Supermoon and the Parade

Edgewood, Fall, Old Downtown, Photography, Skyscape, Upper East Texas

“This full moon will be not only the closest and brightest supermoon of 2016 but also the largest since 1948, Bob Berman, an astronomer at the Slooh Community Observatory, told Space.com. What’s more, the full moon won’t come this close to Earth again until Nov. 25, 2034.” – Source

I captured the supermoon on November 14th, 2016, when it was just risen about 6.40PM (Central Time). It was bright, yellow and big. Our tree line was all we have to directly compare and showcase how big the moon was and that was not good enough. The next several nights, the moon was just as gorgeous as when it was on its peak. One of those nights, we drove through the old downtown Edgewood and witnessed the moon rising against the houses and buildings. It made a huge difference. The moon looked much larger. It was humongous! Of course, I didn’t have my camera then and the moon has passed its peak. But this gave me an idea to make my version of supermoon shot.

I took a picture of the Christmas Parade in downtown Edgewood in 2012. I have this picture in my third photobook, The Dancing Trees. I have always loved this picture – silhouette of horse riders in lighted downtown Edgewood on sunset. I thought it would be nice to superimpose this photo with the big yellow moon I took on November 14th, 2016. And here it is, my version of supermoon 2016 shot.

Superimposed photo of the November 2016 supermoon and Edgewood Christmas Parade 2012

Supermoon November 2016 in Edgewood, Tx. Taken with 400mm, no cropping.

Yellow Supermoon, November 2016

Been to Ennis, Texas?

Architecture, Black and White, Ennis, Historic Site, Old Downtown, Photography

Ennis, Texas, is located just 35 miles southeast of Dallas, Texas. It was established in 1872 and in 1930s used to be known as the place “Where Railroads and Cotton Fields Meet.” Today it is known, among other things, as the place where Bluebonnet and Czech heritage are celebrated. The National Polka Festival is held here every Memorial Day Weekend. Music, costumes, and food of the Czech heritage will be showcased. The parade will run through this historic downtown of Ennis. Go there this weekend, if you got the chance!

Firehouse Grill

More photos:

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A Look Inside

Architecture, Edgewood, Historic Site, Old Downtown, Photography

The town of Edgewood, Texas, began in 1878. The original downtown setting hasn’t been having a lot of changes. Some old buildings were restored and functional, some are being maintained awaiting for an opportunity to be restored. The stories of the beginning era of the town are told and kept in several local publications, such as “The Edgewood Story” by Authula M. McLemore & Eloise Pettigrew Ellis.

Here’s a look inside a building, which used to be a physician and dentist’s office in early 1900’s in Edgewood, Tx. Hopes and ideas to restore the interior has been expressed. In the mean time, the wallpaper and layers of paints on the walls whisper the stories and tales of what were going on inside this building long before my time.

Below are some of the restored and functional old buildings in downtown Edgewood, Tx., the Civic Centre, Hardware Store, and Pharmacy (left to right).

A Wedding at the Church in the Wildwood

Edgewood, Family Affair, Heritage Park, Old Downtown, Photography, Wedding, Wedding

Mr. & Mrs.

A simple wedding ceremony at a 117 year-old ‘Church in the Wildwood’, at the Heritage Park Museum of East Texas, Edgewood, Tx.

Ceremony 1

Friends and relatives of the bride and groom documented the wedding with their camera phones.

Ceremony 3

Immediate family watched as the bride and groom conducted the unity ceremony.

A father’s look

Father of the groom looked on as the bride and groom were walking down the aisle after the ceremony.

More pictures:

Church in the Wildwood

Here comes your girl

Ceremony 1

Ceremony 2

Ceremony 3

Mr. & Mrs.

Ceremony 4

Ceremony 5

A father’s look

Ben Wheeler Book Fair 2014

Ben Wheeler, Book Fair, Fall, Old Downtown, Photography, Upper East Texas

The annual Ben Wheeler Book Fair features about 25 East Texas authors. Works span genres including children’s books, Christian fiction, horror, humor, mystery, poetry, romance, and young adult fiction. Nonfiction authors include biography, children’s advocacy, memoir, music and culture, photography, and self help. Authors are screened to ensure quality and visitors have opportunity for one-on-one time with the authors. The third book fair was held on November 29th, 2014, in the restored Old Elwood Schoolhouse in downtown Ben Wheeler, Tx., sharing space with the Ben Wheeler Children’s Library.

I have been part of this book fair since it started in 2012. This year I brought my photography books “On the Edge of the Piney Woods”, “My Northeast Texas”, “The Dancing Trees”, and “A Legacy of Faith,” along with notecards and photography works. I had a great time meeting and visiting with fellow authors and visitors.

