Solely sponsored and funded by R&L Auto, Mont Belvieu Auto, and Page’s Paint & Body, the Classic Car & Truck Show is scheduled for October 11, 2014 at R&L Auto on FM 1409 in Old River-Winfree.
There will be parking kindly made available by Fellowship Worship next door.
Participants will be showing off their hard work. The People’s Choice 1st, 2nd, and 3rd awards are decided on by the people who come by and vote for their favorite classic.
This is a fun, family event that old and young alike will enjoy.
R&L invites the surrounding communities to enter their Classic “ride” at the store where the courteous and helpful staff will be glad to answer any questions. Unique Trophies!
Let’s support them by stopping by! You’ll be glad you did! I know we will all be talking about it for days after the event!
Head over to Chambers County’s Job Beason Park in Oak Island. ChambersWild will be a hosting the Double Bayou Bash –
Twice the Fun on the Fourth featuring a boat parade, huge kid’s zone, bands, shopping, dancing, food, fireworks and more. Go to the website, www.DoubleBayouBash.com , or check out the attached flyers for event information, how to be a sponsor, or to get your boat registered for the parade.
Kiel Williams, 2014 Old River-Winfree Founders Day President, presents Alex Karedia, Manager of Sam’s Express in Old River-Winfree with the ORWFD 2014 Business of the Year Award!
Sam’s Express is always on hand to help the community as much as possible. One way they do this is by backing Old River-Winfree Founders Day and sponsoring the “My Best Friend” Dog Contest for two years in a row.
Kiel Williams is no stranger to the people of Old River-Winfree. He has resided most of his life in Old River-Winfree and is known by most of residents. Kiel also serves as a Volunteer Fireman at the Old River-Winfree Volunteer Fire Department. He understands our community and knows what matters to us.
Past winners of the Awards are Simple Simon’s with the “Helping Hands” 2012 Award for their help in the needs of our fellow residents; and R&L Auto 2013 Business of the Year Award winner with the Old River-Winfree Founders Day Classic Car and Truck Car Show.
We love our town and the businesses that choose to take a chance on us!
You didn’t enter your dog at the 2013 ORWFD! There is always this year at the 2014 ORWFD. Second weekend in October.
Such fun for all the family and the dogs, too!
Categories are Small, Medium, and Large Dogs with SubCategories of “Best Dressed”, “Most Talented”, “Best Smile”, “Best Tail Wag” and Best “Caught in the Act” (dog must be present to with this one)
Until the last soldier or marine comes home, ORWFD 5K Run/Walk will support the Wounded Warrior Project and the Pfc Wesley Riggs Memorial Scholarship Fund.
If you look hard, you will see Commissioner Rusty Senac and Old River-Winfree Councilwoman, Jackie Johnson running or walking to support our Veterans! You will also see the Family of Pfc Wesley R. Riggs, Daniel Riggs, Vickie Riggs, and Brian Riggs.
Special thanks to Bob Botto, Race Manager, Tracie Comeaux, Shane Brand, Kiel Williams, Linda Murphy, Colleen Fontenot, among a few for organizing the race.
Thanks to the best hosts around, Barbers Hill Independent School District.
Barbers Hill Bank supports and continues to support, four years running, ORWFD, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Pfc Wesley R. Riggs Scholarship Fund by paying all expenses incurred with their $5000 Sponsorship!
We welcome you to Old RIver-Winfree Founders Day 2013 with a look at the last 4 years. We hope you enjoy a look back and come to the 2013 ORWFD.
Absolutely FREE Carnival Rides and games! Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall; Portrait of a Warrior, Ken Pridgeon; Jean Epperson, Published Author of Bay Area History; Boyce Morris, Jr. Historical Old River-Winfree Artifacts; Vendors Galore, Miss Old River Country Pageant; “My Best Friend” Dog Contest; Pie, Cake, Cupcake Bakeoff and auction; Vintage Car and Truck Contest at R&L Auto Supply, and lots of fun!
A Tribute to those who have run and will run/walk on October 5th.
