NEWS ROOM

June 2007 Newsletter

Cass County Conservancy
Volume 4, Issue 2 June 2007

Texas Legislature Funds Round V of the
Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program
The Texas Historical Commission's (THC) Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program is included in the appropriations bill passed in the recent legislative session. The 80th Texas Legislature included $62 million in bond funding for the Texas Historical Commission's nationally recognized Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program. Funding will be made available after a November bond election subject to approval by voters.

Texas History Museums--Preserve America Workshops
Thanks to a generous grant from Preserve America, the Texas Historical Commission (THC), in cooperation with the Texas Heritage Trail regions, will offer ten Interpreting Historic Resources workshops in July and August. Nacogdoches will host one of the workshops on July 16. John Veverka of John Veverka & Associates will present the workshop along with THC staff. The workshop will teach participants basic interpretive principles and will explore a variety of techniques to create programs that are purposeful, organized, enjoyable, thematic, and audience relevant. To register for the workshop and to view all available locations, visit the following web site: http://www.thc.state.tx.us/communityassist/capramericaworkshops.html. Click on the date (or the city) of the workshop youd like to attend to download the registration form for that particular location. Mail the completed form and $25 registration fee to the person listed on the bottom of the registration form. Because there are ten different workshop dates and locations, there are ten different registration forms and coordinators. Make sure to sign up for the one you wish to attend. Because seating is limited, no museum can send more than 2 representatives to the workshops. Several scholarships are available; appropriate forms are located on the web site. For additional information, please contact Carlyn Hammons, Museum Services Program Specialist, History Programs Division, Texas Historical Commission, 512/463-5756, www.thc.state.tx.us.

Education Project Grant Application Submitted
Conservancy board member Anita Walker has submitted a Save Our History grant application for a county-wide curriculum for seventh grade Texas history. If the grant is received, Dr. Walker will train teachers and students in the techniques of gathering oral history. Each Texas history class in the county will have the opportunity to interview selected older citizens using "pod casting" equipment. The interviews will be checked, edited as needed, and uploaded to the Conservancy web site, and then will be available for use in each of the schools in Cass County. All seven schools, Atlanta, Linden-Kildare, Bloomburg, McLeod, Queen City, Hughes Springs, and Avinger expressed great interest in the project.

1934 Courthouse Ornament Being Produced
The 1934 courthouse ornament has been ordered and will be available later this year. Please contact Kathleen Verschoyle for further information.

Quilt Auction Garners $1,005 for Pleasant Hills Rosenwald School Restoration Project
At the recent T-Bone Walker Blues Fest, the quilters of Pleasant Hill Community auctioned an Underground Railroad quilt after an impressive presentation about the significant role such quilts played in helping slaves to escape to freedom. Spirited bidding resulted in the quilts being sold to Bernita Walker, daughter of the music legend T-Bone Walker who was born near Linden. Proceeds from the auction will help fund restoration of the historic Rosenwald School located near Linden on FM 1399. For more information about this restoration project, please contact Flo Stevenson, 903.826.2495.

History Lessons
Pleasant Hills Rosenwald School is one of only four Rosenwald Schools in Texas to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Approximately 30 such schools still exist in the state. Julius Rosenwald, benefactor of these schools, became president and chief operating officer of Sears, Roebuck, and Company in Chicago in 1909 and helped fund more than 300 schools throughout the rural South in the early 1900s. (Texas Almanac 2006-2007) Nationally, all existing Rosenwald Schools have been placed on the Most Endangered Places list by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Join Now
Membership dues for the Cass County Conservancy are $20.00 per year, and individuals may join at any time by mailing dues to The Cass County Conservancy, P.O. Box 682, Atlanta, Texas 75551. Phone: 903.796.4022.

ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN THE CONSERVANCYTOGETHER WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS FOR PRESERVATION IN CASS COUNTY

About the Organization
The Conservancys mission is
to preserve and to encourage the preservation of local heritage resources, historic structures, archeological sites, objects, and customs relating to the history and natural beauty of Cass County, and all that is admirable and distinctive in our county area;
to educate the public with a celebratory knowledge of the inherited regional values; to keep the unique history, folklore, charm, and natural beauty of Cass County legible, intact, and usefully employed, that they may continue to enrich the community life.

