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
Mixer Schedule
May 4 Catherine Price returns. May 18 To be announced. Tim Gregg will sell his Navasota prints as a fundraiser for Two Rivers Heritage Foundation. June 1 Grimes County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Johnny McAnally. June 15 TBD ANNA PENNYBACKER’S TEXAS HISTORY BOOK
Browsing through a box of books of the Navasota City’s Historical Collection now under the auspices of Two Rivers Heritage Foundation, was found an early hardcover copy of ‘A New History of Texas’ by Anna J. H. Pennybacker. The cover further states “Price 65 cents, Exchange Price 30 cents, The price fixed hereon is fixed by state contract and any deviation shall be reported to the State Superintendent at Austin.” Copyrighted in 1895 and published by Percy V. Pennybacker of Palestine, Texas, the preface page states the book is “for schools, also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination.” A second copyright date is cited of 1898 by the Palestine Publishing Co. This book was considered a staple of Texas school classrooms for the next 40 years. Who was Anna Pennybacker? She was a Virginia lass, born in 1861 of John and Martha Hardwicke. She graduated with the 1880 first graduating class of Sam Houston Normal School in Huntsville, continuing her education in Europe. She taught high school, wrote a book, and by 1884 married Texan Percy V. Pennybacker. But that is not all that Anna did. She became a Texas women’s club organizer as well as a suffrage advocate and a Chautauqua lecturer. In 1894 she organized the Tyler Woman’s Club and became president of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs from 1901 to 1903. She raised money for women’s scholarships at the University of Texas and was principal in persuading the legislature to fund a women’s UT dormitory. She led the Federation in establishing traveling Texas library and art collections as well as permanent libraries. She held several other positions with the Federation until serving again as president from 1912 to 1916. Anna established a friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt in 1924 during her time serving with the Democratic National Committee. Over the next fourteen-years they worked together on mutual interests in the advancement of women, world peace, and the Democratic party. She was a frequent visitor at the White House as a participant in the endeavors of Eleanor Roosevelt such as Near East relief, the World Court and League of Nations as well as the status of women and immigrants. Anna was also president of the Chautauqua, New York, Women’s Club from 1917 until her death. She fended off bankruptcy of the group in 1935 persuading John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to match a fund drive of over $15,000, and convinced President Roosevelt to speak at its’ summer camp raising another $13,000. Anna died in Austin on February 4th, 1938 at the age of 77 years. She was acclaimed for her “social conscience and reforms.” Her husband had died thirty-nine years earlier in 1899. They had three children that grew into adulthood. In 1941, Rebecca Richmond published a biography of Anna entitled: A Woman of Texas: Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker. (Written by Betty Dunn, Two Rivers Heritage Foundation) 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 |