2. Family

09-01 A Down Home Birthday - April 2009

Having traveled through the land of my ancestors on the way down from Maine in November, I thought what a fun idea it might be to meet my sister in the little town of Star, where members of our family still have a house. (It would be a much more bucolic setting than the D/FW area, anyway.) So, it was all set up and arrangements were made, and here we go. For those not acquainted with Texas, the little town of Star is in north central Texas, roughly 100 miles southwest of the D/FW area, and around 10 miles or so east of Goldthwaite, in Mills County.
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  • COLORADO RIVER BRIDGE WITH SIGN Well, it just wouldn't be a Doug Duncan photo gallery without at least one bridge shot, now would it? Okay then, let's do it and get it out of the way. Only one of the many bridges that cross the Colorado River, this one lies just north of San Saba on Highway 16.

    COLORADO RIVER BRIDGE WITH SIGN Well, it just wouldn't be a Doug Duncan photo gallery without at least one bridge shot, now would it? Okay then, let's do it and get it out of the way. Only one of the many bridges that cross the Colorado River, this one lies just north of San Saba on Highway 16.

  • COLORADO RIVER BRIDGE And no, folks, for safety's sake (and for photography's sake, as well), I'm not driving Pepe from the passenger's seat -- I'm walking on the road! In the olden days, this might not have been such a ridiculous idea, however with today's transportation needs, this did make it somewhat of a challenge. I just had to do it, though. A walkway sure would've been nice. Pretty bridge, though, huh? Check out the abutments in the next shots.

    COLORADO RIVER BRIDGE And no, folks, for safety's sake (and for photography's sake, as well), I'm not driving Pepe from the passenger's seat -- I'm walking on the road! In the olden days, this might not have been such a ridiculous idea, however with today's transportation needs, this did make it somewhat of a challenge. I just had to do it, though. A walkway sure would've been nice. Pretty bridge, though, huh? Check out the abutments in the next shots.

  • NICE ABUTMENT I suppose with the possibility of the mighty Colorado jumping its banks during the rainy season, this is the way to go to make sure the thing stays in place. I've never seen such stonework in an abutment before, and this is some fine work.

    NICE ABUTMENT I suppose with the possibility of the mighty Colorado jumping its banks during the rainy season, this is the way to go to make sure the thing stays in place. I've never seen such stonework in an abutment before, and this is some fine work.

  • DOES MY ABUTMENT LOOK FAT? No, dear. It looks fine! And it does, doesn't it? A couple of the layers at the top look a little saggy, but don't tell the bridge that. They're very sensitive about that kind of thing.

    DOES MY ABUTMENT LOOK FAT? No, dear. It looks fine! And it does, doesn't it? A couple of the layers at the top look a little saggy, but don't tell the bridge that. They're very sensitive about that kind of thing.

  • THE MIGHTY COLORADO Now I'm actually on the bridge itself and looking to the east. This is the very river that got me into swimming lessons when I was a child. Our family was enjoying an outing somewhere on the river when I was a youngster and my cousin Greg and I were in the river up to our waists. No problem. Then, I happened to step off the ledge I was on and the next thing I saw was a brilliant green field with little silver bubbles quietly floating upwards. As I marveled at the scene before me (I can still see it), I took another breath -- of water! Somehow, I shot up out of the water like a porpoise, and began flailing about and shouting. Everyone thought Greg and I were just clowning around, until they could see Greg standing there with a quizzical expression on his face. At that point, Aunt Wanda jumped over the rocks and jumped in the water, scooping me up and bringing me to shore where Uncle Roland performed artificial resucitation on me. I finally came around, and was enrolled in swimming lessons that following summer. My deepest and sincerest thanks to both Aunt Wanda and Uncle Roland for all their efforts.

    THE MIGHTY COLORADO Now I'm actually on the bridge itself and looking to the east. This is the very river that got me into swimming lessons when I was a child. Our family was enjoying an outing somewhere on the river when I was a youngster and my cousin Greg and I were in the river up to our waists. No problem. Then, I happened to step off the ledge I was on and the next thing I saw was a brilliant green field with little silver bubbles quietly floating upwards. As I marveled at the scene before me (I can still see it), I took another breath -- of water! Somehow, I shot up out of the water like a porpoise, and began flailing about and shouting. Everyone thought Greg and I were just clowning around, until they could see Greg standing there with a quizzical expression on his face. At that point, Aunt Wanda jumped over the rocks and jumped in the water, scooping me up and bringing me to shore where Uncle Roland performed artificial resucitation on me. I finally came around, and was enrolled in swimming lessons that following summer. My deepest and sincerest thanks to both Aunt Wanda and Uncle Roland for all their efforts.

