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Texas Heritage Society Discover - Understand - Preserve |
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Texas Heritage SocietyTexas Heritage Society - March 18, 2010 Meeting Texas Historian James P. Bevill and The Paper Republic - The Struggle for Money, Credit and Independence in the Republic of Texas It has just been announced, The Paper Republic is the Winner of the 2009 Summerfield G. Roberts Award from the Sons of the Republic of Texas Congratulations James P. Bevill ! ! !
The March meeting of the Texas Heritage Society is scheduled for March 18, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at 18 West Shaker Court in The Woodlands. See map here. The March meeting will feature Texas historian James P. Bevill. Mr. Bevill is the author of the fabulous new Texas history book, The Paper Republic, which was published in November of 2009 by Bright Sky Press. Texas Heritage Society President, Kameron Searle, has reviewed Bevill's book and writes that, "The Paper Republic is destined to become a classic on the history of the Republic of Texas." In researching the money and the economy of the Republic of Texas, Bevill has added a whole new dimension to our understanding of the overall history of the Republic of Texas. James Bevill's 352-page book is also one of the most beautiful Texas history books we have ever seen. James Bevill has agreed to bring copies of The Paper Republic to sell and will be glad to sign copies of this amazing new book. James Bevill is a very interesting speaker and has many interesting historical anecdotes about the early history of Texas that he has discovered over his years of research. Come to this meeting, and we can assure you that you will learn some things about the Republic of Texas you never knew before. James P. Bevill graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Houston - Clear Lake. He is a First Vice President - Investments in the River Oaks office of UBS Financial Services in Houston, Texas. Mr. Bevill is also a past President of the Texas Numismatic Association and an authority on the currency issued by the Republic of Texas. Because of his extensive historical research into the history of the Republic of Texas, Mr. Bevill was recently elected an Honorary Member of The Sons of the Republic of Texas.
Anson Jones Texas Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony in The Texas Mason Magazine
Click on Photograph to See Winter 2010 Editon of The Texas Mason Magazine. See Page 9.
The Anson Jones Texas Historical Marker dedication ceremony received a full page in the Winter 2010 edition of The Texas Mason Magazine. See the article and pictures on page 9 of the following link: http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/texas_mason/2010-winter.pdf
For more information about the Anson Jones Texas Historical marker dedication ceremony on this site, click here. To download a copy of the Anson Jones Marker Program, click here.
"Remember San Jacinto!" Help Save the San Jacinto Battleground
Jan DeVault, the President of the Friends of the San Jacinto Battleground, has asked the Texas Heritage Society to inform our members and readers of their efforts to save a portion of the San Jacinto Battleground, which is currently privately owned, from being lost to industrial development. If this land is lost to industrial development, much of the aesthetic beauty of the battleground will be lost forever. President Jan DeVault writes:
As the president of the San Jacinto Battleground Association, d/b/a the Friends of the San Jacinto Battleground, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and as a fellow lover of Texas history and our shared heritage, I am asking for your help in saving a critical portion of the San Jacinto Battleground.
As you know, the battle of San Jacinto was the decisive military event of the Texas Revolution. Over the course of two days, culminating in the Texas Army’s assault on the Mexican Army during the afternoon of April 21, 1836, the independence of Texas was secured. Today, the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) stands as a tangible link to the battle. It is one of the state’s most significant cultural landscapes and a National Historical Landmark.
The San Jacinto Battleground has recently been named by Preservation Texas, the state partner for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to their 2010 Most Endangered Places list. The area around the battleground has changed dramatically since 1836. Development of the Houston Ship Channel and the aggressive expansion of the petrochemical industry have eroded the rural and pastoral setting that would have been familiar to a 19th century Texan.
Our group was founded in 2002 as the result of a discussion with TPWD and a desire to help establish a “Desirable Facility Boundary” for the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. Areas outside of the state park boundary are known to be part of the battlefield landscape, but are not owned or protected by the state. Developing guidelines and goals for the historic, aesthetic, cultural and biological conservation of San Jacinto became an objective of the Friends and one to which they are committed.
Since 2002, the Friends has acquired land within the “desirable boundary”---currently holding about 8.5 acres ---and facilitated conservation agreements with surrounding industry on behalf of TPWD.
