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Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Updates and News News of Montgomery County Historical Commission Billy Ray with Montgomery County News article of his Distinquished Service Award (Feb 28 2025) 1/7 Thomas Chapel Historic Montgomery Co. church built by freedmen in need of prayer and repair: 'It's irreplaceable' Read More Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Oil and Industry History Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Montgomery County Historical Commission "Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Videos Videos Videos from around Montgomery County Highlighted Videos All Videos All Videos Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Search videos Search video... Now Playing DRONE HERITAGE MUSEUM MONTAGE 2025 01:25 Play Video Now Playing Maria Banos Jordan 30:58 Play Video Now Playing County Historical Commission and County Liaison Partnerships 47:24 Play Video The Eyes of Texas, no. 145, February 27, 1982 In this 1982 episode of The Eyes of Texas, producer Bill Springer meets a couple of grave hunters in Conroe. Producer Gary James visits the Studio 205 artists’ complex in Victoria, while host Ray Miller profiles two historic mansions in Belton and a miniature outhouse collector in Midland. Miller also shares the origins of the town of Manor. Produced by Houston’s KPRC-TV from 1969 to 1993, The Eyes of Texas was a regional television program highlighting unique people, places, and events across the state. This episode aired on February 27, 1982. Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church- Conroe (1970) This home movie captures scenes of the congregation of Mt. Horem Baptist Church traveling by bus to Conroe, Texas for what seems to be a joint service with Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. Children put on robes for a choir performance and a potluck dinner takes place. Cut and Shoot Fast Draw (1980) Broadcast on August 21, 1980, this episode of PM Magazine features profiles of quick-draw champions Diane and Bob Graham and economist Howard Ruff. PM Magazine Departments also offer gardening tips, a warning about refined sugar, and a recommendation for a local take-out restaurant. PM Magazine was a local news and entertainment television program broadcast on Beaumont's KFDM-TV in from late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Sam Houston Trail Ride & 1964 World's Fair This 1964 home movie first captures the Sam Houston Trail Ride, an all-horse parade that travels the trail roads from Montgomery into Houston to kick off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world, now averaging over two million attendees annually. Later, the Rairigh family journeys to New York City for the 1964 World's Fair, where they see DuPont's "Wonderful World of Chemistry." The film concludes with the Rairighs back home in Beaumont to celebrate Christmas. Trail Ride in Montgomery (1958) This home movie, shot by former member of the Texas House of Representatives Harold H. "Hal" Coley, captures a trail ride in Conroe. Participants dressed in Western attire ride horses or atop covered wagons. Later, the Coley family tours their new lake house. Explosion Starts Oil Fire (1933) Conroe "Remarkable pictures of a burning gusher that shakes houses seven miles away when it ‘goes up' and which defies all attempts to quench its roaring flames." [From original Universal Newsreel content sheet.] This Universal Newsreel contains dramatic footage of an oil well fire near Conroe, Texas. Men approach the blaze behind protective shields and a crane pours dirt over the flames. Conroe, Texas, like many East Texas towns, enjoyed an oil boom in the 1930s. This newsreel is believed to depict the Conroe well fires of 1933. Two wells a mile apart, the Standard of Kansas No. 1 Madeley and the Southland Oil No. 2 Cummings, both burst into flame the morning of January 12th. The Madeley was particularly difficult to get under control, with nitroglycerine blasts and dirt fill proving unsuccessful. The well cratered, swallowing the derrick and other nearby rigs, resulting in huge damages. After drilling many relief wells, the fires were eventually brought under control, but had created a large oil-filled "crater well" in the Conroe oilfield. Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More CLG Certified Local Government Certified Local Government The Certified Local Government (CLG) Program is a local, state, and federal government partnership to empower local communities to better protect historic resources by identifying local priorities, meeting recognized historic preservation standards and providing access to financial and technical services to further the identification, evaluation, designation and protection of buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects. Local governments that participate in the CLG Program act independently to develop and maintain a successful preservation program. The Texas Historical Commission administers the program at the state level and the National Park Service is the responsible federal agency. The benefits of becoming a CLG include access to technical assistance from the CLG Program staff, a network of local preservation commissioners and historic preservation officers from around the state, workshops and other trainings specific to local preservation challenges, and the annual CLG Grant Program. Montgomery County Members Include: Bernie Sargent, Maria Banos Jordan, Annette Kerr, Ron Saikowski, Ann Meador, Frank Hersom, Darrell Hebert, and Victor Uher Grants Instructions: Links are available on the title of the grant, click the title of the grant, and the grant