Heritage, 2010, Volume 4 Page: 35

THF Grants Help Preserve the Lone Star Identity and Spirit

Steadfast in its commitment to preserve this state's history
and spirit-and despite the tough economy-the Texas His-
torical Foundation board of directors recently awarded six
grants to assist preservationists with their projects.
The Lone Grove Community Club, near Llano, will use
THF funds for expenses associated with the upkeep of the
Lone Grove School, built in 1909. Repairs to the building
were last made in 1956, and the schoolhouse is in need of
extensive improvement.
The Castell Community Club, also in the Texas Hill
Country, received a grant to cover the cost and transportation
of a replica school bell to replace the original one that was re-
moved when the school closed 75 years ago. This is the second
gift that THF has made to the Castell group. In 2007, the
Foundation, which has a focus on rural preservation, awarded
a grant to help restore and renovate the historic building.
According to Tom Doell, president of THF, the assistance
was given because of the important stories these historic
schoolhouses played in Texas history. "These schools were the
place where many Hill Country students received their earli-
est education. Those pupils went on to become well-informed
and productive citizens of the Lone Star State, so the THF
board sees this as a way to honor their stories."
The Friends of the Texas Historical Commission will
use THF funds for expenses associated with the archeologi-
cal investigation, excavation, and artifact conservation at the
Bernardo Plantation in Waller County, considered the first
antebellum-style plantation in the state. Archeological work
supported by the THF grant will focus on studying the area
where the plantation's main house was located and on discov-
ering more about the lives of the enslaved workers in order to
gain further knowledge of the early history of African Ameri-
cans in Texas.
The Community Archaeology Research Institute, in
Houston, was given assistance to help write a "Historic Con-
text Document" for archeologists to use when conducting
African American archeology projects in Texas. The funds
will be used for the professional fees of researchers who will
collect and gather the data needed to develop a historical
"In this time, when so many are
moving to Texas, it seems that we
are in real danger of losing our Lone
Star identity and spirit. The Texas
Historical Foundation believes in
the importance of preserving the
Texas state of mind..."

A THF grant will help archeologists continue their work at the Bernardo Plan-
tation. In this image, archeologists uncover the remains of one of the two
original sandstone fireplaces at the plantation. Photo by Robert Marcom.
framework for archeologists studying African American sites.
Both archeological grants are being funded through THF's
Joseph Ballard Archeological Endowment.
THF funds were also provided to the Texas Mountain
Trail Region of Texas, Inc., for costs associated with the pub-
lication of a Far West Texas Wildlife Trail map, promoting
heritage tourism in 17 counties.
Finally, the Friends of Casa Navarro in San Antonio will
use their THF grant for the development and printing of edu-
cational materials related to Navarro: The Opera. The produc-
tion, targeted towards a school-age audience, is based on Marj
Gurasich's book, Benito and the White Dove: A Story of Josd
Navarro. Navarro was a signer of the Texas Declaration of In-
dependence; the opera will help interpret the Mexican history
and heritage of Texas.
Doell, THF's president, summarized the importance of
these financial gifts this way: "In this time, when so many are
moving to Texas, it seems that we are in real danger of losing
our Lone Star identity and spirit. The Texas Historical Foun-
dation believes in the importance of preserving the Texas state
of mind, and our grants program is just one of the ways that
we are working to do that."
To apply for a Foundation grant, consult the THF website,
www. texashistoricalfoundation. org.
Editor's Note: The dual spellings of archeology and archaeology
in this article is intentional. This was necessary since the Com-
munity Archaeology Research Institute uses a spelling that is
different from the HERITAGE magazine style.

HERITAGEE Volume 4 2010

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