  • THE COLORADO RIVER LOOKING WEST A shot from the other side of the bridge. No story this time. Sorry. Let's head on into Star, shall we?

    THE COLORADO RIVER LOOKING WEST A shot from the other side of the bridge. No story this time. Sorry. Let's head on into Star, shall we?

  • THE STAR MINI-MALL The sign still says Star Store and there's another one that says Cafe, but they call this the Mini-Mall now. A nice little place with great food at the intersection of Highway 84 and FM 1047. That's Lyn headed in.

    THE STAR MINI-MALL The sign still says Star Store and there's another one that says Cafe, but they call this the Mini-Mall now. A nice little place with great food at the intersection of Highway 84 and FM 1047. That's Lyn headed in.

  • STAR STORE SIGN WITH MOON That little white dot to the left of the sign is the moon. Hard to tell, I know.

    STAR STORE SIGN WITH MOON That little white dot to the left of the sign is the moon. Hard to tell, I know.

  • CAFE SIGN Is this a great sign, or what? They won't hang it up because the colors aren't right. HUH??? This thing is great! It could use some cleaning up, but I'd take it.

    CAFE SIGN Is this a great sign, or what? They won't hang it up because the colors aren't right. HUH??? This thing is great! It could use some cleaning up, but I'd take it.

  • STAR CAFE INTERIOR Actually, the Star Store is more of a cafe than a store. A quaint little place, and a great place to run into more family. Almost everyone out here is, in one form or another. We'll meet some later on.

    STAR CAFE INTERIOR Actually, the Star Store is more of a cafe than a store. A quaint little place, and a great place to run into more family. Almost everyone out here is, in one form or another. We'll meet some later on.

  • JOE AND LYN This is Joe Miles, one of our distant cousins. His mother, Carmel, is the one that still has the house here in Star. He's heavily into family history and has been a major help in all the genealogical research Lyn and I have been doing on the Duncan and Dodson lines. Most of this stuff is still in his head, which we've been trying to pry out and get down in the computer. It's amazing how much he and his mother know about the family and their beginnings here in Mills County.

    JOE AND LYN This is Joe Miles, one of our distant cousins. His mother, Carmel, is the one that still has the house here in Star. He's heavily into family history and has been a major help in all the genealogical research Lyn and I have been doing on the Duncan and Dodson lines. Most of this stuff is still in his head, which we've been trying to pry out and get down in the computer. It's amazing how much he and his mother know about the family and their beginnings here in Mills County.

  • STAR CAFE COUNTER Yep, you just stand there at the counter, give the girl your order, and she brings it out to your table. You have to try their buttermilk pie.

    STAR CAFE COUNTER Yep, you just stand there at the counter, give the girl your order, and she brings it out to your table. You have to try their buttermilk pie.

  • STAR CAFE MENU No sit-down menus for this place.

    STAR CAFE MENU No sit-down menus for this place.

  • PAYNE GAP 1 This is the beginning shot of Payne Gap, the gap in the mountain that gave a former town its name. This is the area my father and his family lived when he was a kid.

    PAYNE GAP 1 This is the beginning shot of Payne Gap, the gap in the mountain that gave a former town its name. This is the area my father and his family lived when he was a kid.

  • PAYNE GAP 2 As we pan right, we're now looking at Snipes Cove, a depression in the mountain where a distant relative of ours, Tom Snipes, was dragged behind a horse and hanged due to some fence-cutting issues back in the 1880s. The nefarious goings-on in this particular county back then, especially in connection with the San Saba Mob, are the stuff of legends -- and movies.

    PAYNE GAP 2 As we pan right, we're now looking at Snipes Cove, a depression in the mountain where a distant relative of ours, Tom Snipes, was dragged behind a horse and hanged due to some fence-cutting issues back in the 1880s. The nefarious goings-on in this particular county back then, especially in connection with the San Saba Mob, are the stuff of legends -- and movies.

