This fall, one of my classes is all about the mass hanging in Gainesville, TX in 1862. On the first day of class, everyone drew a name out of a camouflage lunch tote (because we are a very fancy class): a victim or a player. I had a victim first, but he was a total dud with the most common name EVER. I requested a new person and got a much more interesting person...he's not a player, he just crushes a lot.
The professor is INSANE over research. She considers musty basements of courthouses foreplay, and is obsessive over her "person" that she's been researching for years. She's also a total hoot. In an attempt to get on her good side (and to prepare for this massive 25 page paper that's due in 3 weeks), a classmate and I ventured to Gainesville this morning to visit the courthouse records. The county clerk knew we were coming, but was not super helpful. Eventually, we found our way to the basement and the deed records.
About 90 minutes, 32 copies and $32 later, we had all of the information in the courthouse pertaining to my player and her victim, and we were wandering around the square because...
There. Was. Pie. And since she drove, I bought breakfast, while we stared at the Fried Pie Company's display cases of all the pie flavors. We were sitting there talking about random things when this man in a suit and an orthopedic boot came in. He was pacing in front of the display case, asking questions and consulting his phone while placing a huge order of individual pies. I caught his eye and said something about "all.the.choices." and he asked what kind of pie I'd like. I smiled and laughed and said, "Um...apricot sounds interesting!" so he asked the guy behind the counter to wrap up an apricot pie for me. Then he asked my classmate, and she said, "Peach?" I thanked him, and told him to have a great day, and after he left with all of his pies, the guy behind the counter said, "Do you know him?"
No. He just gave us free pie. It was awesome.
Later, I got an email from my professor asking how our research went. I told her the search was fruitful and segued right into the story about the pie. Her reply was almost instantaneous: "I've been researching in courthouses for years and NOBODY has ever bought me pie!!!!" We're totally going to be best friends when this class is over...but only after because this paper is going to make me seriously dislike her for the next few weeks. It's not personal, it's business.
Anyway, I have to admit, it was really fun to dig around in the basement and look through the index to find my person's name in all the records. I had a lot of information: several purchases/sales of land, transfer of property to relatives (presumably before moving to another state), and even the marriage record from 1850. I won't lie; I did not-so-secretly wish the courthouse would burn before I could research, but that was because I had no idea what to expect. It was super organized, and a few of the books even had pages that had been transcribed to print instead of old-school cursive that was faded. I still don't know how I'm going to get 25 pages, but I feel like I'm ahead of the curve just by going to the courthouse.
And scoring free pie.
For the record, it was really good!
N agrees. I brought home a variety of little pies for the boys.
Must. Not. Eat.
Aubs
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