We want you to know that every time your foot touches the ground, every time you shed a drop of sweat, every time you take a labored breath, and sometimes, every time you shed a tear, you are extending your hand to help a Wounded Warrior stand tall and honoring the one that “gave all”. God Bless you!
We Salute you! Hooah!
Seeing the video below, have you registered to run, make a donation, or bought a t-shirt. Now’s your time. Go to the link below and scroll down. We will NEVER forget the sacrifice all of our men and women, along with their families, have made to keep us free. We will NEVER forget those that made the ultimate sacrifice. Not here in Small Towns USA! Join us!
On a Friday Evening, October 12, 2012, community dog lovers gathered for the “My Best Friend” Dog Contest. This year, the Dog Contest will be on Saturday and is sure to be a good time for both dog and “friend”!
They entered into the following Categories:
Category (check one or more) $5.00 ea category
_________ Best Trick (Talent)
_________ Best Dressed
_________ Best Tail Wagging (Personality)
_________ “Caught in the Act” Photo Contest (simple
camera pictures are fine)
Each dog is divided into Small, Medium, and Large Breeds, so everyone stands to win!
We had some really interesting entries last year. A couple of the dogs were rescued dogs and one, the Black Lab, understood commands in German!
Why this fun, cheap to enter, dog contest……Read below:
They are the ones that greet us at the door; the ones that are in the back yard yapping up a storm, jumping for joy, and dancing around just because we are home, finally.
They guard our children, our homes, our lives; and let us know when danger is around real or perceived by them.
They help us to remember our childhood; those days of carefree abandon. Before we knew the world was not always nice.
We are so busy and caught up in our lives; but look down into their eyes and see such love, unconditional love, loyalty, and devotion even though sometimes we forget to let them out and shame them because they potty on the floor. Sometimes their food bowl goes empty a little too long and we wonder why they are gnawing on the furniture. We forget to fill their water bowl and wonder why they drink out of the toilet.
Sometimes forgotten in the back yard, they stand vigil for us, their family.
Enjoy the video of some of our entrants and winners! It was so much fun for everyone!
Go to the Events Page on Old River-Winfree Founders Day Website, scroll down to the Dog Contest, click on the Form page, save and print.
Yes, it’s time again for all our little girls and young ladies to shine. Great -Grandparents, Grandparents, and mom and dads will be busting with pride as their little babies join us in our unique Pageant where Natural Beauty that only comes from sweetness within WINS over outward beauty!
This Pageant strives to instill in our girls that each is unique and wonderful, just as they are!
It’s a fun, fun, fun contest, so get those entries in or come out and support Old River Country (now known as West Chambers County) girls. Other counties are allowed to enter. We understand that they got here just as soon as they could!
To Drop any entry off go to: City Hall is at 4818 FM 565N. Sign is out front. The single glass door to the left is the City Offices open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for lunch.
If no one is there, simply drop your entry form and payment inside the metal door to the right of the single glass door. There is a mail slot there.
As President of Old River-Winfree Founders Day and the 5K Run/Walk Benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project in Memory of Pfc Wesley R. Riggs, I have walked in the 5K Run/Walk. I weighed 190 lbs, 62 years old, and totally out of shape.
But, I didn’t care! I knew I wanted to walk, the best I could, for our heroes coming back from the Afghanistan and Iraq Theaters of War! I knew that every time my foot hit the ground, I was extending a hand to a soldier or marine in need of support. A hand to help the Wounded Warrior Project lift them our of despair (PTSD which is very prevalent), and help them physically, mentally, and spiritually!
I walked in flip flops and had quite a hard time keeping up with the other walkers. But, I finished, I did it!
I felt so good when I saw the finish line coming up! The fastest time that day was 17 minutes; I was the very last to cross the finish line, but I was just as proud as if I had come in first!
Tears come to my eyes as I think of that day and what it meant to me and those I was helping. Those my big old feet were giving hope to.
Please join me as I participate again this year! By the way, I finished in 1 Hour and 15 minutes!!
Beat that time! Great T-Shirts; Babies can participate in the Stroller Derby; Kid’s in the Kid’s Fun Run, too!
This is our 5th year to do this and we have made it a First Class Event for you! Party afterwards for participants!
