The unveiling ceremony of the Barnards of the Brazos took place at 6 p.m. Sept. 15. The statue of the “First Family of Glen Rose” is on the courthouse square in Glen Rose. The sculpture shows Charles Barnard standing and his wife, Juana Cavasos Barnard, astride her horse Pigeon.
Charles and Juana Cavasos Barnard operated an Indian Trading Post on the Brazos River from the time they married in 1848 until the government moved the Indians to the Indian territory in 1859. The settlement at the trading post was known as Barnardville and later as Fort Spunky.
After the Indians left, Charles and Juana moved over on the Paluxy River and built a grist mill. The settlement that grew there was known as Barnard’s Mill. Charles sold the mill to a Mr. Jordan in 1870, and he and Juana moved back to the old trading post on the Brazos, where they lived out the rest of their days.
After the Jordans bought the mill, Mrs. Jordan decided that because the Barnards were no longer connected to the mill, the name of the settlement should be changed. Thus Glen Rose came into being.
The Somervell History Foundation had commissioned Robert Summers, a local sculptor, to do the work. Summers is a Somervell County native and a nationally known western artist and sculptor.
The bronze statue was cast at a foundry in Bastrop.
The festivities started at 5 p.m. with a country-western band playing at the gazebo on the square. For the next 30 minutes, while the band played, Robert Summers strolled the grounds in the area of the sculpture, greeting and visiting with the public. I visited with Robert during this time.
The main program started at 5:30 p.m. with an invocation given by David Leach. Gary Marks introduced Judge Walter Maynard and Glen Rose Mayor Pam Miller, who proclaimed Sept. 15, 2007, as Robert Summers Day. After reading the proclamation, the mayor gave Robert the key to the city.
Some Barnard family descendants, including Somervell County Commissioner James Barnard and Michael Lee, gave short speeches.
Marks recognized Summers and some of the works he has done. Summers sculpted the “Trail Drive” consisting of 40 longhorn steers and three horses and riders on a 19th century trail drive. The sculpture is in Pioneer Plaza, a 4.2 acre park in front of the Dallas Convention Center.
Robert sculpted a 150 percent size bronze statue of Tom Landry, legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys football team. The statue stands in front of Texas Stadium in Irving.
Robert also sculpted a nine-foot tall bronze of John Wayne, which stands in front of John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif.
In 1976, Summers was named the Bicentennial Artist of Texas.
Sarah Williams of the Somervell History Foundation did the unveiling. Afterward everyone posed by the statue for photos.
John Watson is a Cleburne
resident and can be reached at texastraveler@sbcglobal.net.
Features / Living
John Watson: Barnards of the Brazos statue unveiled in Glen Rose
- Features / Living
-
-
Soul to Seoul
Meteorologist Ken Crawford made an early prediction.
-
Big wheels keep on turning
If you’ve ever wondered why people love old tractors, ask the man who owns one.
-
Larue Barnes: Running God’s race
John Hall watches the sun rise every morning. The earth’s horizon begins to bounce as his running shoes slap out their rhythm on Cleburne’s streets. Back home after eight miles, he’s ready to start his day as a pastor.
-
Burleson teen takes chance with fame
The next music sensation might be growing up in the same hallways as “American Idol” season one winner Kelly Clarkson.
-
Barnesville in Johnson County
Sometimes as one drives around the county or looks at old maps you can notice there once must have been something there. I have noticed there was once a school by the name of Barnesville. This was located between Alvarado and Grandview.
-
Are we ready?
Tornadoes are as much a part of spring as bluebonnets in North Texas, and the coming month is the season’s peak.
-
The art and soul of dentistry
I sat in the conference room at Long Family Dental to ask questions. I saw high tech equipment, on-site facilities to create crowns, implants, dentures, veneers. As I studied faces across the table, I sensed something unknown in their work environment. Something there was different.
-
Dig it: all the dirt
There’s one sure cure for spring fever: the Johnson County Master Gardeners annual plant sale, slated for Saturday.
-
Randolph Garner: Springtime at the trail
Spring has certainly arrived in the past couple of weeks. Spring break for students has passed. The Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum had more than 100 visitors a day for at least four days, in addition to having school for one day. The weather has just been incredible.
-
Celebrating 70 years
When Joshua resident AJ Lambert thinks of his wife, Marie, his eyes twinkle. A warm smile envelops the 89-year-old’s face as he talks about her sense of humor, their many cross-county travels, hunting, fishing and their marriage which has stood the test of time.
- More Features / Living Headlines
-