A key target for acquisition has been property owned by JMO (late Houston attorney, John M. O’Quinn) Land Holding, Inc. The land consists of 19.054 acres (11 acres upland and the remainder submersed) and has been marketed since 2000 as a prime “maritime/industrial use” site since it is accessible by water and road. TPWD and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) recognize the historic significance of the JMO tract and TPWD has been attempting to acquire it by donation since 1984.
In November 2009, the Friends learned that the Port of Houston, the Economic Alliance Port Region, and others had formed a consortium for the development of the JMO property, and a purchase price of $625,000 had been established. The Friends were able to convince the representatives of JMO to give us an opportunity to raise the money to acquire the property for inclusion in the San Jacinto landscape based upon the historical significance of the property and its potential as a nature and wildlife habitat. We have executed a “Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement” with a closing date of June 1, 2010. It is our view that any development of the JMO property---other than the re-establishment of its native and natural setting---will make it more difficult to visualize the story of the battle and would separate the battlefield from the ferry site. The surrounding area is in need of more “green space” not less.
Once we own the property, we plan to enter into an agreement with TPWD for the management of the property, and work with them to develop an appropriate plan to preserve its natural resources. Several companies with facilities in the area have also indicated that they will help reestablish certain native elements, such as grasslands and marsh.
The Friends is applying for grants from foundations, asking for donations from individuals and corporations, implementing a grass roots effort through personal appeals and the Internet, and hosting several events to provide the funds to purchase this property and protect it from industrial and incompatible development.
We need your help. Our organization is volunteer based with no paid staff and very limited resources. We need to convey the plight of San Jacinto to others and we need donations to purchase the property. We have opened an account at Sterling Bank, 919 Milam, Ste 115, Houston, Texas 77002 to take donations by check and can also take them, on-line, on our website, www.friendsofsanjacinto.org . Please help by giving---no amount is too small---and helping us to spread the word.
I have attached additional information on the property, Preservation Texas’ press release, and would be happy to answer any questions that you might have regarding this project or our organization.
Sincerely,
SAN JACINTO BATTLEGROUND ASSOCIATION d/b/a The Friends of the San Jacinto Battleground
Jan DeVault President 713-237-8997
TEXAS HERITAGE SOCIETY Tour of Texas History No. 4: "REMEMBER GOLIAD!" February 6, 2010 Old Photograph of the Presidio La Bahia Years before Restoration Photo courtesy of Joe and Lynn Keith Texas Heritage Society First Vice President, Hewitt Clark, has announced the intinerary for the Tour of Texas History #4. Mark your calenders and keep this date open. Hotel rooms are available at the Antler's Inn in Goliad, Texas (1013 US Hwy 59 S.). Telephone 361-645-8215. Double rooms are $58. Here is the revised tour schedule. Saturday, February 6, 2010:
12:00 Noon--Meet at the Hanging Tree Restaurant in Goliad, Texas (144 N. Courthouse Square) for lunch and to discuss plans. 1:00 p.m., Walking tour of the historic plaza area with guide Benny Martinez. 2:00 p.m., Travel to General Zaragoza's home for lecture about Cinco de Mayo. 3:00 p.m., Presidio La Bahia--Special lecture by the Director of the Presidio La Bahia about the 1813 Mcgee-Gutierrez Expedition including details about the "bloodiest day in Texas history;" the bloody arm flag and Capt. Dimmit's Declaration of Independence in 1835; and the massacre of 400 Texas soldiers under command of Col. Fannin in 1836. The lecture will be followed by a tour of the Presido.
6:00 pm, Dinner at the Hanging Tree Restaurant and a talk about the Cart War and Violence in Goliad from 1850-1870 by Mr. Starr, author and local historian.
