Spring Conference - April 16 & 17, 2010
On Friday, April 16, 2010, about 40 TOMFRA members gathered in the Renfro/Burke Home, designed by Raiford Stripling. Here, at the President’s
Reception, members enjoyed greeting those they hadn’t seen in a while, as well as longtime friends. The next day started with a breakfast and a
brief business meeting at the West Columbia San Jacinto Room before boarding a bus for the day’s tours. First stop was a photo op at the 76-foot
tall statue of Stephen F. Austin, followed by a ride through Bailey’s Prairie and on to watch a re-enactment of the Battle of Velasco (1832) by the
Brazoria Militia at the fort site. The re-enactment featured period costumes and weapons (unloaded). The Battle of Velasco is considered by some
historians as the prelude to the Texas Revolution against Mexico.
Taking a break from this historical tour, members had lunch at the Brazoria Civic Center and Museum. Later, the group visited the West Columbia
Museum and the Rosenwald school. A tour of many antebellum homes in East Columbia, including the Underwood House and the Waddy Cabin,
followed the visit to the school. The Ammon Underwood House is one of the oldest frame houses still standing in Texas, having been built in 1835.
The Sweeny Waddy Log Cabin, built in the 1850’s for a slave family named Waddy, was occupied by that family for more than 100 years.
Members also visited the site of Stephen F. Austin’s office and the Duranzo Plantation, and Gulf Prairie Cemetery—Austin’s original burial site and
where many of the heroes of the Texas revolution are buried. The day ended with dinner at the West Columbia Civic Center, when annual awards
were announced.
Some members had arrived on Friday, April 16th, and were thus able to enjoy the following tour stops:
TOMFRA members on these tours truly felt they had re-traced the footsteps of some of Texas’ earliest settlers & heroes.
On Friday, April 16, 2010, about 40 TOMFRA members gathered in the Renfro/Burke Home, designed by Raiford Stripling. Here, at the President’s
Reception, members enjoyed greeting those they hadn’t seen in a while, as well as longtime friends. The next day started with a breakfast and a
brief business meeting at the West Columbia San Jacinto Room before boarding a bus for the day’s tours. First stop was a photo op at the 76-foot
tall statue of Stephen F. Austin, followed by a ride through Bailey’s Prairie and on to watch a re-enactment of the Battle of Velasco (1832) by the
Brazoria Militia at the fort site. The re-enactment featured period costumes and weapons (unloaded). The Battle of Velasco is considered by some
historians as the prelude to the Texas Revolution against Mexico.
Taking a break from this historical tour, members had lunch at the Brazoria Civic Center and Museum. Later, the group visited the West Columbia
Museum and the Rosenwald school. A tour of many antebellum homes in East Columbia, including the Underwood House and the Waddy Cabin,
followed the visit to the school. The Ammon Underwood House is one of the oldest frame houses still standing in Texas, having been built in 1835.
The Sweeny Waddy Log Cabin, built in the 1850’s for a slave family named Waddy, was occupied by that family for more than 100 years.
Members also visited the site of Stephen F. Austin’s office and the Duranzo Plantation, and Gulf Prairie Cemetery—Austin’s original burial site and
where many of the heroes of the Texas revolution are buried. The day ended with dinner at the West Columbia Civic Center, when annual awards
were announced.
Some members had arrived on Friday, April 16th, and were thus able to enjoy the following tour stops:
- The state park site of the original First Capitol of the Republic of Texas (1836)
- A replica of Kelsey’s store—the building which served as the first capitol, housing the Representatives of the Republic of Texas Congress
- The Varner-Hogg plantation—where Santa Ana was held prisoner in 1836
- The ruins of one of the area’s early sugar mills
- Friday’s final stop was at the Brazoria County Historical Museum in the 1897 Court House in Angleton. A great many of these sites are listed
on the National Register of Historic Places.
TOMFRA members on these tours truly felt they had re-traced the footsteps of some of Texas’ earliest settlers & heroes.
| Recent Meetings |
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| TOMFRA The Texas Old Missions and Forts Restoration Association "That their relics shall not be lost or their memories vanish in the mists of time" |
Winter Meeting
On a sunny winter day, January 23, 2010, in Dallas, TOMFRA members met at the Park Towers for cocktails, lunch and a presentation by Kent
Calder from Texas State Historical Association, where he is Executive Director. He was formerly Director of Publications at Arizona State University.
