Daughters of Republic of Texas meet

The Picketville Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas met Sept. 10 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

The ladies visited over muffins and coffee and then had a program presented by Donna Irby, which was information about the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Cradle in Galveston. Brochures were handed out for the program.

The 'Cradle' is the birthplace of the founder, Miss Betty Ballinger, and her first cousin, Mrs. Hally Bryan Perry, who helped formulate the idea of the new organization, which eventually became the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. The 'Cradle' was restored in 1993-95 and reflects the furnishings of the late 1800s.

As part of the restoration, a courtyard was created, marking the birthplace of the DRT. Additionally, there is an opportunity open to DRT members to purchase bricks in memory of any DRT ancestor, family member or recognize a DRT Chapter. The bricks will be placed in the courtyard as a permanent record of those historic figures.

Members of the Picketville Chapter of the DRT in attendance included new members: Amy Jo Wright Rieder, Ashley Wright Thompson, Connie Meason, Darla McLeod and Ouida Jo Wright Garner. Other members present included Cheryl Belson, Linda Boose, Helen Haddock, Eugenia Hall, Susan Hare, Sylvia King, Freda Mitchell, Nancy Morales, Billie O'Neal, Elizabeth Swindle, Barbara Thompson, Mary Thompson, Sally Thompson, Barbara Trammell, Barbara Westbrook, Judy Wolfe, Maretta Wulfjen and Irby.

Members of the Picketville Chapter of the DRT are from Abilene, Clyde, Arlington, Caddo, Eastland, Cisco, Haskell and Breckenridge.