  • PAYNE GAP 3 A final shot to complete the panorama that will come up next. This is looking back the way we came in from town.

    PAYNE GAP 3 A final shot to complete the panorama that will come up next. This is looking back the way we came in from town.

  • PAYNE GAP PANORAMA Fresh out of Photoshop, here we have Payne Gap in full. It did a pretty decent job this time, except I had to crop out the bottom, since the double yellow lines didn't match up. It was excess scenery, anyway, and this looks more like what a panaroma ought to look like.

    PAYNE GAP PANORAMA Fresh out of Photoshop, here we have Payne Gap in full. It did a pretty decent job this time, except I had to crop out the bottom, since the double yellow lines didn't match up. It was excess scenery, anyway, and this looks more like what a panaroma ought to look like.

  • MOLINE SCHOOL HISTORICAL MARKER I'm not sure, but I believe this was the school that Dad and Uncle Linuel went to. As you can read (roll over the photo and select Original), only the school building remains of Moline, and that's on someone's property now, so we couldn't visit it. Dang!

    MOLINE SCHOOL HISTORICAL MARKER I'm not sure, but I believe this was the school that Dad and Uncle Linuel went to. As you can read (roll over the photo and select Original), only the school building remains of Moline, and that's on someone's property now, so we couldn't visit it. Dang!

  • THE MOLINE SCHOOL You can still see the old schoohouse from the road, but only barely.

    THE MOLINE SCHOOL You can still see the old schoohouse from the road, but only barely.

  • THE PAYNE GAP SCHOOL Not so with the Payne Gap one-room schoolhouse, sitting right next to the Payne Gap Cemetery. It's used as a storage unit now.

    THE PAYNE GAP SCHOOL Not so with the Payne Gap one-room schoolhouse, sitting right next to the Payne Gap Cemetery. It's used as a storage unit now.

  • GLENDALE DUNCAN'S RANCH Yet another relative's place, and a nice one at that. Apparently, that's Indian Hill in the background. There were a lot of Indians in this area when the settlers moved in in the 1800s.

    GLENDALE DUNCAN'S RANCH Yet another relative's place, and a nice one at that. Apparently, that's Indian Hill in the background. There were a lot of Indians in this area when the settlers moved in in the 1800s.

  • INDIAN HILL RANCH SIGN I just had to get a closer shot of the sign and that steel Indian cutout. Very nice, Glendale.

    INDIAN HILL RANCH SIGN I just had to get a closer shot of the sign and that steel Indian cutout. Very nice, Glendale.

  • SIMMS CREEK (AND THE "BLUE HOLE") This was a very popular spot for Dad and Uncle Linuel -- and all the kids of the area -- especially on hot days. The creek is kind of high right now, as you can usually see the Blue Hole quite clearly out just beyond the shelf, starting around where the small disturbance in the water is. It's supposedly very deep, giving the water a blue color. Hence the name.

    SIMMS CREEK (AND THE "BLUE HOLE") This was a very popular spot for Dad and Uncle Linuel -- and all the kids of the area -- especially on hot days. The creek is kind of high right now, as you can usually see the Blue Hole quite clearly out just beyond the shelf, starting around where the small disturbance in the water is. It's supposedly very deep, giving the water a blue color. Hence the name.

  • THE DUNCAN MOUNTAINS That's not the official name of the two twin mountains out there, but that's what we call them. My grandfather, Carl Duncan, had their place nestled up against that broad white line on the mountain to the left.

    THE DUNCAN MOUNTAINS That's not the official name of the two twin mountains out there, but that's what we call them. My grandfather, Carl Duncan, had their place nestled up against that broad white line on the mountain to the left.

  • CARL DUNCAN'S LAND Unfortunately, this land, too, is under new management and unavailable for visitation, but that's their land out there under the mountain.

    CARL DUNCAN'S LAND Unfortunately, this land, too, is under new management and unavailable for visitation, but that's their land out there under the mountain.

  • DUNCAN LAND CLOSEUP We moved down the road a bit for a better view of the land, without the gate and all. There it is folks, where Dad and his family lived.

