Treasurer’s Report, August 2012

The following is an overview of the finance condition of the Brazos Heritage Society as of August 20, 2012.

At Prosperity Bank we have a certificate of deposit valued at $8,368.77 and our checking account at the bank has a balance of $6,768.11, for a total of $15,136.88.

For more detailed information about the Society’s financial condition, please do not hesitate to contact me at 979-229-9414 or by email at mycobra@suddenlink.net.

                                                                                                Beverly Myers, Treasurer

Fall Membership Meeting and Social Scheduled

The Brazos Heritage Society will hold its fall Membership Meeting and Social on Thursday, September 27, 2012, at 7:00 PM at the Matthew Winsper Knobel Memorial Gazebo in Heritage Park, 600 South Hutchins Street, in Bryan’s Historic District.  The purpose of the meeting is to provide members and prospective members with an update on the activities of the Society. 

Hot dogs, snacks, and drinks will be served.  Plan to attend to learn more about the activities of the Society and to enjoy some enjoyable fellowship.  Please bring a chair for seating.

If you have friends you think might be interested in becoming involved, feel free to invite them to attend.

If planning to attend, please RSVP by Tuesday, September 25, 2012, by calling Beverly Myers at 979-823-6824 or Dan Beto at 979-822-1273.  You may also RSVP by email at brazos.heritage@gmail.com.

Texas Insights

The Texas State Historical Association, in cooperative with its partners, is proud to offer Texas Insights, an electronic newsletter designed to share opportunities for Texas teachers and students while promoting effective instructional practices.  This newsletter is distributed via email in August, October, January, March, and May.

The August 2012 (Vol. III, Issue 1) edition of this electronic publication may be accessed at: http://www.teachingtexas.org/enewsletter/august2012.

Exploring History Lunch Lecture Reminder

The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the Senior Advisory Committee have developed an outstanding Exploring History Lunch Lectures Series for 2012.  Please join them on September 19, 2012, at the Aldersgate Church as they present:

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets History

Featuring Dr. John Adams

The luncheon is $5.00 per person and begins at 11:30 AM in the Aldersgate Church at 2201 Earl Rudder Freeway in College Station.  

Parking is available in the main lot to the south of the building.  Enter through the main double doors, take a left, and you will be directed to the meeting room.   In case you are not familiar with this facility, it is located just north of Academy, Gander Mountain, and Dickey’s, on the frontage road between Southwest Parkway and Harvey Road. 

Reservations are required and must be made with Kelly Kelbly at kkelbly@cstx.gov or by calling 979-764-6441.

Where in Brazos County? July Contest Winner

On July 30, 2012, the Brazos Heritage Society posted its fifth monthly photo contest on Heritage Brazos, where readers of this electronic newsletter were asked to identify a building and its location in Brazos County.  

The announcement for this particular contest may be viewed at: http://heritagebrazos.blogspot.com/2012/07/where-in-brazos-county-july-contest.html.

Regrettably, no one submitted the winning answer by August 15, 2012.  The building in this July contest is the Macedonia Baptist Church on Clay Street in Millican, Texas.

The August photo contest will be posted during the last week of the month.

Where in Brazos County? July Contest

Commencing in March, the Brazos Heritage Society began conducting a monthly contest in which readers of Heritage Brazos are asked to identify a structure or a location in Brazos County. 

In this fifth contest, readers are being asked to identify the building in the accompanying photograph and its location.  Submissions may be sent to Dan Beto at dan.beto@gmail.com.  The submission received by August 15, 2012, with the greatest specificity will be declared the winner.

The winner of this contest will be provided a book – Historic Brazos County.

Trees for Heritage Park

Several people have expressed an interest in donating a tree for Heritage Park.  Earlier this week we received an email from Darrell Lovelette, Director of Bryan’s Parks and Recreation Department, in which he outlines prices for trees and shrubs that will comply with the approved master plan for Heritage Park.  The prices are as follows:

$125.00 for Trees

$  70.00 for Shrubs

$225.00 for Mesquite

The quoted prices will cover the cost of the tree, mulch, stakes, and planting.

If you are interested in donating a tree or shrub for the park, please send a check for the appropriate amount to:

Beverly Myers, Treasurer

Brazos Heritage Society

P. O. Box 1776

Bryan, Texas 77806

If you wish to donate a tree in memory or in honor of someone, please provide the name of the person to be recognized.

                                                                                                     Nat Hilliard, President

Where in Brazos County? June Contest Winner

On June 29, 2012, the Brazos Heritage Society posted its fourth monthly photo contest on Heritage Brazos, where readers of this electronic newsletter were asked to identify a building and its location in Brazos County.  

