Stubbs Feed Store - Crossroads of a Community by Bill Walterman is on display at the Museum of East Texas now through October 17. An artist reception is Thursday, September 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. All are welcome!
Board of Directors by Bill Walterman
The Museum of East Texas is delighted to share Stubbs Feed Store - Crossroads of a Community, an exhibit featuring works by Bill Walterman, in our chapel space this fall. These 21 images show life at Stubbs Feed Store in Trinity, Texas, as captured over 10 years ago. The faces tell incredible stories and we know you'll enjoy seeing all of the happenings at the store.
Artist's Statement:
Stubbs Chemical & Feed was not just a store but a place where folks from all over gathered to talk about the price of corn, Trinity Tigers football, politics local and national. There was laughter, discussion, and sometimes argument, especially on Saturday mornings. The magnet which brought folks together was the store’s owner Lyle Stubbs. Lyle, 20 years mayor of Trinity, Texas, and 8 year Trinity County Justice of the Peace, was a public servant in every sense of the word, especially in bringing the community together. Lyle’s personality was the draw that brought people to the store.
On the corner of Railroad Street and Highway 94, the Store sits across the street from the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and the Dorcas Wills Baptist Church. The building was once a movie house, a cafe, a previous feed store, and a pest control supply.
I started hanging out at the Store in 2012. Still working in Houston then, I’d sit on the Store’s porch on Saturdays and listen to the old timers like “Uncle” Jessie Locke and K D Dunlap. Gradually I became confident enough to photograph them. Skeptical at first, store regulars gradually warmed up and allowed me access. Later I printed these photographs and hung them in the Store’s front window, which became my first gallery. Over time I began to work at the store, especially on Saturday mornings when I often opened up at 7 o’clock, answered the phone, “Stubby’s, we got grub for your critters,” took orders, and became the self-appointed minister of finance – meaning I ran the credit card machine. In time, I began to become part of the community.
Lyle sold the store in 2023 and stayed on a few months to allow a transition to new ownership. As could be predicted, the store lost its place as the community crossroads. Many of the old timers had passed on and, without Lyle, the place just wasn’t the same. It was the passing of an era, a loss the community feels deeply.
We hope to see you at the Museum so you can get a glimpse of life in a small East Texas town, as seen through the lens of Bill Walterman.
