historic renovation
A Family Legacy BURTON'S MATSON PARK TO BECOME COMMUNITY MUSEUM AND VENUE by Michelle Banse Stokes photography by Emily Henderson Chris Evans is on a mission in Burton. He’s spearheaded a project to breathe new life into Matson Park, a site with a rich history spanning over 150 years. The land was originally purchased March 22, 1868 by Mose Matson of Burton, who contributed $100 towards the purchase. The down payment was $35 with a note of $65 per month for 12 months at 10% interest. The United Brothers of Friendship, Lodge #55 used the site until 1937. In 1940 Glen and Bessie Jackson organized The Long Life Brotherhood Club at the same location. Charter members included Henry Alford, Jerry Guyton, Jim Guyton, Tobe Solomon, Philip Solomon, Lonnie Watson, and Dan McGowan.
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They started here with just a tent in 1868.
Today Evans has a calling to clean up the park and refurbish the hall for the benefit of the entire community. Although the task of refurbishing the two and a half acre lot with a historic structure is daunting, he has a lot of motivation. Evans has a family legacy to uphold. “My great grandfather, Henry Alford, was one of the founding members of The Long Life Brotherhood Club,” said Evans. “They started here with just a tent in 1868. They built the building in 1941 and became masons. The founders were sharecroppers and when they got their cotton crops done, they came here.”
BURTON, TEXAS |
Above, Chris Evans displays a 1995 newspaper article of his relatives, John and Mary Alford picking cotton by hand at the age of 80 and 70, respectively; bottom, the hall at Matson Park.
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