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010: 8:00 a.m., Breakfast, to be announced 9:00 a.m., Tour and lecture at the Mission. 10:00 a.m., Mass at the Mission for those wishing to participate. 11:00 a.m., Travel ten miles to the Coleto Creek battle site for a lecture by Benny Martinez and relatives. For reservations and further information please contact:
Hewitt Clarke 281-367-2709
Texas Heritage Society President Helps Montgomery County Get National Endowment for the Humanities Grant
Montgomery County, Texas was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $6,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to assist in preserving the Montgomery County District Clerk's records prior to 1900. This grant will be used to prevent further loss and injury to those documents. This award was accepted by the Montgomery County Commissioners Court at their meeting on December 21, 2009. Texas Heritage Society President, Kameron Searle, has been recognized for his assistance in the award of this grant to Montgomery County. Ms. Juanita Stanley, Grants Administrator with the Montgomery County Department of Infrastructure in a letter to Searle dated December 21, 2009, wrote, "I wish to express my personal gratitude for the eloquent letter you wrote in your support of our grant request. I truly feel that we might not have been successful without that letter. Your ability to "speak historian" to the review committee was crucial to securing the grant. I further am of the opinion that your persuasive words led the National Endowment for the Humanities to give our grant the special designation as a "We the People" award." National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman, James Leach, in his letter to Ms. Juanita Stanley described the "We the People" initiative as follows: "The goal of the "We the People" initiative is to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture through the support of projects that explore significant events and themes in our nation's history and culture and that advance knowledge of the priciples that define America." The motto and goals of the Texas Heritage Society are to "Discover, Understand and Preserve" the history of Texas. Our hats are off to THS President, Kameron Searle, for his efforts to preserve the history of Montgomery County, Texas contained within the records of the Montgomery County District Clerk's Office. Click here to see both Juanita Stanley's letter and the letter from the National Endowments for the Humanities. Submitted by Melinda R. Cagle Texas Heritage Society - December Meeting
Photos courtesy of Pat Spackey The December meeting of the Texas Heritage Society was held on December 10, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. See THS 2009 Christmas Party invitation here. The meeting was held at 18 West Shaker Court in the Woodlands. The December meeting was a Christmas party and our speaker was First Vice President and Civil War historian, Hewitt Clark, who spoke about "Texas Secession."
We also reviewed two very successful Texas Heritage Society events that occurred since our last meeting: 1) Tour of Texas History #3 - "The Mier Expedition" and 2) the Anson Jones Texas Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony. Pat Spackey was kind enough to bring the original House Resolution No. 1123 - Montgomery County - "Birthplace of Texas Flag" that she was recently given by the City of Shenandoah, Texas.
A special meeting of the members was held to discuss and make amendments to our Certificate of Formation - Nonprofit Corporation as part of the 501(c)(3) tax exemption application process. For more photos of the 2009 Texas Heritage Society December Meeting and Christmas party, click here. Submitted by Melinda Cagle and Kameron Searle
Pictured L to R: Linda Woods (Heritage Trails Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Director of Shenandoah Convention and Visitor's Bureau); Wes Stephens (Shenandoah City Councilman); Pat Spackey (Vice Regent Heritage Trails Chapter Daughters of the the American Revolution and descendant of Texas patriot, Dr. Charles B. Stewart); William Dickson (Shenandoah Hospitality Coordinator) and Randy Woods (Publisher of the The Peoples Scene). The "Birthplace of the Texas Flag" - House Resolution 1123 "Original" Document Presented to C. B. Stewart Descendant Shenandoah City Councilman, Wes Stephens, presented Pat Spackey, Vice Regent of the the Heritage Trails Chapter of The Daughters of the of the Armerican Revolution with an ORIGINAL copy of the The State of Texas House of Representatives Resolution No. 1123 during a recent DAR meeting held at the Shenandoh, Texas City Hall facilities. With the help of Representative, Bob Eissler, Stephens secured the original document from Austin and announced to those in attendance at the meeting that the Shenandoah Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Shenandoah felt that this document would be deeply appreciated by a descendant of Dr. Charles B. Stewart - who designed the Texas Flag! "I am tryly overwhelmed and thank the City of Shenndoah from the very bottom of my heart!," said Spackey. "Our family is so proud to be descendants of Dr. Charles B. Stewart and because resolution #1123 officially commemorates Montgomery County as the "Birthplace of the Texas Flag," it is so special to our family. To have an "original "copy in my family is absolutely incredible!" Because of her heritage, membership in history and patriotic organizations in the area have been a special blessing to the Spackey family. In addition to serving as Vice Regent of the Heritge Trails Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution, Pat is President of the the Judge Nathaniel Hart Davis Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; and serves as an officer of the Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Soceity and the newly organized Texas Heritage Society. She is a "Friend " of the Charles B. Stewart Library, the Montgomery Historical Society, The Lake Conroe Rotary Club's Memory Park, the Heritage Musuem of Montgomery County and the Nart Hart Davis Museum in Montgomery. Spackey presents programs on Texas History and the Texas Flag, while protraying "Mrs. Charles B. Stewart" in costume. House Resolution No. 1123 was adopted by the Texas House of Representatives on May 30, 1997. Click here to see a complete transcription of House Resolution No. 1123. OUR
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