Texas Heritage Society

Discover - Understand - Preserve

   

   Texas Heritage Society    

 
 

Quarterly Meeting

MARCH 13, 2014
 
NOTE - NEW MEETING PLACE
 
Come and Take It Flag
 
Speaker: Dr. Gregg Dimmick
 
Dr. Gregg Dimmick acclaimed author of The Sea of Mud: the Mexican Retreat after San Jacinto and famous Texas Archeologist will be our speaker at the next THS meeting on March 13, 2014. He will be speaking about his archeological research in primary source documents concerning the "Come and Take It" Cannon.
 
Note that we are now meeting the 2nd Thursday instead of the third. We will start meeting at 6:30 PM, Rico’s Mexican Grill in the Alamo Room, 4747 Research  Forest Dr., The Woodlands.

Texas Heritage Society

Receives Thank You from

Patrons of Cedar Brake Park

The Texas Heritage Society has received the following thank you card from the Patrons of Cedar Brake Park in Montgomery, Texas.  In December, the Texas Heritage Society made a financial contribution to the erection of "The Pioneers of Montgomery" monument.  When completed the monument will feature life sized statues of five early Texas pioneers.  The first of these statues will be unveiled in Cedar Brake Park on January 25, 2014 which is the 175th anniversary of the adoption of the Lone Star Flag of Texas.  Members of the Texas Heritage Society are invited to attend the dedication ceremony.

Pioneers of Montgomery - Cedar Brake Park

Texas Heritage Society

Annual Christmas Party

And Election of Officers

Thursday, December 19 , 2013

2013 Texas Heritage Society Christmas Party

Photo Courtesy of Pat Spackey

The December Christmas meeting was packed with many activities this year.  Holiday treats abounded.  Our speaker was Janet Wagner who will spoke about the skirmish at San Jacinto on April 20, 1836 (the day before the Battle of San Jacinto).  Elections were held for officers and board members for the next two years.  Hewitt Clark, who has done outstanding work as 1st Vice President and Programs Chairman for the last four years was elected Presdent of the Texas Heritage Society. 

Based on information presented regarding both organizations, the THS membership also voted to make donations to two historical organizations that are preserving Texas history in Montgomery, County.  The membership voted to contribute $500 to the Patrons of Cedar Brake Park for the construction of the Pioneers of Montgomery Monument.  $500 was also contributed to the 2014 Confederate Heroes Day Cotillion which will be held at April Sound.  The Texas Heritage Society is a partner in this year's Cotillion which will be held January 18, 2014 from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Tickets are available for the Cotillion Ball for $32 for adults and $25 for children, 12 and under.  All tickets at door will be $35.  Contact Board Member, Frank Johnson, for tickets at fjohnson@wt.net  or  montgomeryrose47@gmail.com.

The Christmas meeting of the Texas Heritage Society was held on December 19, 2013 at 6:30 pm, the third Thursday of the month, in the administration building at The Forum, 1555 W. Panther Creek Drive in The Woodlands, Texas.  Below is a list of 2011-2013 THS Officers:

Texas Heritage Society Officers 2011-2013

President — Kameron K. Searle, J.D.

First Vice President (Programs) — Hewitt Clark

Second Vice President (Membership) — Carolyn Terrell

Third Vice President (Publicity) — Pat Ellen Spackey

Recording Secretary — Mary Jo Leonard

Treasurer — Phil Whitley

Editor — Melinda R. Cagle

Directors at Large —
Carrol D. Cagle, M.D.
Barbara Hamilton
Brenda Horton
Cliff May

Texas Heritage Society Officers 2014-2015

President — Hewitt Clarke

First Vice President (Programs) — David Swinehart

Second Vice President (Membership) — Beverly England

Third Vice President (Publicity) — Pat Ellen Spackey

Recording Secretary — Vacant

Treasurer — Phil Whitley

Communications - Martha Haydel

Editor — Melinda R. Cagle

Directors at Large —

Carrol D. Cagle, M.D.

