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Art Burton will share tales of frontier marshal Bass Reeves, Cherokee Bill and black cowboys of the Shawnee Trail at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Drive. Burton is the author of Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves and Cherokee Bill: Black Cowboy, Indian Outlaw.

At the outset of the Civil War, Bass Reeves narrowly escaped slavery and traveled to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), living with the Cherokee and Creek.  In 1875, Reeves was appointed one of the first African American deputy U. S. marshals.   Through careful tracking skills undoubtedly learned from his Native American mentors, he is credited with over 3,000 arrests.  Also, working under cover and using various disguises, Reeves unraveled mysterious crimes.

Until the advent of the railroad, cattle from Collin County were shipped to the northern markets along the Shawnee Trail, now Preston Road.  Cowboys faced frostbite, potential drowning, venomous snakes, serious accidents and more.  An estimated one in five of the cowboys were Black, many of whom were former Union soldiers.

Cherokee Bill, whose real name was Crawford Goldsby, was a 19th-century American outlaw.  Responsible for the murders of seven men, including his brother-in-law, Cherokee Bill and his gang terrorized the Indian Territory for over two years.

When asked what inspired him to write about these subjects, Art explained, “My family of origin was comprised of cowboys and documenting the African American experience in the wild west was my goal.”

Art has appeared in four documentaries for the History Channel.  In 2015, Art was featured on FOX Cables’ “Legends and Lies” series’ episode “The Real Lone Ranger.” He was also a participant in the AHC cable series “Gunslingers” episode on Bass Reeves. Art spoke at the B.B. King Symposium at Mississippi Valley State University in the fall of 2018 on African American and Native American cultures. In 2024, the Cherokee Nation invited Art to present “Frontier Era Lawmen and Outlaws in the Cherokee Nation.”  In 2025, Art addressed the Oklahoma Historical Society regarding Black lawmen on the frontier.  He is also the historian for the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum of Fort Worth, Texas.

Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

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In the fall of 1971, vast numbers of North Texans traveled to the intersection of Highways 183 and 114, in the city of Irving, to marvel at the new home for the Dallas Cowboys.  The people of this region felt immense pride in this edifice that exemplified the familiar adage, "if you build it, they will come."  

Burk Murchison will share stories from the early years of the Dallas Cowboys, including the construction of Texas Stadium, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 25, at the Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Dr.  The son of the Dallas Cowboys' first owner Clint Murchison Jr., Burk was an eyewitness to this unprecedented era of sports history.  Longtime Dallas Morning News journalist Michael Granberry will join Burk to offer his perspectives on the thrilling journey that led to the Dallas Cowboys’ inaugural Super Bowl victory. 

During the first game at Texas Stadium, halfback Duane Thomas scored the first touchdown on a 56-yard run that electrified Dallas Cowboy fans. Later, former Dallas Cowboys linebacker D. D. Lewis famously said that the hole in the roof existed “so that God can watch his favorite team.”

Burk Murchison and Michael Granberry, are co-authors of "Hole in the Roof: The Dallas Cowboys, Clint Murchison Jr., and the Stadium That Changed American Sports Forever."  Books will be available for purchase and inscriptions.

Michael first served as a writer for the Dallas Morning News' High-Profile section and then 17 years as Arts Writer, breaking such stories as “The Glare” that continues to affect the Nasher Sculpture Center and the strange fate of a rare painting by Leonardo Da Vinci called Salvator Mundi.  After retiring, Michael wrote the cover story on Willie Nelson for the August/September issue of Cowboys & Indians magazine and is a frequent contributor to the highly rated national podcast The Tony Kornheiser Show, whose host also serves as a cohost of Pardon the Interruption on ESPN.

Burk Murchison is a partner in Murchison Capital Partners, LP, an investment management firm based in Dallas.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Allen Public Library, the program is free.  Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

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Creating an atmosphere to stir the passions, the hugely popular ensemble Mariachi Michoacan performs 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 13, at Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Dr.  Since 1986, Mariachi Michoacan has made a major impact on the North Texas music scene, performing across North Texas.

