Two Rivers "Sandbar Histories"
LaSALLE’S STATUE DEDICATION Written by BETTY DUNN The day of March 6, 1930 was a big day in the City of Navasota. Dignitaries from all over the state had or were arriving by train and automobile, to say nothing of the excitement of the local notables. A day earlier The Navasota Daily Examiner ran a news story of the ‘unveiling ceremonies’ for the LaSalle Statue on Washington Avenue including a photo of the LaSalle Statue framed by the historic Terrell house in the background. “This is to be a most impressive ceremony and members of the Daughters of the American Revolution from over the state will be represented with an immense throng,” the Examiner exclaimed. “The streets have been washed and swept…streets will be roped off for the spectators and seats will be arranged in front of the monument. From one o’clock until 3 o’clock the business houses of the city will be closed in honor of the unveiling scheduled at one-thirty o’clock. Special buses will arrive from Houston, Huntsville and other places…A special bus will bring students of the Sam Houston State Teachers College at Huntsville,” the Examiner continued. “Tomorrow will be a day of historical significance as Navasota takes pride in the unveiling of her first monument which has been made possible by the Daughters of the American Revolution. At one-thirty o’clock …the veil will be drawn aside and the statue revealed,” the Examiner concluded. Two spotlights were placed on the nearby Terrell house that were to be thrown on the monument the evening after its unveiling. The unveiling festivities were to begin with a luncheon at the Navasota home of Senator and Mrs. H. L. Lewis sponsored by the Navasota Civic Club. (The Lewis’s were the grandparents of our Two Rivers Heritage Foundation member Boyce Ann Miller.) Guests were first to assemble at the homes of Mrs. J. Wallace Brosig and Mr. R. E. Powell. A tea would follow the ceremonies at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Baylor. Mrs. James T. Rountree of Paris, State Region of the D.A.R., and Mrs. O. E. Baker of Abilene, state historian of the D. A. R. were arriving. Bryan’s Honorable W. S. Barron, Speaker of the House of Representatives, was to be the speaker at the dedication of what the Examiner called “the statue of the great Frenchman, Rene’ Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle, a contribution on the part of the State D.A.R. and the citizens of Navasota.” Frank Teich, a nationally famous German sculptor and stonecutter who immigrated to the United States in 1878, was the sculptor of the LaSalle Statue. Teich also created the Confederate monument and the Fireman’s monument that are located on the capitol grounds at Austin, as well as the Sam Houston monument in Houston. Teich, known as a master of stone cutting, was the superintendent of the granite cutting during the construction of the present State Capitol between 1882 and 1888. Teich died in 1939 at the age of 83. ___________________________________________________ To above is from the "Two Rivers Sandbar Histories" on sale from Two Rivers Heritage Foundation. There are 134 articles in the book offering an incite into the early years of Grimes County. Contact Betty Dunn at blhd83@gmail.com or Lynn Hildebrandt at rendezvous120@gmail.com to reserve copies. (Mail orders will be $23.50 each.) Each week we will endeavor to showcase excerpts from each of the writings from the book. So check back often to see portions of the 'treasures' it contains. 
