COLLEEN FONTENOT SPEAKS TO
CHAMBERS COUNTY
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Pictured: Colleen Fontenot
The Chambers County Historical Commission met at the Eagle Point Recreation Complex on March 27th and the featured speaker was Colleen Fontenot.
Ms. Fontenot serves on the Old River/Winfrey City Council and is one of the organizers of the Old River/Winfrey Founders Day Celebration. She brought a number of artifacts that have been recovered in the Old River area, many of which date back to the days of the struggle for Texas Independence.
She discussed the process of organizing the first Founders Day Celebration that was conducted last year as well as the growth that is expected for this year’s celebration, which will be held on July 16 – 17, 2010. She discussed the need to develop other projects that would enhance the beauty of the river and bring more tourism to the area. She noted that she was not a native of Old River but she had gotten there as soon as she could. She recognized Bob Wheat, Commission Chair for assisting with the Celebration last year and looks forward to Commission participation in 2010.
The Commission also heard various Committee Reports. Yvonne Morgan reported that essays are being received for the annual essay contest and that all schools in the county are participating. Deadline for the essays is April 15th and winners will be announced before school is recessed for the summer.
Chair Wheat reported that work is being performed to repair damages to the Chambers Home and the Dr. Schilling Office. The historic buildings were damaged by Hurricane Ike and repairs are needed before they can be opened for public tours. Period furniture has been purchased and donated to furnish the Chambers Home once the repairs are complete.
The Chambers County Historical Museum/Archive Building continues to be open five days a week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Jackie Brookshire works full time in the museum and continues to organize and catalog the many pieces of history that are displayed there. The Historical Commission is also working on a report of the WW II Prisoner of War Camps that were located in Chambers County. Anyone with information or photos of the camps is urged to contact the museum or Chair Wheat.
The Historical Commission meets the fourth Saturday of each month in the museum conference room and the public is encouraged to attend.
Article and Photo by CCHC Publicity Chairman Pudge Willcox
Chambers County Historical Commission News
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