Frank Johnson

Kameron K. Searle, J. D.



Texas Heritage Society

September 19, 2013 Meeting

Speaker-Martha Haydel

The next meeting of the Texas Heritage Society will he held on September 19, 2013 at 6:30 pm, the third Thursday of the month, in the administration building at The Forum, 1555 W. Panther Creek Drive in The Woodlands, Texas.

Martha Haydel's talk will be about "Spanish Texas--Visionaries and Builders." Martha will share with us the contributions of her Texas ancestors from the 1700s to the present day. Through their work, their hopes and dreams, they helped to build this state where we now live. That is an on-going effort.

Some of their involvements include: 

·       Founded the city of San Antonio, 1731 

·       Built San Fernando Cathedral, completed 1738 

·       Established the first civil government in Texas (province) 

·       Raised cattle throughout the centuries 

·       Planned and dug irrigation system in San Antonio  

·       Supported the American Revolutionary War against England (cattle) 

·       War of Independence from Spain 

·       War of Independence from Mexico 

·       Signed the Texas Constitution  

·       Survived the Battle of the Alamo 

·       Confederate War between the States 

·       Served in the city government of San Antonio & operated businesses 

·       Worked in the leather industry  

·       Supervised saddle-making under government contract during WWll 

·       Operated one-man saddle and leather shop 

·       Established local youth rodeos 

·       Became rodeo calf roper 

·       Teacher, businessman, psychologist 

·       Advocate for Texas History!

 

THS September 19, 2013 Meeting

September 19, 2013 Meeting at The Forum

Frank M. Johnson Discusses His New Book

Frank Johnson Discusses His New Book Montgomery County, Texas  CSA

Martha Haydel Makes History Presentation

Martha Haydel Makes History Presentation

 

 

Photos Courtesy of Pat Spackey

 

Texas Heritage Society Member

Frank M. Johnson Writes

New History of Montgomery County and

the Confederate States of America

Montgomery County, Texas CSA by Frank M. Johnson

Our own Frank M. Johnson has written and published his first book, Montgomery County CSA. Montgomery County CSA is "a definitive history of Montgomery County's involvement in the War Between the States and the men from that county who served in the military of the Confederate States of America." 

Frank Johnson presented a preview copy of his book at the September 19, 2013 general meeting of the Texas Heritage Society. If you had an ancestor from Montgomery County, Texas who fought in the War between the States, you will want to add this book to your history book collection and genealogy collection.  If you are interested in Texas' role in the "War of Northern Agression," this snap shot of one county's involvement in the defense of the South will also be of interest to you.  The book is 238 pages and is now available from both CreateSpace and Amazon.com.


September 8, 1863, 44 Men Under the Leadership of Confederate Lt. Dick Dowling Pulled Off One of the Greatest Upsets in Military History:

The Battle of Sabine Pass

Battle of Sabine Pass

Texas Heritage Society Presents

Tour of Texas History

The 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Sabine Pass

September 6-8, 2013

Make your reservations now for our next Tour of Texas History when we explore The Battle of Sabine Pass on its 150th anniversary.  We have 13 rooms and suites reserved at the Holiday Inn Express located at 3115 Central Mall Drive in Port Arthur, Texas.  Call 1-409-853-4114 to reserve your room. Rooms with 2 beds are $99 and suites are $110 under our group rate.

 

Hewitt Clarke has already planned the following activities for this Tour:

  • Re-enactment at the Sabine Pass Battlefield for the - 150th Anniversary  
  • Talk about Battle of Sabine Pass by Historian & Author Ed Cotham
  • Museum of the Gulf Coast 
  • Replica of a Pompei home 
  • Gladys Oil Field Town  
  • Swamp Boat Ride 
  • Cajun band, Larry's French Market and Cajun
    Restaurant  

For more information contact:

