“I am the youngest of Claude Hampton Wakefield Jr’s two children (daughters) Claudia Ann Wakefield Duff. Dad lived to the age of 96, dying in October 2023. He was quite a character – full of personality, and had lived a good, loving, long life.

His father was Claude Hampton Wakefield Sr who farmed, ran the cotton gin, and was a founding member of (and chaired) the Hill County Electric Coop – now known as Hillco. Claude Sr’s father came to the Iverson community from Tennessee and his name was Cyrus Jason Wakefield.

Daddy loved Itasca. And even though as a young man he couldn’t wait to get ‘off the farm’, his heart never left Itasca and the older he got the more he longed to return to his roots. This explains his passion for collecting the Paw Print Press. He loved reading it and remembering… I hope that you can find some use for some or all these issues – Daddy would be so very thrilled! Anything in the box that you do not want, feel free to give to the museum or let go.”                      -Claudia Duff

Ms. Claudia Duff so graciously donated her father’s collection of Paw Print Press issues and  past issues of the Itasca Item (1965 issue), which I will be donating to the Itasca Depot Museum. My students have already enjoyed looking through these past issues and seeing the town of Itasca from many years ago!        -Mrs. Mears, Publisher

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