Celebrating a century

ANDREWS If a town’s been around for 100 years, why would it only celebrate its birthday for one day? Andrews settled on a year’s worth of festivities, including Saturday’s Gran Charreada at the ACE Arena in Andrews.

The Gran Charreada is a Mexican rodeo, but Andrews turned the event into a day full of food, inflatable jumpers and shops. Andrews Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Julia Wallace said the Gran Charreada was part of the centennial celebration, but also sought to showcase the city’s diversity. Next month, Andrews will host a Juneteenth Celebration.

“We are celebrating our diversity. We wanted to do different events to make everyone feel like they are all involved,” Wallace said.

Members of the American Indian Center were also at the gran charreada serving up Navajo tacos, a pile of beans, meat, cheese and vegetables on top of a piece of fried bread. Fried bread, commonly called “frybread” is considered a Native American food staple. But food of all kinds, sizes and flavors could be found for event-goers to nibble on.

Wallace was born and raised in Andrews but moved away and lived life in California, Arizona and central Texas. But Andrews offered something that Wallace felt was unique.

“We came back to raise a family. The teachers here are second to none … and there’s a real sense of community,” Wallace emphasized.

But living in a small town where almost everybody is a familiar face has its drawbacks.

“You don’t want to go to the grocery store without your makeup on,” Wallace joked. “You’re sure to see someone you know.”

Wallace spent a portion of her time at the centennial celebration supervising the children’s inflatable jumper and was knocked around a few times by kids. She figures that raising children in Andrews is about as good as it gets and says her kids are proud graduates of the Andrews school system— a school system that got its start with Andrews resident Peggy Pryor’s father.

Pryor said her father moved to Andrews just after the end of World War II in 1945. He helped build the original school buildings in the town, although Pryor said they are no longer standing. The family moved away, but Pryor said they soon returned.

“I came to Andrews when I was 2 and I’ll soon be 60,” Pryor laughed of her more than five decades as an Andrews resident. “I’ve got 22 relatives who live here, and I stay because of my family and the people. We know everybody.”

Pryor said she attended the 50-year celebration in Andrews and had no doubt then it’d last another 50 years to its present day. She’s sees no reason why Andrews won’t make it another 100 years.

“I don’t think we’ve done enough to sing our praises,” Wallace said. “It’s amazing what this little town has contributed to history.”

Upcoming Centennial Events

All the following events are Andrews centennial themed events.

>> June 18 and 19: Juneteenth Celebration.

>> July 2-4: Communitywide July 4th Celebration Weekend.

>> July 23-25: Celebrating our Past- Embracing Our Future Three-day Centennial Celebration.

>> August 6: Dedication and burial of 2010 Time Capsule.

For more information, call 523-2695.