Hewitt Clarke 

Rebelwriter@pdq.net

Dick Dowling Statue - Sabine Pass

Dick Dowling Statue at Sabine Pass

Reenactors at 150th Anniversary of The Battle of Sabine Pass

Some of the Confederate Reenactors for the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Sabine Pass

Cannon at Sabine Pass Awaits the Union Invaders

 

Sabine Pass Historian Ed Cotham Signs Books for THS

Historian Edward T. Cotham, Jr. Signs Books Sabine Pass for THS Members

after His Presentation on Satuday Night

Court Martial Sabine Pass

 

 

Reenactors Fire Volley at Sabine Pass

Photos Courtesy of Martha Haydel

  Texas Heritage Society

New Meeting Place - March 21, 2013

We have a new meeting place for the quarterly meetings of the Texas Heritage Society.  Our next meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on March 21, 2013 at our new location at the Administration Building of The Forum located at 5055 W Panther Creek Drive in the The Woodlands, Texas.  For directions to The Forum, call 281-292-2600.

Our speaker for the March 21, 2013 meeting will be Jack Watson, an officer with the Jean Lafitte Society in Galveston, Texas who will be speaking to us about Warren Dewitt Clinton (W. D. C.) Hall from Natchitoches and Alexandria, Louisiana.  Hall was involved in all three of the Texas filibustering attempts which will tie into our recent study of Texas history along the Red River in Lousiana made during our very succesful recent Tour of Texas History trip to Natchitoches, Louisiana. 

Hope to see everyone at the March 21, 2013 meeting.  We will also be voting on our new Treasurer and Reporting Secretary to fill those positions following the recent unexpected loss of Carol Lynn O'Neal.

We would very much like to thank Mrs. Melinda Reeves Cagle and Dr. Carrol D. Cagle for the use of their beautiful home for the past three years as the meeting place of the Texas Heritage Society.  We are very grateful to them.

Texas Heritage Society President

Lends Hand with New Book about

Houston's River Oaks

Houston's River Oaks

In the acknowledgments section of her latest book, Houston's River Oaks, Houston historian, Ann Dunphy Becker, acknowledged Texas Heritage Society President, "Kameron Searle for his superior contributions to the book."  Searle's contributions focused primarily on photographs and historical information regarding events in River Oaks during the 1940's and 1950's. 

In her follow-up book to her very successful Houston: 1860-1900, Ann Dunphy Becker has set her sights on giving her readers a rare and unique glimpse inside Houston's most prestigious neighborhood.  Houston's River Oaks covers the period from the founding of River Oaks in 1923 until 1970.  Houston's River Oaks (Images of America) by Ann Dunphy Becker with George L. Murray is published by Arcadia Publishing and is available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and fine bookstores everywhere.



Tour of Texas History

Natchitoches, Louisiana

March 8-10, 2013

TEXAS HERITAGE SOCIETY

Tour of Natchitoches, Louisiana

March 8-10, 2013

 

Natchitoches is the oldest settlement in Louisiana. Established in 1714 it retains it’s original European flavor. THS has a block of rooms reserved at historic Church Street Inn, 120 Church Street. $125 for one bed and $135 for two beds. Free breakfast and parking. 1-800-668-9298 Recommended by the tourist office.

 

FRIDAY—12:00 noon, meet in Many, Louisiana at Kim’s Oriental Kitchen, 175 Fisher Street for Korean, Japanese and Chinese lunch. Then visit US Fort Jessup along Hwy 6 National Historic Trail, which was the eastern entrance to the Neutral Zone, a thirty mile stretch of no man’s land between the US and Spanish Tejas in 1805, where the “best is like the worst, there ain’t no ten commandments, and a man can raise a thirst.”

 

Continue east along the Camino Real to Robeline. Visit the Adai Caddo historic Indian village. Also visit Los Adaes Fort and presidio historic Spanish site from the early 1700’s. It was the capitol of Tejas for 50 years.

 

Check in to the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant to be decided.

 

SATURDAY — Tour Fort St. Jean Baptist in town.