The announcement for this particular contest may be viewed at the following link: http://heritagebrazos.blogspot.com/2012/06/where-in-brazos-county-june-contest.html.

Only one person – who wishes to remain anonymous – correctly identified the location of the ghost sign “Webb Bros.”  This sign once identified the Webb Brothers Mercantile and Buggy Company in the 100 block of North Main Street in Bryan, Texas.  These buildings are now occupied by the Brauhaus German restaurant and Murphy’s Law, an Irish pub, at 107 and 109 North Main Street.  The “Webb Bros.” painted sign is on the back of the buildings overlooking the railroad tracks.

The July photo contest will be posted prior to the end of the month.

Exploring History Lunch Lecture Series Moved

Due to the unfortunate situation with the College Station Conference Center, the remaining Exploring History Lunch Lectures have been moved to Aldersgate Church at 2201 Earl Rudder Freeway in College Station.  

As announced previously, the next lecture will take place on July 18, 2012.  Lunch will still be served at 11:30 AM, with the program beginning at noon. 

Parking is available in the main lot to the south of the building.  Enter through the main double doors, take a left, and you will be directed to the meeting room.  Since parking is no longer an issue, the shuttle service from the Southwood Community Center will not be offered.

In case you are not familiar with this facility, it is located just north of Academy, Gander Mountain, and Dickey’s, on the frontage road between Southwest Parkway and Harvey Road. 

Reservations are required and must be made July 13, 2012, with Kelly Kelbly at kkelbly@cstx.gov or by calling 979-764-6351.

New Issue of TSHA Riding Line Available

The Summer 2012 issue of Riding Line, the newsletter of the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), is now available online.

To read this issue, visit: http://www.tshaonline.org/sites/default/files/doc/ridingline/riding-line-2012-summer.pdf.

Additional information about the TSHA may be found at the following link: http://www.tshaonline.org.

Exploring History Lunch Lecture Reminder

The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the Senior Advisory Committee have developed an outstanding Exploring History Lunch Lectures Series for 2012.  Please join them on July 18, 2012, at the College Station Conference Center as they present:

Brazos River History and a Levee

Featuring Dr. Wendy Patzewitsch, 
Lecturer of Geography,

Texas A&M University

The luncheon is $5.00 per person and begins at 11:30 AM in the College Station Conference Center located at 1300 George Bush Drive.  There is a shuttle on which you can reserve a spot that will leave from the Southwood Community Center, located at 1520 Rock Prairie Road, at 11:00 AM.

Reservations are required and must be made July 13, 2012, with Kelly Kelbly at kkelbly@cstx.gov or by calling 979-764-6351.

An Enjoyable Independence Day Celebration

Approximately 300 people gathered at Heritage Park in Bryan to attend the 26th Annual Independence Day Celebration hosted by the Brazos Heritage Society.  

The program, which commenced at 9:30 AM and ended at noon, included a few remarks by Society President Nat Hilliard and an invocation by Gerald Garcia.  Members of the Sojourners raised the American and Texas flags, led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance, and then provided their toast to Old Glory, our symbol of liberty.  

Following the brief program, Proud Country, a local band, provided a variety of musical selections – from patriotic to country to popular standards – throughout the morning.  And those in attendance joined in to sing America the Beautiful and God Bless America.  

While the music played, the annual children’s parade took place; many of the children wore patriotic costumes and their bicycles and wagons were decorated in red, white, and blue.  Other activities included a silent auction, games, face painting, booths, and exhibits, including a collection of vintage automobiles.  

Exhibitors included the A&M Garden Club, Brazos Bluebonnet Quilt Guild, Brazos Spinners & Weavers Guild, and Blaine Brezina, who is working on the Heritage Park Master Plan as part of fulfilling the requirements to become an Eagle Scout.  

The Brazos Heritage Society also had a booth to distribute programs, sell books on the history of Brazos County, and recruit new members.  

Lemonade, popcorn, hot dogs, and water were sold at the old fashioned price of a quarter.  In addition, members of the Society served watermelon to those in attendance.  

Donors who helped make this celebration a success included: Academy, Barnes & Noble, Calvert Historical Society, Cavender’s Boot City, Patti Clark, Dent Magic, Der Wienerschnitzel No. 255, Dixie Chicken, Inc., The Farm Patch, Mary Frances, Friends of Calvert, Gifts & Gab, HEB No. 544, Dan & Nathalie Hilliard, Steve Miller, Millican Heritage Society, Miss Dixie, Homer & Beverly Myers, Old Bryan Marketplace, Kenneth Olexy, Saint-Gobain Norpro, Southern Grace, Stephenson Chiropractic Center, Taco Bell No. 2310, Texas Rose Boutique, and Helen Wise.  

