Historical Commission receives THC award

The Hays County Historical Commission received a 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Historical Commission.

This annual award affirms HCHC appointees for managing well-rounded history and preservation-related programs that enrich Texas communities and promote Texas history.

The Hays County Commissioners Court, which serves as the HCHC’s governing body, officially presented the DSA certificate to members of the HCHC at its regular meeting on July 11, and publicly acknowledged these appointees for their dedicated service.

The THC assists the HCHC with programs and services that preserve Texas’ heritage for the education, enjoyment, and economic benefit of present and future generations.

The HCHC, as directed by county officials, initiates and conducts programs that preserve the historic and cultural resources of Texas.

The Hays County Historical Commission’s major accomplishments in 2022 include:

• Designation of San Vicente Cemetery and Peal-Pleasant Valley Cemetery as Historic Texas Cemeteries,

• Extensive survey of the more than 400 graves in San Vicente Cemetery,

• The African American Committee’s support of and participation in celebrations for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, and Black History Month

• The Hispanic Heritage Committee’s creation of exhibits for the American GI Forum, La Sociedad Mutualista Cuauhtémoc, Cinco de Mayo, and Día de los Muertos

• Full resumption of programming at the Kyle Railroad Depot following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,

• Continued efforts towards the restoration of the historic 1884 Hays County Jail,

• The state’s approval of five applications for historical markers with subjects that range from the historic contributions of the women of Hays County to the historic contributions of the county’s Hispanic population,

• Completion of two historical markers years in the making—the Kyle Railroad Depot and La Sociedad Mutualista Cuauhtémoc, and

• Replacement marker for Don Felipe Roque de la Portilla secured at no cost to the county.

To learn more about the HCHC, visit www. hayshistoricalcommission. com. For more information about CHCs in Texas, visit thc.texas. gov/chcoutreach or contact the THC’s History Programs Division at 512-463-5853.

The Hays County Historical Commission is a group of volunteers appointed by the Hays County Commissioner’s Court for a two-year term to preserve the history and cultural resources of Hays County. In addition to implementing the State Historical Marker program of the Texas Historical Commission on a local level, the Hays County Historical Commission is active in the preservation of area cemeteries and historical sites. Its purpose is to provide information to the public and educational resources on the significance of our heritage in Hays County.