August 2008
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED -- The Wallisville Heritage Park is always looking for good volunteers, someone to come in once a week or so and work on special projects to help our museum and library. Mary Jean Abshier has been a volunteer here for over 20 years. She comes out every Tuesday, weather and circumstances permitting, and works on one project at a time. Peter Stines has been volunteering two or three days a week here lately and assisting us with some other projects. We have many more projects that would be perfect for volunteers, and we would love to talk to anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer. Call Sylvia or Kevin at 409.389.2252 for more information.
JIM BOB JACKSON -- The hardcover edition of Jim Bob Jackson’s book, “They Pointed Them East First,” is now available for sale at the Heritage Park at $20 each. This book was originally published in a quality paperback edition some three or four years ago, but this is a new hardcover edition. The books were printed through Kemp & Company in Houston, the same company that published our cookbook. If you would like to reserve a copy, call us at 409.389.2252.
MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS -- We are continuing to sell our cookbook, “Memories Are Made of This,” now in its second edition of 1,000 copies. We greatly appreciate all of the folks who have helped us to sell our cookbook. Copies are available at the West Chambers County Chamber of Commerce in Mont Belvieu; at Security State Bank, Anahuac National Bank and the office of County Clerk Heather Hawthorne in Anahuac; in Winnie, County Commissioner Mark Huddleston’s Office and at Finch and Company; and in Liberty at Ann’s Seafood, Fashions & More, Dovetail Antiques, the Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce and at the Liberty Gazette offices. The hardback cookbook sells for $20 each. If you would like to order a copy by mail, please call the Heritage Park at 409-389-2252 and send a check for $23. Or write to us at Box 16, Wallisville, TX 77597.
CHARLES C. KILGORE 1917-2008 -- The Wallisville Heritage Park lost a great friend recently with the death of Mr. Charles Carrol Kilgore of League City, Texas. Charlie was descended from the Van Pradelles, Kilgore, and Knight families of Wallisville, and always had a fierce pride in his family and his Wallisville roots. He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore Albert and Zonnie (Knight) Kilgore, and by two brothers, Joe and Ullman Kilgore. We extend our sympathy to his wife, Daphine, and their children.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF TAD LA FOUR -- We are especially grateful to Nancy (Mrs. Hubert) Ray of Liberty for sharing photographs of her late father-in-law, B. M. “Tad” LaFour (1905-2003) with the Wallisville Heritage Park. We were able to scan these images and return the originals to Mrs. Ray. Tad LaFour was the longtime owner of LaFour’s Minimax in Liberty and was a son of former Chambers County Sheriff Francis Reuben “Rube” LaFour. Tad was always proud of his Wallisville roots and his many relatives in this area. We would like to remind folks that we would love to copy any other photographs of early families, homes, businesses and events in Chambers County. We can scan them and return them immediately.
NEW DIRECTORS ELECTED -- The Board of Directors of the Wallisville Heritage Park met on Thursday, April 17, 2008 and approved the appointments of five individuals to serve on the board. Elected as new members of the board of directors were: Mary Jean Abshier of Pine Island, Betty Gail Benningfield of Anahuac, Mary Sue Jenkins of Hankamer, Jewell Wilcox Key of Round Point, and Peter Stines of Anahuac.
DIRECTORS EMERITUS ELECTED -- Board members also approved a motion elevating two longtime board members, Harry G. Daves Jr. of Old River-Winfree and Ella Mae Mayes of Wallisville, to the status of directors emeritus. Both are presently unable to attend board meetings because of their health. Mr. Daves has been active in the field of historical preservation for over thirty years. Mrs. Mayes served as vice president of the WHP Board for over 25 years.
VICE PRESIDENT ELECTED -- Douglas M. Cameron was elected as vice president of the Wallisville Heritage Park Foundation at the April 17 Board of Directors Meeting. Doug is the retired longtime president of Security State Bank in Anahuac and has served on numerous boards in Chambers County.
VOLUNTEERS HONORED BY THE BOARD -- The board also adopted resolutions thanking present and former volunteers for their service to the Wallisville museum and library. Those included Mary Jean Abshier, Harry Daves, Maggie Gibson, Ronica Hall, and Juanita Mayes. Resolutions were also adopted in memory of three former volunteers. Bernice Whitehead of Smith Point, who died in 1999; Cynethia Cecil of Lake Charlotte, who died in 2004; and Alice Worthy of Moss Bluff, who died in 2007, were so honored.