Editor’s note: This is a tribute to Ken “The Dauber” Pridgeon, a War Veteran himself, (serving from the age of 19 to the age of 27), Portrait of a Warrior Memorial Gallery, our Fallen Heroes, all American Veterans, and those who serve today or those who stand ready to go to battle for American Freedom. You must go, if you haven’t already. Take the kids, the grandkids, grandparents, Veterans in your family; it is a must see!
FIRST: When I walked into the Portrait of a Warrior Memorial Art Gallery, I thought of the famous “Jaws” movie line “WE’RE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER BOAT!”
BACKGROUND:
I met Ken “the Dauber” Pridgeon when Old River-Winfree Founders Day was looking for someone to paint a roadside mural for our Founders Day. Ken is famous for the mural at the Baytown Museum and I thought, that’s our guyI
I remember going to his house in early to mid 2009 and saw the work he does. We did commission Ken to do our Roadside mural.
It was months after that, I felt led to ask Ken to do a portrait of Pfc. Wesley R. Riggs for Founders Day. Ken says when do you need it….. Ken tells the story that it was on a Wednesday I asked him to paint the portrait. He remembers me saying, Saturday, of course! That was two days away!
Ken came to Founders Day that Saturday, sat in Mayor Joe Landry’s chair, and painted away on the portrait.
(This portrait of Pfc. Wesley R. Riggs turned out to be the FIRST portrait in the long line of Portraits of our Fallen Heroes that Ken has done since that day. It started Ken on a Journey of a lifetime, blessed by God.) As Ken set there painting, we didn’t know that another soldier, Army Staff Sgt. Jesse W. Ainsworth, was being escorted by the Patriot Guard going north on Hwy 146 taking him back to his final resting place in Dayton, Texas. Staff Sgt. Ainsworth was the second portrait. The rest is history.
I see Ken when he comes back to where it all began at Old River-Winfree Founders Day and follow his posts on Facebook, but, I had never been to the Memorial Gallery.
August 30, 2013
Yesterday, I was dropping off flyers for the ORWFD 5K Run/Walk Benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project in Memory of Pfc Wesley R. Riggs and I put the Gallery and Ken on my list of places to stop.
I shot pictures up a storm outside, making sure that all of those who saw this post would feel as it they were with me on this visit. I was a happy little camper; hot , but happy.
I then opened the door to go into the Gallery. It was then the 6 senses we are all born with, normally, took over.
First was the gift of sight: My eyes opened wide at the color they were viewing, brilliant in red, white and blue. The Red, White, and Blue of our Fallen Heroes. When my eyes started going from left to right around the Gallery, my thoughts were, “So many portraits”. Meaning, so many lost lives. I took in the portraits that go from ceiling to floor and my eyes started misting up and tears flowed gently down my face.
Mind you, I’m not out of the doorway yet. I’m just standing there taking it all in.
Then my hearing took over and I could hear music, Patriotic Country Music coming from a radio in the back; and, something else; a voice, and I realized and recognized Ken singing at the top of his lungs along with the radio.
I could smell the very faint aroma of paint and started taking pictures to make sure you were seeing what I saw.
I worked my way back toward the music and Ken, all along snapping pictures and just looking at the lives affected by our last two wars and beyond. As I neared Ken, I saw him with his paint brush up, just a painting away on another portrait of a hero, a special kind of hero.
I called to Ken and approached him as he sat and we greeted one another. I turned around from him, telling Ken how wonderful the Gallery is, and I spotted it.
Right behind where Ken paints is his first Portrait, the portrait of Pfc Wesley R. Riggs son of my friend, Daniel Riggs. I’m an emotional person, but it seemed like Wes was there cheering Ken on and watching over the work. Right by Wes was Staff Sgt Ainsworth, Ken’s second portrait.
Ken and I started talking and I continued my way snapping pictures, sharing with Ken, reminiscing, and talking about the upcoming 2013 ORWFD on October 12, 2013.
We talked and I saw soo much more, like the Vietnam jacket pictured in the video below. SO much more to see.
