Hays County Historical Commission
Thursday, Jan 24, 2008
Mary Giberson’s home in Buda

Only ten acres remain of the original land grant given David Crew when he returned from the Battle of San Jacinto. They separate the home built in 1869 from a sea of new homes in the surrounding subdivision where Holstein cattle once roamed.

Mary Giberson's home in Buda.

The center hall colonial was originally built in Italianate style, but during a 1960 renovation, a balcony was removed and columns from a demolished home behind the Austin state capitol building were added across the front. Mary Giberson laughs that although she was turned down for a Texas historic plaque decades ago because of changes made to the outside, the changes are now almost 50 years old and eligible for a historic plaque on their own. Mrs. Giberson graciously invited HCHC members to tour her spacious home after the business meeting.

Mary Giberson entertains HCHC members with the history of her home.

Chairman Kate Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:20 pm with 16 members and guests present, seated around a roaring, warm fire on a damp, cold night. Minutes from Nov. 29 meeting were read. Bob Flocke moved to approve as read and LaMarr Petersen seconded.

Chairman Johnson urged members to reapply for appointment to the commission when our current appointment ends in December 2008. She has also received acknowledgement Robert Redford has received our letter asking for his help in a 2008 springtime fundraiser, the date to be set by his availability. A list of HCHC 2008 meeting dates and places was passed out.

Johnson also passed out postcards as a reminder of the Texas Historical Commission convention in Corpus Christi, May 1-3. There will be several good workshops members will be interested in and it will be a fun time if a bunch of us go. Members should contact HCHC Chairman if they are interested. She would also like a tentative head count and interest for a train trip to Oakland, CA where members will present the current sheriff with a bronze statuette of Col. Jack Hays. Trip could take place Oct. 24-27. Johnson also displayed a book currently available on Amazon.com about Col. Jack Hays titled TX Frontier Lands by James Kimmins Greer.

Historical Markers: We have the marker for Butler Cemetery. There is a request to replace the Pound House marker. Harris and Petty received national registry status. Deed to the old county jail has not been passed to county. Antiquities committee is reviewing the transaction. Tree is still growing out of the wall. Bon Ton marker was unveiled at Kyle city council meeting in January. Several HCHC members were present as Chairman Kate Johnson made the presentation. The mayor of Kyle accepted the marker and recognized members of the extended Word family and current owners of the Bon Ton Market who were at the meeting also. Bon Ton marker will be placed on city hall grounds, site of the original store and land the Word family owned. Buda marker has been delivered to elementary school. Plans in progress by school officials for unveiling ceremony at 9 am. Friday, February 22 with reception following in Kunkel Room.

Money man, LaMarr Petersen reported he has sold all remaining, signed Limestone Ledges books so we need to gear up and have some more signed by the five remaining authors. He stated HCHC fund brought forward $12,089.56 on October 1, 2007 (beginning fiscal year for Hays County) plus total revenue, balance Jan 24 was $17,064.06. Total balance for HCHC operating budget $8,206.13. Cemetery fund balance is $7,716.72. Jail restoration fund total is $8,331.03. Detailed treasurer’s report is on file.

Cemetery Report: Jim Cullen reported via email as he was on his way to Austin. As before, work has continued at Cocke Cemetery. THC’s Anne Shelton reports contact with Donna burns, the Cocke family descendant from Dale who earlier expressed interest in establishing Guardian status at the cemetery. Hopes are high that she will. Dry, cool weather is giving us a winter reprieve from the jungle-like vegetation growth we saw last summer. We now have photographic images of 47 (of our estimated 80) county burial sites integrated into the cemetery pages of HCHC website.

HCHC Website: Richard Kidd reported it is receiving an average of 1,000 hits a month. It was put up in October ’06 and revised March ’07. It was suggested sales of HCHC books and poster, etc. be added to the website. LaMarr will work on organization and email contact. Richard will work on a page for ordering and needs photos of available books. We also need more signed, Limestone Ledges books to sell.

History: Ophelia Philo stated work should be started on a master DVD for storage in safe at county courthouse, the full, unedited versions as a backup. The Harper families have lived in the area since 1870 and are great candidates for African-American oral history. Bonnie Eissler has several people on her hot list.

Shelley Henry organized a very successful book signing and sale at the Cock House in San Marcos on December 8 from 1-3 pm. People started arriving early and stayed late, waiting in line to buy books and have them signed by the five, still living authors. Some brought their books to have them signed. Area newspapers carried publicity of the event insuring its success rate.

Hays County Commissioners are organizing a 160th birthday party celebration for Hays County on March 1 from 10 am – 4 pm on the courthouse grounds. HCHC members are urged to be on hand to serve as docents for the day. We will receive information on the history of the courthouse to help answer questions. HCHC will also have our booth set up with items for sale and handouts.

There was a tour of a fascinating home to take and tantalizing smells of hot bread and seafood gumbo coming from the kitchen. At 7:20 pm. LaMarr Petersen moved to adjourn and Linda Coker seconded.

Respectfully submitted,
Linda Keese, Recording Secretary