 

Private streetcar tour of the National Historic District, including the house where the movie Steel Magnolias was made.

 

Lunch to be designated.

 

Tour Oakland and Melrose Plantations at the Cane River Creole National Historical Park.

 

Free time for shopping etc.

 

Seafood dinner and speaker for the Civil War Red River Campaign. Cajun dance band after.

 

SUNDAY—Church of Immaculate Conception for mass.

 

Visit to Grand Ecole Visitors Center on the Red River

 

Free time and return to Houston.

 

Please let me know if you are going so I can arrange reservations a various places.

Thanks,

Hewitt Clarke

Rebelwriter@pdq.net


Texas Heritage Society, Inc. Receives

501(c)(3)  Tax Exempt Status

In a letter dated August 9, 2011, the Texas Heritage Society, Inc. was advised that it was exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the Texas Heritage Society, Inc. are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code. The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. is also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Code. Click here to see IRS Letter.

Our hats are off to our members of the committee that completed all the paperwork and forms for the IRS that made the recognition of the Texas Heritage Society, Inc.'s tax exempt status possible. Members of the committee were Barbara Hamilton, Melinda Cagle, and Carole Lynn O'Neal. Thank you all for your hours of hard work.

   Texas Heritage Society

Tour of Texas - In Search of Philip Nolan

March 26, 2011

Cleburne Times Tribune Article - March 29, 2011

The Texas Heritage Society in a joint venture with the Johnson County Historical Commission and Johnson County, Texas have established the Philip Nolan Research Center in the Johnson County courthouse in Cleburne, Texas. 

On Saturday, March 26, 2011, a brief ceremony was held at the Johnson County courthouse.

Johnson County Courthouse - Home of Philip Nolan Research Center

Hewitt Clark Donates Books to Philip Nolan Research Center

Some of the 350 Books Donated by Texas Heritage Society Members: Mary Alice Williams and Hewitt Clarke. Left to Right: Attorney Charles Lummus, THS Vice President Hewitt Clarke, and Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon.

Our most recent Tour of Texas took us to Cleburne, Texas where steps were taken to further the development of the Philip Nolan Research Center. 

Historians Gather at Philip Nolan Research Center

Following the ceremony, archeological exploration was conducted with metal detectors at two different locations where the battle, which took the life of Philip Nolan in 1801, may have occurred.

Chuck Lummus Reads Philip Nolan Histories for Archeological Clues

Metal Detectors Used to Locate Site of 1801 Battle and Burial of Nolan


Texas Heritage Society Invited to Unveiling and Dedication

Our Publicity Chair, Pat Spackey, has cordially invited all the members of the Texas Heritage Society to the dedication of The Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park in Conroe, Texas on April 21, 2011 (San Jacinto Day), at 5:30 p.m.  The park is located next to the Montgomery County Memorial Library in Conroe, Texas.  There will be an unveiling of a bust of Charles B. Stewart by Pat Spackey.

 Texas Heritage Society Members Attend 175th Anniversary of

Texas Independence

Sam Houston IV, Pat Spackey and Kameron Searle Are Descendants of Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence

Thousands in Attendance

Texas Heritage Society Members at 175th Texas Birthday Celebration

THS members, Phil Whitley, Pat and Ted Spackey and Marisa and Kameron Searle, were in attendance at Washington-on-the-Brazos on February 27, 2011 for the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico.  Speakers at the 175th Birthday of Texas included Sam Houston IV and United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson.  Thousands were in attendance at the ceremony to remember their Texas heritage and history.  

OUR PURPOSE

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. is based in The Woodlands, Texas. Its purpose is to discover, preserve, and promote the history and genealogy of Texas, particularly of South and Southeast Texas and to broaden historical knowledge among the general public through programs, projects, and publications, bringing together professionals, independent scholars, writers, educators and researchers. THS, Inc. will launch the publication, Journal of Texas Heritage, in December 2013.         

