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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.
Due to the July 4th holiday this week, The Bowie News will be printing early in the week. Deadline for any news or ad for the July 6 paper will be noon on July 2. The Bowie News office will be closed on July 4.
Meet the ladies of the 2024 Jim Bowie Days Pioneer Court as they prepare for the crowning on June 28.
Hosted by the Bowie Amity Club, the crowning and pioneer reunion begins at 2:30 p.m. on June 28 at the Bowie Community Center, middle section.
Mildred McCraw, known to many as the “Chicken Lady,” as well as Bowie’s biggest cheerleader, has been selected to serve as pioneer queen. Her duchesses will be Doris McGuffey longtime local business woman and radio air personality at KNTX Radio, and Margaret Long, longtime bank official with Sanger Bank.
See the full stories from these ladies in your weekend Bowie News.
“Memorable marketing in the post-pandemic era” will be the feature for the third installment of the Bowie Business Boost on April 16.
Lorie Vincent, certified economic developer, will bring the program that begins at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast and the program 8-9:30 a.m. at the Bowie Community Center.
Registration is $49 which includes all four sessions. The final program is May 21. Register at accelerationbydesign.com/event-details/bowiebusinessboost.
Call the Bowie EDC office at 940-872-4193 for additional information.
Vincent is a professional trainer, writer and economic developer with a focus on community and business marketing. She will share how your audience has changed in the post-pandemic era. Vincent will show you how easy and innovative adjustments to your marketing goals can grow your bottom line and result in strong customer engagement.
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