Burnet County Historical Commission

Fort Croghan volunteer Judy Lively listens to a record spinning on an antique Victrola, recently donated to the museum by the Fry family. Visitors to the Fort Croghan Grounds and Museum will be able to view the Victrola and many other artifacts and take a trip back in time during Fort Croghan Day this Saturday, Oct. 12, as volunteers dressed in period clothing teach visitors about Burnet's pioneer days. The event begins at 9 a.m. with festivities and demonstrations lasting throughout the day. Fort Croghan Grounds and Museum is located at 703 Buchanan Drive, Burnet. 

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Burnet Bulletin

The generosity of the late Ina Cooper will continue to be felt for nearly two decades after her passing after the Burnet County Historical Commission established a grant program with her final bequest to the organization.

BCHC board members Linda French and Lela Goar appeared before the Burnet County Commissioners Court Tuesday, Sept. 24, to discuss the scope and objectives of the grant program, which is being funded by an $88,000 bequeathment left behind by Cooper, a Burnet resident, who died in June 2017.

“We want to honor Ina's requests (for this money) since she was big on preservation,” Goar said.

Special to the Bulletin

Last month, the Burnet County Historical Commission was honored by the Texas Historical Commission as they were awarded the Distinguished Service Award (DSA), which recognizes County Historical Commissions that document well-rounded preservation programs and efforts. Burnet County commissioners recognized them at their Tuesday, July 9 regular meeting, after BCHC Chair JoAnn Myers reported on the accomplishments of the commission's volunteers.

The THC reported a 2018 total of 447,079 volunteer hours, the monetary equivalent of more than $11.3 million, from 189 counties. The BCHC, one of the 80 recipients of the DSA, racked up 4,936 of those volunteer hours, equaling a $125,522 value to Burnet County. Volunteer hours have grown exponentially since 2016, when the BCHC had 30 volunteers who contributed 2,815 hours, valuing at $67,954.

Special to the Bulletin

The Burnet County Historical Commission (BCHC) is pleased to announce a Texas Ranger Memorial Cross Dedication at the gravesites of two former Texas Rangers and pioneer Burnet citizens: Hugh McCoy and Archibald Lewalen McCoy. During the Ranger ceremony, the gravesite of another Burnet pioneer, E. O.” Jiggs” Kleen, will be marked with a medallion from the Sons of the Republic of Texas. The public is invited to attend the dedication at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2019, at the Bethel Cemetery, 700 CR 202, Burnet, Texas. A lunch reception will follow at the Bethel Community Center, which is located at the T-intersection of FM963 and 2340. Please RSVP for lunch to Dot Creasey, dotcreasey@gmail.com by June 15. Banana pudding will be a featured dessert, provided by members of the BCHC.

Throughout Burnet County lies a history so rich and always worthy of preserving. One piece of history at risk of being lost in time is the Fuchs' House, located in Horseshoe Bay. Nestled among the trees off of Stagecoach lies a house that has withstood the tests of time for approximately 140 years, and with the efforts of a strong community, I hope to see it thrive for 140 more.

The Fuchs' House was built in the late 1870's for Conrad Fuchs and his wife, Anna, and their family. The patriarch of the Fuchs family, Pastor Adolf, his wife Luise, and their children came from Germany in 1846 and made a home for themselves in Texas, building and continuing homes and relationships over the years.

Many family members passed through the area over time, contributing to the ever interesting history of the area. The house served not only as a home, but a stagecoach stop (the stables are located under the house and it is a sight to see!), a community school, and a post office.

By Caryl Calsyn

Special to the Bulletin

Too many homes of historical value have been torn down or left to rot. Horseshoe Bay has only one still standing and that is the Fuchs (Fox) House and is one of only a few in Burnet County. The house was an important part of our past and can once again be an asset to the community.

By Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

Burnet County is mourning the loss of well-known historian and community figure Darrell Debo, who passed away Sunday, April 21.

Debo was born on Sept. 15, 1931, a member of one of Burnet County’s pioneer families. He grew up to graduate as valedictorian of Burnet High School Class of 1948 and continued his education at Texas Christian University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Divinity. Debo is not only remembered as a historian, but as an experienced pianist, journalist, election judge, and preacher, serving churches in Fredonia, Bertram, Kingsland, and Burnet, officiating over 600 funerals and caring for numerous individuals.

Members of the Burnet County Historical Commission announced their Annual Service Awards March 12 at the Burnet County Commissioners meeting. They posthumously awarded Ina Cooper as the 2017 recipient. For 2018, the Iron Bridge Committee was named a collective recipient due to their efforts in preserving historic iron bridges in Joppa. Committee members are as follows: Rachel Bryson, Lynda French, Al Downing, Carolyn Smith, JoAnn Myers, Polly Krenek, Lela Goar, Carolyn Liles, Millie Williams, Delbert Cain, Pam Leonard, Connie and Cooper Stuteville, Bonnie and Donald Fawcett, Christy and Tom Stephens, Keith McBurnett, Betty Cheney and Maude Cain.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Members of the Burnet County Historical Commission proudly received another Distinguished Service Award on Tuesday, June 26, from the Texas Historical Commission during the regular Burnet County Commissioners Court meeting.

It is the seventh consecutive time the BCHC has received the award, which honors the county commission's efforts to preserve and promote local history. Burnet County was one of 80 recipients of the award in 2017.

BCHC chairman JoAnn Myers said 29 members from the local commission provided some 3,180 volunteer hours in 2017.

“That is the same as an in-kind donation to the county of $76,000,” Myers said. “Statewide, the Texas Historical Commission reported more than 400,000 volunteer hours for the state for that period and that is valued at more than $10 million. That is quite an accomplishment for volunteers statewide.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

Highland Lakes Newspapers

A ban on outdoor burning was instituted by the Burnet County Commissioners Court Tuesday morning, June 27.

Members seriously debated whether to take the action before making their decision to institute the ban.

Most of the county has just seen a quarter to a half inch of rain,” said said Herb Darling, director of Burnet County Environmental Services. “I am aware of two projects that may need to burn. Once we put a ban in effect, I'd expect it to be in until the fall.”

“I think it is time,” said Commissioner Joe Don Dockery, whose Precinct 4, has has had some of the lightest rainfall. “The next two weeks are predicted to be hotter than normal and drier than normal. It is not the time of year to be burning anyway.”