A Man of Many Talents
After returning to Athens from the World’s Fair, Uncle Fletch never opened his café again. He was a very talented man in many ways, expecially in the construction business. He could do almost anything.
In April of 1906, Uncle Fletch purchased half interest in the W.E. Henry Bakery and it became known as the Henry – Davis Bakery.
On April 20, 1908, Uncle was appointed Postmaster in the nearby Henderson County town of Eustace. He served in this capacity until January 9, 1911. While in Eustace, he built three brick buildings there (which are most likely still standing), including the Ballard & Campbell building.
The local newspaper, The Athens Weekly Review, reported several of Uncle Fletch’s accomplishments. These articles were usually very brief and contained little or no other information other than the title:
**Fletcher Davis constructed the new Perkins Bros. Dept. Store in Athens in 1913.
**In November, 1917, he spoke to a group of cotton farmers, urging them to sell and not hold out for a better price.
**Fletcher Davis was in charge of the demolition of the old jail in
Athens in 1924. (Because the building and contents were to be destroyed,
Uncle Fletch brought one of the cells to his house. It was placed in his back yard and used for storage. As a child, I visited them often, with my parents, and remember seeing
this old cell. It was basically solid steel with small holes in it. This old cell still exists in Athens at a salvage yard).
**In February, 1926, he was hired as an Athens policeman. This rather amusing account of his first day was reported in The Athens Weekly Review:
Four complaints were filed by Fletcher Davis, special traffic officer, during his first day on the job to enforce the city traffic ordinances. Two complaints were filed for non-payment of license and the other two for speeders.
Complaints against the speeders were filed on their car numbers only, as they were not apprehended. One Dallas man fell a victim to the license law. He plead guilty and
paid a fine of $12.50.
Traffic on the square slowed up perceptibly during the first day the traffic officer was on the job. Many cars that have been hitting around the square at twenty-five to forty miles per hour slowed down to the regulation ten miles per hour. At one time cars were going so slow that there was almost a traffic jam.
Officer Davis was on the job early the next morning. He approached the Ex-Mayor because there was no license on his car. The Ex-Mayor explained that he had recently bought this new car and had not had time to get it properly licensed. Officer Davis jokingly warned him to hurry and dress the car up with numbers.
A local banker was stopped by Officer Davis this morning. He had his license tags in his car and Davis instructed him to put ‘em on at once.
In compliance with the state law on traffic cops, Officer Davis’ badge is worn conspicuously. The law forbids a traffic officer hiding out.
**Fletcher Davis was awarded the contract on August 18, 1927 to build the new fire station in Athens.
**On November 24, 1927, Fletcher Davis became a charter member of the Knights of Pythias.
**In January, 1928, the Mayfair Co. building in Athens was repaired by Fletcher Davis.
**Fletcher Davis was sent as a delegate to the Republican State Convention in Dallas in May, 1928.
**Fletcher Davis was named manager of the Fixit Shop in Athens in August, 1929. This shop fixed anything…….lawnmowers, automobiles, appliances, sewing machines, etc.
**As Republican County Chairman, Davis suggested sending a local man to Washington, D.C. to push Athens’ claim for the new federal building. (November, 1931)
**In August, 1932, Fletcher Davis was the center of a controversy as Chairman of the Henderson Co. Republican Executive Committee. As a result, Davis was ousted as the Republican Chairman of Henderson Co.
**December, 1932 – Letter to The Athens Weekly Review:
When I first played ball we played with a hard rubber ball and the game was called “town ball”. Then I played with a ball known as the “red dead ball”. Next we used the Spalding
league ball and now I think they use the Reach ball. Before I came to Athens a baseball team was organized and there have been lots of good ball players here since.
I submit the following verses as a tribute to the boys that played the game fair and square:
TO THE ONES THAT ARE GONE
Of the boys that are gone, they are safe we are aware,
Waiting not in a ball suit, it is a robe that they wear,
Waiting for their team mates, their heavenly blessing to share,
For together on earth, you will play the game fair.
TO THE ONES STILL ON EARTH
To you that are left here to play should prepare,
To play the game together each one doing his share,
So in joining your team-mates a white robe you will wear,
And in Heaven as on earth you will play the game fair.
In playing life’s game we should play it with care,
So the youth that is watching will surely beware,
Of the evils of wrongdoing which should their chances impair,
And keep them from being the ones to play the game fair.
MY RESOLUTION
The team without a mitt, their example I will share
Each day I will try and do better, no effort I will spare,
And knowing my weakness will bow down in prayer,
And pray God to direct me to play the game fair.
F.S. Davis, Athens, Texas
**In September 1933, Fletcher Davis played on an Athens baseball team for mean over the age of 50. His team was the "Bumblebees" and they often played another team, the "Stinging Lizards."
