Calhoun County Historical Commission Award Calhoun County Judge Michael Pfeifer presented the Texas Historical Commission’s Distinguished Service Award to members of the Calhoun County Historical Commission (left to right) Chairman Mary Belle Meitzen, John Meitzen, Steve Koch, and Avril Sassman. -Photo by Philip Thomae

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) recently recognized Calhoun County with a Distinguished Service Award for the 2012 year of service. This award was presented by Judge Pfeifer to members of the Calhoun County Historical Commission (CCHC) during a meeting of the Commissioner’s Court on August 22, recognizing the CCHC for managing preservation programs that educate citizens and generate interest in the history and character of Texas. This award also acknowledges the CCHC’s efforts to preserve Texas’ unique heritage by promoting stewardship of, and tourism to, our state’s unique cultural and historic sites.

“The Distinguished Service Award is our agency’s way of affirming County Historical Commissions that continue to improve and expand their preservation programs,” said THC Executive Director Mark Wolfe. “The Texas Historical Commission works with CHCs to save the real places and tell the real stories of Texas.”

Among the accomplishments of the Calhoun County Historical Society in 2012 were their assistance in the restoration project by The Daughters of the Republic of Texas of the Indianola Cemetery and the purchase and installation of a steel plate Camel and Soldier Silhouette artwork near the LaSalle Monument to memorialize the “Great Texas Camel Experiment”.

During 2012, the following Marker applications were submitted by the CCHS and approved by the Texas Historical Commission: Port O’ Connor Historic Texas Cemetery, Honorable Howard Hartzog, Indianola Texas Camel Corp, Sunlight Girls, Don Martin deLeon and Dr. Edward Fred Knipling.

During 2013, the CCHC will dedicate the Historical Markers for World War II written by Mary Belle Meitzen, Sgt. William Barnes written by Gary Ralston, Chihuahua Trail Terminus written by Nelson Marek and the folklorist Ed Bell written by Lea Hall.

Little Mary’s Grave* was surveyed, photographed, leveled, and repaired during its restoration. The Historic Texas Cemetery Designation application is being completed.

The Marker Committee, chaired by John Foester is currently working on The Battle of Norris Bridge, Mission Refugio and German Immigration through Karlshafen which was accepted as an Undertold Marker Story by the Texas Historical Commission.
The Calhoun County Historical Commission has currently completed over 1,000 volunteer hours.

Unlike most states, Texas counties have the legislative authority to establish CHCs to initiate and conduct programs that preserve historic and cultural resources. Texas CHCs are made up of unpaid county appointees whose reported volunteer hours for the 2012 year of service had a monetary value of more than $8.8 million. The THC provides services to CHCs, as well as citizens across the state, to preserve Texas’ heritage for the use, education, enjoyment, and economic benefit of present and future generations. CHC contributions include the preservation of countless historic buildings, artifacts, documents, and other components of Texas’ rich history.

* Little Mary’s Grave is located on Hwy 238 next to Chocolate Bayou, just before the bridge, on the left, as you come in to Port Lavaca. It is the grave of Mary Jane Mitchell, who was listed in the 1860 census of Indianola. She is buried close to the train route from Indianola. There are various tales of how she came to be buried there and her grave marked by such an ornate table top tombstone, but her death and the circumstances of the location of the stone remain an unsolved mystery.