history of montgomery

Historical City Of                                                                Montgomery                                                   by: Parker Henss 




Montgomery, TX started as a trading post in 1823 and was established by Andrew J. Montgomery. In the beginning of Montgomery history, it was the center of a lot of farming and trading. Many different religious and civic groups started coming to Montgomery and in 1848, Montgomery was incorporated.

        By 1850 Montgomery was growing rapidly. Expensive houses were being built. But the Civil War stopped all expansion in Montgomery. But by the 1900's Montgomery was alive and booming again. Multiple businesses started up in Montgomery by that time, including hotels, cotton gins, doctors and lawyers.           

        After the county seat moved to Conroe and rail roads started skipping Montgomery, the town went back to being "small". Now the town is just a drive-by town with a lot of history...and we love it that way!     

thank you letter

Dear Mr. Joe Shockley,

Thank you so much for your help on my scavenger hunt project, it was a lot of help. I found out some amazing stuff from you. You were a real help. This was a fun project and I hope, with your generous help, I will make a good grade. Thanks once again for your help.

Sincerely,                                                                                                                                         Parker Henss    

Cedar Brake Park

A park was dreamed of and then realized

It sits adjacent to highway 105

Named for the trees that created a cover

The park may have not happened without Sonya Clover

   This park was specifically made for handicapped people. It was adapted to be enjoyable on a wheelchair. It also has multiple pavilions and grills around the park.

   The park was made possible by the patrons of Cedar Brake Park. There members (including Sonya Clover) help raise money for the park. It is a non-profit organization. 
  

   Sorry, Daisy its time to go. its ok ,though now we get to go to an amazing place, Fernland. 

Fernland

Historic homes have been moved

To a new location

Name all the homes, take pictures, too

And it will improve your Montgomery education




 

      The Arnold Simonton house was built in the mid 1840s. It was built by Dr. E. J. Arnold a Montgomery doctor and community leader. It was then owned by Simonton family. They owned it between 1936 and 1977, when they eventually donated it to a historical society.

The James Jardine cabin was owned by an Irish emigrant in 1826. He emigrated with the Jose Vehlien Colony in present day Walker County. It is believed the cabin was built by Jardine before the Texas Revolution. It is one of the oldest existent log structures in Texas.

  
The Crane Cabin was built in 1867 in Angelina County by Nicholas Crane, a man who moved from Alabama 19 years earlier, and veteran of the Civil War . The exterior walls are made from nice pine logs, and the interior walls are custom finished.  

   
     The Hulon House is a Civil War era dog trot type home. The house features 2 similar rooms with a walk way in the middle. The home was originally located in Willis, Texas. It was later moved and decorated in Civil War era items.
  

  Daisy, where did you get that tennis ball. Thievery is not tolerated. You need to go to jail and luckily there is one at are next stop, the Montgomery Community Center.    

The Montgomery Community Center

Find the center our hometown

Many markers can be found

be persistent, time will tell

Or you could end up in jail

Also, there's a goat with a pail

Visit him by the well.

     The community center has multiple attractions. The first is the jail. It was used by the people who picked bluebonnets and stole tennis balls and thought they were above the law.

There is also a time capsule. It is scheduled to be opened in the year 2037. 

And last but not least, the town marker where the town used to be.

   There is also a fake goat next to a well too. The story about this goat is: one day a goat walked into town on a hot day. Nobody knew who his owner was, so the goat walked in and stood by the well till some generous person got him a drink. Nobody did. So this little horned animal went to the saloon to get a drink and a snack and there he got one. Apparently he stayed in town and became very popular after that. That's the goat story.
  

   That sound like something daisy would do, but daisy will have to wait till we're heading to are next stop for water. We're going to the 3 churches.

The 3 Churches

These churches started in 1865

And one in 97

Each guaranteed the newly freed

That they would end up in Heaven

    The Mt. Sinai Baptist Church was created in the Dupree School building in the year 1897 near its present location. The church was established by Rev. P.A. Northington and many others. The building was later modified and eventually replaced 85 years later.

     The Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church was established by Rev. C.L. McPherson Sr.  Services were held in a brush arbor until the church was built in 1897. A new church was erected in 1979 under the supervision of Rev. T.B. Reeves.

     The China Chapel Church was established in 1865.  It was made with Sam I. Smith as the minister. It is located at 316 N. Liberty.

  

   Well that was interesting.  Our next stop is going to be a little less than lively, though. We're going to the New and Old Montgomery Cemetery.

The Old And New Montgomery Cemetery

In this town we have "new and old"

Explain to us why we have two

 A third was built in 1865

You could not get out of these alive

   The Montgomery Methodist church was established by Rev. Isaac Strickland. The church had a yard and it came into use for burials in the 1840s and prior. There is even a headstone of a man who served in the Revolutionary War. The cemetery was used until it was full.

  Made for 4 criminals, the New Montgomery Cemetery is a history goldmine.  Many Texans through the years have been buried there, including Dr. Charles B. Stewart. The cemetery was made for the four Jesse James gang boys. The public did not want them buried in their church cemetery so they made a new cemetery.


   Its funny Daisy was just asking if I knew of a place to store money for tennis ball. I told her the First State Bank which is where we're going next.