What could this spoon tell us about our town?
Gathered on the steps are Mrs. W. W. Duson and her son Jack on the left and Curley and Herbert with their mother Eunice Pharr Duson, wife of founder C.C.Duson. The spoon was donated by C. Pharr Duson and the photo is thought to have been taken around 1900.
Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the statue of Eunice Duson that was placed on the corner of Second Street and Park Avenue during this city’s centennial celebration.
That brought to mind: What legacy we will leave behind when we too strike out for parts unknown?
That reminded me of a little jewel that lives at the Eunice Depot Museum that once belonged to Eunice Duson. Yes, it’s a spoon but, oh, if that spoon could talk.
Would it tell us what our founding father liked for supper? Or if she used it to make her son’s favorite candy. Or to whip up a roux for a gumbo. Maybe to give them a dose of medicine. So many questions, so few answers.
Don’t laugh. That spoon has seen citizens come and go, a few too many world wars, and death. Eunice was, after all, only 35 years of age when she herself died of consumption (tuberculosis). She contracted the disease when she was helping care for other members of the family who had it also. So sad.
So gather up the family and pass out the spoons while you still can. You never know!
Georgie Manuel.
Sept. 21, 2014.
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