Published: October 03, 2008 11:11 am            

Yards of the Month for October

From Staff Reports



City of Corsicana council members Tom Wilson, Ruby Williams, Stephen Andrews and Randy Dill have announced their selections for October Yard of the Month featuring businesses and public spaces instead of residences. The council members are supported by this endeavor by Corsicana Cleanup Committee and Better Gardens Club. This is the last group of honorees for 2008. The Yard of the Month program will resume in May.

Writers for the precincts have been Mary Biggers, Linda Fannin, Mallie Hendryx, Kay Sharp and Babbette Samuels. For more information or any suggestions or questions regarding Yard of the Month, contact Sandy Chambers at (903) 874-2015.

Precinct 1 — For October, Precinct 1 council member Tom Wilson has chosen Dr. Richard P. Harper’s office as the Yard of the Month from the business community. Located at 729 W. Second Ave., Harper’s office adds to the beauty along Second Avenue.

Harper taught at Baylor’s College of Dentistry for nine years. He had been recruited from the University of Toronto. About seven years ago, he moved his practice to Corsicana to fill the need for an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Being of Irish-Italian heritage, he is very family oriented. Harper enjoys the time he can spend with family, especially his three grandchildren. He also enjoys good Italian food and beautiful surroundings. According to his account manager, Venisa Tacker, his caring nature is also carried over to assistants and patients.

Pineda’s Nursery was asked to help with the landscaping of his home and office. Around the sign in front of his office is a flower bed filled with a variety of plants. The showy plants in this bed are two kinds of potato vines that overflow and hang down the sides. The potato vines are contrasting colors of light green and deep purple with lavender flowers. White periwinkles and a large copper plant add to the beauty of the bed.

The beds surrounding the building contain small shrubs and pink begonias. Holly trees stand on each side of the door. Accenting these beds are azaleas and a banana tree. Tacker added that the plants not only add beauty to their workplace but they also help patients find the office.

Precinct 2 — Ruby Williams has selected the school at 901 E. 10th Ave. as the honoree for October.

Simply stated, Two Dimensions Preparatory Academy Charter School offers classes that serve the pre-kindergarten three through second grade children. Walking through the front door, it’s obvious that there’s much more going on here. The building is bright, people are friendly, the children are confident, polite, and have an almost tangible intellectual curiosity. Neektsarteel Ben Israel is liaison to the school for principal Shirley Harris. “We are a school that is absolutely community and family focused,” Israel said. “Good behavior is our number one expectation.” Israel’s conversation is tempered by his passion, sense of humor, and dedication. He believes in the future of children.

Speaking for the staff and students, Israel said, “We would like to give thanks to everyone who has made it a positive experience which includes contributors Bill and Helen Holt and Marion Jackson.”

Jeffery Jebineh maintains the landscape at Two Dimensions Charter School. Sitting on a large piece of property the symmetry of the brick building rises from a sea of beautiful green grass. The playground is fenced with decorative iron that provides safety and a bold counterpoint to the drama of the building’s architecture. Clean sidewalks lead to a bright blue front door that welcomes students to an oasis of learning, a garden of potential.

Precinct 3 — Stephen Andrews has selected the Hebrew Cemetery for Precinct 3.

For decades every spring and early fall, while driving down Second Avenue, one has enjoyed the lovely profusion of pink roses blooming along the fence line of Corsicana’s historic Hebrew Cemetery.

Corsicana’s first Jewish settlers arrived in 1871 when the Houston and Texas Central Railroad extended its line to Houston. The first priority of these settlers was to buy land to bury their loved ones. According to records, the land on Second Avenue was purchased for $12.50 per acre. Leo Fox, an infant, was the first burial on that sacred ground. Seven additional burials followed before 1881. There must have been a gentleman’s agreement for burials because the final papers weren’t filed until 1881. Establishing a place to bury their loved ones was the most important thing to these early settlers as their first house of worship, Temple Beth El, was built in 1900. The beautiful onion domed building is now a Texas State Historical Site.

In the beginning, there were no definite burial arrangements. Later, the association mapped out the cemetery in plots families could purchase. The plots were required to be curbed, the majority of which are granite and marble.

Among the exquisite Vermont granite monuments and trimmed shrubbery, you will find one old soft white marble headstone with just the two words “Rope Walker.” In 1884, a peg-legged tightrope walker with an iron stove on his back, lost his balance and fell to his death on Beaton Street. His dying words were that he was Jewish. The Jewish residents of Corsicana buried him among their loved. These residents tried for years but were never able to identify the performer.

Precinct 4 — Heritage Oaks, located on West Second Avenue, has been selected for recognition.

Jim Acker and his partners own this nursing home as well as five others of the 11 homes that comprise Heritage Oaks Company.

Part of Heritage Oaks was built in 1996. Beautiful crepe myrtles and trees border the property along the Second Avenue side. A large oak tree, sweet gum and bald pines stand in front of the main entrance. Acker commented, “There had to be an oak tree for Heritage Oaks.”

Encore azaleas, Barberry hedge, yaupon holly and ground cover are planted in front of one wing of the building.

An interesting and entertaining feature for the residents is a koi pond. There are over 100 of these fish, and the residents enjoy watching these fish, especially at feeding time. Part of the pond extends into the building and is near the aviary.

A large garden area with two vine-covered arbors invite people to sit and enjoy the outdoors. Years ago a resident who was a farmer in Kerens planted cotton in the brick planter. At one time there were rabbits in this enclosed garden.

All around the perimeter of the property are two bedroom apartments. Eight single apartments have recently been added. Residents are pleased to tend their own flower gardens and potted plants.

The community is grateful to Heritage Oaks for welcoming evacuees displaced by the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes.

        

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