JOIN US

Dues for the Texas Heritage Society, Inc. are $25/year (Jan-Dec) and may be paid by check or money order to our treasurer: Mrs. Carole Lynn O'Neal, 71 East Kentwick Place, Conroe, Texas  77384. Dues include day trips and a subscription to the Journal of Texas Heritage along with an annual Tour-of-Texas Study Guide.

MEETINGS

THS, inc. holds general meetings quarterly in March, June, September and December and conducts quarterly day trips to various historical sites in Texas in May, August, November and January. These events may also include trips to research centers and archives around the state. THS members provide funding for scholarships and awards, they work through the Texas Historical Commission to establish historical markers, support and conduct cemetery preservation, publish the history and genealogy of Texas and support the East Montgomery County Museum and Archives. We welcome all with common interests to join us. photo image courtesy of East Montgomery County Historical Society, Inc. 

PROJECTS

Among the numerous projects that this new organization has embraced is to explore and write the histories of long-forgotten Texas sites like Esperanza and Rusk, now only ghost towns in East Texas. The identification of historic sites for the purposes of study and to obtain Texas Historical Commission markers is one of its primary goals. THS, Inc. maintains a web page at TexasHistoryPage.com, along with a discussion log that encourages the exploration of Texas history and genealogy through dialogue. Projected is the publication of monographs, pamphlets and other works about the history and genealogy of Texas, particularly Southeast Texas.

EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. engages in activities and services for the support, development and promotion of the East Montgomery County Museum and Archives, located at New Caney, Texas. Seeing itself as ambassador for the museum, it seeks to strengthen awareness of the museum as an important resource for the study of Southeast Texas history.

STUDY GROUPS

Tour-of-Texas Day Trips
Hewitt Clarke, Coordinator

Day trips to historical sites in Texas are scheduled for the months of May, August, November and February and will follow the course of early Texas settlement and the Texas Revolution.  Our next tour is in August: 

August 8, 2009 — Tour of Texas History # 2

Stopping first at Washington-on-the-Brazos near Navasota, Texas, the group will hear a private lecture presented in Independence Hall, the site where Texas declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. William B. Travis’ “victory or death” letter will be read. A replica of the original building marks the location where representatives met to sign the formal declaration of independence and where the government of the Republic of Texas was established.

The group then will travel to Chappell Hill to the Masonic Cemetery where a toast will be made to Col William B. Travis at the gravesite of his son. There will be a picnic lunch at a former old store in town after which will be a guided tour of the town of Chappell Hill.

The group will leave at 8 a.m. from First Baptist Church of The Woodlands. Bring a sack lunch and drinks; we will stop at a designated park for lunch, returning to The Woodlands by 4 p.m. Bring a hat and wear comfortable walking shoes.

PRIZES, SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. recognizes various areas of historical and genealogical work with funding and special achievement recognition.

THS BOOK STORE

A resource for hard-to-find books about Texans and Texas.

NOTES ABOUT THE WEB SITE

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. strongly encourages input from all of its members. We hope all members will contribute their many talents to this site. Please email your ideas and suggestions to the webmaster Kameron Searle at ksearle1@pdq.net . We strongly encourage members to submit articles relating to Texas history and genealogy to this web site as well as to the Journal.   The Texas Heritage Society also encourages scholars of Texas history everywhere to submit Texas history articles for publication in the Journal and on the web site. See Contact Us for more information about submitting an article.

Texas Heritage Society Officers 2011-2013

President — Kameron K. Searle, J.D.
First Vice President (Programs) — Hewitt Clark
Second Vice President (Membership) — Carolyn Terrell
Third Vice President (Publicity) — Pat Ellen Spackey

Recording Secretary — Mary Jo Leonard

Treasurer — Phil Whitley

Editor — Melinda R. Cagle

Directors at Large —
Carrol D. Cagle, M.D.
Barbara Hamilton
Brenda Horton
Cliff May

Texas Heritge Society

 
 
© Copyright 2009-2012, Texas Heritage Society, Inc. All rights reserved.