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My father, Lester T. Harris was superintendent of the Abilene State Park from 1941 to 1945. We lived on the park property in a house that was a converted barracks that had been moved from nearby U.S. Army Camp Barkeley. I was 2 years old when we moved from Abilene to the park. Military personnel from Camp Barkeley would come to the park after practice maneuvers for a day of R&R. My father gave them access to the swimming pool free of charge. One time my older brother and I were standing beside the road as the troops came to the park. They would be driving all of there equipment, tanks, jeeps, half-tracks, duce and a half trucks. They would line all of the vehicles up in a field just north of the main pavilion. One time a tank pulled up and stopped where my brother and I were, the top popped open and the soldier ask us if we wanted a ride. I really wanted to ride in that tank, but my brother, being a bit shy and older than I, refused so I didn't get to go. I was so disappointed. My sister who was in high-school and the oldest of us three children, was a licensed life guard at the pool. One day a soldier made a running dive into the pool and hit his head was was knocked unconscious. My sister dove in and another soldier helped her get the soldier out of the pool and she gave him artificial respiration until he came too, saving his life. Years later, she was able to get into contact with this soldier who remembered her. My grandfather (my mother's father) was the caretaker of a boy scout camp, Circle 10 Camp Tonkawa, whose property adjoined the park. My grandmother like to bake and always had a pie and or cake or two in her pie cabinet. Word would get around from one bunch of soldier boys to another that if they went to my grandmother's they could get coffee, fresh milk and desert, so they would ask my mother for directions. She would say, "get Butch (me) and he will show you". So one would put me on his shoulders and I would point the way over to the the Scout Camp. The large water tower is where my father kept his tools, lawn mowers and other things for maintenance. I was always afraid of that place, it really looked spooky to me. The pool was fed from deep wells and fed with an 8 in pipe. The water was really cold. I used to help my father throw chunks of chlorine disinfectant into the pool to keep the water safe. We left the park when my father took the assignment of superintendent of Possum Kingdom State Park near Breckenridge, Texas. Thank you for a great video, I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the buildings and the areas where I played and road my tricycle, I was hell on wheels. Brings back a lot of fond memories. William H. Colorado Springs, Co.
Thank you so much for sharing your family’s history of the park. That’s amazing that your father looked after the park. That would be a site to see, seeing Jeep’s and tanks drive through that area. The park has so much history and always tell people it’s a hidden gem 💎. We went to Possum Kingdom a few months back and didn’t know about the fires. It nearly burnt the whole park to the ground. I want to thank you for sharing your story, I enjoyed reading it. I always like to think of the history of the parks that we visit as we hike or swim.
Great video. I miss seeing Nicholas in the newer videos like these older ones. That floating dock thingy looked quite adventurous. We are hoping to check out this state park real soon.
Thanks David! I’m always behind the camera 📸, I’ll be doing some lives soon at the parks 😊. Abilene a great park and perfect for swimming. I know the girls will love that pool and playground. I hope all is well with you.
Really nice review of the Park. You showed the little pond, Buffalo Wallow, but missed showing the other half of the park which sits across the Highway. It is Lake Abilene and you get access there as well when you pay the Park entrance fee. It has the longest hiking/bike trail. along with boating and fishing. Anyway, keep up the videos... y'all are doing well!
👉Watch next for Texas State Parks | Hidden Gems: ua-cam.com/video/IoSR2gSwiws/v-deo.html
🎥If you enjoyed this video, check out my Texas State Park playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PL3Tym6PAQIRlI6onzRnPdieYN2vRObG09.html
🔔 Subscribe for more outdoor adventures: ua-cam.com/channels/1xzLxMpecx6utjEdtXmn9g.html?view_as=subscriber
My father, Lester T. Harris was superintendent of the Abilene State Park from 1941 to 1945. We lived on the park property in a house that was a converted barracks that had been moved from nearby U.S. Army Camp Barkeley. I was 2 years old when we moved from Abilene to the park. Military personnel from Camp Barkeley would come to the park after practice maneuvers for a day of R&R. My father gave them access to the swimming pool free of charge. One time my older brother and I were standing beside the road as the troops came to the park. They would be driving all of there equipment, tanks, jeeps, half-tracks, duce and a half trucks. They would line all of the vehicles up in a field just north of the main pavilion. One time a tank pulled up and stopped where my brother and I were, the top popped open and the soldier ask us if we wanted a ride. I really wanted to ride in that tank, but my brother, being a bit shy and older than I, refused so I didn't get to go. I was so disappointed.
My sister who was in high-school and the oldest of us three children, was a licensed life guard at the pool. One day a soldier made a running dive into the pool and hit his head was was knocked unconscious. My sister dove in and another soldier helped her get the soldier out of the pool and she gave him artificial respiration until he came too, saving his life. Years later, she was able to get into contact with this soldier who remembered her.
My grandfather (my mother's father) was the caretaker of a boy scout camp, Circle 10 Camp Tonkawa, whose property adjoined the park. My grandmother like to bake and always had a pie and or cake or two in her pie cabinet. Word would get around from one bunch of soldier boys to another that if they went to my grandmother's they could get coffee, fresh milk and desert, so they would ask my mother for directions. She would say, "get Butch (me) and he will show you". So one would put me on his shoulders and I would point the way over to the the Scout Camp.
The large water tower is where my father kept his tools, lawn mowers and other things for maintenance. I was always afraid of that place, it really looked spooky to me. The pool was fed from deep wells and fed with an 8 in pipe. The water was really cold. I used to help my father throw chunks of chlorine disinfectant into the pool to keep the water safe.
We left the park when my father took the assignment of superintendent of Possum Kingdom State Park near Breckenridge, Texas.
Thank you for a great video, I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the buildings and the areas where I played and road my tricycle, I was hell on wheels. Brings back a lot of fond memories.
William H.
Colorado Springs, Co.
Thank you so much for sharing your family’s history of the park. That’s amazing that your father looked after the park. That would be a site to see, seeing Jeep’s and tanks drive through that area. The park has so much history and always tell people it’s a hidden gem 💎.
We went to Possum Kingdom a few months back and didn’t know about the fires. It nearly burnt the whole park to the ground.
I want to thank you for sharing your story, I enjoyed reading it. I always like to think of the history of the parks that we visit as we hike or swim.
Great video. I miss seeing Nicholas in the newer videos like these older ones. That floating dock thingy looked quite adventurous. We are hoping to check out this state park real soon.
Thanks David! I’m always behind the camera 📸, I’ll be doing some lives soon at the parks 😊. Abilene a great park and perfect for swimming. I know the girls will love that pool and playground. I hope all is well with you.
Really nice review of the Park. You showed the little pond, Buffalo Wallow, but missed showing the other half of the park which sits across the Highway. It is Lake Abilene and you get access there as well when you pay the Park entrance fee. It has the longest hiking/bike trail. along with boating and fishing. Anyway, keep up the videos... y'all are doing well!
byCherick Next time we visit we will check out the lake and trails. What’s your favorite part about Abilene SP? Thanks for watching.
Working on a new Abilene SP video that shows off the CCC historic pool and Lake Abilene. Again thanks for watching!
Those trees are called mesquite trees
people in Texas call them cedars but the evergreen trees are actually Ashe juniper. Put those berries in vodka and make gin