But, YOU will have to go find out the rest of the story on your on. Ken is getting older and his health seemed off to me, he seemed tired. But when he starts talking about his “boys and girls” his face lights up and it’s a beautiful transformation.
Go….. go soon, to see Ken “the Dauber” Pridgeon, a Texas Icon!
On October 5, 2013 at Barbers Hill ISD Eagles Football Stadium, the Civil War Canon will fire again telling all that hear that we support our men and women in service and start the 5th annual ORWFD “Chip Timed” 5K Run/Walk; a few minutes later, another “blast” will be heard starting the Kid’s Fun Run. Every single dollar raised goes to the Wounded Warrior Project and the Pfc Wesley R. Riggs Memorial Scholarship Fund.
A separate “Stroller Derby” will then start for all parents to push strollers or pull wagons with their babies and toddlers aboard showing their little hearts support our men and women in the military!
Barbers Hill Bank, a branch of Anahuac National Bank, is exclusively sponsoring all expenses for the 4th year in a row, so that all entries and donations go to our Warriors.
The volunteers you see at the ORWFD events give of their time and their heart to put this event on every year to make sure we provide a first class race and a lot of fun!
The official 2013 ORWFD 5K Run/Walk T-Shirt will also be on sale at the race to raise more money for our heroes. The first 50 entries received a free T-Shirt.
An estimated 400,000 warriors suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
An estimated 320,000 warriors suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Over 51,300 warriors suffer from physical injuries.
These statistics only tell part of the story that don’t include the trauma, anxiety, and worry of the families who wait and the families who received our warriors back from the theaters of war!
Help us help the warriors and their families by your support of the Run/Walk!
You understand the severity of veterans’ battlefield injuries — amputated arms and legs, disfiguring burns, paralysis, and invisible wounds, such as TBI’s and PTSD. The recovery from these injuries takes a lifetime of commitment.
Please stand by our nation’s wounded by participating in the 2013 Chip Timed 5K Run/Walk and the Kid’s Fun Run on October 5, 2013 which benefits the Wounded Warrior Project (90%) and the Pfc. Wesley R. Riggs Memorial Scholarship Fund (10%).
The making of the 2013 5K Run/Walk Benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project in Memory of Pfc Wesley R. Riggs T-Shirt:
The graphics, t-shirt material, and wording were chosen with great care this year as Old River-Winfree Founders Day is ever mindful of the sacrifice our military and their families make every day since 1776. The following is a short history of what brought the ORWFD Team forward to the choosing of the graphics for this year’s T-Shirt that any American would be proud to wear year-round!
“When the Second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia in May 1775, Washington, one of the Virginia delegates, was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. On July 3, 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years.
December 1776 was a desperate time for George Washington and the American Revolution. The ragtag Continental Army was encamped along the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware River exhausted, demoralized and uncertain of its future.
His decision was to attack the British. The target was the Hessian-held town of Trenton just across the Delaware River.
During the night of December 25, Washington led his troops across the ice-swollen Delaware about 9 miles north of Trenton. The weather was horrendous and the river treacherous. Raging winds combined with snow, sleet and rain to produce almost impossible conditions. To add to the difficulties, a significant number of Washington’s force marched through the snow without shoes.
The next morning they attacked to the south, taking the Hessian garrison by surprise and over-running the town. After fierce fighting, and the loss of their commander, the Hessians surrendered.
On April 30, 1789, George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, took his oath of office as the first President of the United States. “As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent,” he wrote James Madison, “it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles.””
George Washing is quoted on many great sayings, one of the best and most thought provoking is this one from 1781.
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.”
Added to this great quote is the American Eagle, the American Flag, and the ORWFD logo. As always, the ORWFD 5K Run/Walk is held in Memory of Pfc Wesley R. Riggs and his family that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Wesley R. Riggs was a graduate of Barbers Hill High School and accomplished that is three (3) years! Barbers Hill Bank in Mont Belvieu, Texas a branch of Anahuac National Bank is the Exclusive Sponsor and has been for four (4) years running!
