DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the W.L. Moody Confederate Reunion Grounds out in Freestone County. Now, some pieces of land just hold on to their purpose.
They refuse to let go of it. This patch of ground in Freestone County is one of those places — and it's been that way since 1891. It all goes back to a man named Colonel William Lewis Moody.
He organized Company G of the 7th Texas Infantry, C.S.A., right there out of Freestone County. The grounds carry his name, and that name carries some weight in this part of Texas. In 1890, the veterans of that old war formed an ex-Confederate Association, and by 1891 they were already gathering right here on this very site.
That's how it started — a handful of men who'd seen things most folks couldn't imagine, coming back together on familiar ground. In 1892, the group was formally incorporated into the United Confederate Veterans organization as W.L. Moody Camp No. 87.
And by 1896, they had the deed to the reunion grounds, obtained from the Moody family themselves. Now picture this. The veterans' families would erect brush arbors for a full three-day encampment.
Three days of speeches, concerts, musicals, and dances. And it didn't begin quietly, either — the reunion opened with the firing of a Valverde cannon. That cannon now sits at the courthouse, but back then, when it rang out across Freestone County, people knew something worth coming to was about to get underway.
And come they did. As many as eight thousand attendees would arrive in from the surrounding communities. Eight thousand people.
Out here. For this. But time has a way of doing what time does.
Slowly, one by one, more and more of those old soldiers were taking their final roll call. There's no softer way to put it — they were leaving. And by 1933, the Confederate reunions had ceased.
Still, the land wasn't finished. In 1947, the Moody family designated the grounds as the W.L. Moody Camp, Memorial Park, and placed it under the supervision of the City of Fairfield — a memorial now, to veterans of all U.S. wars.
The mission had widened. In 1951, the grounds were used for the Fairfield Centennial Celebration, and for the Freestone County Boys Club and Livestock Show. And folks kept coming.
Area families have continued to use the campgrounds during County Homecoming, Fair, and Rodeo week. Since 1991, the W.L. Moody Memorial Park Campsite Association has been right alongside the city, maintaining the family campsites and keeping that old community spirit alive.
Reunions, remembrance, celebration — since 1891, on this same ground. Some places just hold on to their purpose. And some communities hold on right back.
What the marker says
The Freestone County W.l. Moody reunion grounds have been used for reunions, celebrations and remembrance of U.S. war veterans since 1891. The grounds were named after Col. William Lewis Moody, who organized Co. G of the 7th Texas Infantry, C.S.A., based in Freestone County. An ex-Confederate Association formed in 1890 and began meeting at this site in 1891. In 1892, the veterans group was incorporated into the United Confederate Veterans organization as W.L. Moody Camp No. 87. By 1896, they obtained the deed to the reunion grounds from the Moody Family. Brush arbors were erected by the veteran families for the three-day encampment which included speeches, concerts, musicals and dances. The reunion would begin with a firing of Valverde cannon, which now sits at the courthouse. As many as 8,000 attendees would come in from surrounding communities. As time went by, more and more of the old soldiers were taking their final roll call. By 1933, the Confederate reunions ceased. The Moody family designated the grounds as the W.L. Moody Camp, Memorial Park in 1947, and placed it under the supervision of the City of Fairfield as a memorial to veterans of all U.S. wars. In 1951, the grounds were used for the Fairfield Centennial Celebration, as well as the Freestone County Boys Club and Livestock Show. Area families continue to use the camp grounds for gathering during the County Homecoming, Fair and Rodeo week. Since 1991, the W.l. Moody Memorial Park Campsite Association has assisted the city in maintaining the family campsites and encouraging the community spirit of the old historic reunions. (2014)