Azalea Fest spills all over Jasper this year
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Newsboy photo/ Charles Kerr COUNTY HISTORIAN BERTIE BRYANT says the Old Jail Museum will be open during Azalea Fest, and they have just received another shipment of the book, "W.P. Cook, Contractor and Builder." Some of his buildings will be featured in the JJHS historic tours offered during the festival.

The Jasper County Courthouse square isn't big enough to hold all the attractions for the 18th annual Azalea Fest, March 17, according to special events coordinator Liz Street of the Jasper/ Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce.

New this year will be a mile-long replica of the solar system, a Jasper Junior High School project planned by science department chair Howard Bailey. Debbie Simmons' art students are helping create the planets, which will be placed according to scale starting at the corner of U.S. Highway 96 and Houston Streets, and ending with Pluto at JJHS.

JISD will provide bus tours of the solar system and historic sites, with student guides on board to point out the highlights, according to Tas McGraw.

Teacher Diane Pace's JHS history students are also preparing three brochures: the solar exhibit, historic buildings downtown and historic sites in the area. Librarian Denise Milton said donations for the book sale, to be held in the fire hall across from the library on Water Street, "have been pouring in." Proceeds from the bi-annual book sale will go to the library fund, which now is aiming toward building a new library on land donated by the Temple Foundation.

Also on Water Street, the historic Beaty-Orton House will be open for tours.

Lakes Area Hospice on Ethel Street plans to keep their new art gallery open from nine a.m. to noon, according to executive director Jeannette Coffield.

The Milam Street Gallery, The Wise Gallery on Lamar and the East Texas Regional Arts Center on Austin Street will all be open as well.

The East Texas Photography Club will showcase members' works.

The Jazzy Jewels of Jasper, a chapter of the Red Hat Society, will host a high tea for other Red Hat chapters from all over southeast Texas. They plan to keep the community room at First National Bank open from 9 a.m. until the high tea at 2:30 p.m. so that visiting Red Hat members can rest and visit in between activities at the festival.

Red Hatters have requested a morning and afternoon time slot to "strut their stuff" and read the poem than began the Red Hat societies for women "of a certain age."

The gazebo stage will also offer continuous

entertainment in the form of local musical talent, and this year for the first time, Street said they would try an American Idol-style talent show.

Around the square, the Chamber is leasing booth areas for craft and food vendors, and local clubs and churches.

Streets will be blocked off around the courthouse to accommodate the classic car show and the kiddie train ride sponsored by the Jasper Lakes Area Humane Society.

The Old Jail Museum on Houston Street will be open. It is the home of the Jasper County Historical Commission and houses archives, photos and records going back to the earliest days of settlement in the area.

The Historic Commission will have copies of "W.P. Cook, Contractor and Builder," for sale. Bitsy Hanna's book, illustrated with old photos and Bill Wise's watercolors, is a history of her famous ancestor who built many of Jasper's finest structures a hundred years ago. It was a sell-out at the book signing in February, but a new shipment was received this week, according to county historian Bertie Bryant.

Street said they will also have the inflatable superslide and moon walk for the kids, and photos with the Easter Bunny or Fall Fest royalty.

There will be a cake decorating contest with adult and youth (under 13) divisions.

The Chamber is seeking sponsors now; $500 sponsors get a hot pink banner and $300 sponsors get an Azalea Fest yard sign.

For more information, contact the chamber at 384-2762 or visit jaspercoc. org.