website will open in a new page. Texas Historical Foundation (THF) Grants Programs Eligible recipients are 501(c)(3) organizations with a current project related to Texas history. Proposals for the following types of projects are considered quarterly for micro-grants up to $8,000 and annually for grants up to $25,000: Historic property preservation Events or programs promoting state history to the public Preservation of artifacts, archival materials, collections, or legal documents Texas history curriculum and educational programming Museum programming Publications and scholarly research in Texas history Archeology Cultural heritage and the arts The Texas Rural African American Heritage Grants Program Provides matching grants of up to $75,000 to support the rehabilitation of historic rural African American institutional and commercial buildings in towns with populations under 50,000. Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Encourage preservation at the local level by supporting ongoing preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. Only Organizational Level Preservation Leadership Forum Members , Main Street America Community Members, and Main Street America General Members are eligible to receive funding from the National Trust Preservation Fund. Applicants must be either a public agency, 501(c) (3), or other nonprofit organization. Texas Historical Commission, Certified Local Government Division (CLG) Architectural, historical, and archeological surveys/inventories, Preparation of nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, Preparation of a local preservation plan, Writing or amending a preservation ordinance, Development of local design guidelines, Research and development of a local preservation incentive program, Travel/training expenses for hosting a regional preservation-related workshop. Matching grant 50:50 funds from $5,000 to $45,000. National Trust Preservation Fund With funds ranging up to $5,000, these grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. The National Fund for Sacred Places Provides matching grants of $50,000 to $500,000 to congregations undertaking significant capital projects at historic houses of worship, along with wraparound services including training, technical assistance, and planning support. March 3 deadline. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors Assists in the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of historic interiors. March 3 deadline. National Trust for Historic Preservation Conserving Black Modernism Grant Program A program that focuses on preserving modern architecture by Black architects and designers. March 14 deadline National Trust for Historic Preservation National Trust Preservation Funds An umbrella group of grant funds intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting ongoing preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. There are three deadlines per year in February, June, and October. Grants from this fund are generally between $2,500 and $5,000. Out-of-round funding can occur (when available) in the case of an emergency. Email the Grants Office for more information. Battlefield Preservation Fund Grants from the Battlefield Preservation Fund will serve as a catalyst to stimulate efforts to preserve battlefields, viewsheds, and related historic structures and to leverage fund-raising activities. Grants from this fund range from $2,500 to $10,00 National Park Service Hart Family Fund for Small Towns Intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects in small towns with populations of 10,000 or less. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. Grants from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns generally range from $2,500 to $15,000. The selection process is very competitive. National Trust for Historic Preservation Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation The fund aims to save historic environments in order to foster an appreciation of our nation’s diverse cultural heritage and to preserve and revitalize the livability of the nation’s communities. Grants from the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation generally range from $2,500 to $15,000. National Trust for Historic Preservation Moe Family Fund for Statewide and Local Partners The fund provides funding to current dues-paying members of the National Preservation Partners Network (NPPN) with grants focused on priority issues for the preservation field. Applicants are encouraged to embark on projects and activities outside the existing scope of their work, but the Fund also will support initiatives that take existing programs to a new level. National Trust for Historic Preservation The Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund The purpose of the fund is to support the leadership and effectiveness of staff and board members of preservation organizations to fulfill their mission and to create a stronger, more effective preservation movement. Grants from the Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund reimburse travel costs and provide an honorarium for the mentor up to a maximum total of $2,500. