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Rider Story: Anna Miller Bassett
"There was one man I noticed with a twinkle in his eye and a big smile on his face. He kept
looking at me. I wasn't shy, so soon I started talking and dancing for Mr. J.R. Pennington.
Pretty soon, he said he had to go get his wife who hadn't been able to come that morning."
"No, I wasn't worried about not finding parents, there were several who showed an interest
in me that day."
After Mrs. Pennington saw little Miss Anna Miller, the Penningtons went home to think
about what adopting a child would mean to their lives. The Penningtons were nearly 50 and
childless, but evidently, they decided Anna was the daughter for them. Mr. Pennington was
a land dealer. "It seemed a little voice, was whispering to them, 'Please be my mother and
father,'" Mrs. Bassett said.
The next morning, they returned to the city hall to talk with Anna’s sponsor, and that
afternoon, the Penningtons proudly escorted their new 5-year-old, brown haired and brown
eyed, dancing and singing daughter to their home in Whitewright.
"I was never spanked. It never dawned on me they might send me back. I just always felt I
was special."
"Some people who are adopted want to go back and dig things up, but I have always been
so happy and comfortable. You can understand why I never wanted to go back."
Mrs. Bassett attended high school in Whitewright and began college at East Texas State
University. But as a freshman in 1932, she met Floyd Bassett, a senior and "fell madly in
love, and that was the end of college." Mr. Bassett died in 1983.
The Bassetts have three children: Beverly Herrera who lives in Columbus, Ohio; Dixie
Bassett of Sherman; and Jim Bassett of Corpus Christi, Texas. Mrs. Bassett, who now
lives in her childhood home, said she was writing her life story for her children, six
grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
"After I developed this arthritis condition in my hands, I got where I couldn't play the piano.
But I never was a quitter. I decided I’d learn to paint," said Mrs. Bassett. Mrs. Bassett's
home is decorated with the results of those found artistic abilities.
Recently, the few remaining orphan train veterans had reunion in Granberry. "I had
wondered where I learned to sing and dance. At the reunion there was a rider who had been
in the same dormitory with me. She was older and remembered that those of us who
showed some ability were taken to music lessons once a week."
"I have always felt I was special because Dick and Jenny Pennington adopted me. I only
hope I brought them as much pleasure as they gave me."
looking at me. I wasn't shy, so soon I started talking and dancing for Mr. J.R. Pennington.
Pretty soon, he said he had to go get his wife who hadn't been able to come that morning."
"No, I wasn't worried about not finding parents, there were several who showed an interest
in me that day."
After Mrs. Pennington saw little Miss Anna Miller, the Penningtons went home to think
about what adopting a child would mean to their lives. The Penningtons were nearly 50 and
childless, but evidently, they decided Anna was the daughter for them. Mr. Pennington was
a land dealer. "It seemed a little voice, was whispering to them, 'Please be my mother and
father,'" Mrs. Bassett said.
The next morning, they returned to the city hall to talk with Anna’s sponsor, and that
afternoon, the Penningtons proudly escorted their new 5-year-old, brown haired and brown
eyed, dancing and singing daughter to their home in Whitewright.
"I was never spanked. It never dawned on me they might send me back. I just always felt I
was special."
"Some people who are adopted want to go back and dig things up, but I have always been
so happy and comfortable. You can understand why I never wanted to go back."
Mrs. Bassett attended high school in Whitewright and began college at East Texas State
University. But as a freshman in 1932, she met Floyd Bassett, a senior and "fell madly in
love, and that was the end of college." Mr. Bassett died in 1983.
The Bassetts have three children: Beverly Herrera who lives in Columbus, Ohio; Dixie
Bassett of Sherman; and Jim Bassett of Corpus Christi, Texas. Mrs. Bassett, who now
lives in her childhood home, said she was writing her life story for her children, six
grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
"After I developed this arthritis condition in my hands, I got where I couldn't play the piano.
But I never was a quitter. I decided I’d learn to paint," said Mrs. Bassett. Mrs. Bassett's
home is decorated with the results of those found artistic abilities.
Recently, the few remaining orphan train veterans had reunion in Granberry. "I had
wondered where I learned to sing and dance. At the reunion there was a rider who had been
in the same dormitory with me. She was older and remembered that those of us who
showed some ability were taken to music lessons once a week."
"I have always felt I was special because Dick and Jenny Pennington adopted me. I only
hope I brought them as much pleasure as they gave me."