Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Historical Commission Gets Distinguished Service Award
By Jay Ermis - Temple Daily Telegram
July 12, 2013
CAMERON - Milam County Commissioners Court during its Monday morning meeting honored the Milam Historical Commission with the group’s 30th distinguished service award from the Texas Historical Commission.
County Judge Dave Barkemeyer presented the award to Johnnielyn Brown, chairwoman of the Milam group.
The Milam Historical Commission was recognized for managing preservation programs that educate residents and generate interest in the history and character of Texas.
The 2012 award also acknowledges the historical commission’s efforts to preserve the state’s heritage by promoting the stewardship of, and tourism to, the state’s unique cultural and historic sites.
“Texas counties have the legislative authority to establish county historical commis- sions to initiate and nduct programs that preserve historic and cultural resources," Barkemeyer said. “Texas historical commissions are made up of unpaid county appointees who reported volun- teer hours for the 2012 service year that had a monetary value of more than $8.8 million.
“Historical commissions’ contributions include the preservation of countless historic buildings, artifacts, doc- uments and other components of the state’s rich history.”
The Milam group has received the award for the 30 years “because we go over and above in historic preservation in getting historical markers and working on historical projects,” said Lucille Estelle, a past county commission chairwoman. “It is a coveted award. Not all counties get it.
“This is based on work of the Milam County Historical Commission. Getting historical markers is one of the things that helped get the award. Another thing we do in Milam County, we host a preservation trust fund. We give actual grants for preservation. That money comes from cities entrusted to the commission and that’s historic preservation.”
The commission meets six times a year and provides small grants to help small businesses with small projects.
“The state does not have a preservation trust fund anymore,” Estelle said.
“We are to preserve, protect and promote historical businesses, historical buildings such as the Kay Theater in Rockdale and The Depot and the county historical museum here in Cameron,” Brown said. “The county courthouse is a big historical renovation. Those are some of the examples of the preservation trust fund The work at Apache Pass was through the historical commission.”
“The work at Apache Pass was through the historical commission.”
The commission also helped the Rosenwald School in Davilla get a clear deed or title, allowing it to be renovated as a Rosenwald School, established by a benefactor from New York.
“That in itself is an advantage for the county,” Estelle said
By Jay Ermis - Temple Daily Telegram
July 12, 2013
CAMERON - Milam County Commissioners Court during its Monday morning meeting honored the Milam Historical Commission with the group’s 30th distinguished service award from the Texas Historical Commission.
County Judge Dave Barkemeyer presented the award to Johnnielyn Brown, chairwoman of the Milam group.
The Milam Historical Commission was recognized for managing preservation programs that educate residents and generate interest in the history and character of Texas.
The 2012 award also acknowledges the historical commission’s efforts to preserve the state’s heritage by promoting the stewardship of, and tourism to, the state’s unique cultural and historic sites.
“Texas counties have the legislative authority to establish county historical commis- sions to initiate and nduct programs that preserve historic and cultural resources," Barkemeyer said. “Texas historical commissions are made up of unpaid county appointees who reported volun- teer hours for the 2012 service year that had a monetary value of more than $8.8 million.
“Historical commissions’ contributions include the preservation of countless historic buildings, artifacts, doc- uments and other components of the state’s rich history.”
The Milam group has received the award for the 30 years “because we go over and above in historic preservation in getting historical markers and working on historical projects,” said Lucille Estelle, a past county commission chairwoman. “It is a coveted award. Not all counties get it.
“This is based on work of the Milam County Historical Commission. Getting historical markers is one of the things that helped get the award. Another thing we do in Milam County, we host a preservation trust fund. We give actual grants for preservation. That money comes from cities entrusted to the commission and that’s historic preservation.”
The commission meets six times a year and provides small grants to help small businesses with small projects.
“The state does not have a preservation trust fund anymore,” Estelle said.
“We are to preserve, protect and promote historical businesses, historical buildings such as the Kay Theater in Rockdale and The Depot and the county historical museum here in Cameron,” Brown said. “The county courthouse is a big historical renovation. Those are some of the examples of the preservation trust fund The work at Apache Pass was through the historical commission.”
“The work at Apache Pass was through the historical commission.”
The commission also helped the Rosenwald School in Davilla get a clear deed or title, allowing it to be renovated as a Rosenwald School, established by a benefactor from New York.
“That in itself is an advantage for the county,” Estelle said
All credit for this article goes to
Jay Ermis and the
Temple Daily Telegram
Jay Ermis and the
Temple Daily Telegram