Heritage, Volume 10, Number 4, Fall 1992 Page: 27
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Heritage Magazine and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas Historical Foundation.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
THF Grant Guidelines and
Applications Available
Guidelines and applications for preservation
grants are available from the Texas
Historical Foundation office in Austin. In
its efforts to support projects and activities
in education, research, archaeology, and
the preservation of Texas history and heritage,
THF acts as administrator of several
grants.
Applicants should be advised that small
requests are in order at the present time,
and those groups awarded grants will be
expected to provide a full accounting of
the use of the money for which they are
applying.
Guidelines and applications for preservation
grants can be obtained from the
Texas Historical Foundation, P.O. Box
50314, Austin, Texas 78763.
Texas Historical Foundation
Awards Grant to East Texas
Church Organization
In an effort to help preserve the ethnic
history of Texas, the Texas Historical
Foundation has contributed $1,750 to the
Mount Zion Cemetery Committee and
Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church of
Colmesneil in East Texas. The funds will
be used to help restore the steeple of the
church, one of the earliest churches to
serve the area's Afro-American community,
and to complete preservation work at
the cemetery, which was believed to have
been used for burial purposes as early as
1850.
In the early 1880s, a freedmen's colony
grew in Colmesneil, in response to the
availability of jobs at a nearby sawmill. In
order to serve the religious and spiritual
needs of that community, the Zion Hills
Missionary Baptist Church was organized
in 1881, the first black church congregation
in Colmesneil. Through the years,
the church has occupied several locations
and has served not only as a place of
worship but also as a school for black
children.
The oldest legible tombstone in the
Mount Zion Cemetery dates back to 1859,
though there are several unmarked graves
that are probably older. Among the more
than 200 internments in the cemetery are
those of prominent members of
Colmesneil's black community, including
ministers, doctors, teachers, railroad employees,
and veterans.The Texas Historical Foundation granted funds to the Zion Hill Baptist Church to help restore the steeple
of the church (above). Michael Weil, THF treasurer, presents a check (bottom) to a representative of the
Catholic Diocese of El Paso in connection with the restoration of three of the city's historic missions.Cunningham Reunion Honored
Much like they had done for the past
103 years, members of the Cunningham
family gathered in August south of
Comanche to celebrate, remember, and
renew friendships. This year, though, the
Texas Historial Foundation honored the
family with a historical proclamation, recognizing
them for their longstanding traditions
as pioneers from the Republic of Texas
times, and stating that the second Sunday
of each August shall be known as Captain
James and Susannah Cunningham Day.
James and Susannah Cunningham
came to the Republic of Texas in 1839-40with Historical Proclamation
and settled eventually in Comanche County,
the site of the annual reunion.
John Meadows, president of the Texas
Historical Foundation, and a descendant of
the Cunninghams, presented the award at
the reunion. Meadows is the third
Cunningham family member to lead the
state historical group.
THF is seeking input from members regarding
places, people, and families that
have made valuable contributions to the
heritage of Texas. Read about the
foundation's proclamation program on page
four in this issue of HERITAGE.HERITAGE * FALL 1992 27
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas Historical Foundation. Heritage, Volume 10, Number 4, Fall 1992, periodical, Autumn 1992; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth45421/m1/27/?rotate=270: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Foundation.