The Cass County Conservancy is a section 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization

Board of Directors

Paula Aleman
George Fite
Kay Gregory
Ruth Halleck
L.M. Jester
Judy Lanier
Rebecca Narramore
Lynne Spivey
Floyzell Stevenson
Kathleen Verschoyle
Anita Walker

Standing Committees

Preservation
Kathleen Verschoyle
Education/Research
Anita Walker
Membership
Paula Aleman
Awards
Kay Gregory
Program
Judy Lanier
Nominating
Kathleen Verschoyle

www.cassconservancy.org

Cass County Conservancy
P.O. Box 682
Atlanta, TX 75551 (Posted: 2007-07-20)

February 2007 Newsletter

Cass County Conservancy
Volume 4, Issue 1 February 2007

Annual Membership Meeting
The Cass County Conservancy held its annual membership meeting on January 22, 2007, at Music City Texas Theater. Prior to the business meeting, Cass County Judge Charles McMichael provided the group with information from the Texas Historical Commission about funding for courthouse restoration projects. According to Judge McMichael, it is possible that courthouse funding may become available as early as September 2007. He also presented a brief progress report on the Hwy 8 building project. During the business meeting, four board members were elected and include Rebecca Narramore, Paula Aleman, Flo Stevenson, and Lynne Spivey. L.M. Jester presented the financial report, fundraising efforts were discussed, and the group enjoyed refreshments provided by Flo Stevenson and Judy Lanier. At its meeting on February 7, the board reorganized with the following officers elected: President, L.M. Jester; vice president for preservation, Kathleen Verschoyle; vice president for fundraising, George Fite; secretary, Lynne Spivey; and treasurer, Judy Lanier. The next board meeting is set for April 11 at the Depot in Atlanta.

Grant Awarded for Pleasant Hill School Restoration Project
A grant effort spearheaded by board member Flo Stevenson resulted in the receipt of a $1,000. grant from International Paper to the Conservancy to be given to the Pleasant Hill School Restoration project. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this school is one of the few Rosenwald schools remaining in Texas. Restoration efforts are ongoing, and all are urged to contribute to this preservation effort. Contact Flo Stevenson for further information.

Visionary Award
The Cass County Conservancy presented its most recent Visionary Award to the City of Hughes Springs at its Crystal Globe Banquet in January. This award recognizes outstanding preservation/restoration efforts by groups or individuals in the county. The next Visionary Award will be presented in Avinger on March 11. Past recipients include Cindy Henderson of Linden, Mr. Mayo Kasling III and the First National Bank of Hughes Springs, and the Cass County Genealogical Society.

Seeking Information
Anyone who has documentation or information about Scott Joplin is asked to contact one of the board members to help the Conservancy with its Joplin marker project.

Court House Ornaments Available
The 1917 ornament is available for a donation of $12.00, while a set of the 1861, 1905, and 1917 ornaments will require a donation of $25.00. Locations include Capitol Florist, Carlas, and B.B. Boon Insurance in Linden; Atlanta Memorial Hospital Gift Shop and Benitas Atlanta Floral in Atlanta; 5D Steak House and First State Bank in Avinger; Roses & Butterflies Antique Mall in Queen City; and City Hall and Teel and Company in Hughes Springs. Contact any board member for information. These ornaments make elegant gifts.

Cass County Education
The Cass County heritage and history education module for county 4th and 7th graders is progressing, and board member Dr. Anita Walker anticipates that it will be ready for schools use some time in March. The module will include a traveling trunk containing historical artifacts to provide students with tangible evidence of the countys history. Dr. Walker has also proposed an essay contest titled What I Found in the Old Trunk to be conducted in conjunction with the Wildflower Trails event.

History Lessons
The Lone Star Flag of Texas was approved on January 25, 1839, by President Mirabeau B. Lamar. The red, white, and blue of the state flag stand for bravery, purity, and loyalty. The proper finial for use with the state flag is either a star or a spearhead. Texas is one of only two states that has a flag that formerly served as the flag of an independent nation. The other is Hawaii. Laws for proper flag display are found in sections 3100.051 through 3100.072 of the Texas Government Code and at www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/flagcode.html.
The state song of Texas is Texas, Our Texas, the music having been composed by William J. Marsh with words composed by Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright. It was the winner of a state song contest sponsored by the legislature and was adopted in 1929. (Source of information: Texas Almanac 2006-2007)

Join Now
Membership dues for the Cass County Conservancy are $20.00 per year, and individuals may join at any time by mailing dues to The Cass County Conservancy, P.O. Box 682, Atlanta, Texas 75551.

ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN THE CONSERVANCYTOGETHER WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS FOR PRESERVATION IN CASS COUNTY

About the Organization
The Conservancys mission is
to preserve and to encourage the preservation of local heritage resources, historic structures, archeological sites, objects, and customs relating to the history and natural beauty of Cass County, and all that is admirable and distinctive in our county area;
to educate the public with a celebratory knowledge of the inherited regional values; to keep the unique history, folklore, charm, and natural beauty of Cass County legible, intact, and usefully employed, that they may continue to enrich the community life.

