 Poppa's Museum
During the late 1950s and early '60s, Marion "Poppa" Smith
served as the public works superintendent in Ackerman.
"Which meant he was the general town flunky," laughs Joan,
his wife of 57 years.
Smith smiles and agrees. "I did whatever folks in town asked
me to. Cleaned out sewers. Patched holes in the streets. I even
served as the fire department. Carried 500 feet of hose on a
two-wheel trailer behind my car. That was our firetruck."
He's 77 and retired now with the time to devote to his
museum.
"A lot of it is stuff passed down in my family," Smith says,
"and a lot of it is stuff that people don't want anymore."
"I've only got two rules: It has to be old, and it has to
work — or at least be fixable. You'd be surprised the things
people don't want anymore."
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Blow Poppas "Gong" Whistle |
Blow Poppas "Chime" Whistle |
Christmas 2006
Poppa wins 1st Place in
Ackerman Christmas Parade
(non-religious category)
Poppa Smith's theme was "Childhood Memories"
The Prettiest Christmas
Tree
By Marion (Poppa) Smith
The prettiest Christmas tree in
my life
Was a red hall tree chopped with Mom's butcher knife.
Many thorns and berries but
leaves were lean --
Remember the delta has very
little green.
For lights no electricity we had;
Icicles were used and put on by
Dad.
Instead of ribbon to adorn the
tree,
Popcorn was popped by my sister
and me.
Tis fun to put popcorn on a
string --
Thread 1 eat 2 what a delicious
thing.
The way I remember it was a
beautiful sight,
And now I see it in a different
light.
The dead tree reminds me Jesus
died for my sin.
The white popcorn reminds of
being born again.
The thorns remind me of the
crown on His head.
The red berries remind me of the
blood He shed.
Tonight we celebrate the hanging
of the green
To honor the Birth of our Savior and King.
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