T-Shirt is the Runner’s style Wicking T-Shirt which is 100% polyester wicking knit * Wicks moisture away from the body *
Color is “Barbers Hill” Blue
All American T–Shirts in Old River-Winfree is the Official Old River-Winfree Founders Day T-Shirt Vendor.
T-Shirt picture Courtesy of Fred Westin and the Traverso Family.
All American T-Shirts in Old River-Winfree Official T-Shirt Vendor for 5 years running!
(Click on Picture to Enlarge)
2013 ORWFD T-Shirt is a Historic T-shirt. These T-Shirts will be on sell at Founders Day on October 12, 2013 for $5.00. They will also be on sell at the City Office Prior to Founders Day.
From Boyce Morris, Jr. Historian of Old River-Winfree Founders Day and Curator of the Future Old River Country Museum
I had the opportunity to sit down, and talk to one of early residents of Winfree, Texas. Mr. Louis B. Traverso.
He is 90 yrs. Old at looks great. Mr. Fred Weston, and wife Kathy Weston accompanied him for the visit. It was such a pleasure to sit down, and talk to them.
They told me about their family that came to this country from Genoa, Italy, and the old home place on Old River.
I was given a picture of the store that once stood on the south side of Old River. Records I’ve read from Mr. Harry Daves collection states that this location use to be named Straddle. There was a post office, store, school (Winfree School), and a house in that location. It’s believed that the post office was located in the Traverso Store. There was also a ferry crossing on Old River near the site of the Traverso Store.
In the picture of the store was Louis B. Traverso’s father Louis John Batiste who was born January 2, 1882. He passed away November 30th, 1960. His wife was Annetta V. Legatos born Sept. 19th, 1887. She passed away April 6th 1934.
The old store is no longer there. It was moved up to the road, which is now Hwy 565. He said that all of the original store was not moved to this location. Only a part of the store was moved. It was moved using logs to roll it on.
There was a camp house built on the site where the store stood. I don’t think it is standing anymore. Mr. Traverso lived there, and went to school at the Winfree school that was located there on Old River. The lumber used in the building of the home that the Weston’s live in now was cut, and made from a saw mill that Mr. Harry Daves once told me about that was located on the North side of Old River.
Mr. Traverso told me that the load of lumber brought over to use only cost thirty five dollars at that time. The home that the Weston’s live in now was moved from the river location to it’s present site using logs to transport it on.
The home is located just west “Priced to Sell” Resale shop now. It was called Old River Grocery back in the 70’s when I moved to this area. I believe the name of the store has been changed several times. He went on to tell me about his Grandpa that owned three coastal boats.
One of the boats was given to Peter Stephen who was born at the George Ball home on Old River. The boat was built at Lake Pochatrain, and named THE GARFIELD. Later it was renamed THE ANNETTA after Mr. Louis B. Traverso’s mother. I was given a picture of the boat, and a page of genealogy records. I have been invited to accompany Mr. Weston, and Mr. Traverso on a tour of the site where the store, and other buildings were once located.
I was also given permission to use my metal detector on that site to try, and locate relics, and artifacts from the past years to add to my collection, and display at the founders day each year until we can get a building for a museum built. Then all the relics, and artifacts I have found on the sites that I have hunted on Old River will be displayed in the museum.
I do not intend to let any of the historical artifacts that I have recovered leave this area. I want them to remain in the Old River-Winfree area for everyone to see, and enjoy as I have.
I’ve seen so many elderly, and younger alike come to view my displays, and tell their stories. It brings back so many memories to them.
It was an honor to talk to Mr. Weston, his wife Kathy, and Mr. Traverso. We laughed, talked, and had a great visit. I hope to be able sit and enjoy their company again in the near future. I would like to hear more of their stories, and the memories of their life on Old River.
Solely sponsored and funded by R&L Auto, Mont Belvieu Auto, and Page’s Paint & Body, the Classic Car & Truck Show is scheduled for October 11, 2014 at R&L Auto on FM 1409 in Old River-Winfree.
R&L invites the surrounding communities to enter their Classic “ride” at the store where the courteous and helpful staff will be glad to answer any questions. Unique Trophies!
Old River-Winfree Community News 