History Christmas Dec. 7

Gregg County Historical Museum

www.gregghistorical.com Breakfast with Santa Dec. 7

Longview Museum of Fine Arts

www.lmfa.org

Pictures with Santa Claus Dec. 7 Longview Public Library

www.longviewtexas.gov/2163/Library Christmas in the South Dec. 7

Longview Exhibit Building

www.facebook.com/ junkinacrosstexas

Rock Salt & Ice Temperatures Dec. 7 Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewwow.org

Upcycling: DIY Ornaments Dec. 7 Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewwow.org

Christmas at the Courthouse Dec. 7 Gregg County Courthouse

(903) 236-8400

Seriously Sweet Structures: Gingerbread Houses Dec. 8 and 15 Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewwow.org

Sensitive Santa (for disabled children) Dec. 8 Longview Mall

longviewmall.com/events-news Sing! An Irish Christmas Dec. 10

LeTourneau University Belcher Center

www.belchercenter.com

Holiday Tea Room and Market Dec. 10-13 Longview Museum of Fine Arts

www.lmfa.org

Storytime with Santa and Elves Dec. 12 Longview Public Library

(903) 237-1340

Longview Symphony — Holiday Bach’s Lunch Dec. 13 St. Anthony Catholic Church

www.longviewsymphony.org Jingle Bells! Dec. 13

Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewwow.org North Pole Express Dec. 14

Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewwow.org Holiday Sip ‘N Shop Dec. 14 Longview Mall

longviewmall.com/events-news Adult Christmas Craft Day Dec. 14 Longview Public Library

(903) 237-1340

Cookies & Clause Dec. 14 Longview Mall

longviewmall.com/events-news ”Radio Theatre: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” Dec. 14 ArtsView Children’s Theatre

www.artsviewchildrenstheatre.com Paws & Clause (pet photo night) Dec. 15 Longview Mall

longviewmall.com/events-news ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas Dec. 15 LeTourneau University’s Belcher Center

belchercenter.com

Christmas Movie on the Eastman Plaza Dec. 17

Holidays Around the World Dec. 21

Longview World of Wonders

Bear Creek Smokehouse

Henderson Civic Theatre

Box in a Box Dec. 28

JEFFERSON

Lighting of the Trees at Lake Forest Park Dec. 7

www.longviewwow.org

Longview World of Wonders

www.longviewwow.org

1500 Lake Forest Parkway

Jefferson Visitor Center

Downtown Kilgore

Various locations

A Very Derrick Christmas Nov. 16

Candlelight Tour of Homes Dec. 5-7 & 12-14

www.facebook.com/ KilgoreMainStreet

JeffersonCandlelight.com

www.visithendersontx.com/ henderson-events

GILMER Yulefest Dec. 7

Mingle & Jingle Nov. 30

Jefferson Sportsman’s Expo/ Gun & Knife Show Dec. 14-15

www.facebook.com/ KilgoreMainStreet

https://www.jefferson-texas.com/ events/#!calendar

Downtown Kilgore

Kilgore Christmas Parade Dec. 3 Downtown Kilgore

www.kilgorechamber.com Miracle on 34th Street: Live Radio Play Dec. 13, 14 and 15 815 Houston St., Kilgore

www.texasshakespeare.com Christmas in Kilgore Dec. 14 Downtown Kilgore

Jefferson Visitor Center

HENDERSON

Heritage Syrup Festival Nov. 9 Downtown Henderson

866-650-5529

Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Dec. 5

Downtown Henderson www.visithendersontx.com/ henderson-events

www.facebook.com/ KilgoreMainStreet

Courthouse Lawn

gilmeryulefest.com, (903) 843-2413.

LAKE CHEROKEE

Market Arts and Crafts Bazaar Nov. 26 The Church At Lake Cherokee

www.thechurchatlakecherokee Want your event listed in the Calendar of Events? Please send information to jferguson@news-journal.com with the subject line “View Calendar.” The deadline to submit Jan/Feb events is November 30.

MARSHALL

Victorian Fair 2019 Nov. 2

Starr Family Home State Historic Site

www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/ starr-family-home-state-historic-site Marshall Symphony — Escapes and Meditations Nov. 2 Convention Center

Cover Reveal Party

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12th, 2019 • 5-7pm

www.marshallsymphony.com Fall Festival Nov. 2

St. Mark’s United Methodist Church

marshalltexas.com/events Gary P. Nunn Nov. 9

Memorial City Hall Performance Center

www.memorialcityhall.com Wonderland of Lights Nov. 27-Dec. 29 Downtown Marshall

www.marshalltexas.net/public/ warrants/wonderland-of-lights

Family Christmas Party Dec. 19

www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/ starr-family-home-state-historic-site

(903) 237-1340

www.hendersoncivictheatre.com

History, Haunts & Legends Nov. 2 (903) 601-3375

Sparkles and Sprinkles Dec. 7

Longview Public Library

marshalltexas.com/events

KILGORE

(903) 237-1340

Longview Public Library

A Charlie Brown Christmas Dec. 6-8, 13-15

Breakfast with Santa Dec. 21

Starr Family Home State Historic Site

Celtic Angels Christmas Dec. 19

Memorial City Hall Performance Center

www.memorialcityhall.com

Get a Sneak Peek at the Cover of the Next

? ?

VIEW

Charm/View Magazine Join the fun at Cook’s Lighting, Flooring, Décor as we unveil the covers of the January/February issue of Charm/View. And of course there will be some great food, beverages and door prizes. Plus, Cook’s has everything you need to make your home beautiful, just in time for Christmas.

Cook’s Lighting Flooring Decor 118 Johnston St.