Recently I had a family contact me regarding an Extended Family Session. The session was going to be a surprise gift for the parents, Gary and Pam, in celebration of their 45th wedding anniversary. As I drove to the location I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the Point Enterprise area was, which is located just outside of Mexia, Texas. This quaint little community was covered in large trees and the golden sun was peeking through the leaves kissing the ground.
As I drove up the driveway and approached the family home, I noticed an eager family standing outside waiting on me. They were all so welcoming and proceeded to show me around the property where they’d like the portraits to be taken. They had a couch in the front pecan grove, a large windmill out back looking across the green landscape as the sun was setting and a 1971 red Ranchero parked out front. I was looking forward to spending time with this wonderful family that was so excited about capturing the precious memories, along with the history of Gary and Pam, for generations to come.
As I walked around with the family from place to place I heard several stories about so many places and things on the property. It was clear that family means a lot to each of them! Family is embedded into nearly everything on the property - pecan trees, the original house with the stones from another piece of family property, the Ranchero and the windmill. After all, the property has been in the family since it was purchased in 1887 by the Franks Family.
“Every family has a story...welcome to ours.”
History of the Old Pecan Inn
T.L. Franks was a Civil War Confederate Army veteran traveled from Houston in search of sandy land to purchase for farming, as well as living. He found 45 acres of a perfect piece of sandy land in Point Enterprise, Texas in 1887.
T.L. used the land to raise food and crops to sustain his family. Cotton and strawberries were raised and sold to help provide the family with money. He planted pecan trees in an orchard and 10 of the original pecan trees are now massive and still growing. They are now over 130 years old and still produce pecans!
T.L. Franks had a great-great-granddaughter named Pamela Sue Franks that was born in 1955 while her father, Dan Franks, was in seminary and her mother, Sue Wiggins Franks, was teaching school. Pam grew up in a military family as her parents served 30 years in the United States Air Force.
Pam visited Point Enterprise growing up during the summers, but never lived in Texas. However, she dreamed of someday living on the farm she loved to visit. Pam would quilt with her grandmother, Edna, in the Point Enterprise Clubhouse with the Quilting Club when she visited. As a young girl, she often dreamed of quilting in that same clubhouse when she lived on the farm.
Gary and Pam
Gary bought his 1971 Ford Ranchero brand new in November of 1971 for $3100 when he was a new airman in the United States Air Force stationed in Denver, Colorado.
One year later, Gary and Pam met in the Edwards Air Force Base Chapel. After Pam graduated in 1973, they had their first date in the red Ranchero. He was so nervous, but he prepared note cards to assist him in keeping the conversation going throughout the date. The first card read, “Hi, my name is Gary Smith.” The second card read, “How are you doing tonight?” These were followed by several more cards!
The note cards must have worked because they exchanged vows on June 21st, 1975 in the same chapel where they first met in 1972.
In 1981 they welcomed their daughter, Amity, into their lives and 8 years later in 1989, they welcomed their son, Daniel, into their family as well. Amity is married to Will and they have 2 boys of their own. Daniel is married to Chante’ and they have 2 daughters of their own.
Gary still owns his 1971 Ford Ranchero, 49 years later. Pam has stuck with Gary for 45 years now. She says she married him as she thought it would be “an adventure.” It turns out it’s been more of an adventure than she could have ever imagined!
Gary and Pam celebrate their 45th anniversary with a kiss next to the 1971 Ford Ranchero that took them on their first date in 1973.
Life at the Old Pecan Inn
The Franks Family almost sold the farm in 1998 when Pam’s grandmother, Edna, passed away and none of the brothers wanted the farm. Pam called her dad and told him, “Do NOT sell the farm! Gary and I will buy it someday when we finish all this moving around in the military.” Her dad agreed to buy the farm from his two brothers so he could sell it to Pam someday.
In 2019, after 31 years in the United States Air Force, Pam’s dream of owning and living on the Frank’s farm came to fruition as Pam and Gary bought the Franks farm along with the old farmhouse. In 2000, they built a new home on the property. They decided to restore the old farmhouse and turn it into a bed and breakfast which is now called the Old Pecan Inn. The original pecan orchard separates the two houses.
Pam quilts every Monday and Wednesday afternoon in the Point Enterprise Clubhouse, just as she dreamed of doing as a young girl. Some of the quilters are still alive who quilted with Pam’s grandmother, Edna.
Gary and Pam spell Point EnterpriZE with a “Z” because they say it is a prize to live there.
A family portrait to celebrate Gary and Pam’s 45th wedding anniversary with the windmill in the background overlooking their favorite view from the property.
“Following your dreams is nothing but hard work.”