In April of 1906, Uncle Fletch purchased half interest in the W.E. Henry Bakery and it became known as the Henry – Davis Bakery.
On April 20, 1908, Uncle was appointed Postmaster in the nearby Henderson County town of Eustace. He served in this capacity until January 9, 1911. While in Eustace, he built three brick buildings there (which are most likely still standing), including the Ballard & Campbell building.
The local newspaper, The Athens Weekly Review, reported several of Uncle Fletch’s accomplishments. These articles were usually very brief and contained little or no other information other than the title:
**Fletcher Davis constructed the new Perkins Bros. Dept. Store in Athens in 1913.
**In November, 1917, he spoke to a group of cotton farmers, urging them to sell and not hold out for a better price.
**Fletcher Davis was in charge of the demolition of the old jail in
Athens in 1924. (Because the building and contents were to be destroyed,
Uncle Fletch brought one of the cells to his house. It was placed in his back yard and used for storage. As a child, I visited them often, with my parents, and remember seeing
this old cell. It was basically solid steel with small holes in it. This old cell still exists in Athens at a salvage yard).
**In February, 1926, he was hired as an Athens policeman. This rather amusing account of his first day was reported in The Athens Weekly Review:
Four complaints were filed by Fletcher Davis, special traffic officer, during his first day on the job to enforce the city traffic ordinances. Two complaints were filed for non-payment of license and the other two for speeders.
Complaints against the speeders were filed on their car numbers only, as they were not apprehended. One Dallas man fell a victim to the license law. He plead guilty and
paid a fine of $12.50.
Traffic on the square slowed up perceptibly during the first day the traffic officer was on the job. Many cars that have been hitting around the square at twenty-five to forty miles per hour slowed down to the regulation ten miles per hour. At one time cars were going so slow that there was almost a traffic jam.
Officer Davis was on the job early the next morning. He approached the Ex-Mayor because there was no license on his car. The Ex-Mayor explained that he had recently bought this new car and had not had time to get it properly licensed. Officer Davis jokingly warned him to hurry and dress the car up with numbers.
A local banker was stopped by Officer Davis this morning. He had his license tags in his car and Davis instructed him to put ‘em on at once.
In compliance with the state law on traffic cops, Officer Davis’ badge is worn conspicuously. The law forbids a traffic officer hiding out.
**Fletcher Davis was awarded the contract on August 18, 1927 to build the new fire station in Athens.
**On November 24, 1927, Fletcher Davis became a charter member of the Knights of Pythias.
**In January, 1928, the Mayfair Co. building in Athens was repaired by Fletcher Davis.
**Fletcher Davis was sent as a delegate to the Republican State Convention in Dallas in May, 1928.
**Fletcher Davis was named manager of the Fixit Shop in Athens in August, 1929. This shop fixed anything…….lawnmowers, automobiles, appliances, sewing machines, etc.
**As Republican County Chairman, Davis suggested sending a local man to Washington, D.C. to push Athens’ claim for the new federal building. (November, 1931)
**In August, 1932, Fletcher Davis was the center of a controversy as Chairman of the Henderson Co. Republican Executive Committee. As a result, Davis was ousted as the Republican Chairman of Henderson Co.
**December, 1932 – Letter to The Athens Weekly Review:
When I first played ball we played with a hard rubber ball and the game was called “town ball”. Then I played with a ball known as the “red dead ball”. Next we used the Spalding
league ball and now I think they use the Reach ball. Before I came to Athens a baseball team was organized and there have been lots of good ball players here since.
I submit the following verses as a tribute to the boys that played the game fair and square:
TO THE ONES THAT ARE GONE
Of the boys that are gone, they are safe we are aware,
Waiting not in a ball suit, it is a robe that they wear,
Waiting for their team mates, their heavenly blessing to share,
For together on earth, you will play the game fair.
TO THE ONES STILL ON EARTH
To you that are left here to play should prepare,
To play the game together each one doing his share,
So in joining your team-mates a white robe you will wear,
And in Heaven as on earth you will play the game fair.
In playing life’s game we should play it with care,
So the youth that is watching will surely beware,
Of the evils of wrongdoing which should their chances impair,
And keep them from being the ones to play the game fair.
MY RESOLUTION
The team without a mitt, their example I will share
Each day I will try and do better, no effort I will spare,
And knowing my weakness will bow down in prayer,
And pray God to direct me to play the game fair.
F.S. Davis, Athens, Texas
**In September 1933, Fletcher Davis played on an Athens baseball team for mean over the age of 50. His team was the "Bumblebees" and they often played another team, the "Stinging Lizards."