The Smilebox below contains photographs taken during the morning’s activities.  

The Bryan-College Station Eagle provided some coverage of this event in its July 5, 2012, issue; the article may be read at: http://www.theeagle.com/article/20120705/BC0101/120709780/1142.

Where in Brazos County? June Contest

Commencing in March, the Brazos Heritage Society began conducting a monthly contest in which readers of Heritage Brazos are asked to identify a structure or a location in Brazos County. 

In this fourth contest, readers are being asked to identify the building in the accompanying photograph and its location.  Submissions may be sent to Dan Beto at dan.beto@gmail.com.  The submission received by July 15, 2012, with the greatest specificity will be declared the winner.

The winner of this contest will be provided a book – Historic Brazos County.

Celebrate Independence Day at Heritage Park

Plan to attend the 26th annual 4th of July celebration at Heritage Park at the corner of East 30th Street and Hutchins Street in Bryan, Texas, on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM.  

This event, sponsored by the Brazos Heritage Society, will feature patriotic activities for adults and children of all ages, including live music, flag raising and toast, a children’s parade, and classic car display.  

Food and drinks will be available for purchase.  All refreshments will be sold at the old-fashion price of 25 cents.

In addition, there will be a number of booths to visit and a silent auction.

Schedule of Events

 9:30 AM  Patriotic Music by Proud Country

 9:45 AM  Flag Raising, Pledge of Allegiance, and Toast to the Flag

10:15 AM  Special Presentations

10:30 AM  Music by Proud Country Continues

10:30 AM  Children’s Parade

11:00 AM  Silent Auction Closes

Come join us for an enjoyable and entertaining Independence Day celebration.

Antiques Sideshow a Success

On Saturday, May 19, 2012, the Brazos Heritage Society hosted the 2012 Antiques Sideshow – the Brazos Valley’s version of the Antiques Roadshow – in the library of Fannin Elementary School, located at Baker Street and 29th Street in Bryan.  

Between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM experts reviewed items in the following categories: vintage jewelry, china and glassware, dolls and toys, linens and quilts, books, and political ephemera. 

This program was under the direction of Events Coordinator Fran Lamb; Society members assisting in the delivery of this successful event included Nat Hilliard, Sheila Fields, Beverly Myers, Homer Myers, Randy Hilliard, Stephanie Hilliard, and Kyle Kovel.

Reviewers included Reggie Yannuzzi with English Surrey Antiques and Interiors, Wanda Comer of Vintage Jewelry, Marceil Geiser and Eulela Swinton with Brazos Valley Stitchers, and Christi Hendrix of Carousel Books.

According to Nat Hilliard, Society President, “over 40 people show up with 55 items to be reviewed.”

The Smilebox below contains photographs taken during this event.  These photographs were taken by Beverly Myers and Randy Hilliard.

Where in Brazos County? May Contest Winner

On May 19, 2012, the Brazos Heritage Society posted its third monthly photo contest on Heritage Brazos, where readers of this electronic newsletter were asked to identify a building and its location in Brazos County.  

The announcement for this particular contest may be viewed at the following link:  http://heritagebrazos.blogspot.com/2012/05/where-in-brazos-county.html.

The winner of the May 2012 “Where in Brazos County?” photo contest is Warren Hohertz, who successfully identified the building appearing in the photograph as the Zion Church of Kurten, located at 977 North FM 2038.  This is the second time Warren has won this contest. 

Additional information about the history of this church may be found at: http://www.kurtenchurch.org/about/history.

Congratulations, Warren.  Arrangements will be made for you to accept your prize.

Reminder: Exploring History Lunch Lectures

The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the Senior Advisory Committee have developed an outstanding Exploring History Lunch Lectures Series for 2012.  Please join them on June 20, 2012, at the College Station Conference Center as they present:

Reliving Texas History: Muskets, Cannons & Knives

Featuring Dr. Lou Hodges, Associate Professor, Department of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University

The luncheon is $5.00 per person and begins at 11:30 AM in the College Station Conference Center located at 1300 George Bush Drive.  There is a shuttle on which you can reserve a spot that will leave from the Southwood Community Center, located at 1520 Rock Prairie Road, at 11:00 AM.

Reservations are required and must be made by the Monday before each lecture with Kelly Kelbly at kkelbly@cstx.gov or by calling 979-764-6351.