Sorry for my tardiness in replying as I was back in the late 1890's hunting down "Waldrips" in Kaufman county for my Mother last night and thanks Teresa it was a well written piece from someone who had experienced that store first hand many times. My dad always called it the Bertram General Store we always went by there before and or after visiting the cemetery or a relation that lived just North of there. I feel like a little piece of America went away with that stores closing.

Speaking of the relation North of there. You might know something of this Teresa. I don't remember exactly where it is because I was very young the last time I was there. It was-is a small stone house built of native stone. I am not sure if the relative was a Norred, Hibler, Newton, or Burns but the unique thing about the house was on the right side of the front door about knee high was a stone club made into the wall. My father when he was going the U of T in the late 40's brought one of his buddies from the geology dept out on a deer hunt who said it was man made. He sent pictures to different departments at school and it was determined it was native American in origin. Now my g grandfather had a place just north of Bertram called "poor ridge" but it also could have been the place his widow Nelle May Newton Norred built after his death in 1897. It seem like it was about 2 or 3 miles past the cemetery and off to the left. Best I remember you cross a creek and the road-driveway was right after it. Seems like we had to drive through a creek bottom just before you get to the house. I sure would like to find that place again and get some pictures. If it is even still there.

I plan to make a trip to Burnet late spring or summer and do some serious boots on the ground research. I have a little girl who is disabled so travel can be difficult. I plan to visit with the folks with the TexGenWeb site as I told Jo Ann I would volunteer some time to that project. I will send you an message Teresa when I will be in town and perhaps we can meet. I plan to get a lot of pictures and make notes, perhaps you can fill in a few blanks for me. My grandfather was supposed to have had a mechanics shop in Burnet before he moved down to Taft, Texas. This would have been before 1926 as my father was born in Taft. I sure would like to find out more about that. His name was James Calvin Norred perhaps your family has heard of it or knew of him.

Nick those pictures you emailed me, did you take those? Was wondering how recent they were. Wow just from what I can see in them Bertram has changed a lot. The token thing is killing me now as I remember seeing a cigar box of those things at some relatives house some time back in time. I have a contact that collects state fair ribbons and such. Interesting story's behind those things.