The Historical Association is a private, not-for-profit organization, established in 1897, and is an integral part of The University of North Texas at
Denton. Kent spoke of the Lone Star Chair in Texas History, which fund needs an additional $100,000 to be fully endowed. A second such
endowed chair would require $1.5 million to be established.
President Sandra Burns began the meeting by thanking members Norm and B. Bender, who live in Park Towers, for their help in arranging the
brunch and meeting space. Each member present received a book titled Texas Forts–A Guide, from Wayne Lease.
The officers present were introduced. Second Vice-President Joanne Pratt reminded members that TOMFRA’S reputation is based on the small
grants made by our association to leverage larger grants for study, research, and publication. TOMFRA funds paid for the archaeologist/speaker
on Coronado’s campsite at the 2009 Lubbock Spring Conference.
Other notes from the meeting:
On a sunny winter day, January 23, 2010, in Dallas, TOMFRA members met at the Park Towers for cocktails, lunch and a presentation by Kent
Calder from Texas State Historical Association, where he is Executive Director. He was formerly Director of Publications at Arizona State University.
The Historical Association is a private, not-for-profit organization, established in 1897, and is an integral part of The University of North Texas at
Denton. Kent spoke of the Lone Star Chair in Texas History, which fund needs an additional $100,000 to be fully endowed. A second such
endowed chair would require $1.5 million to be established.
President Sandra Burns began the meeting by thanking members Norm and B. Bender, who live in Park Towers, for their help in arranging the
brunch and meeting space. Each member present received a book titled Texas Forts–A Guide, from Wayne Lease.
The officers present were introduced. Second Vice-President Joanne Pratt reminded members that TOMFRA’S reputation is based on the small
grants made by our association to leverage larger grants for study, research, and publication. TOMFRA funds paid for the archaeologist/speaker
on Coronado’s campsite at the 2009 Lubbock Spring Conference.
Other notes from the meeting:
- The Handbook of Texas, a project of the Texas State Historical Association, is available online.
- The Handbook and the Southwestern Quarterly, are also undergoing digitization.
- The TOMFRA archives at SMU have been moved from the Law Library to the DeGolyer Library.
- Chapters of Junior Historians are in many Texas public schools.
- Texas Historian celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2014.
- Each year, TOMFRA gives awards on Texas History Day for individual & group projects such as papers, performances, or exhibits. A Texas
History Day quiz is also conducted in many schools; the winners from individual districts participate in a final quiz in Austin. Some TOMFRA
members judge these contests and volunteers are needed annually for this event.
Brazoria County rich in early Texas History
One of the special things about the TOMFRA Annual Spring Conference is the feeling of walking in the footsteps
of some of the giants of our past. This Spring, we had the treat of visiting what is often called the “Cradle of Texas
history”. Many of us have been students of Texas history in the Texas public schools system. And some of us
have taught Texas history and culture in educational institutions. These lessons never fully seem like a past
reality until we have an opportunity to visit these historic sites ourselves.
One of the special things about the TOMFRA Annual Spring Conference is the feeling of walking in the footsteps
of some of the giants of our past. This Spring, we had the treat of visiting what is often called the “Cradle of Texas
history”. Many of us have been students of Texas history in the Texas public schools system. And some of us
have taught Texas history and culture in educational institutions. These lessons never fully seem like a past
reality until we have an opportunity to visit these historic sites ourselves.
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Winter Meeting - 2012
TOMFRA’s Winter Meeting was held on February 4, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. Long time member Professor Joe McKnight, presented a brief history of
the origins and history of TOMFRA, recalling memorable visits to Texas missions and forts and international trips to Mexico and Spain.
Winter Meeting - 2011
TOMFRA’S Winter Meeting was held on January 29, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. Guest speaker Wayne Lease, author of Lone Star Guide: Texas Forts,
spoke on the history and preservation of old Texas forts.
