Navarro CHC Discuss Historical Preservation in County

The Navarro County Historical Commission (Navarro CHC) held its Second Quarter Meeting on Monday, April 20th at the Corsicana Public Library. The Navarro CHC is an agent of county government with oversight by the Texas Historical Commission (THC), the state agency for historic preservation.

Members present at the meeting were: Dr. Mary Jane McReynolds-Chair, Faith Boyd-Vice Chair, Sheryl Hicks-Treasurer, Stephen Farris-Secretary, and members : Danny Combs, Gary Connor, Larry Taylor, and Margaret Thomas. Visitors included Roy Anderson, Kenneth Thomas, Thelma Hall, Jamey Hall, Landon Hall, Nancy Rebal and Enoch Basnett.

The meeting focused on discussing new and ongoing historic preservation projects in the county.
Dr. McReynolds reported that the annual Historical Marker Application deadline is fast approaching (May 15th) and four applications are currently under review.

THC’s marker application process involves several steps, including preparation of a complete Narrative History of the subject being submitted for a marker. Marker applications in process include: Boardtree Cemetery, Curry Cemetery, Rose Hill Cemetery and Zion’s Rest Cemetery.

The group discussed the need to create an Historical Marker Committee to process the application review, monitor existing marker conditions, document any marker removals, relocation, and/or theft.

A motion was made and passed to assign each member a region of the county, and that person will be responsible for visiting current markers, documenting their conditions, and reviewing new marker applications each year.

The Navarro CHC also discussed the annual Aya Symposium, held each year in Dallas to share information about Texas Freedman Colonies. Speakers and workshop sessions provide attendees with information about the locations where formerly enslaved people settled in Texas. Navarro County had eleven known Freedman Colonies, and the Navarro CHC is gathering information, so this part of county history is not lost. A motion was made and passed to fund two members to attend the day-long conference in June.

Community representatives from two historic cemeteries were present to discuss the current conditions of each. The cemeteries are Birdston Valley Cemetery, near Streetman, and Providence Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, just north of Corsicana. Roy Anderson, who has ancestors buried at Birdston Valley Cemetery, shared information about how the small cemetery association struggles to maintain the cemetery. Thelma Hall has ancestors buried at Providence Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery and she would like to start a cemetery association to help preserve this historic cemetery.

The Navarro CHC discussed that the county needs active cemetery associations to provide continuous care and preservation. Historic cemeteries also need to be designated as Historic Texas Cemeteries by the THC. This designation provides some protection to these historic sites. The Navarro CHC can provide information and resources on how to establish a cemetery association, and how to apply for the Historic Texas Cemetery designation.

The Navarro CHC invited Enoch Basnett, chair of the Corsicana Preservation Foundation, and Nancy Rebal, board member of Meetinghouse Revival, and each gave a brief overview of their organization and highlighted recent preservation work and accomplishments. Rebal displayed several enlarged photographs of Wesley Chapel’s stained-glass windows, which are in the process of being restored.

Dr. McReynolds announced the upcoming Patriot Marker Dedication Ceremony on May 9th, 11am, at the Courthouse. The marker and dedication are the result of the hard work of the James Blair Chapter of the DAR and celebrates America’s 250th birthday this year.

The next meeting of the Navarro CHC is scheduled for Monday, July 20th, at 5:30pm at a location to be determined.

The meetings are open to the public and all are welcome.

About Author

navcochron

See author's posts