Texas Heritage Society

Discover - Understand - Preserve

Texas Heritage Society

Quarterly Meeting

June 12, 2014

NOTE - NEW MEETING PLACE

Speaker: Jim Bevill

"The First Texas Navy, 1835-1837"

Jim Bevill acclaimed author of The Paper Republic: The Struggle for Money, Credit and Independence in the Republic of Texas will join us again. The Paper Republic has sold out of its first printing and is now in its second printing.

Note that we are now meeting the 2nd Thursday instead of the third. We will start the meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Rico's Mexican Grill in the Alamo Room, 4747 Research Forest Dr., The Woodlands, Texas.

Searle Receives San Jacinto Award and

Appointed to WOB Park Association Board

THS member, Kameron K. Searle, was awarded the San Jacinto Award by the San Jacinto Descendants on April 21, 2014. "The San Jacinto Award is presented to an adult citizen of the State of Texas who has demonstrated a commitment to preserving Texas history and who possesses the highest level of patriotism, leadership, and service to the State of Texas and their local community." Past recipients of the San Jacinto Award include Ray Miller (Eyes of Texas), Dr. Gregg Dimmick (Sea of Mud), and James L. Haley (Sam Houston).

Shortly thereafter, in early May, Searle was appointed to the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association Board of Directors. The Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association is the non profit 501(c)(3) support group for Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site which includes Independence Hall, Star of the Republic Museum, and Barrington Living History Farm. Chartered in 1955 by the State of Texas, it is a statewide volunteer organization dedicated to generate support to facilitate preservation projects, celebrations, and educational programming at Washington-on-the Brazos.

Kameron K. Searle is the immediate Past President of the Texas Heritage Society and is currently a member of the THS Board as a Director at Large. Congratulations Kameron!

Quarterly Meeting

MARCH 13, 2014

NOTE - NEW MEETING PLACE

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

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.

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

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, 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.

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 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

Texas Heritage Society Officers 2014-2015

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

MEETINGS

PROJECTS

EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

STUDY GROUPS

August 8, 2009 — Tour of Texas History # 2

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

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

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

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