NOTICE: BEST MUSEUM at the Horlock House
1215 Washington, Navasota, Texas 77868. Any organization or individuals who would like to visit the newly organized Best Museum by the Two Rivers Heritage Foundation are welcome. Exhibits, at this time, include the City of Navasota’s historical collection of the Horlocks, Christian Becker, Jesse and Herbert Youens, Schumachers, and Texas Rangers; as well as the Two Rivers’ exhibit of the ”Railroads that built Navasota.” Mance Lipscomb exhibit, Navasota's world known blues singer, guitarist, songster. Those wishing to see the Best Museum please contact E-Mail: tworiversheritagefoundation@gmail.com. Two Rivers Heritage Foundation
Officers & Board of Directors Chairman: Kathy Cave Wells Vice-Chairman: Betty Dunn Secretary: Lynn Hildebrandt Treasurer: Baker Goodwin Directors John Henry Botkin Margaret Van Wagner Eppler Cheryl Tardiff Judy Crawford Beth Logan Honorary Director: Mildred Edwards MEMBERSHIP Two Rivers Heritage Foundation P.O. Box 66, Navasota, TX. 77868 E-Mail: tworiversheritagefoundation@gmail.com |
HISTORY MIXERS
Upcoming Mixers:
April 6 Mixer We hope to have Jeff Carroll to continue his stories about the founding of the Republic of Texas. April 20 Mixer Photographer Tim Gregg will speak to us about his plans to publish a book titled "Celebrating Navasota". For more information visit his website at www.celebratingnavasota.com 
Adina De Zavala (top), Clara Driscoll (bottom), and the Alamo chapel in the 1890s (courtesy UTSA Libraries Special Collections) Because of Texas Women Adina De Zavala and Clara Driscoll: two women with different perspectives on historic preservation, and one passion in common—the Alamo. De Zavala was the granddaughter of the first vice president of the Republic of Texas; both of Driscoll’s grandfathers fought in the Texan revolution. By the early 1900s, both women were members of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), and both had their eyes on the Alamo. While the State of Texas owned the Alamo chapel at this time, the property next door was a grocers’. De Zavala convinced the company to give the DRT first option to purchase the land when they sold. Driscoll, using her family fortune, paid most of the asking price herself. At this point, the two women’s goals diverged. Driscoll wanted to demolish the grocery store and replace it with gardens that would highlight the chapel. De Zavala firmly believed that beneath the store’s wooden façade lay the remnants of the Long Barrack—later proved true—and that this portion of the Alamo complex should be preserved as well. Though some of the Long Barrack was removed in 1913, much of the structure has been preserved thanks to the efforts of De Zavala and Driscoll in securing the property for future generations. It is the oldest building at the Alamo site. Source: THC News & Updates email dated March 18, 2021 For the time being the Two Rivers ‘mixers’ are being held at the New Hope Church on Hwy 105 1 blk East of Hwy 6 every month on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:45. There is adequate space to meet the present protocol regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
Revisit the video section of the www.tworiversheritagefoundation.org website. The Wendy Watriss and Fred Baldwin presentation “Grimes County, A Journey in Time” this past February, is first up under the video tab of the website along with many others that can give you a look back in history. _______________________________________________________ Betty Dunn, Newsletter Coordinator, 281-507-1671, (Please leave a voicemail) Two Rivers Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit _______________________________________________________ Membership in our Two Rivers Heritage Foundation is appreciated in the support of helping Two Rivers’ mission of preserving history. Click the button below to see our membership form. Print the form, fill it out, and mail it along with your payments to: TWO RIVERS HERITAGE FOUNDATION P. O. Box 66, Navasota, TX 77868-0066 🌎 🔔 We are now accepting dues for the 2021 year. Dues are $20 each adult. Mail dues to P. O. Box 66, Navasota, Tx. 77868. We are preparing to update the Membership Book. We appreciate your being a part of Two Rivers Heritage Foundation in support of our mission to preserve our history. If you are a new member, please fill out the membership form and mail. Thanks!
🎅 Remember that we are trying to raise money 💲 for our Development Fund by selling our Sandbar books... $20/each... they make great gifts! 🌝 The cover art is by local artist Nikki Sullivan. Contact Betty Dunn at blhd83@gmail.com or Lynn Hildebrandt at rendezvous120@gmail.com to reserve copies. (Mail orders are $23.50 each.)
TWO RIVERS “SANDBAR HISTORIES” BOOKS
Two Rivers Heritage Foundation’s “Sandbar Histories” books are available for purchase. If you are looking for a fascinating gift idea these historical books will make a great gift!! The books contain over two years of the “Grains from the Sandbar” columns that have been complimentarily offered to the Navasota Examiner weekly newspaper since August 2015 through the years 2016 and 2017. The price is $20. This is a fund-raising project for the Two Rivers Heritage Foundation’s Development Fund. The cover art is by local artist Nikki Sullivan. Contact Betty Dunn at blhd83@gmail.com or Lynn Hildebrandt at rendezvous120@gmail.com to reserve copies. (Mail orders are $23.50 each.) Check out our website: www.tworiversheritagefoundation.org E-mail: tworiversheritagefoundation@gmail.com Betty Dunn, Newsletter Coordinator, 281-507-1671 |