For their Allen Library debut, Mariachi Michoacan will perform arrangements from across different regions of the Southwest and Mexico.  Hispanic and non-Hispanic fans embrace mariachi music as the happy music of

the world.  The nostalgia and history expressed through the mariachi tunes bring

delight and pride to all listeners. Today, it is enjoyed across the world and by countless ethnicities.

Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the concert is free.  Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

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In the fall of 1971, vast numbers of North Texans traveled to the intersection of Highways 183 and 114, in the city of Irving, to marvel at the new home for the Dallas Cowboys. The people of this region felt immense pride in this edifice that exemplified the familiar adage, "if you build it, they will come."
Burk Murchison will share stories from the early years of the Dallas Cowboys, including the construction of Texas Stadium, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 25, at the Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Dr. The son of the Dallas Cowboys' first owner Clint Murchison Jr., Burk was an eyewitness to this unprecedented era of sports history. Longtime Dallas Morning News journalist Michael Granberry will join Burk to offer his perspectives on the thrilling journey that led to the Dallas Cowboys’ inaugural Super Bowl victory.

During the first game at Texas Stadium, halfback Duane Thomas scored the first touchdown on a 56-yard run that electrified Dallas Cowboy fans. Later, former Dallas Cowboys linebacker D. D. Lewis famously said that the hole in the roof existed “so that God can watch his favorite team.”
Burk Murchison and Michael Granberry, are co-authors of "Hole in the Roof: The Dallas Cowboys, Clint Murchison Jr., and the Stadium That Changed American Sports Forever." Books will be available for purchase and inscriptions.

Michael first served as a writer for the Dallas Morning News' High-Profile section and then 17 years as Arts Writer, breaking such stories as “The Glare” that continues to affect the Nasher Sculpture Center and the strange fate of a rare painting by Leonardo Da Vinci called Salvator Mundi. After retiring, Michael wrote the cover story on Willie Nelson for the August/September issue of Cowboys & Indians magazine and is a frequent contributor to the highly rated national podcast The Tony Kornheiser Show, whose host also serves as a cohost of Pardon the Interruption on ESPN.
 
Burk Murchison is a partner in Murchison Capital Partners, LP, an investment management firm based in Dallas.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Allen Public Library, the program is free. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.
 
 
 
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A tireless researcher as well as an artfully engaging performer, Dr. Andrew Flory has thrilled music lovers from around the world. He will perform a medley of arrangements from classical composers on the theorbo and guitar at 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 22 at the historic Allen Christian Church in Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Dr.

Currently, Flory teaches at Muziek school Lochristi and Academie Merksem in Belgium

 The theorbo is a plucked string instrument period  in the lute family.  It features an extended neck that allows for a deeper bass range. It was developed in Italy during the Baroque to provide a powerful sound for vocal performances, and it is often larger than a standard lute due to its extended neck.

 In 2024, Dr. Flory received a doctorate in early music, and a performer’s certificate in classical guitar from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. As a multi-instrumentalist and early music specialist, Dr. Flory captivates audiences with his colorful and nuanced repertoire that spans over 500 years. For his doctorate, he arranged Mauro Giuliani’s Opus 30 Guitar Concerto for 3 guitars.

Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the concert is free. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

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For over four centuries, the legend of Pocahontas (Matoaka) has gripped the American psyche. Most of us grew up with the endearing legend of Pocahontas throwing herself over John Smith to save his life before possible execution.

 Rarely is the rest of her story shared though. How many of us today know about her life as the daughter of Powhatan, chief of the Powhatan tribe in what is today the Tidewater region of the state of Virginia? Who is aware that she wed John Rolfe, not John Smith, after she was kidnapped by English colonists?

 Longtime City of Allen employee Tom Keener will separate the biography of Pocahontas from the traditional myth that surrounds her life at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at the Allen Heritage Village’s Allen Christian Church, 450 E. St. Mary Dr. 