Spring Conference – Fredericksburg, April 8 & 9, 2011
In 2011, nearly 60 TOMFRA travelers to Fredericksburg enjoyed bluebonnets along the way. The Friday evening President’s Reception was held
in the countryside at the beautiful home of Jerrie and Fred Smith. Saturday morning on the bus to the LBJ ranch, Mike Howard, President Lyndon
B. Johnson’s Secret Service man (and later assistant), entertained us with LBJ anecdotes. One important task was to fill LBJ’s hand with jelly beans
when he held it behind his back. The President passed them out to children when he visited schools. A demanding boss, LBJ wanted only “yes,”
“no,” or “I don’t know” answers to his questions.
LBJ’s Lincoln convertibles and amphibious cars with photos of Johnson touring guests around the ranch were highlights of the museum. The
house, restored to the 1960’s, and JetStar plane provided the context for reminiscences by Lady Bird’s secretary and LBJ’s pilot. Bess Abell, with
tears in her eyes, described the day of the Kennedy assassination. When she heard the news, the ranch staff were preparing for the Kennedy’s
visit. The bedroom was awaiting the arrival of Kennedy’s bedboard and mattress, the kitchen counters were covered with pecan pies and vats of
corn soup. The ranch and White House phone systems had not been connected so communication was one-way through the kitchen TV.
Retired pilot Brigadier General James Cross described meeting the challenge of producing Distinguished Service Cross medals, requested literally
mid-air on the way to review troops in Viet Nam. Always billeted three doors away from LBJ in hotels, the President’s “Get a good night’s sleep” in
Thailand turned into a 45 minute nap interrupted by “ Get the plane, I need to go to Rome to talk to the Pope.”
Visits to the Nimitz Museum (National Museum of the Pacific War) were followed by a German wiener schnitzel banquet with Raiford Stripling
Memorial Scholarship award winner, Stephen Dietert. He presented hidden secrets of the Alamo mission.
TOMFRA’s Winter Meeting was held on February 4, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. Long time member Professor Joe McKnight, presented a brief history of
the origins and history of TOMFRA, recalling memorable visits to Texas missions and forts and international trips to Mexico and Spain.
Winter Meeting - 2011
TOMFRA’S Winter Meeting was held on January 29, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. Guest speaker Wayne Lease, author of Lone Star Guide: Texas Forts,
spoke on the history and preservation of old Texas forts.
Spring Conference – Fredericksburg, April 8 & 9, 2011
In 2011, nearly 60 TOMFRA travelers to Fredericksburg enjoyed bluebonnets along the way. The Friday evening President’s Reception was held
in the countryside at the beautiful home of Jerrie and Fred Smith. Saturday morning on the bus to the LBJ ranch, Mike Howard, President Lyndon
B. Johnson’s Secret Service man (and later assistant), entertained us with LBJ anecdotes. One important task was to fill LBJ’s hand with jelly beans
when he held it behind his back. The President passed them out to children when he visited schools. A demanding boss, LBJ wanted only “yes,”
“no,” or “I don’t know” answers to his questions.
LBJ’s Lincoln convertibles and amphibious cars with photos of Johnson touring guests around the ranch were highlights of the museum. The
house, restored to the 1960’s, and JetStar plane provided the context for reminiscences by Lady Bird’s secretary and LBJ’s pilot. Bess Abell, with
tears in her eyes, described the day of the Kennedy assassination. When she heard the news, the ranch staff were preparing for the Kennedy’s
visit. The bedroom was awaiting the arrival of Kennedy’s bedboard and mattress, the kitchen counters were covered with pecan pies and vats of
corn soup. The ranch and White House phone systems had not been connected so communication was one-way through the kitchen TV.
Retired pilot Brigadier General James Cross described meeting the challenge of producing Distinguished Service Cross medals, requested literally
mid-air on the way to review troops in Viet Nam. Always billeted three doors away from LBJ in hotels, the President’s “Get a good night’s sleep” in
Thailand turned into a 45 minute nap interrupted by “ Get the plane, I need to go to Rome to talk to the Pope.”
Visits to the Nimitz Museum (National Museum of the Pacific War) were followed by a German wiener schnitzel banquet with Raiford Stripling
Memorial Scholarship award winner, Stephen Dietert. He presented hidden secrets of the Alamo mission.