A regular meeting of the CCHC was held Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Rio Hondo City Hall, 121 N. Arroyo Blvd., Rio Hondo at 2:12 p.m. with eight members and three guests present. Mary Torres, Chairman, called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mary Torres. Guests who introduced themselves were: Alonzo Garza, Mayor of Rio Hondo, Humberto Barrrera, newly appointed Rio Hondo police chief, and Ric Wade of Port Isabel.

Approval of Minutes -- Chairman Torres noted that the minutes of the April 19, 2009, meeting at South Padre Island. had been mailed to some members, e-mailed to other members, and also posted on the CCHC website. On a motion by Betty Jo Dunlap , seconded by Pete Castillo, the minutes were approved as distributed.

Report from the Chair -- Mary Torres welcomed the members and guests and thanked the Rio Hondo contingent for hosting the meeting. She explained that the meeting was rescheduled for this date in order to avoid a conflict with Father's Day.

Treasurer's Report – Jose Gavito had e-mailed a budget report which was discussed by Norman Rozeff. Of the county budget of $6,650 for the CCHC through the fiscal year ending 9/30/09, the CCHC had expended $1,568.50 through June 30, 2009. This leaves a budget balance of $5081.40 Norman Rozeff suggested that with the high price of gasoline, members traveling to the meeting may want to submit round-trip mileage for reimbursement. The county currently allows $.44 per mile. Some CCHC members also regularly attend the Texas Tropical Trails meetings. Travel to these might also be reimbursed.

Rozeff will mail or e-mail a copy of the "Request for Reimbursement " form to all.

Museums/Oral History –-Mary Torres spoke of the efforts, uncoordinated that they may be, to preserve the "Glass House", a modern art structure built by Feldman's Liquor Company in Harlingen in the 1930s. It is scheduled for demolition by CVS, the chain drug store company that has purchased the lot on which it stands plus additional adjacent sites. CVS has not been receptive to overtures. Chief Barrera who has had some experience with structure moving felt that it would be very difficult to move the Glass House on its concrete foundation.

Betty Agado inquired about the status of the Landrum House on the Military Highway south of San Benito.. This house built in 1902 seemed to be deteriorating. Jack Ayoub pointed out that a descendent and owner lives in San Benito. It was clarified that simply having a marker does not guarantee the preservation of the structure nor is the owner obliged not to make changes to it. It is a National Register designation that brings with it more contractual restrictions.

Mayor Garza asked some questions about the Rio Hondo Museum room there in the City Hall. He then offered his support in any efforts to grow the museum and its facilities. In the course of his discussion he touched on his own family genealogy and history.

Jack Ayoub discussed the grant given to San Benito to investigate and make recommendations for the future of the current museum. Numerous new ideas were offered to the consultants who are to report back to the city commission.

Norman Rozeff invited all to view the exhibit that he has assembled for the Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum. It is a photographic tour of the Valley during the Great Depression as seen by Farm Security Administration photographers who would go on to fame. He also noted the recent discovery in the files of deceased CCHC member Jay Russell of transcripts of oral history from Valley pioneers as offered to the Harlingen museum in the 1980s.

Cemeteries – Jack Ayoub described the beautiful monuments erected in a new section of the Old San Benito Cemetery. These are to commemorate Baldimar Huerta, better known, of course, as Freddie Fender. Rozeff stated that he had been contacted by San Benito officials to obtain a marker for the cemetery and had told them of the two step process required by the THC.

A discussion then followed on the cemeteries of Rio Hondo and the discovery some time ago of ancient Indian burial bones in the vicinity.

When it was noted that the US Fish and Wildlife Service had purchased a site that encompassed a cemetery Ric Wade pointed out that state law allows for cemetery public access on April 6 and October 12 of each year.

Roads – Norman Rozeff indicated that there was nothing new under this category.

Restorations – Mary Torres reported that work on the Our Lady of Visitation Church, Santa Maria has pretty much stopped after the diocese ran out of the $50,000 grant money. Importantly a roof was put on the building and brick work stabilized. A local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has taken an interest in the preservation of the church. It is putting together a brochure on the church history to be sold to raise funds. Mary circulated three recently conceived drawings of the church that will go into the 5000 brochures. Once restored it is hoped that the church will become a living one for the Santa Maria community and those with historic ties with this church.

Website/Newsletter – Webmaster Clint Thomas has gone north for the summer. Added in June to the site were these articles: Arroyo Colorado History, Bowling in Harlingen History, History of Coast Guard Lights in the Valley, A revised Cotton History Highlights, and Airplanes, Airports, and Airlines of Harlingen.

History Markers –- Committee Chairman Rozeff announced that two churches in Harlingen, the United Methodist and the First Baptist, both of which will be soon celebrating 100 year anniversaries, are working on marker narratives.

History-Art Contest – no report

Publicity – no report.

No updated information was available on the Laiseca Building, the transfer of CCHC files from Port Isabel to Brownsville, nor scheduling of CCHC on the county commission agenda.

Sharon Newell asked that all be on the lookout for information on an early community said to have existed in what is now the Rio Hondo area. She also produced a photo of a n International Boundary and Water Commission marker located in Lozano and asked if anyone could explain its purpose. A discussion then ensued on old Rio Hondo building and their significance in the town's history. Norman Rozeff told of the relatively new THC program to support the creation of markers that would not normally have funding. Such a subject would be the unique Rio Hondo lift bridge. Rozeff furnished the Rio Hondo folks THC literature on this program.

The next meeting will be in Port Isabel, Sunday August 16, 2009..

The meeting participants enjoyed viewing the new Rio Hondo Museum room with its numerous historic photos, narratives, old newspapers, and artifacts. The initiative of the Castillos, Pete and Olga, and Sharon Newell in compiling and assembling the exhibits with their own funds and efforts is highly commendable.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 3:43 p.m. Refreshments were then kindly provided by the our host.

Respectfully submitted,
Norman Rozeff
CCHC Secretary

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