THE SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG HEART

Traveling down Highway 259 headed South to the town claimed to fame by all Texans as the first town in Texas, where sit amongst the pines, azaleas and dogwoods, the prestigious Stephen F. Austin college. The small streets are lined with restaurants, hospitals, shops and of course Wal Mart. Nacogdoches has just about anything one could need in a small (although bulging at the seams) town of its size.

A traveler would barely glance at the small gas station turned into a restaurant and would miss going inside to see the most beautiful wooden walls decorated with Indian motif.

On the right back from the road sits a quaint little Barbecue place where one walks in orders and can sit in an atmosphere with a guy smoking a cigar sitting in the corner. He is one ugly stuffed dummy. You know he isn't real but he makes you look to be certain every time you walk in.

It might not be obvious there is a tire shop on the right or overlook the two churches, three gas stations or small grocery store with gas pumps standing in front, if not for the four way stop at the intersection of Highway 84.

If one does pass through with a glance they will pass the Mexican restaurant, antique store on past the Family dollar store and out of town.

They would miss see the grand hair salon that one may see a glimpse of Paris through the large glass windows and once inside see the array of jewelry and handbags the small town girl has placed among the magnificently decorated shop. Here one not only walks in to have their hair done but can sit in surroundings that would take you to any place you might imagine.

Mt. Enterprise also has a small library where one is always met by a pleasant "hello, may I help you," dished out with a beautiful smile.

Across the street one might enjoy just strolling into the small clinic to view the wooden floors and tall ceilings and as they leave visit next door and shop for something and see the wooden train displayed in the window of the local pharmacy. Most assuredly while there you will be greeted by a friendly clerk and perhaps see some of the town folk come in and chew the fat for a spell.

Surely do not miss the little feed store where a lady that has lived many years, sits in the corner waiting to take your purchase order and arises to get her little wagon and load the feed for you. Here again you will find a friendly welcome and a smile.

As you go East on highway 84 if you watch closely you will find a hardware store and another small church. On the right will be the post office where you will find excellent service and the mail goes out on time. On the mount the post office clerks are treated to a lunch break so the post office closes during lunch time.

The school of Mount Enterprise is small in buildings and number of students but here one finds the very heart of the town. The high school is right next door to the elementary and graduations are held for the elementary as well as the High School in the large gymnasium. In this little school one will find drama classes, basketball, football, band, as well as the regular class criculim.

There is nothing sweeter than watching the kindergarden and first grade graduations. The teachers are caring and each one has a special way with their students. One special first grade teacher comes to mind because she teaches through little songs which really keep the children's attention. She has stories to help them learn to spell such as the little a had a friend e and they were sitting on a bench and along came another friend r and sat down between them. This is not the actual story she tells, but an idea of the original story. This is only one of the hundreds she has memorized through the years just for her children. It is well remembered by students that now are in college.

Mount Enterprise is comprised of people where many have lived here all of their lives. It might make one realize the love and heart of the community to the fact that nobody wanted to leave.

The little place where the one act plays are held will find the local pastors sitting in the audience speaking with the others sitting around them. It would not be unusual to see them at the basketball or football games. When Mount Enterprise yells "Wild Cat Pride" one will feel it, because it is so.

The reason this small town with such a big heart exists would be the love between the people beginning with the neighbor next door walking into the place of worship, leaving to extend a helping hand to another town member.

On a personal note since I did tell the story. This little community of Mount Enterprise has captured my heart and given me a sense of belonging that should be unusual for someone in the winter years of their life to begin living here. I may not have been born and raised here but I certainly hope I can live the remainder of my life and die here. There are so many more things that have happened since we came to make the town special and I surely have missed a number of them and only know a few individuals, but maybe this gives insight to small town living in a fantastic place like (as the locals call it), the Mount.