Allen has had several tornadoes over its life but the most recent one had its own unique qualities. Only twister I know of that placed a heavy rider mower on its owner’s roof. Or leave “Skeeter” Hogue scratching his head over whose roof was laying on his own roof. Or Rinehart’s wondering where their entire automotive business vanished to. Of course, Wally Lewis, after buying the late Jack Wright’s Ford Motor Company facility and practically rebuilding it, stood in its ruins the morning after probably wondering what next. This latest little twister did indeed intrude on Allen’s ongoing history.

Allen does indeed have its colorful and rich history starting back in 1892 when Dr. John T. Gilmore opened up our first Allen (Cold Springs) post office. We know much of this, thanks to a lady book writer named Hope McInroy who knew all things about this rowdy little town. Poking through her historical account of our town I noted several interesting things about Allen. I know our school has always been important to our residents and found it noteworthy that our first postmaster (Gilmore) was also our first town medical doctor, founder of our first church (Church of Christ), and first school teacher (founded our school). Maybe we should slap up a statue of this old pioneer. Just saying.

Our busy little town had built our main boulevard (Broadway) by 1910. This was the same year the railroad came through. The Allen school was accredited in 1914, and I hear its city council was active and going strong, promoting the new electric plant (located on a freshly named street call Richmond on the site of the Freewill Baptist Church. Our water tower was built in 1910 also to supply water for the steam powered electric plant across Lee Street. Hope McInroy also remembered that in 1919 the famous old “Lincoln Ward” school was built. How many kids went there? 143 highschoolers, 148 in middle school with 148 elementary students. (That’s 575) Hope mentions in her book that Allen had 633 enrolled in 1914. Picture of our first graduating class hangs in the main lobby of the Farmers State Bank. Guess what. All girls.

According to Hope, Allen’s population was 3,000 in 1930 and its first high school football players took to the grid in 1920. That may have been the same year Allen’s first and most serious town griper took interest in our town’s politics. I’ll just call him Eddie Gripemore. Ed got real mad at just about everyone, especially our town council. This story was related to me by an old and “ex” town resident. It seems that Ed after several appearances before the Council was unable to get any of his complaints resolved. Ed felt the town’s problems and discrepancies were many.

Ed was a well organized person (unlike the town’s Council) and he decided he would just run for the Council himself. Like I say, he was an organized man. Ed managed to get a list of all the voters in the town of Allen. He then took the time to visit and interview each one. He simply explained why he sought the office and asked in a direct manner if he or she would vote for him. There were perhaps 900 voters registered and all but one promised Ed their vote.

Come election day the weather was sunny, and old Ed was right there. As the voters went in he checked them off, one by one. After the polls closed and the results were posted he was saddened to see he had only received one vote. Ed was last seen ambling off toward his home, a frown on his face. A reporter from the Allen paper stopped Ed and asked for comment. Ed stated simply, “Biggest bunch of liars in this town I ever saw.”

My good friend Hope is long gone now but I will thank her anyway for her excellent book. I often turn to it when I want to know more about my hometown. Be sure and go to church Sunday. And if anyone asks for your vote, just tell ‘em yes.

Wayne Bullard, DPh cwaynebullard@gmail.com