Because there is within us all a little of the nostalgia of by-gone days, it is the desire of those who loved and lived in Newsome to share its "good times". A part of its name was from a family named "Newsome", namely a white woman, Vinnie Newsome, who came through bringing a wagon train of possibly fifteen covered wagons, from Georgia immediately following the freeing of the slaves (1865). She purchased a large amount of land, making her one of the largest owners in the area. Her descendants, John D., Madge, Simon and Marion (Patterson) Newsome were latter day residents.
In the early years it was also known as "Newsome Switch", because of the railroad service, which was a narrow gauge railroad running from St. Louis, connecting Newsome to other parts of the country from east to west. It was here that one of the first families unloaded their furnishings while the train stopped just long enough to allow the Brock family from Georgia, to unload at "Attaway Crossing", about a half mile west of Newsome. This was the year of 1889-1890. The Brocks became a well-known family in Winnsboro.
Interesting and amusing stories could be written about almost every family residing there in the early days, when its "hey day" was considered to be between 1900-1915. Newsome in those days was composed of business stores on both sides of the railroad tracks. These buildings housed Newsome's First State Bank (cashiers, Lewin Gee and Milton Light. Mr. Light later was an employee of Pittsburg National Bank). The newspaper was the "Argus", and at one time ran contests to promote its subscriptions, giving away a Ford car, a piano and a parasol with a 24-carat gold handle. Other businesses were a movie, drug stores, dry goods stores, cleaners, barber shops, millinery and dress shops, a Masonic Lodge and doctors who were Mead, Shaddix, Boyd, Kellam, Cook, McDonald and Clinton. Dr. Beal Clinton, in addition to his formal schooling, studied from the medical books of Peter Groce, and perhaps was the latest doctor on record there.
A gin was operated by the Walling and Wright families at different times. However, in the fall of 1916, the boiler blew up injuring Jess Wright, and killing Connell Pitts. Just west of Newsome was a coal mine operated by Charlie Brown (father and grandfather of Mrs. Johnnie and John T. Stewart). Its structure was destroyed by a cyclone, which devastated an area of several miles, killing several people in the Spring Hill or Scroggins area in the year of 1919.
Covering a wider time span, a little yellow depot, whose agent was Will Neal, held an important place by providing transportation for college students, and to persons visiting or traveling to various destinations. A shipping shed near the depot was busy shipping peaches, sweet potatoes, etc. to cities "up north". Tom Barrett owned and operated the potato house which employed a number of local people (working shifts).
A sawmill and logging operation nearby was owned by the Law family, and provided employment and livelihood to several families, while giving experience to the Law's son. This has extended to another business in Camp County; namely Camp County Building and Supply, Pittsburg; now owned and operated by Billy Law and Buster Julian (whose family structured much of Newsome's past.).
The post office was a long-time existence and became the daily "gathering place" for persons to meet. It was postmastered by Corbin Hood (husband of Lizzie Julian Hood), prior to Ike Cadenhead; then later by his daughter, Ozella. The post office, combined with a drug store, was elegant at one time with a soda fountain of genuine marble, silver soda services and walls mirrored in huge plate glass. Persons sat and visited around the round ice cream table and chairs. This casual meeting place ceased to exist after the closing of the post office on June 30, 1972.
Still looking back to the 1900's, the Glass Hotel operated by Jesse Independence Robinson was located near the First Baptist Church, with other businesses around it. Not far away, was the Newsome High School, which was a large two-storied white frame building built following a fire when the school house was on the curve west of Maple Springs Church on Highway 11. Many good teachers taught there, yet Professor A. J. Sanders, noted as an outstanding educator, inaugurated Summer Normal, a teacher training course, which encouraged more training for ambitious students.
The large two-storied white frame building remained a high school for many years, until transportation and a multitude of reasons brought about changes. A most acute change came on December 18, 1936, when the antiquated old wood structure caught fire, while oil was being heated for cleaning the rich pine floors. The old building disappeared rapidly in flames, and with it many fond memories of childhood. This fire had a great impact on the community for added to its fiery destruction was the loss of the nearby First Baptist Church. School for a while was housed in the brick building (Walling) just south of the railroad until a new school was erected. The building was replaced with a modern white brick structure, combining classrooms with a gym, which also served as an auditorium. This afforded much activity for basketball tournaments, community meetings, plays with local talent, Halloween carnivals, and occasional "medicine shows" and regular nights for skating. This was a common meeting place and added much to community pride and enthusiasm. The Baptist Church also was rebuilt and served the community well, along with the Cumber land Presbyterian Church and the Maple Springs Methodist Church. Here again, people shared their friendships and their faith. Singing schools were held in the summers for all who desired to go.
Another interesting part of the bygone era should be recorded of the operation of a "peddling wagon". Mr. Eugene Sneak came from the Union community, covering the rural areas displaying his "goods". Traveling in a large wagon, drawn by horses, the wagon was built with huge doors on the sides, which dropped or opened to reveal his wares. These included tempting items such as candies, flavorings, staples in groceries, threads, materials, brooms, and NOTIONS; which weren't so plentiful then as now!
Newsome remained active and involved even through World War II (1941-1945), when many of their menfolk left to serve in the services of their country. (Not all returned).
From photograph albums and personal stories passed on, it can be deducted that a budding city known as Newsome existed before the year 1920, and continued for longer still. Yet, to pass through it today on Highway 11, one would hardly suspect so many people have treasured it so. Where are the people? You have seen many of them often, you meet them on the street; in their businesses and other places, for "they" are teachers and administrators in other schools, bankers and businessmen in other towns, and have shared their rearing and values while scattering in many directions. For names of families living there, refer to the story about the Baptist Church in Newsome.
Perhaps what really changed Newsome the most was a multitude of fires and when their children started riding school buses. Then their white brick school building was torn down, and moved to Pittsburg, when the school was consolidated in 1948. A remnant of that era still exists in a building known as the Community Center, which remains on the "old school grounds", where the giant oaks have disappeared, like the people, gradually! It was, however, at this site that the best thing happened to Newsome in over 50 years, when a Homecoming was held ten years ago.
If there was any doubt that people ever lived and loved it there; their remembrances were best expressed when in May, 1975 over 250 persons returned to the little "hamlet" known as Newsome, and shared their memories and some of their time. - by: Nelda Drennan Thompson
Re-printed from Camp County, Texas A Sesquicentennial History - 1986.
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