    DUNCAN LAND CLOSEUP We moved down the road a bit for a better view of the land, without the gate and all. There it is folks, where Dad and his family lived.

  • THE DUNCAN TWINS' PLAYGROUND Not having my big camera with its telephoto zoom lens, I did the best I could to capture the bluff and mountain where Dad and Uncle Linuel did their best romping around. I can just imagine how much fun it must've been having such a place for my own personal playground.

    THE DUNCAN TWINS' PLAYGROUND Not having my big camera with its telephoto zoom lens, I did the best I could to capture the bluff and mountain where Dad and Uncle Linuel did their best romping around. I can just imagine how much fun it must've been having such a place for my own personal playground.

  • JOE AND LYN ON DODSON LAND Here are Joe and Lyn on the land of our great-great-grandparents -- the Dodsons. Carl Duncan's father, James Wilson Duncan, married Josephine Dodson, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Dodson, whose land this is.

    JOE AND LYN ON DODSON LAND Here are Joe and Lyn on the land of our great-great-grandparents -- the Dodsons. Carl Duncan's father, James Wilson Duncan, married Josephine Dodson, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Dodson, whose land this is.

  • LYN AND DODSON LAND Lyn wanted her picture taken with the Dodson land in the background to show where she came from. It was such a good idea . . .

    LYN AND DODSON LAND Lyn wanted her picture taken with the Dodson land in the background to show where she came from. It was such a good idea . . .

  • DOUG AND DODSON LAND . . . I decided to get into the act. I wish the exposures could've been more even, but the little camera has limitations. It tried.

    DOUG AND DODSON LAND . . . I decided to get into the act. I wish the exposures could've been more even, but the little camera has limitations. It tried.

  • DODSON LAND PANORAMA This one didn't come out quite as even as the Payne Gap one, but it gives you the general idea. The bluff we're standing on is also on Dodson land.

    DODSON LAND PANORAMA This one didn't come out quite as even as the Payne Gap one, but it gives you the general idea. The bluff we're standing on is also on Dodson land.

  • DOUG AND HIS NEW SHOTGUN Joe gave me a single-shot .410 shotgun for my birthday, as I had bemoaned the fact that there wasn't one in Dad's gun collection. There used to be, but we don't know where it went. It was such fun blasting empty Dr Pepper and Sprite cans to smithereens. I'm going to try full ones someday, just to see what happens.

    DOUG AND HIS NEW SHOTGUN Joe gave me a single-shot .410 shotgun for my birthday, as I had bemoaned the fact that there wasn't one in Dad's gun collection. There used to be, but we don't know where it went. It was such fun blasting empty Dr Pepper and Sprite cans to smithereens. I'm going to try full ones someday, just to see what happens.

  • LYN TAKES A SHOT Here's sharpshooter Lyn Meinke hard at work. Her little single-shot .22 -- handed down from our maternal grandfather, William Dee Moore, after he died -- always shot low, probably due to the sights missing the adjusting step. We really need to get that fixed someday. Just about all of the kids on the Moore side of the family have fired this little jewel at some point. I believe it was Mom's gun originally.

    LYN TAKES A SHOT Here's sharpshooter Lyn Meinke hard at work. Her little single-shot .22 -- handed down from our maternal grandfather, William Dee Moore, after he died -- always shot low, probably due to the sights missing the adjusting step. We really need to get that fixed someday. Just about all of the kids on the Moore side of the family have fired this little jewel at some point. I believe it was Mom's gun originally.

  • SPIRIT CLOUDS AT SUNSET Wow, what a treat. After a great day of fun and exploration, we had these "spirit clouds" float by, tinted yellow from the setting sun. They look like they're dancing, don't they? Well, it's our birthday celebration, so why not?

    SPIRIT CLOUDS AT SUNSET Wow, what a treat. After a great day of fun and exploration, we had these "spirit clouds" float by, tinted yellow from the setting sun. They look like they're dancing, don't they? Well, it's our birthday celebration, so why not?

  • THE HUNTING DOGS ARE READY Another activity we engaged in while here in Star is a rabbit hunt with Joe and his cousin Pete's packs of beagles. This was a noisy, boistrous affair, and a whole lot of fun. I'd never done this before, but Joe and Pete do it all the time. And don't worry, as no rabbits were actually harmed during the production of this hunt. The rabbit or rabbits they chased on the hunt came loping by us a good five minutes before the dogs each time we saw it. He didn't seem too concerned.

