After months of planning and with perfect weather on their side, the Friends of the Wolfe City Public Library held a celebration of the Santa Fe Depot on Saturday.
As the depot, which is currently home to the Wolfe City Public Library, turns 100 this year, many community residents gathered in memory of rail days past and in reverence for a building that continues to exemplify modernization in a rural East Texas town. As a new railway depot, the building ushered the distribution of consumer goods from mail-order companies like Sears & Roebuck and Montgomery ward - and today, as a library, offers free high-speed internet access and countless books and sources of information to the community.
'Friends' president Donna Woodruff introduced various speakers, including recently retired Dr. Jim Conrad, archivist emeritus for Texas A&M University-Commerce, who regaled the crowd with inspiring historic tales of the many ways that Wolfe City and Hunt County have benefited over the years from an association with the Santa Fe Railroad.
The ceremony was preceded by a flag presentation from the local boy scout troop, and was followed by a barbecue brisket potluck with contributions from the entire community. Attendance was estimated between 175 and 200.
KETR was honored to be a part of the event, promoting on-air in the weeks leading up, and distributing goodie bags (and providing some sought-after shade) to attendees.
