Hawkins, Texas

You won't see Aunt Jemima with her colorful head scarf and brilliant smile in the small town of Hawkins, but the city claims, she used to live there. Lilian Richard, a Hawkins native of 1891 was one of several ladies hired by the Quaker Oats company to popularize their pancake mix by becoming Aunt Jemima. As a young woman of twenty, she moved to Dallas in search of work, where Quaker hired her. Talented and well liked, she turned the assignment into a lifetime career. In the 1990s, Texas legislature allowed Hawkins to be named, Pancake Captial of Texas, and the sign proudly proclaims this.

The sign also shows the name, Stanley Richard, a grand nephew of Lilian, who achieved fame as NFL safety, playing first for San Diego Chargers, and later for Washington Redskins until he retired in 1998. Although born in Mineola, he now resides in Hawkins.

I toured Hawkins in spring, during the 9th Annual Vick Russell Tomahawk throwing contest, an event, his daughter, Vicky Russell Prestridge created in honor and memory of her father and to keep alive the lost art of knife and tomahawk throwing. This tournament, where men and women compete head-to-head, brings visitors from all over Texas and from other states as well. There is an official International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Vicki posts her event on their website each year. I will give you the link below.

Participants dress in vintage clothing

A visitor checks out Vicky Russell Pertridge's authentic Tipi

Vicky Russell Pertridge

 Unlike other small towns in the area, Hawkins doesn't cluster around Highway 80. The city's main street, called Beaulah Street,  intersects with the highway and heads north, toward Quitman, as Highway 14. A little ways up the road, on your right, you'll find the Veterans' Memorial Park in beautiful location with a memorial wall, surrounded by green meadows, and with a pond, over which a helicopter hovers. The park memorializes all US conflicts since 1775 with plaques and lists the names of local residents, who lost their lives in the service.

The Wall of Names

Atop the Wall of Names

Make and Model? I'm no expert, but they say it flew in Vietnam

A little west of town, Lake Hawkins stretches over 633 acres, a beautiful lake, perfect for fishing and boating with many areas still accessible to the public. It is one of my favorite kayaking lakes, not too big, not too dangerous, but with hidden bays and coves for wildlife watching. At the southern tip of the lake, Wood County Park offers RV sites and a safe swimming area for kids. When the sky is overcast, the mood on the lake turns mysterious, giving me reason to reach for my camera.

If you get hungry from boating, kayaking, or jet skiing, Taste of Italy on the Lake, an excellent restaurant, serves Mediterranean food, and you can sit on the deck in nice weather, enjoying a view of the lake.

My Daddy, eating his much loved soup

View from the deck

South of Hawkins flows the Sabine River. During the rainy season, it runs high and swift, but in summer, one can sometimes enjoy a leisurely paddle upriver and float back down to point of entry.

'Atreyu,' My red kayak. :)

Farther south, a huge sign announces Tiger Creek, a well, kept, well managed Big Cat preserve, home to over 40 rescued tigers, lions, and other felines. Tiger Creek was established in 1989 on a shoestring budget, but now covers 150 acres and allows the cats to live in lush habitats, where visitors can observe them and learn their individual histories, as well as general information about their lifestyle and behavior. I have seen Tiger Creek grow from a small, cage-based operation to a large, beautifully located wildlife preserve. If you have not seen Tiger Creek, you must go visit. Tiger Creek is involved in wild tiger preservation, as well as education. Young people can intern there, preparing themselves for a variety of animal related careers. If you visit, one of the interns will give you a guided tour. I very much recommend, you take it. 

One of the many great cats at Tiger Creek

If you head east on Highway 80, toward Longview, you'll run into the site of the Jesus Controversy, where former Mayor, Will Rogers, became embroiled in a fight against the defenders of the First Amendment of the Constitution on separation of church and state, the city council, local resident Todd Eddington, and a number of other folks for what they considered his Judge-Roy-Bean-like determination to strong-arm Hawkins into Christianity. His sign, built on public property, was ordered to be taken down, but is still standing. No one knows at this time, what is to become of it. Meanwhile, smaller signs have spread all over East Texas, themselves not controversial, since they are placed on people's private lots. 

Farther east, still, Jarvis Christian College currently educates a record number of young, predominantly African American students. Jarvis is one of the historically black colleges and was established in 1912, prior to integration. Jarvis was always open to all races, but its mission was, to provide quality education for black students, who otherwise might not have been offered the opportunity. Jarvis is located on Highway 80, in the green, and visitors can call the office to get a guided tour of the facilities. The college hosts a natural history collection with biological specimens from the area. 

Links:

Lilian Richards as Aunt Jemima

Stanley Richard

International Knife Throwing Hall of Fame

Veterans' Memorial Park in Hawkins

Lake Hawkins

Taste of Italy by the Lake

Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge

Jarvis Christian College

DISCLAIMER:
I write about this town the way I experienced it. This is a subjective account and I make no guarantees about the accuracy of my observations. This blog post is for your enjoyment and entertainment only. For travel information, please contact the local chamber of commerce.