History Taskforce receives Distinguished Service Award
Members of the nonprofit HISTORY TASKFORCE were honored this morning during the Montgomery County Commissioners Court for their service to Montgomery County. This committed group of 9 volunteers and their consultants have performed exemplary work to restore the 1899 Thomas Chapel Church in Willis; the digital duplication of over 40,000 historic documents, photos and maps of Montgomery County; the research and onsite investigations of formerly lost cemeteries of enslaved people; and the development of a nationally recognized database of those enslaved on approximately 75 pre-Civil War plantations in Montgomery County whose names have now been identified for future genealogical research by their descendants.
Attached is the detailed nomination for the William Harley Gandy Distinguished Service Award that describes their unparalleled efforts to preserve our County’s history by methodical research, site investigations, and digitalization of precious historic documents. The nomination includes the painstaking work with photos performed by the members of the History Taskforce to preserve the oldest African American church in our county—Thomas Chapel, with funding coming from Montgomery County Commissioners Court and from the personal contributions of the members of the History Taskforce. Most of these members are also members of our County Historical Commission.
Ron Saikowski, civil engineer and member of our Commission, took this photo this morning and served as the construction consultant on the meticulous restoration of the church, a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
Attached is the detailed nomination for the William Harley Gandy Distinguished Service Award that describes their unparalleled efforts to preserve our County’s history by methodical research, site investigations, and digitalization of precious historic documents. The nomination includes the painstaking work with photos performed by the members of the History Taskforce to preserve the oldest African American church in our county—Thomas Chapel, with funding coming from Montgomery County Commissioners Court and from the personal contributions of the members of the History Taskforce. Most of these members are also members of our County Historical Commission.
Ron Saikowski, civil engineer and member of our Commission, took this photo this morning and served as the construction consultant on the meticulous restoration of the church, a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
Big Boy and Ned Eastman Barnes
THOMAS CHAPEL - WILLIS, TX - Restoration Completed March 2024
Restoration work on Thomas Chapel has been completed. The History Taskforce is grateful for all donations and funding by the Montgomery County Historical Commission. This project has wrapped up and services are once again being held in this historic Texas state landmark. |
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