On our last visit to Austin in April, John and I took a weekend trip up north to Longview, Texas with my mom, Mary Lea Castleberry Baker. Mom grew up in Longview, a “Piney Woods” town not far from the northeast corner of the state bordering Arkansas and Louisiana (The Heart of the Ark-La-Tex, the newscasters would boom from my grandmom’s old 20-inch, black-and-white TV). How long had it been since I’d seen Longview? Well, my Grandmom Castleberry passed away in the summer of 1977, just after I graduated from high school. It had to be at least a year before that. So . . .43 years? Yikes.
Longview looms almost as large in my childhood as my hometown of Fort Stockton, way out west on the other side of Texas. Every summer, my parents would load up the big, green Pontiac station wagon, toss us kids in the back with a few pillows and blankets (no child safety seats then!), and then make the 800-plus-mile drive to Longview to visit Grandmom Castleberry. Sometimes my folks would drive all night, and we’d listen to late-night broadcasts of preacher Garner Ted Armstrong, Paul Harvey (“And that’s the REST of the story!”), and the spooky CBS Radio Mystery Theater (with your host, E.G. Marshall).
We would spend at least two weeks every summer with Grandmama Castleberry. She was a tiny lady who always seemed ancient to us (although she was only 84 when she died). Fetching up at her big, two-story brick house after the long drive was always a thrill, and she’d wrap us in one of her big hugs and exclaim, “Come here, my babies!” If I were to catch a whiff of Coty Emeraude perfume now, I’d have an instant picture of her, Lillian Castleberry, one of the kindest ladies to ever walk this earth.
John has not been enamored of other parts of Texas (don’t get him started on the “empty wasteland” of the West, where I grew up!). But he was enchanted with East Texas. It helped that the wildflowers were still in full bloom. Texas had an early, long, and especially robust wildflower season this year. Even after growing up there, I had never seen anything quite like it. Stunning.
Longview, of course, has quadrupled in size in 40 years. But there was still plenty that was relatively unchanged. Even the big two-story house, which my grandparents built in 1934 after oil was discovered on their farmland, was still standing and not looking entirely derelict (although it didn’t seem to be occupied). And I learned some new things about my Castleberry ancestors, who, as it turns out, were pioneering settlers of the region.
It was a memorable trip, and a reminder that – no matter how far we roam – sometimes the best travel experiences are those closest to home.
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25 Comments
Susan, what a wonderful heritage you have to cherish! Thanks for sharing!
Bud
Thanks so much, dear Bud! I have so many great memories.
A fine trip down memory lane, thanks for sharing it. I had to laugh when you wrote about the green Pontiac station wagon. We had one just like it! And the blankets and pillows, too! The world seemed better before seat belts, I think.
Ha, yes, before seatbelts, child safety seats, and a lot of other things that keep kids safer but take away from some of the experience of being a kid, in my opinion. It’s a wonder we survived our childhoods!
How nice to go back to where your childhood memories were made. “Gee it’s good to be back home again”, as John Denver sang! Love to you both!💕
Thanks, dear Bernadette! Hugs to you and Richard.
I could definitely relate to the story of driving long-distance is in the car with family and you are a fantastic storyteller thank you
Aww, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
I love this story. Since returning to the states we have been reconnecting with our childhood memories and our friends of long ago. Such warm memories. It goes to show that you can go home again. ❤️
We’ve been enjoying your Facebook posts about your journey! See you soon <3
Loved your story “A Road Trip to Longview”
Thank you, Chaz!
A true “ A Trip toBountiful” adventure. Bravo to you for doing this for your mom! Penny and Bill, Trim,Ireland
You’re in Ireland? Cool! Hugs to you both.
Beautiful! These are such pictures! It’s so enriching and fun to revisit your roots and relive the good, old days. By the way, you looked cute as a baby! 🙂
Aw, thanks!! Wonder what happened? 🙂
It was truly a delight to read a bit of your family history. Even though we grew up in different places, the ‘time’ gives a familiarity to our stories. I so remember Coty Emeraude and I still enjoy a good radio program. Love that trio of smiles in that first pic. The endless flowering fields are calling to me. And your conclusion that ‘no matter how far we roam – sometimes the best travel experiences are those closest to home’ makes me feel a little less apprehensive about returning Stateside in 2020.
Hi Lisa – just realizing I never replied to your comment! Isn’t it amazing how many shared memories we folks of a certain age and time have? We’re so looking forward to meeting you in Curacao!
– Susan
Enjoyed your blog about Longview, Texas. I, too, am part of the Spring Hill/Pine Tree Castleberry families of Longview through two sisters who married into the family. Interestingly, I have exhausted my resources on George Castleberry, your grandfather, and found no connection to the families buried in Elmira Chapel/Fisher cemeteries. Never meaning to say there are none, I just want to keep my records straight on this part of my families. A few days ago I read a Longview obit of Richard Aaron Castleberry where it states his parents were Lillian and George Castleberry; probably this is your relative. I would love hearing from you.
Oh, wow! Yes, Richard was my dear uncle who passed away last weekend. His sister, my mom, is Mary Lea Castleberry Baker. Richard’s passing makes her the last living child of Lillian and George. Who are the sisters who married into the family, and who did they marry? I’ll pass the info along to my mom. Thanks for getting in touch!
Sisters were: Cynthia Jane Lawrence Rodden Castleberry (1849-1921) m. Aaron Trice Castleberry (1842-1905). Aunt Cynthia’s youngest sister, Agnes Lodema Lawrence (Dee) (1866-1908) married James Rodden Castleberry (1949-1925), A.T.’s brother. These women were my great-grandfather’s (Felix Grundy Lawrence) sisters. These were very prominent families in Longview-Gregg County early days. Thanks for answering so quickly.
This is a great article. Thank you for sharing your family with us. I was wondering where Elmira Castleberry is buried? Also, do you know if the pine tree that she used to teach Sunday School under, is still standing? Thank you and God bless you!
Hi! Thanks for your comment. Looks like Betsy below answered your questions. My mom will be fascinated with this info. Just curious – how/where did you hear about this blog post?
Have a great day!
– Susan
Elmira Pierce Castleberry is buried in White Cemetery, Pine Tree community, along with many other founding families of Pine Tree. Her son, Aaron and my gr-gr aunt are buried about 2 miles away in Fisher Cemetery.
There was a very large Pine tree on the school campus next to the church. As. Kid I thought the treewas ugly and in the way of parking. If that is the one you are asking about I do not know if it’s the exact tree but it was huge. A lone Pine Tree stood by itself in the middle of the parking lot after the old school building was demolished about 20 years ago. The church became the school’s resource center thereafter. What the campus is like now I cannot say since I moved away 13 years ago.
It’s incredibly sad that so much Pine Tree/Castleberry history was destroyed about 30 years ago by the PT church’s minister because he saw no use for old “stuff” in his office. Needless to say that man got an earful from me.
Hope this answers your question. I could go on and on.
Fascinating info. I can’t wait to share all this with my mom! Thanks for your interest in our blog 🙂
– Susan