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Chapter meetings are usually held on the first Saturday of the month, October through May.

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Last update May 26, 2018
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Historic Preservation
 

Replica of Fort Graham Barracks in Hill County, Texas



Fort Graham Historical Marker

 Fort Graham Barracks

The Fort Graham Chapter, NSDAR, supports the efforts of the Hill County Historical Commission (HCHC) to rescue the Fort Graham barracks and preserve its history. All three members of the chapter's Historic Preservation Committee also serve as members of the HCHC.

Fort Graham was established by the United States Army on March 27, 1849, on the east bank of the Brazos River. It was meant to provide protection for citizens from hostile excursions by Indians while attempting to conciliate the local Indians who lived nearby.

After Camp Worth, later to be the city of Fort Worth, was established on June 6, 1849, Fort Graham served as a listening post along the northern frontier, but was ordered closed on November 9, 1853, and it troops moved to other posts.

In 1936, the Texas Centennial Commission granted Hill County funds to purchase the land upon which the Fort stood and to reconstruct a barracks, in part from original stone from the fort. A bronze Texas Centennial marker was awarded to the site.

In 1983, a group of local residents raised $15,000 to move the barracks to higher ground and a museum was housed in the building, but it was later abandoned and is currently in disrepair.


Carver Mansion in Whitney, Texas




Susan in Her Rose Heritage Gown		 Carver Mansion

The Fort Graham Chapter, NSDAR, has been awarded an historical designation for the Carver Mansion in Whitney from the Texas Historic Commission. The chapter's Hats for History Gala fund-raiser benefitting historic preservation project in Hill County was a great success, and their first project supported by those proceeds was the purchase and planned installation of the marker. For the fund-raiser, chapter members made elaborate hats to complement their historic costumes.

Carver Mansion has a unique history. The 1840s log cabin was incorporated into the home as it was expanded and remodeled over the years.

Read more about the history of Carver Mansion and the town of Whitney, Texas.



Madeleine Selling Tickets at the Gala

 

"Miss Emmeline Spencer"
 Lake Whitney Area Museum

In support of the Lake Whitney Area Museum's Christmas Open House Tour, members of the Fort Graham Chapter dressed in colonial costumes and served as docents at the Carver Mansion. A highlight of the day was an appearance by Emmeline Mariah Albright Spencer, who was born in the home in 1849. Miss Emmeline entertained the crowd with stories of life on the Texas frontier. 
 

Barry Cemetery
Cemeteries

Members of Fort Graham chapter obtained Historic Cemetery designations for the Neal Bones Cemetery and the Dodson Cemetery in Hill County. An application for the Barry Cemetery in Bosque County is pending approval.

The Barry Cemetery was founded by James Buckner "Buck" Barry, the great grandfather of Fort Graham daughter Betty Fritz. Barry was an early Texas pioneer, a Texas Ranger, former sheriff of Navarro County, and an officer in the Mexican and Civil Wars.


Bones Cemetery		 Neal Bones Cemetery is a small family cemetery located in Whitney, Texas. The stone below reads, "Martha Louisa George of Mt. George, Arkansas and James Monroe Neal of Chickalah, Arkansas were married in 1852 in Arkansas. This Church of Christ Family labored here between 1856 and 1918."

Winona Childress, Susan Johnston, and Phyllis Olson serve on the Historic Preservation Committee for the Fort Graham Chapter.


Dodson Cemetery		 Fort Graham members Phyllis Olson and Gail King have taken a special interest in Dodson Cemetery in Hill County. They are attempting to rescue it from years of neglect and have obtained an Historic Cemetery designation for it from the Texas Historic Commission. Currently working to identify descendants of those buried there, these ladies are getting involved in clean-up and hope to organize a cemetery association to insure ongoing maintenance of the site. Shown in the photo are chapter member Phyllis Olson and Jill Brooks, TSDAR Historic Preservation Committee Chairman.