Follow the event on facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Ben-Wheeler-Book-Fair.

Photographs by Ine Burke, 2014

Ben Wheeler Feral Hog Festival 2014

Ben Wheeler, Fall, Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography, Travel, Upper East Texas

Photos from the annual Ben Wheeler Feral Hog Festival 2014, October 25th, featuring the Hog Parade, Willie Peden Syrup Mill, and Moore’s Store at Ben Wheeler, Texas.

Marshall Wonderland of Lights

Architecture, Festivals, Historic Site, Main Street City Texas, Marshall, Old Downtown, Photography, Texas, Travel, Upper East Texas, Winter

light |līt|
noun
1| the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible

2| an area of something that is brighter or paler than its surroundings

This is my take on the Marshall Wonderland of Lights Festival, in Marshall, Texas, December 2013.

The Historic Harrison County Courthouse, Texas, the center stage of the festival.

The Courthouse 2

The Courthouse 3 – taken from the Horse Carriage Ride, from southwest of the Peter Whetstone Square

The Courthouse viewed from around Peter Whetstone Square – 1

The Courthouse viewed from around Peter Whetstone Square – 2

The Courthouse viewed from around Peter Whetstone Square – 3

The Courthouse viewed from around Peter Whetstone Square – 4

The Horse Carriage Ride along North Washington Avenue

The Courthouse viewed from North Washington Avenue and East Austin Street – 1

The Courthouse viewed from North Washington Avenue and East Austin Street – 2

Lights from vendor and ticket booths opposite the Telegraph Park -1

Lights from vendor and ticket booths opposite the Telegraph Park -2

Link to Marshall Wonderland of Lights Festival.

Edgewood Homecoming Parade 2013

Edgewood, Fall, Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography

homecoming |ˈhōmˌkəmiNG|
noun
an instance of returning home.
• a high school, college, or university game, dance, or other event to which alumni are invited.

parade |pəˈrād|
noun
a public procession, esp. one celebrating a special day or event and including marching bands and floats.

bulldog |ˈbo͝olˌdôg|
noun
a dog of a sturdy smooth-haired breed with a large head and powerful protruding lower jaw, a flat wrinkled face, and a broad chest.
bulldog
• a person noted for courageous or stubborn tenacity: [ as modifier ] : the bulldog spirit.

garter |ˈgärtər|
noun
1) a band worn around the leg to keep up a stocking or sock.
• a band worn on the arm to keep a shirtsleeve up.
• a suspender for a sock or stocking.
2) ( the Garter ) short for Order of the Garter.
• the badge or membership of this order

Edgewood, October 18th, 2013

Wills Point Depot Museum

Old Downtown, Photography, Wills Point

Wills Point, Texas.

1927 Wills Point Train Station (Depot)

Wills Point Depot Museum

Entrance to the Depot Museum

Wills Point Depot Museum is a historical museum that houses a collection of artifacts, documents, and photos from the city’s old businesses, institutions, households, agricultural and railroad industries. The exhibits are mostly donated by Wills Point residents and the museum is maintained and operated by Wills Point Historical Society. The brick building itself was not the first depot, or train station, that operated in Wills Point. It was built in 1927. The main entrance of the museum leads to what used to be the waiting room.

1926 Majestic Theatre Backdrop

Artifact from 1873 Rose Dry Good Co.

Advertisement on 1926 theatre backdrop

Bookkeeping from an old business in Wills Point

Exhibits from old Wills Point schools

Foot impressions on the flooring of T.Z. Woodhouse Mercantile Store

Assorted artifacts from local businesses

An artifact donated by local residents

The office and ticket selling booth of the old depot

Agricultural exhibits

Handmade boots froom 1950s

Teeth pulling plyers from late 1800’s

From Dr. Harry T. Fry’s office, 1880’s

Medical exhibit area

Pictorial Room

One of the exhibits in the Quilt Room

Heritage Days Quilt commemorating 100 years of Wills Point in 1974

The main wall in the room is the eye-catcher. It is covered by old business signs that used to flourish in Wills Point and a painting in the middle. Haberdasher, millinery, how often do we hear or see these words nowadays? Look closely and notice that those are actually painted on one piece of huge cloth that used to be the theatre backdrop in the 1926 Majestic Theatre across the railroad. What used to be the depot’s restroom area on the east side, now hosts artifacts from Wills Point schools. The original ticket-selling booth and depot’s office on the west side, holds various memorabilia such as old cashier machines, typewriters, and many more. In the further west rooms, agricultural and medical artifacts are exhibited. Pictures from the old “golden days” are displayed in the Pictorial Room. Centennial Quilts, vintage clothes, and turn of the century furniture, are the main attraction in the Quilt Room.

