Change is here: Stephenville is growing, but memories remain

BY JACOB BACK

Contributing Writer

Stephenville, Texas, is growing at a rapid rate. According to the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce, the town has already seen a 54% growth rate since the year 2000.

Tarleton State University sits at the heart of Stephenville and is responsible for a sizable amount of the city's growth. Tarleton recently made a massive leap to being a Division I university, attracting more students from all over the world.

Erath County is also in the top 10% of counties in the state leading agricultural production according to the Chamber. So, it’s not surprising when people move here for the small-town feel — the sense of warmth and community you don't find in the heart of a metroplex.

Just because the town is growing, new people are settling in and Tarleton is bursting at the seams does not mean the rich memories of Stephenville’s past have left.

Sheri Tomlinson Eddy and her sister Luann Tomlinson Rez, both Stephenville natives and Huckaby residents, said they recall a time when they spent their days going down the “Drag.”

The “Drag” was a loop that friends and families would take from the Dairy Queen on Washington Street to the former Dairy Queen north of Jake and Dorothy’s cafe.

“That was how you saw your friends, ‘honk, honk,’” Rez said.

JoAnn Shipman, a longtime Stephenville resident, also remembers going down the “Drag.”

Shipman said she can't recall how many times she and her friends cruised up and down from one Dairy Queen to another. She said that’s all there was to do. It was a way for her and her friends to get out and socialize with everyone they knew.

The Dairy Queen on West Washington Street was opened by Margaret Frayne in the late 1970s.

The establishment not only held countless memories on the road for friends, but the lot itself served as a community.

Dean Parr, a Stephenville City councilman, said that's not something you see around anymore. He said a handful of FMC retirees meet weekly at the Whataburger for coffee, and that's about all you see in terms of recurring gatherings.

For his family and the community back then, Dairy Queen was that place for them.

“My folks would have coffee and talk over everything under the shining sun,” Parr said. “Us kids would get ice cream and play football until the parents got tired.”

The specific lot, 1601 West Washington St., has been home to many businesses over the years, including a steakhouse. But the Dairy Queen was the most prominent, and it held the most memories.

However, this long-time community hub has officially closed its doors. The physical building may soon be gone, but old memories stand strong and new memories are soon to come.

Tarleton has purchased the lot where the old Dairy Queen stands. The university plans on expanding its academic facilities onto the lot.

Don't worry, though — the iconic soft serve will soon make its return to Stephenville. Construction of a new Dairy Queen is in progress at 703 E. South Loop.

It isn't the only thing soon to come for Stephenville; many more changes around the town are being put into play, such as new businesses, hotels and dining options.

That brings up a word some residents are cautious of: “change.”

“Serving on council, we’re still trying to maintain that small-town feel,” Parr said. “But also have the businesses, where people don't have to drive to the Metroplex.”

Gathering hubs like the Dairy Queen are fading. Small towns are growing and developing, but the changing landscape of the city alone is not to blame.

Technology comes into play when dealing with lower levels of face-to-face interaction. With it at the forefront of our society, we can't escape it. It’s all around us, in stores, restaurants and events. It's important not to let human interaction slip away.

Some residents don't want to see it, and some welcome it, but Parr said how crucial it is to grow and embrace change.

“Small towns either grow or they die. There’s no gray area anymore,” Parr said. “The idea of country living and living in a small community has fallen to the wayside for the younger generations.”

Eddy said she understands both sides of the story.

“It’s hard… It’s not that I don’t understand, because I do, but it's been overwhelming for us since we’ve been here all our lives,” Eddy said.

Shipman said she is not 100% in favor of a change in Stephenville, but she thinks it’s for the best.

“I’m sure what's taking place, coming in and happening is good for Stephenville,” Shipman said.

If we're lucky, Stephenville won't lose its charm. After all, the people here are what make it what it is. The small town charm reels people here; the city is doing its best to keep that feeling, despite rapid development.

Change is here. Stephenville is growing. But it’s community memories, hubs and hangouts that keep the city alive.

Get outside, talk to your neighbor and ask someone how their day was. Keep the small-town charm alive.