On July 19, 1923, more than 1,000 people gathered in downtown Houston to take part in the dedication of what was then called the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building.
Close to 100 years later, the county-owned building on Grand Avenue is now simply called the Texas County Memorial Building, and is home to the Historical and Military Museum and the Genealogical Society library, a pair of nonprofit operations run by volunteers.
The facility is normally open to the public 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays from March through October, but has been closed for more than a year due to interior issues. Now that those issues have been resolved, organizers plan to resume the normal once-a-week schedule next Thursday (March 5).
SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND MEMORIES
The Historical and Military Museum features several rooms decked out with dozens of items honoring veterans of all U.S. wars (including memorabilia and uniforms from several wartime periods with connections to Texas County), as well as many general historical items (including century-old photos from around the county). Visitors can view everything from an authentic early-1900s school bell to lists of county military personnel who died fighting in World Wars I and II.
Houston resident Norman Bridges has been the museum’s volunteer manager for nine years.
“It’s really an amazing place to have in a little town like this,” Bridges said. “There are all kinds of things in there.”
Every item in the museum was obtained through donation, mostly from local veterans. There are even pieces of history outside the Memorial Building, as a pair of extremely rare Hotchkiss 47-milimeter revolver cannons flank the entry.
Made in France, the big guns were used on U.S. Navy ships in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
“They’re probably the only two left in the world,” Bridges said.
Interestingly, where the guns originated is unknown.
“I tried hard to find out,” Bridges said. “They came in on a train to Cabool, and it must have been through one of those programs where you can get things from the war department, but I couldn’t trace it beyond that train.”
Bridges has always been a fan of history and has even put together a book available for viewing at the museum that chronicles more than 700 Texas County military “heroes” from long-ago wars, beginning with the Revolutionary War of the 1770s and continuing through the Spanish-American War in 1898. She said the existence of the historical and military museum is important to the county.
“People – especially kids – need to see stuff like this, they really do,” she said.
Bridges said she looks forward to having new, younger people involved in helping keep the museum moving forward.
“This is something worth keeping and we need some new blood in here,” she said.
RECORDS FROM TEXAS COUNTY’S PAST
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Texas County Genealogical Society, which operates a library in a large room at the back of the Memorial Building. Houston resident Shirley Wenger is one of few remaining charter members and has been the organization’s president for 25 years.
In that time, Wenger and her fellow volunteers have compiled a vast library of marital, death and other public records, some of which date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s.
“We have really worked to get it to where it is now,” she said. “But you know, we want those records to be preserved and that’s what we’ve tried to do. People have been very generous in passing on information to us when they find it.”
The library features computers available at no charge for visitors to peruse an extensive cache of ancestry information.
“I want people to know that they don’t have to be a member to use the library,” Wenger said. “Anyone can feel free to come and use it.”
The genealogical society meets at 1 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. Wenger said the organization is in need of volunteers.
“We’re all getting older and we’re wanting some younger people to help now,” she said.
After the library resumes operation next week, the Genealogical Society plans to also host an open house in it from 1 to 3 p.m. March 13.
“Hopefully, we’ll have people come through and say ‘I want to get involved here,’” Wenger said.
There is no entry fee at the Texas County Memorial Building, but donations are accepted by both entities that call it home. Tours for students or other groups are available by request.
For more information about the museum, or to volunteer, call Bridges at 417-967-2629. For more information about the genealogical society, or to volunteer, call Wenger at 417-967-2946.
Both the Texas County Historical and Military Museum and Texas County Genealogical and Historical Society are looking for volunteers to help from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays from March 5 through October.
To volunteer with the museum, call Norma Bridges at 417-967-2629.
To volunteer with the genealogical and historical society, call Shirley Wenger at 417-967-2946.
To view a gallery of photos from inside the Texas County Memorial Building, click here:
http://houstonherald.smugmug.com/Texas-County-Memorial-Building