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Second Monday Trade Days thriving at 122-plus years
The metal shed with roll-down sides was completed in late October and is located in the area known as the animal section. (Photo by Barbara Green)
By BARBARA GREEN
Longtime Bowie resident the late Marvin Brashear described Second Monday Trade Days “like one big family getting together once a month.”
Brashear went on to earn the moniker of “Mr. Second Monday,” for his involvement in the early days as the event transitioned from the downtown wagon yards to its present home on city property.
In 1989, Brashear told The Bowie News he recalled walking around the wagon yards when he was a boy as trade days marked 20 years of business. It had begun with a bunch of workhorses and mules, brought together to trade between farmers and ranchers.
Little did those hard-working folks know they were establishing a North Texas tradition that is nearly 125 years old.
Second Monday Trade Days happens the weekend before the second Monday of each month. It is located on the southeastern edge of the city on U.S. Highway Business 81, also known as Wise Street.
The market is one of the largest and oldest ones on the North Texas circuit. It welcomes, on average, about 5,000 visitors a month but can bulge the site with more than 10,000 on a good-weather month.
The idea for a center for barter and trade came in 1893 when a group of livestockmen and dealers from across Montague, Clay and Wise Counties conceived the need.
Read the full feature in the mid-week Bowie News.
The City of Bowie swimming pool begins the new season on May 27 with a splash day of free swimming from 1 to 6 p.m.
Pool hours will be 1-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 1-6 p.m. on Saturday.
Water aerobics begins June 2 running Monday-Thursday 6-7 p.m. for $2. Summer recreation has new hours this year 8:30 a.m. to noon, Monday-Friday. This free program offers games and swimming for children.
May 19, 1976 – May 11, 2025
NOCONA – Pedro Leon Olvera, 48, died on May 11, 2025.
There was a rosary at 6 p.m. on May 18 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service was at noon on May 19 at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church in Nocona.
He was born on May 19, 1976 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato to Juan Olvera and Felixa Leon. Olvera was a part of a big family and hard-worker all of his life. He worked mostly in agriculture as a rancher. He loved working on cars in his spare time, especially with his son. He married Blanca Torres in 1995 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosa and Juana Gomez; and nephew, Juan Gomez Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Blanca Olvera; Nocona; son, Pedro Jr. Olvera, Nocona; daughter, Mariana Hampton, Gainesville; sisters, Yolanda, Nocona and Margarita, Mexico; brothers, Juan, Luis, Santiago and Francisco, all of Mexico; a grandson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Inside your May 22 Bowie News meet all the 2025 graduates from the area high schools. The Bowie News graduation keepsake section features photos of graduates from Bowie, Nocona, Saint Jo, Gold-Burg, Forestburg, Prairie Valley and Bellevue.
Congratulations to all the graduates, we look forward to covering your future.
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