    THE HUNTING DOGS ARE READY Another activity we engaged in while here in Star is a rabbit hunt with Joe and his cousin Pete's packs of beagles. This was a noisy, boistrous affair, and a whole lot of fun. I'd never done this before, but Joe and Pete do it all the time. And don't worry, as no rabbits were actually harmed during the production of this hunt. The rabbit or rabbits they chased on the hunt came loping by us a good five minutes before the dogs each time we saw it. He didn't seem too concerned.

  • POOR BRANDY As Brandy was in estrus at the time, she had to be left behind to avoid any, uh, extracurricular activity. This is killing her.

    POOR BRANDY As Brandy was in estrus at the time, she had to be left behind to avoid any, uh, extracurricular activity. This is killing her.

  • THE "HUNTERS" It's funny, but this is the extent of human participation in these hunts -- leaning against a pickup and listening the the varying bays of the beagles as the catch the scent -- or sight of -- the rabbit. "Yep, there goes Tequila." "Now Sugar Belle's got the scent." They can tell by the pitch and volume of the bay just which one is doing the baying and what's going on. It was like listening to a baseball game on the radio, only you get to hang out in the pressbox with the announcers. The guy on the left is Pete, Joe's cousin -- and ours, too, in a roundabout way.

    THE "HUNTERS" It's funny, but this is the extent of human participation in these hunts -- leaning against a pickup and listening the the varying bays of the beagles as the catch the scent -- or sight of -- the rabbit. "Yep, there goes Tequila." "Now Sugar Belle's got the scent." They can tell by the pitch and volume of the bay just which one is doing the baying and what's going on. It was like listening to a baseball game on the radio, only you get to hang out in the pressbox with the announcers. The guy on the left is Pete, Joe's cousin -- and ours, too, in a roundabout way.

  • THE DOGS ARE BACK The dogs come in to collect their thoughts and tank up on a little water before continuing the chase. What an energetic bunch they are.

    THE DOGS ARE BACK The dogs come in to collect their thoughts and tank up on a little water before continuing the chase. What an energetic bunch they are.

  • TANKIN' UP A short visitation to the water bucket for a drink while one of the other dogs goes out scouting for the trail.

    TANKIN' UP A short visitation to the water bucket for a drink while one of the other dogs goes out scouting for the trail.

  • LYN AND JOE And the dogs are at it again, so it's tailgate time.

    LYN AND JOE And the dogs are at it again, so it's tailgate time.

  • JOE AND DOUG Joe obviously in deep thought about something and Doug just hanging out.

    JOE AND DOUG Joe obviously in deep thought about something and Doug just hanging out.

  • PETE, JOE, LYN, AND DOUG Well, the hunting's done and it's time for a group shot. It's been a lot of fun, but now we're off to explore the family land some more.

    PETE, JOE, LYN, AND DOUG Well, the hunting's done and it's time for a group shot. It's been a lot of fun, but now we're off to explore the family land some more.

  • FALLING-DOWN BARN This is a barn constructed by Joe's uncle, Ray Miller Duncan, and composed of boards from the old Benjamin Dodson home. It looks like it's falling down, but as we'll see . . .

    FALLING-DOWN BARN This is a barn constructed by Joe's uncle, Ray Miller Duncan, and composed of boards from the old Benjamin Dodson home. It looks like it's falling down, but as we'll see . . .

  • PUSHED OVER . . . it looks more like a case of the tree pushing the barn over. It's not too apparent here, but the next photo will tell the tale.

    PUSHED OVER . . . it looks more like a case of the tree pushing the barn over. It's not too apparent here, but the next photo will tell the tale.

  • BARN CLOSEUP Yeah, that's definitely the case. The limb grew out and just pushed the old barn over. You can tell this land hasn't been worked or occupied for a long time now, or that limb would be missing. Too bad about that.

    BARN CLOSEUP Yeah, that's definitely the case. The limb grew out and just pushed the old barn over. You can tell this land hasn't been worked or occupied for a long time now, or that limb would be missing. Too bad about that.

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