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November 9, 2014
WOLF CREEK HERITAGE MUSEUM NOTES by Virginia Scott MUSEUM HAPPENINGS A beautiful week. I traveled down south to a Panhandle Plains Trail inspection of Fort Parker near Cleburne. The state has an official state park for the military Fort Parker and a private non-profit has the family compound also called Fort Parker. The family compound group has requested an arrow since this was the site of Cynthia Ann's capture. I will let you know the outcome. We had a weekend visitor from Dallas. He works at the Dallas Heritage Village and is also associated with the Summerlee foundation. We had answered a request email from the group and he stopped by on his way to New Mexico. I think he was impressed with our facility and the fact that it is accomplished with all volunteers and donations with facility support from the county. He stayed that very few museums are able to do that. Being from Dallas, he was also impressed with our population. When you see Terry and Norma Boughan, please thank them for the wonderful work they do for the county and especially for the museum. Their current project is to provide shelving in our new exhibit area and the landscaping of our flag poles. If you ever wonder why our courthouse and museum looks so neat and trim it is because of them. Thanks ! HISTORICAL MUSINGS This week was Veterans Day and I hope you attended one of our celebrations in the county to honor our veterans. On Nov. 11, 1932 the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated in Arlington, Virginia. 1918, Armistice Day brings the end of World War I. It was on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, the allied powers signed a cease-fire agreement (an armistice) with Germany at Rethondes, France on November 11, 1918, bringing World War I to a close. The "war to end all wars" was over. Lipscomb County lost two soldiers in that war. PVT. Frank G. Wass was killed September 29, 1918 in the Argonne forest, France as he fought with Company K. 120th infantry, 30th Division. The American forces, with their allies, defeated the German army resulting in that being the last German offensive of World War I. The son of John and Jennie Wass of Bishop, OK. near Higgins, Texas. Frank was born March 29, 1883. After the war, his body was returned to the United States and reburied at the Lone Tree Cemetery near Bishop. PFC Edward J. Gilson died October 12, 1918 in a German prisoner of war camp- Camp Rasstat and was buried in a German cemetery near the edge of the Black Forest. He was captured by the Germans as he fought with Co. F. 359th infantry, 90th infantry Division when the Allied Forces repelled the German army's attempt to reach Paris, France. At the request of his parents, PFC Gilson's body was exhumed and shopped home after the war ended. He was reburied at the Shattuck, OK I.O.O. F. Cemetery. Edward was born May 8, 1897 at Hennessey, OK to Benjamin Franklin and Richmal Gilson. He was one of eleven children. His Brothers Earl, Earnest, Ben, Neal, Dude Dewey, Clarence, and Twin Oliver. His sisters were Frankie, Lily, and Georgia Anne. The family lived in Lipscomb and Edward attended the Lipscomb School. REFERENCE: THE ULTIMATE GIFT, LIPSCOMB COUNTY PATRIOTS KILLED IN ACTION, Compiled by Dorothy Schoenhals and Georgia Couch, published by Wolf Creek Heritage Museum. |
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