Dedication Ceremony Held for Boonville Jail Marker

Members of the Brazos Heritage Society and several community leaders were in attendance at the Boonville Building at 2490 Boonville Road in Bryan on Friday, September 28, 2012, for the unveiling and dedication of the community historical marker for the Boonville Jail.  The Boonville Building, owned by the Duncum family, is located on the site of the old jail.

Society President Nat Hilliard welcomed everyone to the ceremony, and specifically recognized County Judge Duane Peters and Bryan Mayor Jason Bienski. 

Brazos Heritage Society Community Marker

Following the introductions, Dan Beto, the Society’s Vice President, gave the invocation.  He was followed by Sheila Fields, Research Chair for the Society, who provided background information on the Boonville Jail and how the community marker became a reality.  Henry Mayo, Chair of the Brazos County Historical Commission, spoke next about some of the leaders of old Boonville and offered words of thanks to the Society for taking the lead on this project.

Justin Duncum, speaking on behalf of his family, noted their interest in the Boonville community and expressed their thanks to members of the Society who reached out to them with the proposal to have a community marker on their property.

Following the remarks, members of the Duncum family unveiled the marker.

Sheila Fields with members of the Duncum Family

Other members of the Brazos Heritage Society present at this event included Treasurer Beverly Myers and Judge Tom McDonald, Of Counsel.

The Bryan-College Station Eagle was represented by reporter Cassie Smith and award winning photographer Stuart Villanueva; their coverage of this event, appearing in the September 30, 2012, edition of the newspaper, may be found at this link: http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/article_3b6abcb8-22ec-5528-ab06-4e22ade22744.html.