Collegeport Day
May 23, 1985
 

1985 Collegeport Day Newsletter

Collegeport Celebrates 77 Years

Collegeport residents, both former and current, will make the 77th anniversary of that community Sunday during the annual Collegeport Days Homecoming Celebration.

The event, which is sponsored by the Woman's Club of Collegeport, will feature a covered dish dinner at the Mopac House at 12 noon.

In addition to the 77th anniversary of the founding of Collegeport, several other anniversaries are also being marked this year. Organized on May 19, 1910, the Woman's Club is marking its Diamond (75th) anniversary.

This year also marks the 62nd anniversary of the Library in Collegeport which was purchased by the Woman's Club in 1923 from J. H. Adams. It was moved to its present site by the Industrial League which gave the Woman's Club a lot. The first library was held in W. W. Wilkinson's Real Estate Office Building just west of the former Collegeport State Bank.

The Mopac House itself is observing its Golden (50th_ Anniversary. Through  the effort of Industrial League secretary H. A. Clapp, the Missouri Pacific Railroad gave the League lumber from the depot with which to build the community house. The structure, which was attached to the Library Building, was named the Mopac House and opened on May 4, 1935.

The Mopac House Foundation is also having its Golden Anniversary. Before the Industrial League dissolved in 1935, it gave a Quit Claim Deed for the Mopac House and lot to the Mopac House Foundation. The Foundation has since maintained both the Library and Mopac House and is now raising money to repair the floors in the kitchen and library.

Organized on February 2, 1965, the Collegeport Volunteer Fire Department is now into it 20th year. The fire station was built on a lot in block 105 which was leased from the Mopac House Foundation.

Palacios Beacon, May 23, 1985
 

77th Anniversary Draws 300 to Annual Collegeport Days

Collegeport celebrated the 77th anniversary of the founding of Collegeport May 25 at the Mopac House.

Among the 300 attending were former residents, Mrs. W. W. Wilkinson, the only charter Club member, of Bay City; her son, Walter Wilkinson (first boy born in Collegeport) and his wife Marjorie. Those traveling the farthest for the annual homecoming were Ira Corporon of Yountville, California and his daughters, Ruby Lee Ackerman of Orville and Wanda Crawford of Lower Lake, Ca.

All the surviving members of the pioneer Gus Franzen family were present. Namely Clifford Franzen and Ellen (Emm) Franzen Bryan and her husband Billy of Lone Oak, Texas; James and his wife Ann of Pearl River, La.; Mamie F. Wells, Gus Franzen, Jr. and family, Alex Franzen and their oldest sister, Dorothy F. Merck and her husband Dean (Dorothy spent first night in Collegeport in Hotel Collegeport Dec. 24, 1909. (residents of Collegeport area)

Approximately 300 guests registered and enjoyed a day of reminiscing and the barbequed meat prepared by the Volunteer Fire Department which was given by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gayle and Mr. and Mrs. L. L. "Monkey" Chiles and the many covered dishes prepared by the women of the community and guests.

Gus Franzen acted as Master of Ceremonies and the Rev. Elroy Weikel, local Presbyterian Minister, gave the invocation and blessing.

Preceding the drawing of the Library-Mopac prizes, Barbara Corporon, Finance Chairman, and Mamie Wells, who sold the most raffle tickets, were presented yellow rose corsages which were pinned on by Rosalie Ellis.

The Woman's Club of Collegeport which sponsors the annual Collegeport Day on the last Saturday in May celebrated its 75th anniversary.

The Club is to be commended for being active which such a few members. This year, with the help of all the community, the Club not only sponsored the homecoming but also the Money Raising Project for funds to repair floors in the Library and Mopac Kitchen. The Mopac House Foundation is taking bids for the repair work and wants to thank all of you who were so generous.

Palacios Beacon, June 6, 1985