Joppa

Have you heard of Joppa ? My travels visiting friends and family often take me to the Illinois/Overton portion of town. Upon the completion of said visits, I generally head east on Illinois, and catch Interstate 45 heading south. Sometime last year I began to notice the construction of a bridge just to the east of the interstate, with a sign pointing in that general direction reading Linfield Road. I must admit, I wondered if this was akin to the proverbial Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska. It was upon reading an article in the Dallas Morning News that I understood the significance of the bridge, and the community that it lead into: Joppa. Joppa is one of the few remaining freedman’s towns left in Texas. Recounting the history of Joppa is not my intention today, but rather to recount my first visit to this notable community. I was invited to a house blessing in Joppa by the Byrd Family. The Byrd’s relocated to Dallas from New Orleans with other members of their extended family. It had been nearly a year since I met them on the heels of Hurricane Katrina. That night, they simultaneously sought shelter, and searched for family members who they had yet to hear from. I spent their first night in Dallas with them, as our church unknowingly opened one of the first relief centers in the city. But this was a much happier occasion; the Byrd’s would soon be part of the Great American Dream, Home Ownership. My son and I were headed out on a typical hot sunny day in Dallas to celebrate with Mr. and Mrs. Byrd and their family. We headed up Interstate 45 taking the Linfield/Illinois exit and for the first time headed east on Linfield. As we drove over the 5.6 Million Dollar Bridge I thought about how many residents must have waited over the years to cross this busy train intersection to get home. My mind pondered the fire trucks and ambulances that were unable to get into Joppa, yet again delayed by train traffic; however that was not the case on this day. Driving into Joppa reminded me of other freedman’s towns that I’d been through. The same signs were visible; vacant lots, stray dogs, gathered brush, and dead-end roads. I must have seen 10 churches within a 4-block radius. It felt as if I had left Dallas completely, and was now out in an old country town. As I neared my intended destination, I began to view seeds of hope sprouting from the ground in the form of new homes being constructed. I neared the new Byrd residence, beautiful yellow home with a tree in the front yard and a wide front porch reminiscent of prior days. We had missed much of the celebration, but Mr. and Mrs. Byrd greeted us as only New Orleaneans could, taking us on a tour of their dwelling. I was glad we could share such an important occasion with such a great family. The prospects in Joppa are looking up as Habitat for Humanity plans to build 50 such houses in the community. The Trinity River Project, which is actually moving forward is destined to affect Joppa, to what degree remains to be seen. Bike trails, an equestrian center, and retail projects will someday join the wetlands area that is nearly constructed just north of Loop 12; on what used to be a golf club. History must be preserved, but not at the expense of progress. The Byrd’s will be right in the middle of whatever happens. Hopefully they’ll have me over to check on the progress and just maybe, Mrs. Byrd will have a bowl of her gumbo waiting for me.