COUNTY LIFE
Big party to celebrate event
Vendors filled the downtown area. (Courtesy photo)
Bowie’s Second Monday Trade Days celebrates its 125th anniversary with a weekend full of activities Aug. 11-12.
Second Monday Trade Days was launched in August 1882 as stockmen from Montague, Clay and Wise Counties conceived the need for a central market. Bowie was selected as a central point and the second Monday of the month picked as the weekend with the first event in August, 1893.
The initial gathering was on a vacant area of land adjoining the north side of Montague Street. A large livestock barn was located at the corner of Montague and Smythe Streets convenient to the trade yard also was used. Work horses and mules constituted the trade offerings for many years.
Vendors also set up along the railroad tracks that ran through downtown. It originally was the monthly trip to town for many country folks and a place for business and socializing.
The offerings grew as the consumer’s needs changed. The event grew, evolved and eventually moved to Pelham Park and became a city operation on May 14, 1976.
The 125th birthday celebration will have a western theme with gunfighters, western music, a car show and more.
All activities are free except those noted with a fee. There also will be many giveaways during the day. Food vendors will be on hand selling food on the grounds.
Read the full story and see the schedule of events in the mid-week News.
Modern day Second Monday located at Pelham Park and operated by the City of Bowie. (News file photo)
The 22nd annual July Jam returns on July 27 to the Bowie Community Center West Hall, 413 Pelham Street in Bowie.
There will be a “chickin’ pickin’ fiddling fun time” as guests will be entertained by amazing fiddling tunes and enjoying a chicken meal with delicious homemade jams because it wouldn’t be July Jam without it.
Tickets are just $15 with the event starting at 6 p.m. The funds raised help provide awards for the Championship Fiddler Competition during Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival on Oct. 5.
This attracts talented musicians from all over to visit downtown Bowie to test their fiddling skills on stage in the Bowie Fire Hall on Oct. 5.
Along with the live fiddling entertainment, come hungry and be ready to outbid your neighbors at the silent auction or just stop by for a great meal, fellowship and soak in the air conditioning.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Nocona City Council met this past week making plans for budget and tax rate hearings.
Councilors received a brief update on the 2024-25 budget preparations. City Secretary Revell Hardison said the final proposal is almost complete and they now await the arrival of the no-new revenue tax rate that will be reviewed by the council after it is calculated by the tax collector.
The proposal includes a tax rate increase of about 3% similar to last year and there will be a small increase in water and sewer rates, but Hardison said the final crunch on those will come after the tax rate projections arrive.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
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