Sharing the story of Pocahontas has been a lifelong passion for Tom. As a boy, he was told there was a familial connection to Pocahontas through his Bolling lineage. Pocahontas and John Rolfe had one son, Thomas. He married Jane Poythress and they had a daughter named Jane who would wed Col. Robert Thomas Bolling.

Tom observes, “Pocahontas is a classic heroine; she makes decisions to chart her own path and endures probable pressures to conform to the desires of others. It is a story of adventure, leaving home, colonialism, interaction and collision of cultures, and, above all, love.”

Employed with the City of Allen for 42 years, Tom has facilitated the production of over 500 videos available on ACTV and penned over 100 articles regarding American history.

Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.  Sponsored by the Allen Public Library and Collin County Genealogical Society, the program is free.

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Treat yourself to an electrifying evening with the Big A$$ Brass Band at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 11, at Allen Heritage Village’s Allen Christian Church, 450 E. St. Mary Dr. 
 
Big A$$ Brass Band has performed at the Kessler Theater, been nominated for Dallas Observer’s and Central Track’s  Music Awards, and did a residency at the House of Blues in Shanghai.  Founded in 2015, The Big A$$ Brass Band is a powerhouse featuring the finest and funkiest of brass players. Their wild, raucous, and original blend of sounds is certain to please all audiences.
 
Blending funk, jazz and hip-hop, improvisation has made this band hugely popular in the Dallas area over the last few years. The energy and joy emanating from the band is thrilling.  Band leader Kevin Butler observes, “It's like the nature of the music is, if you've got a horn or a drum, you can jump in or out at any point in time.” This brass band’s show is like New Orleans parade music that invites the audience to participate.
 
Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the concert is free.
 
Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

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Celebrate the music of local favorite country rock band GOODnGONE at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 23.  The group will perform a mix of classic, red dirt and Texas country tunes at the Allen Christian Church, located in Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Dr.

GOODnGONE offers ballroom ballads, twanging shuffles, and a hint of rock. The group also offers its fair share of love songs, including first and eternal loves. Hailing from Collin County, Texas, they penned a song about the first legal hanging in Collin County, “The Ballad of Stephen Ballew.” 

With Jimmie Davidson on lead vocals, Tom Brandish on lead guitar, Richie Davis on drums, and Chris Bangma on bass guitar, they bring a fresh and modern edge to country music. Since forming in 2009, they have played at venues across North Texas and Oklahoma, including The House of Blues, River Ranch at the FW Stockyards, Allen Event Center and numerous city festivals.

Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the concert is free.

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Celebrate the music of local favorite country rock band GOODnGONE at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 23.  The group will perform a mix of classic, red dirt and Texas country tunes at the Allen Christian Church, located in Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Dr.

GOODnGONE offers ballroom ballads, twanging shuffles, and a hint of rock. The group also offers its fair share of love songs, including first and eternal loves. Hailing from Collin County, Texas, they penned a song about the first legal hanging in Collin County, “The Ballad of Stephen Ballew.” 

With Jimmie Davidson on lead vocals, Tom Brandish on lead guitar, Richie Davis on drums, and Chris Bangma on bass guitar, they bring a fresh and modern edge to country music. Since forming in 2009, they have played at venues across North Texas and Oklahoma, including The House of Blues, River Ranch at the FW Stockyards, Allen Event Center and numerous city festivals.

Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the concert is free.

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-Enjoy a free afternoon of The Texas Clarinet Group performing “From Bach to the Beatles" at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 30. This presentation will be hosted at the historic Allen Christian church at Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Dr.

Transcribed for trios, quartets, and quintets of B flat, E flat, Bass and Contrabass clarinets, the program feature highlights from Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #2, Beethoven's Ode to Joy, Fucik's Entrance of the Gladiators, Holst’s 2nd Suite in F, a medley of tunes by The Beatles, and the Group's signature arrangement of "Deep in the Heart of Texas."

Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the concert is free.

Call 214-509-4911.