The museum is currently open by appointment only. It is located at 210 W. South Commerce St (on US HWY 80), Wills Point, Texas 75169. For enquiry and appointment call Pat Mitchell, (903) 873-4568.

For those who like to flick through history of the city and the county, several copies of Van Zandt County Genealogy Publications and 1954 Wills Point Chronicle (hardbound) are available for browsing at the museum. Or, travel two blocks north from the Depot Museum to West High Street, between 5th and 4th Streets, to gain Wills Point’s history in a glance through six panels of wall murals. These murals were lovingly and painstakingly created with inputs from a number of citizens and painted by a local artist, Dan Fogel.

Photos © Ine Burke / Inegaleri 2013

Published in County Line Magazine July/August 2013 issue.

The 82nd Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion 2013

Athens, Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography, Spring, Upper East Texas

June 1st, 2013 – Athens, Texas

The state’s longest running contest was held at the square of old downtown Athens, Texas, on the last day of May and first day of June, this year.

I don’t know enough about fiddlers and fiddling, but I can feel the old Texas atmosphere around the square by listening to the tunes played and sung.

The tunes date back older than the reunion itself, I heard.

Young and seniors fiddled in harmony. Ladies played bingo. Spouse guarded the instruments. Toddler watched in the shade of a big ol’ oak tree.

The youth, 18 years and under, practiced, waited, watched, competed.

Concession booths stood by.

Apple Blossom. Brilliancy.

The spectators swayed.

Kids played puddle. Teens wandered around.

Stroll along a Texas Main Street City: Mineola

Architecture, Historic Site, Main Street City Texas, Mineola, Old Downtown, Upper East Texas

Mineola, which site is located at the center of East Texas timber belt, is a town that sprung up in 1873 with the construction of the southern transcontinental railroad. The train station in Mineola today is a designated daily stop, served by the national railroad passenger system’s Amtrak Texas Eagle which connects Chicago (Illinois), St. Louis (Missouri), and Los Angeles (California). Mineola is a Texas and National Main Street City. Its historic downtown has been revitalized and holds many attractive community events all year round. An acoustic music jam is held every third Saturday by the railroad, along the streets and in the alleys downtown.

These photos are taken from S Johnson Street and Commerce Street, Mineola, Texas. May 2013.

1992 Mercy’s Mural, off S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

Looking North to Johnson St from the gazebo on Commerce St

Looking north from S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

Mineola Chamber of Commerce, Mineola, Tx

The east corner of S Johnson and Commerce St, Mineola, Tx

Mural at an antique shop on S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

The old Beckham Hotel neon sign

Beckham Hotel, Mineola, Tx

Mural in an alley off S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

Crossing of US Hwy 80 and Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

From the gazebo at the end of S Johnson St

Looking north from S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

Mural in an alley off S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

Broad Street (US Hwy 80), Mineola, Tx

Mural in an alley off S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

A memorial plaza at W Commerce St, Mineola, Tx

Mural in an alley off S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

Beckham Hotel, Mineola, Tx

Stores along S Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

The east corner of S Johnson and Commerce Street

Mineola Train Station and Museum

First Baptist Church and Select Cinema at N Johnson St, Mineola, Tx

Steps on Texas & Pacific train car exhibit

Beckham Hotel viewed from the gazebo at the end of S Johnson St

Photographs ©INEGALERI.COM 2013

Flying Fish Gallery

Ben Wheeler, Old Downtown, Photography, Travel

Flying Fish Gallery, an art gallery nestled in the heart of revitalized old downtown Ben Wheeler, Texas, is operated by husband and wife, Randy and Sherri Martin. The art pieces shown and sold here, are created by artists who lives around the area, including Randy and Sherri’s. Sherri repurposes objects made of metal, wood, or sometimes paper, she found in a flea market, garage sale, or estate sale. She would work with an object by observing it first until she sees a new object comes out of it. Then she would start dismantling, combining, and adding elements to it and go toward where her initial instinct told her to go. For Sherri, animal is the object she loves to make. Randy’s artwork are also shaped by used metal comes from old farm implements or other industrial material. His artworks are displayed outdoor, some mobile, as garden ornaments. Take a peek of Sherri and Randy’s work and gallery through my photos below. The whole art gallery is an art by itself. It’s welcoming, warm, bright, but tranquil at the same time. Sherri Martin was featured in the County Line Magazine in June 2012. Click here to read the coverage. The Flying Fish Gallery is located at downtown Ben Wheeler, along FM279 Artisan Trail, connecting Ben Wheeler and Edom, Texas, off Hwy 64.

I have the honor to be one of the artists whose work is made available for sale through Flying Fish Gallery. My second photography book, My Northeast Texas, is presented beautifully among other local artists’ work in the following photo. The County Line Magazine reviewed the book in March 2013 issue, Artist Publishes Book of Her Northeast Texas Views (Click here to read the review online).

