Friends of Library to meet Bowmans

Bob and Doris Bowman of Lufkin, authors of the new book, "The Forgotten Towns of East Texas, Volume 1," will speak June 7 at 5 p.m. at the meeting of the Jasper Friends of the Library in the Beaty-Orton Home in Jasper.

"East Texas has so many forgotten towns that a listing of them all would be almost impossible," said the Bowmans. They have undertaken an effort to tell the stories of hundreds of towns in a series of books.

"The Forgotten Towns of East Texas," Volume I, includes stories and photos dealing with about 66 towns in 45 East Texas counties, including several in Jasper and surrounding counties.

The book describes some of the region's earliest towns, including Caddo Mounds, a prehistoric Indian village in Cherokee County; Mission Tejas, the first Spanish settlement in East Texas; and Champ de Aisle, a French community in Liberty County.

"What attracted us to all of the towns was the diversity of history they brought to East Texas during their lifetimes," said Bowman.

Mr. Bowman is a member of the Texas Historical Commission and is a former president of the East Texas Historical Association. He has also served on the Texas Sesquicentennial Commission and the Texas Capitol Centennial Commission.Both Bowmans have served as chairs of the Texas Council for the Humanities.