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Austin Town a family affair for some
Published November 7, 2009
ANGLETON — History is a family affair for Emily Morgan, who participated Friday in the annual three-day Austin Town re-enactment with all five of her children.
Austin, Abigail, Jesse, John and Sarah joined their mom at the portrayal of the 1832 colony about a mile north of CR 45 on FM 521. The encampment opened to schoolchildren Friday and is open to the public today and Sunday. Attractions at the 10-acre site include period storytellers, dancing, butter-churning, music, cooking demonstrations and numerous other displays.
Each attraction includes actors in period dress.
“We enjoy it,” said Morgan, wearing an earthtone dress and a bonnet. “Visitors get to see what everything was like back then. A lot of people come up and ask questions and we try to answer them. They’re very open and don’t just stare. They come up and talk.”
Austin, 13, had no trouble asking or answering questions since he enjoys history.
“In a way, this feels real,” the Brazoria resident said. “I’ve studied a lot of this for a long time. It’s fun to be a part of it.”
Wearing a long linen dress, 8-year-old Abigail enjoyed the experience.
“I like pretty much everything,” she said with a shy smile as smoke rose from nearby cooking fires. “I just like it all.”
The two went back to work near a large pond on the site, helping students like Marcie Grizzle, 9, walk on stilts. A fourth-grader at Angleton Christian School, Marcie was able to take four steps on the wooden legs.
“It’s interesting to be back in the old days,” she said. “It teaches you Texas history, like how to make butter.”
While Marcie took a turn at the churn, Devin Dean of Brazoria’s Barrow Elementary School opted for the 1830s-era games.
“I really like the tug of war,” Devin said as his team fell to the ground in a laughing, but losing, effort. “It makes me feel like I’m free.”
Barrow fourth-grader T.J. Ramirez enjoyed the trip back in time, as did classmate Amaya Williams. MacKenzie Baron and Alyssa Sims, both in fourth grade at Barrow, stopped by a classroom on the site.
“I don’t want to go to that school,” MacKenzie said of the partially open structure. “If you’re bad, they whip you with a switch.”
Alyssa said she wouldn’t mind classes there.
“I probably would like going to that school,” she said. “I like school.”
Elizabeth Garza is a parent who chaperoned students from Pearland’s Mary Marek Elementary. She sat on a log while students laughed and played, and some rested with her.
“It was good for them to see how it was back then — the little houses made out of mud or clay,” said a tired but smiling Garza. Living without air conditioning, cable television, pavement or vehicles might have been simpler and has some attractions, but Garza gave a long pause when thinking about life in that time.
“I don’t know about that…” Garza said.
Alejandro Barajas, who attends O.A. Fleming Elementary in Freeport, said he had a good time on the field trip.
“It’s cool to see the old stuff,” Alejandro said while standing near a two-room log cabin new to the site this year. “The houses were made out of wood. Only wood.”
As waves of students walked and chattered excitedly, Alejandro looked at the tug-of-war and stilts, where Emily Morgan’s family talked with visitors.
“I like the people they play,” he said. “You know. It’s cool.”
Austin Town is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children younger than 12 years old.
John Lowman covers Brazoria County for The Facts. Contact him at 979-849-8581.
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