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.