LONGLIFE BROTHERHOOD CLUB

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.

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.”

They started here with just a tent in 1868.

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.

At the end of the cotton harvest, the group threw a celebration that was named “The First of August.” It would be held annually on the first weekend in August and was attended by both residents and those that had moved away. It was a homecoming reunion for all. Evans wants to give people a way to come together today to learn about the history and give the park new purpose.

“I want to turn it into a museum,” shared Evans. “Everyone will be able to come out and tour the place or use it for weddings and family reunions. This is my way of giving back to the community. I also have a goal of getting ‘The First of August’ event going again. A church picnic plan is also in the works. We’ll invite all the churches in the area and have every pastor in the area bless this place. We are working on acquiring a historical marker, as well. We have most of the necessary documents together, in addition to pictures of my grandfather picking cotton and a few items I have discovered in and around the hall.”

Evans is grateful to everyone that is helping him along in this venture and recognizes that he could not do this large scale project on his own. “I put God first and that’s how I do it,” added Evans. “I cannot do anything without Him.”

Matson Park is located at 12419 West Branch Street. Donations may be made to The Long Life Brotherhood Club at Citizens State Bank in Burton.

Above, the hall is in the process of being restored. A historical marker is also being sought. Left, the interior of the hall is also undergoing renovations to serve the entire community of Burton.