QUANAH PARKER DAY AT OLD FORT PARKER on Sept. 14 will celebrate the life and contributions of the Last Great Chief of the Comanche. His story began on May 19, 1836 when Cynthia Ann Parker was abducted by the Comanche during a raid on Fort Parker in Limestone County. She was taken into the Comanche family and became the wife of Chief Peta Nocona and mother of Quanah Parker who was born around 1850. Descendents of both sides of his family, friends and historians will share stories, photos video and a power point presentation in addition to the well-known activities provided at Old Fort Parker. For information, contact Sarah McReynolds at 254-729-5253 or oldfortparker@aol.com
TEHUACANA HERITAGE FESTIVAL on Oct. 4, 5 will celebrate The Trinity University 150th Anniversary. Now located in San Antonio, Trinity was founded in Tehuacana in 1869. The imposing administrative classroom building that was completed in 1892 still stands and will be the centerpiece for activities that include a musical choral concert, fish fry, historical presentations and tours, 1869 parade enactment with horses and wagons, pumpkin carving, barbecue (of course, in Texas), period costumes and entertainment, plus much more. For information, contact Linda Ferris at 254-395-4369 or tehuacanaheritagefestival2019@gmail.com.
THE LIMESTONE COUNTY HISTORICAL BUS TOUR on Oct.12 will visit Old Fort Parker plus other Limestone County historical sites. The Confederate Reunion Grounds, a favorite meeting place after the Civil War, hosts numerous family events that depict early life and happenings that included the 1920’s oil boom in Mexia and Kosse. Fort Parker State Park and its lake. created by CCC crews between 1935 and 1941, is one of Texas’ finest State Parks with a variety of accommodations, facilities and services. Cemeteries containing graves of the victims of the raid on Fort Parker and other early settlers are included on the tour. The recently restored iron truss bridge over the Navasota River and the Fort Parker Lake dam are viewable from the tour route. For information, contact info@masseyfoundation.com
BASSETT FARMS OPEN HOUSE on the FIRST SATURDAY of Oct. Nov. and Dec. will feature self-guided tours, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, of the first floor of the historic Bassett House, outbuildings and grounds near Kosse. The Bassett House, a Recorded Texas History Landmark, was built in 1875 and is thought to be the oldest brick house in Limestone County. Bassett Farms Conservancy, a 2,400 acre property of Preservation Texas, is being developed as what will be the largest preservation and conservation skills training center in the country. For details: www.PreservationTexas.org/BassettHouse
For information on volunteering, contact Jane Ashburn at ashburn@preservationtexas.org
