Skipper Steely: Glad you took a recent photo of the Mount Vernon 1936 marker in Lamar County, because Daisy Brands had stripped all the land around it. Now it sits all alone, very bare and sad. We are trying to move it away from the action to a plot where we can plant trees again.
Skipper
July 28, 2011 7:21AM
Tom Nuckols: Great web site. I can't believe I haven't found it before. I'm a friend of FOA's on Facebook and clicked on your link to the bills that were filed last week. I'll be tracking those with interest. I'm a descendant of Green B. Jameson.
March 12, 2011 11:47PM
Dale T. Williamson: I am the gr, gr grandson of Robert McAlpin Williamson (aka THREE-LEGGED WILLIE) I AM A MEMBER SRT, SJD, SAR, FTRA. I WOULD LIKE TO HELP IN RESTORING ALL MARKERS THAT NEED IT.
June 15, 2010 9:01AM
Tammy: I didn't know the centennial book existed. I'd like to find one.
There is a correction though. L S Wilcoxen reported a cemetery called Hog Eye in Bastrop Co and it's condition. The cemetery she went to is called Perryville aka Old Moon aka Old Baptist Church. The Hog Eye Cemetery is in another location and has Standifer's marker in there. The rest of the cemetery was destroyed, except for the fenced in area with the marker.
June 14, 2009 7:49PM
Lori smithers: Thanks for the information and keep up the good work. My brother visited the marker at Ft. Lipantitlan and wrote a letter to his state senator and the chairman of the Texas Historical Commission about the poor condition of the marker. He got no response. Maybe your work will help!
May 20, 2009 8:05PM
Billy: just by to fhow appreation
January 31, 2009 8:12PM
Lori Buzzo: Great site! Every Texan should care about these markers. They are part of what we are and inform people about those who came before us. This is such a truly important site.
January 31, 2009 5:37PM
Janie Pace: I've been thinking about how to organize this cemetery and marker organization. Each one of our ancestry organizations has a committee call the Monuments and Memorial Markers Committee who's responsibility it is to check on designated markers and memorials at least 3 times per year to report any damage, etc to the organization. Many of these ancestry organizations would be dedicated to adopting a memorial marker, and dedicated to raising funds to repair a marker...just set the Texas Historical Marker Protection Procedure in place!
Please contact me! I can persuade 6 organizations in the Fort Worth area!
Janie Pace
January 29, 2009 7:20PM
Janie Pace: Please keep up the good work! We need to take care of the monuments we have established and add more as we continue to commemorate our family history and dedicate the graves of our ancestors!
Janie Pace,
Fort Worth, TX.
Member of 6 ancestry organizations for The American Revolution, The American Colonists, The Colonial Wars, War of 1812, Republic of Texas, and The Confederacy.
Working to establish the Taylor Cemetery in Hunt County, TX as a Historical Cemetery (2 graves of my GGG Grandparents in a cow pasture).
January 28, 2009 9:49PM
Janie Pace: Please keep up the good work! We need to take care of the monuments we have established and add more as we continue to commemorate our family history and dedicate the graves of our ancestors!
Janie Pace
Fort Worth, TX
Member of 6 ancestry organizations for The American Revolution, The American Colonists, The Colonial Wars, War of 1812, Republic of Texas, and The Confederacy
Working to establish the Taylor Cemetery in Hunt County, TX as a Historical Cemetery (2 graves of my GGG Grandparents in a cow pasture)
January 28, 2009 9:40PM
Brownie MacKie: We need a cemetery militia!
January 28, 2009 4:34PM
Marty Cash:
Hello; Great job getting these out to the public and on slide show. Clayton & Ruenette Starr, Houston Co. Historical Comm. members found these markers in Houston Co. & the 1 in Anderson Co. They had to hack through sticker bushes & vines walk miles to get to the cemeteries. We are in the process of getting pictures & info about cemeteries & markers to both Crockett papers. We would hope family members would care enough to clean up these cemeteries & markers. I wish we could put the slide show on the Crockett tv channel. Thanks Marty Cash
January 28, 2009 1:32PM
Debbie McCoy: Sarah, thank you for your tireless work on this project. It is sad that the State of Texas has allowed these beautiful markers to deteriorate, and I believe that the State should do whatever is necessary to repair them.
January 28, 2009 7:50AM
David E Hollingsworth: I had sent this to Sarah directly and she asked that I submit it here. --deh!
