COUNTY LIFE
Breathing new life into The Baker Hotel (video and photos)
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
When Jeff and Christina Palmer first walked into The Baker Hotel it was awe-inspiring, and despite nearly 50 years of deterioration and vandalism, the craftsmanship of this 1929 gem was evident from its plaster and woodwork to the intricate tile.
The Palmers own Classic Design Works in Nocona and they are part of the team building and restoring the 900-plus windows in the storied Mineral Wells hotel. The couple and their crew have been working on the windows the past four months.
Their part of the restoration focuses on building new double-sash windows, along with exterior wood trim for the window, the the middle dividers, plus some other “fancy detail” pieces. They also are cutting all the window glass.
The Palmers are excited to be involved in a project that may be the largest historical restoration in Texas history.
In 1926 T.B. Baker began construction of the 14-story hotel in the heart of downtown Mineral Wells at at cost of $1.2 million. It opened two weeks after the great stock market crash on Oct. 29, 1929.
Read the full feature on the Baker’s restoration and its storied history in the weekend Bowie News.
Gold-Burg High School students will perform at area one-act competition at 9:30 a.m. on April 11 at Grayson County College.
Director Linda Fitzner said they present “Lady Precious Stream” followed by Newcastle, Irivium Academy, Sulphur Bluff, Avery and Bryson. She called it a “tough, tough area” as Bryson was at state the year before. Gold-Burg also has made a state run last year.
Nocona Public Library and Friends of the Library will be hosting a children’s Easter story time at 10 a.m. on April 11.
Dean Prine will be reading to the children before they make a craft. Dean always makes it a fun story time. All children are invited to attend.
Summer is quickly approaching and the library is already making plans for our summer reading program. Starting June 1, the children can pick up their reading logs. A professional story teller will be visiting the library in July. More details will be released as time gets closer to summer.
The library has received several new books in the last week. “In To Deep” by Lee Child, “Paranoia” by James Patterson and “Far From Home” by Danielle Steel, are just a few new ones that are available for checkout.
Did you know that the library is not all about books? The library staff can make copies and send faxes for a small fee. It has computers for the public to use. Stop by and see what all you can do at the library. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Bowie High School’s one-act play, “View From The Bridge,” advanced out of bi-district to area after competing this past week.
Teacher and Director April Word said area will be on April 12 at Clyde High School. Bowie performs as the final play of the day.
Other schools performing will be Holliday, Early, Clyde, Ingram Moore and Jim Ned. Plays begin at noon that day and cost to watch is $10.
“The students were amazing at bi-district and had a tremendous performance. I could not have asked for more from them,” said Word.
At bi-district Lia Meier was named best performer, Corban Word was named to the All-Star Cast and Corben Wolsey, honorable mention All-Star Cast.
Aowyn Word received the All-Star Tech and the tech crew was named best overall. Crew members are Elise Fitch, TJ Ferguson, Keller Dosch, Adamari Alonso and Aowyn Word. “Break a leg” Jackrabbits.
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