The Cass County Conservancy is a section 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization
(Posted: 2007-02-26)

October 2006 Newsletter

Cass County Conservancy
Volume 3, Issue 3 October 2006
Cass County Education
Conservancy board member Dr. Anita Walker is heading up a project to develop a history education module for Cass County 4th and 7th graders. The module will focus on the use of local history in the public schools and will include historic structures, sites, and events of Cass County. Once completed, the curriculum will be provided to area schools for Texas history teachers use.

Next Visionary Award Slated
The Cass County Conservancy will present its next Visionary Award at the Linden Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet scheduled for November 18 at the Linden-Kildare High School. Past recipients include Mr. Mayo Kasling III and the First National Bank of Hughes Springs and the Cass County Genealogical Society.

Scott Joplin Project
The Conservancy is researching the possibility of commemorating in some way Scott Joplins birth in Cass County. Anyone who has documentation or information about Joplin is asked to contact one of the board members.

1917 Court House Ornaments to be Available
The 1917 court house ornament will be ready for collectors later this fall. The 1917 ornament is available for a donation of $12.00, while a set of the 1861, 1905, and 1917 ornaments will require a donation of $25.00. Locations include Capitol Florist, Carlas, and B.B. Boon Insurance in Linden; Atlanta Memorial Hospital Gift Shop and Benitas Atlanta Floral in Atlanta; 5D Steak House and First State Bank in Avinger; Roses & Butterflies Antique Mall in Queen City; and City Hall and Teel and Company in Hughes Springs. Additional locations and dates include the Cullen Baker Fair in Bloomburg on November 4; Atlanta Open House on November 19; and Winterfest in Linden on December 2. The Conservancy will have booths at these events to facilitate ornament distribution. These ornaments make elegant gifts.

Glory Days in Avinger
The Greater Avinger Chamber of Commerce will present Days of Old in Avinger on October 14, 2006. Featuring oral histories from citizens 83 years of age or older, the event will honor these citizens in the parade. Old photographs and other memorabilia from Avingers past will be on display throughout the day in the Welcome Center. Contact Dr. Anita Walker for more information.

Court House Funding Update
Round V court house restoration funding is still open for 2006, but the Texas Historical Commission has not yet released any funds as of this date for any court house project in the state. The Conservancy continues to monitor the funding situation in Austin.

History Museum Grant Funds Available from THC
Small history museums still have time to apply for grants from the Texas Historical Commission to cover preservation and conservation projects and expenses. Such items as acid-free storage materials, archival storage units, and environmental monitoring equipment qualify. More information, eligibility requirements, and an application form are available from the THC web site at www.thc.state.tx.us. Carlyn Hammons, Museum Services Program Assistant at THC, can also provide information. To contact her, call 512.463.5756 or e-mail her at carlyn.hammons@thc.state.tx.us. Deadline for grant applications is October 17, 2006.

History Lessons
The first Texas Almanac was published in January of 1857. The 2006-2007 Sesquicentennial Edition contains such historical documents as the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Texas, amendments to the Texas Constitution passed in 2003 and 2005; and the Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States.
The first permanent institutions of higher education in Texas were religiously affiliated and include Rutersville University, founded in 1840 by Methodist minister Martin Ruter--it was the predecessor of Southwestern University at Georgetown; Baylor University, established in 1845 in Washington County by the Texas Union Baptist Association (later moved to Waco); and Austin College, founded by the Brazos Presbytery at Huntsville in 1849 but later moved to Sherman.

Join Now
Membership dues for the Cass County Conservancy are $20.00 per year, and individuals may join at any time by mailing dues to The Cass County Conservancy, P.O. Box 682, Atlanta, Texas 75551.

ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN THE CONSERVANCYTOGETHER WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS FOR PRESERVATION IN CASS COUNTY

About the Organization
The Conservancys mission is
to preserve and to encourage the preservation of local heritage resources, historic structures, archeological sites, objects, and customs relating to the history and natural beauty of Cass County, and all that is admirable and distinctive in our county area;
to educate the public with a celebratory knowledge of the inherited regional values; to keep the unique history, folklore, charm, and natural beauty of Cass County legible, intact, and usefully employed, that they may continue to enrich the community life.

The Cass County Conservancy is a section 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization
(Posted: 2007-02-12)

Previous News

July 2006 Newsletter

April 2006 Newsletter

Conservancy Archives

Conservancy Annual Meeting

Conservancy Publishes New Website