Trans Texas Corridor endangers historic landmarks

Sunday, Jan. 13, over 85 citizens gathered at the Glen Flora fire department with the Glen Flora Spanish Camp Historical Society to talk about how to preserve the historical sites in the area. The projected path of the Trans Texas Corridor is scheduled to go right through the towns of Glen Flora, Spanish Camp and Egypt. Michael Corbett who lives in California and is an Architectural Historian there, but has roots in Wharton County said at the last meeting "The Historical Society and citizens of Glen Flora, Spanish Camp and Egypt are hoping a mass of concerned citizens will attend the meeting and show that Wharton County is not willing to give up what our ancestors worked so hard to develop and the wealth of history that was left here for us and our future generations." Mr. Corbett flew in for the meeting and will return here for the two meetings scheduled in February.

Another speaker was Garland Berry a life long resident who's ancestors have been in the Spanish Camp area since its origin spoke of his grandmothers love of this area and the many former slaves who are buried at Zion cemetery, who's final resting places need to be protected, as well as the many black Masons and Eastern Star members who are buried there. Joe King explained what the Texas Trans Corridor was and how it would effect this area, as well as providing maps and schedules for everyone there. His wife, Trish Winkles owns the William Hood Building, which burned and was re-built three times, and the last time around 1914. The Glen Flora bank was once in this building.

Mr. King also explained, " TTC will run from Mexico to Michigan with no exits and possibly cut off some of the farm to market roads in this area. There is no economic advantage for Wharton County, only the loss of prime farming, ranching land and important historical sites."

Duncan Corbett, President of the Glen Flora Spanish Camp Historical Society hosted the meeting, and introduced the speakers and provided the lunch.

As of last week more than a dozen significant historical sites have been revealed and recorded with the Wharton County Historical Museum and more are being discovered everyday. The Wharton County Historical Museum is sponsoring the effort to uncover the historical sites. Janet Hobizal and Peggy Todd are working and recording the sites. Just a few historical sites include: The Newell - Winston Plantation, ( Winston was the grandson of Jane Long, the "Mother of Texas), several slave cabins, Waterhouse Cemetery, The Glen Flora African American Masonic and Eastern Star Lodge, several slave cemeteries. Many Native American sites, The Glen Flora Sugar Mill site and ruins, potential Spanish Camp site of 1836 Mexican Army, not to mention the historic buildings that make up "downtown" Glen Flora, like Dr. Will Davidson's' old drugstore and office, the post office, the mercantile and others.

The post civil war cultural landscape of former slaves and their descendants in the Spanish Camp area and of course, the T.L. Pink school site and existing buildings are also effected. There are dozens of other sites in this area that will be lost to the TTC in Egypt, John C. Clark home place, the Hancock House, the Duncan Cemetery where the grand-daughter of Jemima Heard is buried. Other old landmarks that will be lost are the Egypt Plantation House and cemetery, the Duncan home place, and the Rice Dryer that was not torn down years ago because a protected species of owl that lives there.

There are also many bald eagles in the area. Letters are being sent to every political office in Texas and Washington, as well as the Texas Historical Society, Wharton County Historical Society, El Campo African American Museum and The Wharton County Czech Heritage Society. Glen Flora Spanish Camp Historical Society and Citizens are planning another meeting for February 10th at the fire station in Glen Flora for interested parties who live in the area or are just interested in helping to preserve Wharton County history.

On Feb. 11, the I-69/TTC Public Hearing will be held at the Wharton High School at 6:30 PM, The public hearing meetings have been scheduled by TX DOT to gather comments and concerns from the public. This is your opportunity to voice concerns about the I-69/TTC project.

The Wharton County Historical Museum, Wharton County Historical Society, Glen Flora Spanish Camp Historical Society would like to urge all residents of Wharton County and concerned citizens in surrounding counties to attend this meeting. Janet Hobizal archivist with the Wharton County Historical Museum

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