The painting is by Anup Bhandari

Artwork by Randy Martin of Flying Fish Gallery

My book displayed with other art pieces and painting in Flying Fish Gallery

Repurposed metal artwork by Sherri Martin of Flying Fish Gallery

For more information about my book, go to MY NORTHEAST TEXAS.

Edgewood Christmas Parade

Edgewood, Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography, Upper East Texas, Winter

12.12.12

The Clock – Downtown Edgewood

The bank on the corner

Anticipating

The first float

An observer and the gift boxes

The marching band

Excitement

Passing train

The riders

Jesus

Santa

Ambience

Carney Creek Cowboy Church

A sled rider and the Christmas tree

Rains County Founder’s Day Festival 2012

Emory, Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography, Summer, Upper East Texas, Way of Life

Rains County Founder’s Day Festival, May 5th, 2012
The festival is celebrating the heritage and pioneer spirit of Rains County. This year’s festival coincides with Cinco de Mayo. This post covers the Founder’s Day Parade in front of Rains County Courthouse, Ford Model A Car Show, Tonantsi Dance by Rains High School Spanish Club, and Radio Control Airplane demonstration.

RainsCo Founders Day | May 2012-20

Tonantsi Dance by Rains High School Spanish Club

RainsCo Founders Day | May 2012-1

RainsCo Founders Day | May 2012-2

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RainsCo Founders Day | May 2012-28

Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion 2012

Athens, Black and White, Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography, Spring, Upper East Texas, Way of Life

“East Texas was noted for fiddlers from the time of Sam Houston and Dave Crockett. Every house raising, log rolling, quilting bee and corn husking was followed by a night of dancing, the square, waltz and the schottische till dawn. Fiddlers were in demand and plentiful. Every young swain had to learn to play for the popularity and a small amount of cash.” – Excerpted from Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion’s website.

The 81st edition of Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion was held on May 25th, 2012. It took place all day at Henderson County Courthouse yard in downtown Athens. A fairground was also set up across the courthouse.

Ms. Pearl Cantrell, playing her ukulele, accompanied by daughter, Malia Cantrell, from Seven Points, Tx. Ms. Pearl Cantrell has brought Hawaiian music programs as a visiting instructor to Kemp Primary students two years in a row.

Athens Fiddlers Reunion 2012 – 01

Athens Fiddlers Reunion 2012 – 02

Athens Fiddlers Reunion 2012 – 03

Athens Fiddlers Reunion 2012 – 24

Athens Fiddlers Reunion 2012 – 25

Athens Fiddlers Reunion 2012 – 04

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Paris, Texas

Architecture, Old Downtown, Paris, Photography, Upper East Texas

Photos from downtown Paris and Lamar County Fairground, Texas.

Link to the city’s website.

Edgewood Heritage Festival – Downtown

Edgewood, Fall, Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography, Upper East Texas, Way of Life

On the second Saturday of Novembers, the annual Edgewood Heritage Festival takes place. The lively festival spreads around the main blocks of the old downtown and in the Heritage Park outdoor museum. Among the attractions are classic car and old tractor show, quilt show, live music, and a lot of others. The festival is so rich with history and we can feel how the community comes together, participates, and enjoys this festival. For that reason I split the coverage on two different posts. This post covers the festival -in 2009 and 2011- around the block of downtown Edgewood, and the next post the Heritage Park.

Link to Edgewood Heritage Festival website.

Rains County Fair 2009

Emory, Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography, Spring, Way of Life

Rains County is one of the smallest counties (in population) in Texas. It is known as the Eagle Capital of Texas. The county holds several festivals every year, from Eagle Fest in February, Rains County Founders Day Festival in May, Rains County Fair and Classic Car Show mid September, and Christmas on the Square in December. The city of Emory, “Land between the Lakes” -Lake Fork and Lake Tawakoni that is- is where all these festivals being held. These are the pictures from the old-fashioned county fair in September 2009, featuring parade, pageant, and classic car show, around the old downtown of Emory, Texas.

Car Show in front of Majestic Movie Theater

Wills Point Bluebird Festival

Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography, Spring, Upper East Texas, Way of Life, Wills Point

Wills Point Bluebirds Festival, an annual event, held on Historical Brick Street of downtown Wills Point, Texas. This year, it was held on April 14th 2012 with some activities occurred couple of days before the street event. Wills Point was founded in 1873 and named after its first American settler, William Wills. The city was declared as the Bluebird Capital of Texas in 1995 after the Annual Audobon bird count reported that this city hosted more bluebirds than any other area in Texas for 11 years in a row.