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. National Trust for Historic Preservation African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Grants from the fund are designed to advance ongoing preservation activities for historic places such as sites, museums, and landscapes representing African American cultural heritage. Grants made from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund will range from $50,000 to $150,000. National Trust for Historic Preservation Preserving Black Churches Annual grants from are intended to preserve historic Black houses of worship—either with active congregations and nonactive congregations—and advance ongoing preservation activities while strengthening capacity for historic congregations, and preservation and community organizations to steward, manage, and better utilize their historic structures. Grants from Preserving Black Churches range from $50,000 to $200,000. National Trust for Historic Preservation HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative Grants from the provide funding to HBCUs to develop Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plans to ensure they are equipped to preserve and maintain their historic campuses and historic assets. Grants made from the HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative will range from $60,000 to $150,000. National Trust for Historic Preservation Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative Grants from the support project management, capacity-building, grantmaking, and convenings for place-based organizations, in a two-year collaboration. National Trust for Historic Preservation Backing Historic Small Restaurants A partnership with American Express, the Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program help restaurants address critical needs amid ongoing economic challenges. National Trust for Historic Preservation Anice Read Fund Grants are only available to members of Texas Downtown and must have a downtown focus to be eligible. Grant amounts range from $500 to $5,000 and are awarded on an annual basis. A scheduled phone call to Texas Downtown's executive director is required for grant application and must be completed by the end of August. To set an appointment with Executive Director Tania Moody, Text: 512-472-7832 or Email: tania@texasdowntown.org . Applications for the fund are commonly due by midnight on the Friday prior to Labor Day. Preservation and/or Restoration of Southern Heritage Artifacts, physical structures, and locations, including military and personal artifacts and letters, permanent structures and locations such as homes, monuments, cemeteries, battlefields, and historical/interpretive signs. Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Gallery of the Montgomery County Historical Commission. Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Image Gallery Gallery 1 The photos presented are courtesy of the History Task Force. Gallery 2 The photos presented are courtesy of the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County. Share your Pictures Share your pictures and your stories with us! Upload Files here. To Contribute: To contribute images to this gallery, insert images to the folder and note that in contributing images, you are releasing them to be shared on the website. Thank you. Gallery Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

About the Montgomery County Historical Commission. Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More About the Historical Commission What is the County Historical Commission? The official state agency for historical preservation, the Texas Historical Commission (THC), was created originally in 1953 as the Texas State Historical Survey Committee by the Texas Legislature. It retained that title until the 63rd Legislature changed it to the Texas Historical Commission. The Montgomery County Historical Commission (MCHC) is a duly constituted organization of the Montgomery County government composed of citizen members who are appointed by the County Commissioners and serve for two-year terms. The Commission reports to the County Judge and the Commissioners Court, and also to the Texas Historical Commission. The County Historical Commission has followed the Texas Historical Commission’s ongoing purpose of surveying, recording, and promoting the appreciation of local history as well as marking those historic sites and structures deemed worthy of preservation for either historical or architectural reasons. The Commission works in various fields, including archeology, architecture, history, economic development, and heritage tourism for the benefit of present and future generations. The agency helps identify and preserve historic sites and helps to preserve the heritage of Montgomery County. Historic preservation is a vital part of a promising future within our community. Misson and Role of Texas Historical Commissions To discover, and as appropriate, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County, Texas, such as the placement of historical markers. To cooperate with other persons, groups, organizations and agencies in preserving the history and heritage of Texas. County Historical Commissions (CHC) are responsible for reviewing all applications for state historical markers before they come to the Texas Historical Commission (THC). They also serve as advisors to their Commissioners Court on matters of historic preservation. In addition, they often operate or promote county history museums, develop archival collections, promote local history celebrations and heritage tourism, publish books and brochures dealing with the county’s history and historic sites, undertake surveys of cultural and historic resources, conduct oral history projects, and all other manner of preservation programs. Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Historic Preservation Cemeteries County Markers Historic Resources Survey Historical Marker THC Historical Markers America250 CLG County Local Govt Events Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Historic Resources of Montgomery County Texas Region. Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Historic Resources Preservation Montgomery County Historic Resources To preserve historic and cultural resources, we must first know they exist. Architectural and archeological surveys identify significant properties in neighborhoods, communities, and entire counties. Published inventories of such sites can be indispensable in raising a community's awareness of its cultural heritage and in its planning efforts. The most important resources identified through surveys have the potential for state and national landmark designation. Moreover, the information and photographs generated by a survey create an irreplaceable record of the present state of that heritage. Preservation Resources Nr_Survey_NrSurv79-DCF MCHC Resource Tracking Log Tx Preservation Handbook_10 National Preservation Act Application for Funding Reimbursement Procedures (Jan 2022) Preservation Projects and Grants Projects 2020 Preservation Projects 2019 Preservation Projects 2018 Preservation Projects Grants 2020 Historic Preservation Grants 2019 Historic Preservation Grants 2018 Historic Preservation Grants Historical Resource Documents Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Education Education Education and Local History for Texas History Standards working with Educators across the county. Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Members of the Montgomery County Historical Commission. Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Members of the Commission Montgomery County Commissioners Court Mark Keough—County Judge Robert C. Walker—Commissioner, Precinct 1 Charlie Riley—Commissioner, Precinct 2 Ritch Wheeler—Commissioner, Precinct 3 Matt Gray—Commissioner, Precinct 4 ByLaws Application for Appointment Historical Commission Committees Research and Historical Marker Committee Historical Cemetery Committee Communications Website and Social Media Committee Endangered Buildings Committee Grants-Budget Committee Youth Advisory Board Committee History Road Rally Executive Committee CLG Committee 250th Anniversary Committee Website-Social Media Committee Historical Commission Bartholet, Robin Beard, Kirsten Fitzner Beaven, Brenda Blanks, Jennifer PhD Canada, Mark Carrel, Jack Carroll, Carolyn A. Crowl, Chad DeYang, Aaron Dominey, Barkley Foerster, Larry (Chairman) Hersom, Frank Hersom, Merlynn Hignett, Kimberly Johnson, Frank M. Jordan, Maria Banos Kerr, Annette Knauer, Brittany Wallace Londeen, Ryan Meador, Ann Montgomery, Joy Montgomery, Robin Muir, Steven Politte, Laura Rapoza, Andrew Ringo, Missy Saikowski, Ron Sargent, Bernie Searle, Kameron K. Shepeard, Anna Sisson, Zach Smythe, Beverly Spencer, Gertie Uher, Victor Wilkerson, T. J. Williams, Deborah H. Wise, Olivia "Dell" County Historical Commission Appointee Orientation Course Link Recommended Criteria for CHC Appointees 2025-2026 term of service Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 318, enables county commissioners courts to appoint individuals to serve on county historical commissions (CHC). Visit the following webpage to reference a record copy of these statutes: www.statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LG/htm/LG.318.htm. In addition to these statutory criteria, the Commission offers some practical criteria below for your consideration during the appointment process. Statutory Requirements for CHC Composition Section 318.003, Texas Local Government Code, spells out the statutory criteria for CHC membership: Each CHC must be composed of at least 7 county residents; statutes do not include a maximum number of appointees. CHC appointees serve a two-year term, ideally beginning in January of odd-numbered years. CHC appointees must broadly represent the characteristics of the entire county’s general population. CHC appointees must have an interest in historic preservation and an understanding of local history and resources. Appointment Methodology Statutes do not address the exact methodology for appointing CHCs. Our research shows that this process varies somewhat from county to county. Some county officials interview individuals seeking the appointment and others accept recommendations from existing CHC appointees. Whatever method your county selects, please consider the following recommendations prior to appointment. Applying statutory criteria along with our recommended criteria ensures that appointees are active, work well with others, and leave a positive impression with the public. Lubbock CHC unveils the Willie Lusk Historical Marker Recommended Appointee Criteria Please appoint individuals who can contribute in a variety of ways. If possible, appoint individuals who have Internet access (home, CHC office, or public hub), can leave home to perform site visits, and will maintain a positive attitude. Appointees should be able to meet the following recommended criteria. Able and committed to attend full commission meetings; statutes require at least 4 meetings per year. Able and willing to volunteer time to plan and manage projects, programs, and events. Able to receive/respond to public inquiries about county historic resources in a timely manner. Able and willing to attend preservation education opportunities outside of their county. Able to provide site visits to historic properties within the county to update property inventories and provide current information on site conditions to THC staff. Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.

Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Montgomery County Historical Commission c/o Larry L. Foerster, Chair 2411 Ellis Park Lane Conroe, Texas 77304 Cell: 936-537-9070 foerster@dfcllp.com Purpose and Mission To discover, circulate information pertinent to the historical identity of Montgomery County. To cooperate with other organizations in preserving the history and heritage of Texas.