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Reports of the Montgomery County Historical Commission. Montgomery County Historical Commission " Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More Minutes and Reports Annual Report of the Commission 2023 Montgomery County Historical Commission Report Minutes and Reports 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 " Home of the Lone Star Flag " Home About Events Work History Gallery Contact More County Historical Markers Montgomery County Marker Applications MCHC Marker Narrative Template Draft MCHC Marker Application Presswood Cemetery Tucked away on this small piece of land is the final resting spot for the families of Presswood, Roberts, Shiver, and Turner, who were some of the founding families of New Caney, Texas. In 1862, Austin and Sarah Presswood settled in the area and began cattle, farming, and railroad operations. This area was initially named "Presswood" after the family until 1880s, when a post office was established and the name of "New Caney" was adopted. St. Matthew Free Mission Baptist Church In March 1889, fifteen years before Conroe was established as a town, St. Matthew Free Mission Baptist Church was organized in the Piney Woodland. Bigotry during this era forced African Americans to rely on each other for opportunities to worship and mutal support, gathering together as a congregation brought a feeling of familial closeness that had often been lost during the days of slavery. Tamina Sweet Rest Cemetery Freedmen settlements began appearing throughout Texas soon after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was publicly read in Galveston by Union General Gordan Granger on June 19, 1865. The Freedmen community of “Tamina” was founded in 1871, composed of about 3000 acres. By 1905 only 442 acres located on the east side of Hwy 75 (later Interstate 45) were occupied by the heirs and descendants of the original settlers. Sacred Heart Church The first church was a small structure on the west side of South Main Street (Chambers) at the intersection of Avenue G. The James McDade family graciously donated the land for the mission church, a plot 199’x150’ about 3 blocks from the courthouse which was “considered to be the residential district.” Bishop Nicholas A Gallagher made his first trip to Conroe and confirmed a class of only 17 and thereby dedicated the new church, St Mary’s of the Woods. Santa María del Bosque Iglesia Católica del Sagrado Corazón La primera iglesia fue una estructura pequeña en el lado oeste de South Main Street (Chambers) en la intersección de la Avenida G. La familia James McDade donó generosamente el terreno para la iglesia de la misión, un terreno de 199'x150' aproximadamente 3 cuadras del Juzgada que era "considerado como el distrito residencial." El obispo Nicholas A. Gallagher hizo su primer viaje a Conroe y confirmó una clase de solo 17 y así dedicó la nueva iglesia, Santa María del Bosque. Piney Grove Missionary in Magnolia Addison-Gandy House The Addison-Gandy House was built for John Britton Addison and his wife Martha Bowe Davis Addison around 1892. Local craftsmen Robert and John Carpenter constructed the residence out of pine and cypress timbers. Today, the facade is unchanged with its detailed Victorian gingerbread port railing. It is a one story "L" shaped cottage with a gabled roof and a front porch supported by plain square posts and decorative brackets. Read more... Algernon Texas Alexander Algernon Alexander is internationally recognized as a father of Texas Blues. Born into abject poverty on September 12, 1900 in Jewett, Leon County, Texas, Algernon was raised in Richards, Texas, by his grandmother, Sally Beavers. While working in the cotton fields and for the railroad, Alexander learned the "Blues," a new expressive style of emotional and spiritual music sung by African Americans. Alexander made over 69 recordings for Okeh and Vocalion records as "Texas" Alexander. Conroe Service League Conroe Service League began in 1955 with 12 enterprising women who made a difference in their community by forming one of the first organizations in the county to help the needy and disadvantaged children. The women were pioneers that effected change for the underserved in the community. They were instrumental in establishing the Heritage Museum. Local women have followed in their footsteps using their guiding principles and ideals to continue their legacy. Grogan-Cochran House The Grogan-Cochran house was built in 1924 by James G. Grogan, Sr., who was prominent in the lumber industry at that time. This single-story frame house was built for his family in the Texas Bungalow architectural style that was common during the early 1900's. The house was constructed with wooden shiplap walls and floors from local pine produced at the Grogan-Cochran Lumber Company sawmill. The house was originally located near downtown Conroe at 615 North Thompson. Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church Established in 1901, the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church has served the Black community of Conroe, Texas for 120 years. Strake-Gray Oilfield House The Strake-Gray Oilfield House was purchased by George Strake, Sr. for his first oilfield superintendent in 1938. The house was originally located at 11585 Duffey Road off FM 1314. It represents the typical front gable single story bungalow-style house of the period. It is unique in that it is of portable construction, meaning it was prefabricated. It is believed that the house was ordered from a Sears and Roebuck Catalogue, shipped by rail in pieces, transported to the oilfield, Read More Sanders Cemetery Julius J. Sanders was born in Jones County, GA in 1836. He and his wife Sarah Torvah moved to Texas in 1872 after serving in the Civil War. Julius was a circuit preacher for the Methodist Church and traveled to many towns in Montgomery County preaching the gospel. In 1875, he acquired 59 acres in the W. Hillhouse Survey establishing his homestead and family cemetery. he was one of the first Methodist Ministers in Magnolia and helped build the first Methodist Church building. Shepard's Barber Shop This is the oldest barber shop in continuous use in Montgomery County. The building was known locally as the "Little Jack West Building" when constructed by Pete West about 1914. It was first used as a barber shop by Henry Williamson in about 1922 and then in 1938 by Stovall Thomas. Bob Shepard purchased the building from Waren Stubblefield in 2000. The building's exterior was restored in 2007. WA & Gertrude Dean Home The Dean family were one of the prominent mercantile and community leaders of Magnolia in the early 1900s. In 1919, W.A. (Willie) Dean constructed this house and completed it a year later in time for his wedding to Gertrude Crook. They lived in this house until Willie's death in 1963. This home is a typical one-story house popular in the early 1900s. It was constructed of pine and hardwoods milled at a Magnolia sawmill. The Dean home is an excellent example of typical 20th century small housing. County Marker 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 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.

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.