You've done a wonderful job with this. I wish I could attend on the 29th, but please count me as in support of the Centennial markers. You've done a great job of raising the level of understanding and awareness of this issue. However, I didn't see in your presentation what actions you'd like to see THC take. This is what the Commissioners will be trying to figure out: okay, it's been brought to our attention, and it's important; now what? Institute a new program? Change a current program in minor ways? Major ways? To what degree should THC be involved and to what degree is this a matter for the property owners and / or the public? If the actions are ones that will require significant time or money, should resources be taken away from something else? Should the Commission ask the legislature to fund Centennial marker replacement? To change the law to protect these markers from neglect? (How?) Etc.
So here's my unsolicited advice, worthy every penny you paid: if you want action, the thing I think you want to avoid is saying, "Well, I don't know, I just want THC to fix up all the neglected markers, and staff keeps telling me they can't do it." The Commission will ask Director Oaks what is being done about the markers, and he will explain or ask his staff to. They'll explain what they've been doing with the marker program, and that they've made replacement seals, stars, etc. for the markers available for purchase by the public but that they don't have the funding or staffing to go fixing up the markers themselves. And then the Commissioners are stuck trying to figure out the above questions. On a good day, they'll ask THC to come back next quarter with estimates of how much it would cost to set things right.
If you can connect the dots for the Commissioners, particularly if you and staff can agree on a recommended course of action, you're much more likely to get forward motion. In my opinion, of course.
January 28, 2009 6:30AM
Jim Barrett: I have really enjoyed working on this project, searching for markers, taking pictures, reporting locations and conditions. I hope the efforts of all of the group will be rewarded by the Great State of Texas providing care for these markers. The condition of a some of the markers is a disgrace.
January 27, 2009 11:40AM
Barbara A. Wooten: Thanks for your work. As a member of the Houston Couty HC. I am going to try to take more picture of those that I am aware off also.
January 27, 2009 5:47AM
Peggy Nader: I think it is wonderful someone is taking action!! I know of several early Texas buriel places in Texas. I was shown when I marked my ancester Bailey Anderson's Rev. grave in Harrison Co. I am a native 6th Generation and I wish you the very best!! ,Peggy Nader
January 26, 2009 3:10PM
Mary Tiffany: I want to say a big "Thank You" to all of the people involved in this project. As the saying goes "You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the girl". Born in Freeport, I have lived in California for 47 of my 63 years, but still consider myself a Texan. I have been so proud of the Historical markers in the past, and it would be a shame to loose them.
January 26, 2009 3:10PM
Alzi Clanton: Any piece of any history that can be saved is worth saving. In a very disposable society, it is easy to turn a blind eye to what needs to be protected and preserved. Please assist us save these valuable pieces of Texas history before they too are gone. Thanks and Have a nice day!
January 26, 2009 1:47PM
Kimberly Marks: A thought to consider would be to employ the youth of our communities to this effort with a history lesson, or alert this issue to the boy scouts "Eaglescouts" projects to consider. I understand our own Friedrick Park had paths excavated and groomed by youth volunteers in our area, which otherwise could not be funded.
January 26, 2009 1:23PM
Phyllis Bridges: Thank you for bring attention to this need and for all of your hard work. As President of the John Tilley Edwards Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and President of the Jacob Coffman Chapter of the United States Daughters of 1812 -Texas Society, we honor our ancestors by marking their graves. However, there are alot of more graves that need attention.
God Bless Texas,
Phyllis Bridges
Native Texan - Fifth Generation
January 26, 2009 12:34PM
Gerry Gieger: Thanks for all you are doing to preserve Texas History. We need more Texans to be cognizant and become involved.
Gerry Gieger
VP Everman Historical Society
Historian, EM Daggett Chapter #36
Sons of the Republic of Texas
5th Generation Native Texan
January 26, 2009 11:31AM
Roy C. Smith: Roy Smith here. I have been working on the Houston County markers for about 6 years. Hard to find and harder to fix. I wish someone (Texas Historical Commission) would turn a little money that is in the state budget or grants and fix these markers. Visitors from other states all over the nation, question "Why are these markers in such bad condition.
January 26, 2009 10:39AM
Carroll Warschak: Our historic sites should be preserved and a reasonable amount of money should be provided for this purpose.
Many thanks to Sarah and all of the other people who had a hand in locating the many neglected sites and are working so hard to get them preserved.
