2015 Annual ReportHistoric Preservation Committee

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

Committee Members--2015COOPER, Jerry(Feb. 2014-Jan. 2016) EDWARDS, Katherine(Feb. 2014-Jan. 2016) ESCAMILLA, Edelmiro(Jan. 2015-2017 EVANS, Tina (Feb. 2014-Jan. 2016) HARVELL, Linda(Feb. 2014-Jan. 2016)

HODGES, Louis*(Feb. 2014-Jan. 2016) 

MATHAI, Joel(Jan. 2015-2017) 

NAYLOR, Annette(Jan. 2015-2017) 

RANDALL, Marilyn(Jan. 2015-2017) 

*Committee Chairman

OutlineAmerican Mile at Veterans ParkBoonville DaysExploring History LuncheonsHistorical MarkersHistorical PeriodicalsProject HoldWeb PresenceWeb Page PrototypePlans for 2016

American Mile at Veterans ParkIdentified four entries for 1822

DENMARK VESEY PLANS SLAVE REBELLION EXECUTED IN CHARLESTON, S.C.

JOSE F. TRESPALACIOS APPOINTED MEXICAN GOVERNOR OF TEXAS

JARED GROCE BRINGS FIRST COTTONSEED INTO TEXAS

TEXAS NATIONAL BANK SAN ANTONIO FIRST CHARTERED BANK WEST OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Civil War LoopNineteen new bricks ordered for the Civil War years (1861-1865), with divisions between the Union and Confederate sides; one brick scheduled for removal.

One new addition for 1969One replacement for 1975Twenty-eight new bricks for later

years (2003-2015)Twenty-one damaged bricks to

be replaced

Boonville DaysThe City of College Station is a co-sponsor of Boonville Days which is conducted at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History at the Brazos Center every October.This Historic Preservation Committee has been represented for the past three years with two booths

Visitors sample hand-churned butter and mesquite jelly on crackers. (The HPC loans this group some butter churns and provides the mesquite jelly.)

The first booth is devoted to the display of historical materials from the period 1850 to 1930. Here we pass out brochures on Project HOLD and allow visitors to hold and examine black powder and Civil War weapons, kitchen appliances, farm tools, candle molds, and to cut beef jerky with a flint knife.

Kitchen Utensils, including an early electric toaster, mechanical butter churn, milk bottle with cream separator and cream spoon, nut chopper, cream whipper and cast iron cookware.

The second booth allows children (and adults too) to try their hand at leather stamping, making a key chain fob or a necklace.

A young lady tries her hand at stamping a pattern into a leather concho for a key chain fob or necklace.

History Luncheons Twelve monthly luncheons on diverse historical

topics Two sponsors (Broadmoor Place and Rock

Prairie Behavioral Health) provided for two lunches and HEB subsidized a third luncheon.

Attendance was 884 (average of 74 per lunch) Total costs were $2,400 for room rental and

$5,157.64 for food (total cost was $7,557.64) Income received for the meals was $3,985 A recommendation from the committee has

been forwarded through Parks and Recreation to raise the lunch fee from $5 to $7

Historic MarkersWhile no Historic Markers were issued during 2015, we have now acquired a new supply and will be promoting applications in 2015

History Periodical Distribution During 2015 we implemented a new program

where HPC members and other volunteers place historical magazines/periodicals in waiting rooms such as doctor’s offices, barber shops, etc.

Project HOLDWhile the Historic Preservation Committee is not responsible for the administration of Project HOLD, we do cooperate in several areas.During 2015, accomplishments of Project HOLD include:1. Oral History Interviews including with Doug Landua (one

of first College Station Fire Department chiefs2. Interviews with several local veterans for the Veterans of

Aggieland project (transcribed by Brooke Linsenbardt (oral history intern from Texas A&M)

3. Reorganizing and streamlining the archives4. Post for the City’s blog about the Richard Carter Homesite

and the archeological and historical material in Project HOLD by Ben Gracia (RPTS intern from Texas A&M)

Web Presence

Historic Preservation Committee Members work with and contribute to the “Celebrate College Station” Facebook page

HPC Web SiteSeveral prototypes have been tested to determine the format desired for the web page, and we are working with Mike Neu to identify desired content and to overcome obstacles involved in transferring information from Project Hold to the web page.

Examples of the current prototype are shown on the following slides

Opening Page(the writing on the hour glass reads:Project HOLD The Past Reaching Out to the Future)

College Station Timeline

1800-1819

Scrapbook—type 1

Scrapbook—type 2

Other examples are shown in the written report.

HPC Plans for 20161. Finish upgrading of American Mile2. Conduct 12 History Luncheon programs3. Maintain distribution of historical

periodicals4. Promote Historical marker program5. Collect documents and digital images for

Project HOLD6. Continue Web Site development7. Participate in Boonville Days festival in

October

Web Links of Interesthttp://vimeo.com/104647708http://aggiesgotowar.tamus.edu/videos/http://www.project-hold.com

Questions or Comments?