Few people are yet alive, who can remember what a thriving little villiage Burkett was 63 years ago, just as the 20th century dawned.  Frank Spencer, who lives 10 miles west of Cross Plains, has just come across a copy of the Burkett Search-Light, printed April 20, 1900, to which his late father W. O. Spencer was a regular subscriber.  The old paper, published by J. D. Gaines - who later plied his trade in Cross Plains for a short while, and J. B. Laws, contains many items of keen interest.  Hereunder are excepted samples"

"See Hec Rogers for good whiskey."

"Dr. Cochran has been farming this week.  He looks all right on a clod-buster."

"The Bowen Hotel in Burkett is prepared ot accommodate transients in a hospitable manner and has a feed stable in connection with the holstery."

"Emory Hughes is recovering from a wire cut on his leg."

"Mr. Newsome has completed the new church and turned it over to the committee."

"For new life and vigor, get your medicines at J. W. Alexander's drug store in Burkett."

"Burkett Lodge W. O. W. meets the last Saturday in each month.  Fred Rodway is camp commander and J. D. Gaines is clerk."

"Methodist services are held each third Sunday with Rev. Bates as pastor."

"The Presbyterian Church meets the fourth Sunday in each month with Rev. John Cooper, pastor, in charge."

"W. C. Henderson, Ed Henderson, Granville Kellar, Charles Golson and W. L. Gould went to Baird Sunday to attend court as witnesses in the Carter case."

"Capt. O. W. Bower will leave Saturday to make his home in Stonewall County."

Principal item in the 63 - year old newspaper concerns an excursion trip to Galveston made by three Burkett men, only first names of which are listed.  Enroute they ran into Will Spencer, Arthur Young, and Dan McAllister.  The six joined up and apparently had a high, hilarious experience.

"Tom Young brought in eight head of horses Tuesday and sold five of them.  They will be shipped to South Aftica for the British cavalry."

"Advertisers in the Burkett paper included:  William Colvin, barber; J. C. Cochran, physician and surgeon; M. L. Alexander, physician and surgeon; Triplett's Wagon Yard, in Brownwood; J. L. Allen Grocery, Burkett; George Johnson, blacksmith at Burkett; Henry Sackett General Merchandise, Burkett; F. D. Hardin, who advertises purebred chickens, and J. R. Brown, who has 800 acres of land for sale.