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.

                           

             

The First State Bank

Most people believed there money was safe

Until 1929

After that the Great Depression

Was not that far behind.

      Oh Daisy, you're out of luck. It's no longer a bank, it's a winery. You can't withdraw any of that, either.

    The bank was built in 1906 and its location is at 211 Liberty. The banks hay-day was in 1917 with assets totaling $191,000. But after the Great Depression, its assets were a little over 18,000. The bank was robbed and then voluntarily liquidated in 1923.
  

   Well academics were never my thing but I guess all go. but only if daisy can come. Next stop, the Olde School House.

     

The Olde School House

Not so many years ago

Schools were black and white

Find the Dobbin landmark

Moved to its new site.

   The Olde School House used to be a school for black people. The school lasted until 1965 when it was shut down by the government.

In 1995, it was moved to Montgomery. It had to be cut in half to be moved. It is now an antique shop on Highway 105.
  


   Now, Daisy doesn't worship anything but squeaky toys, but we will visit anyways. Next stop the old Methodist and Baptist churches. 

   

Old Baptist and Methodist Churches

These two sit side by side

And monitor the people

Although different, they are the same

Complete with a steeple.

   The Old Methodist church was one of the first churches in Montgomery. The Methodist church was established in 1838 by Isaac Strickland under the supervision of Elder Littleton Fowler. It has since moved sites both in 1852 and 1908 before moving to its current  location on Pond St.

   Baptists bought land in Montgomery in 1852. But they didn't have a full time paster for three years when Reverend Thomas Chilton (owner of the house Bob Oliver was stabbed in) took the job. The church wasn't completed until 1902. It would continue to be in use for the next 77 years by Baptists. The churches are now right next to each other.
   Personally, I think putting two churches next to each other is dumb. But, not even daisy is dumb enough to do what happens in are next story. Next stop, the Addison Gandy House. 

           

Addison Gandy House

Climbing a fence 

With a gun

Can give you a hole

 And not much fun.

   This house was built in 1892 by Y.B. and Martha Davis Addison. The fire place and the doors were done by a German traveler who went by Mr. Patch, though.

   Well, its said that Bo Addison went hunting with a young friend one day. When he went to jump over a fence he put his gun on the barbed wire fence. Once he was over the fence he reached for his gun. Well the trigger was stuck on a barb and he ended up shooting him self in the gut. He survived and story says he lived to be 84 years old.
   Are next stop is really big and hairy(no, it is not Daisy). We're going to the Buffalo Monument.

   

Buffalo Falls at Memory Park

Majestically stands tatanka

Guarding this pond and park

Names will be here forever

Historically making a mark.

   Memory Falls is accompanied by a giant life sized buffalo. It symbolizes the great animal that used to once roam Texas and parts of America.

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   This area is also dedicated to people's loved ones from Montgomery. You can see plagues everywhere of those people.



   Daisy thinks we should go see the rest of the park. But, sadly we have run out of time. We can go see something about are next clue there. We need to find something about Dr. Charles B. Stewart.

     

The Chilton House

This house is where the robbers fled

When they were caught,they all were dead

Tell us the names that played the part

And the cemetery that would start.

  The Chilton home was a originally owned by Reverend Thomas Chilton until he died in 1854. Then David Dean bought the home in the 1880s. In that time he built the picket fence from some wood he had in his mill. After that Greg Hudson got the house in 1884, where he lived there while serving as Mayor of Montgomery. The Johnson's then got the home in 1996 and turned it into a Bed and Breakfast. Fred and Betty Harvey have lived in the home since 2000.

   The story goes that on December 28th in1868 the Jesse James gang rode into town and started a shoot out.  Bob Oliver (riding a stolen horse owned by the Wright kids) went into the Chilton home. The Wright kids told him if he came out they wouldn't shoot him. They kept their promise and didn't shoot him, but they stabbed him with a Bowie knife. He died under a bed at the Chilton house.  After the smoke cleared, all four Jesse James boys were dead. They were buried at the New Montgomery Cemetery. Their exact burial place is unknown. 

Dr. Charles B. Stewart

Find the history signed by Lamar

It is red,white, and blue and has a star

Explain to us why its signed upside down

Name the man who made history for this small town.

   Dr. Charles B. Stewart was the first to design the Texas flag. He was also the first to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence.  He was also actively involved in making Montgomery an established town in Texas. 

    While the third Congress of the Republic of Texas was meeting in Houston, President Lamar knew the confusion of the flag for Texas.   So he got a committee together to create one. The story goes, when the committee came together to show the President, Stewart slid the idea across the table not turning it around. The president (not knowing the white belonged on top) signed it upside down.


   Are next stop has a bird even Daisy wouldn't chase. We're going to the Eagle Monument.

      

The Eagle Monument at Memory Park

You will find 500 names

Where the eagle soars

These men and women saved the world

And kept tyranny from our shores

   This monument was built for remembering World War 2 veterans. These veterans participated in the Lone Star Honor Flight Program.  This monument is a 13 foot high eagle on a sphere on a pedestal. The pedestal has over 500 names of veterans who participated in the program.

   The Lone Star Honor Flight Program is for World War 2 veterans to go to the World War 2 Monument in Washington ( not on the Brazos ) D.C.  I personally think its a great idea to support these veterans by ensuring they see this Monument dedicated to them.

   Daisy wants some shade so lets get going. Next stop, the Shelton Smith home.