Bastrop County Historical Commission (BCHC) Quarterly Meeting

 

The quarterly meeting of the Bastrop County Historical Commission took place Thursday, March 14, 2019, at the Bastrop County Courthouse Commissioners Conference Room. 

 

I. Roundtable: Bastrop BCHC chair Cindye Ginsel began the meeting by allowing each attendee to introduce himself/herself and provide a brief summary as to their interests or work with the BCHC. Highlights:

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Commissioner Hamner reported his efforts to clean and restore Shiloh Community Cemetery (also known as Mount Shilo Cemetery) through the help and support of volunteers. His contact with the THC is Jenny McWilliams.

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Judy Davis spoke of her service on the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) board, sharing the latest issue of its publication which featured Elgin on the cover and included articles pertaining to Bastrop County. The TSHA is a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to documenting the history of Texas. 

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Pamela Jones requested assistance in obtaining a historical marker for the Saul Wright Cemetery in Cedar Creek. She is representing the cemetery in beginning work on an application for a THC historical marker. Cindye paired her with Linda Hicks who recently received approval by the THC of the inscription for a historical marker for the Siloah Cemetery in McDade. 

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Sandy Ott spoke of the recent organized clean-up of the Mary Christian Burleson Cemetery in Elgin in preparation for the historical marker currently in the works. She remarked how nice it was to have the new property owners participating in the effort. 

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Carol Snyder mentioned the Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church had applied for, and was denied, an Undertold Story historical marker in 2018, noting the competition is fierce as there is no cost for an Undertold Story marker. According to Carol, the church now plans to pursue a historical marker through the THC. She is assisting them in this effort.

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Mikki Meyer brought up the historical Eschberger Cemetery in Paige, noting that although it deserves a historical marker, there are not the funds currently to pursue one. (Markers on stands run $1,100 to $1,800.)

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Ezell Brown, Jr. of Houston and Henry Brown asked for assistance in obtaining access to the Craft Prairie Cemetery where family members, including their mother, are buried. The property owner has blocked their entrance with tree limbs and locks. They have met with Judge Paul Pape and Commissioner Clara Beckett on this issue in the past whereby there was some discussion about extending a road to the cemetery which would negate the need to cross onto the blocked property; however, there is currently no available funds for this. Cindye asked Ezell and Henry to meet with her on this topic following the meeting.

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