January 26, 2009 9:06AM
Sarah Locklin Taylor: The volunteers of this group are to be commended for their high interest, concern and love for Texas history which prompted them to search the state and identify these neglected, damaged or missing historical markers. It is very sad that the State of Texas has not appropriated funds to assure there is manpower available for the perpetual maintenance of these monuments representative of our great past. When I was in 7th grade, a long time ago, I remember how interesting we all found the mandatory subject of Texas History. I wondered then, and still do, if other states had a mandatory subject of their state history for their students. As text books are 'upgraded', information is continually left out for the placement of more recent events causing older important events of our State's past to not be taught and forgotten. With the destruction and neglect of these great historical markers, the same is happening. These markers are a tribute to the Fathers, Families and Events of the State of Texas, many of which were in that old Texas History textbook. It appears that once the State does their part in placing the marker they [the State] forget the purpose. You don't bury your parents, family and friends and then walk away to never go back and maintain their place of rest. You don't allow the destruction and neglect of their monument of life on earth - You PRESERVE and PROTECT. Great Thanks go out to this group for the updates through the mailing lists, the Picture Trail website, the database, your personal travel time, photographing & sharing and for your conviction to do what we all know is right and proper. Best Regards to All of You. Sincerely, Sarah in GA, but always proud to be a Texan!
January 26, 2009 8:15AM
Robert Ruggiero: Thanks Sarah for taking on this project. It is shameful that these markers have been abused and neglected, but I know you are the best person to make a difference.
January 26, 2009 8:14AM
Ken Carlile: Thanks to Sarah for all her hard work in this very worthwhile effort.
The State of Texas needs to get this mess cleaned up. It leaves a poor impression for not only Texans, but most especially for visitors to our state.
January 26, 2009 8:11AM
James Brigman: Sarah:
Having known you for thirty years, I know how much work and love you have put into this research. Someone had to do it, and you are doing it well. I know there are other persons helping out, so thanks to them also. Keep going and "Give 'em hell" at the Commission.
James
January 26, 2009 7:49AM
J.R. Reveley: Much needed and important interest, as well as educational to Texas history.
January 26, 2009 7:00AM
Trevia Wooster Beverly: Thanks, Sarah, for spearheading this effort. And thanks to all who have been helping. Here in Harris County, through our Historical Commission, we have a database of all our markers (Jim Fisher, chairman of this project). We'll try to keep an eye on ours and lobby for repairs/replacement/etc.
January 26, 2009 6:59AM
Mark Wolf: Thank all of you who are working so hard to identify and resolve the neglect and abuse of these important historical markers. As a ninth generation Texan I have a deep love of the many histories of this State. The stories need to be told even more so as time moves on, and these markers deserve respect and care as they continue to tell of the variety of roles played in the development of our great State.
January 26, 2009 6:54AM
Kate Pitluck: I am with you all the way. Unfortunately I no longer live in Texas, the last 6 generations lived around Dallas. But support your efforts all the way. Kate In PA (for now)
January 26, 2009 5:06AM
Sonja Nishimoto: Love the site. Keep up the great work.
January 26, 2009 4:50AM
Annie-Dear Chappell: The Woeltz's and Reveley's are family and we've done a lot of cemetery hopping for our genealogy. The sad shape these are in just breaks our hearts.
January 25, 2009 11:41PM
Beaumont: I didn't give it any thought until my mom talked about the neglect.Sure ,our ancestor's headstone is in good shape;but what about all the other markers(broken,over grown by weeds,falling down,emblems stolen,gunshot holes).
Come on people!!Get out there and do some good.Go find a marker,clean off the algae,remove the rust stains,pull out the weeds.
If you aren't able;then write your representatives.Tell them about these neglected historical reminders.
September 11, 2008 12:17PM
Dallas: My brothers and I were raised on Texas History.When we had a question;we didn't go to the teacher.We asked our Mom.She loves it.She's proud to be a Texan(so are we).There have been many weekends we went to the cemetery where our 4th gr.gr.father is buried.He has one of the 1936 headstones.
We have been to many of the places,seen a lot of historical markers.How can we let our history become so neglected?Tell your state officials what's happening(or not happening in your area).They have to listen if they get A LOT of us complaining.
September 11, 2008 12:02PM
Bobbi: We as Texans have the most,the greatest history of any state in the nation.Why aren't we preserving it for our descendents?So far what I've seen is sad.They are broken.They are falling down.Their beautiful emblems are being taken by thoughtless vandals.The state doesn't care enough to maintain their upkeep,or even keep an updated database.They don't realize these are a visual account of our proud history
September 11, 2008 11:39AM
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