A regular meeting of the CCHC was held Saturday, December 12, 2009 at the Old Brownsville City Hall Heritage Center, 13^th Street and Market Square, Brownsville, TX.

The meeting commenced at 1:25 p.m. with nine CCHC members and five guests present.

Mary Torres, Chairman, called the meeting to order. Norman Rozeff led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and guest Rudy Ramirez, a San Benito High School history teacher, the pledge to the Texas State flag.

Approval of Minutes -- Chairman Torres noted that the minutes of the October 18, 2009, meeting at San Benito had been mailed to some members, e-mailed to other members, and also posted on the CCHC website. Lucia Weaver commented on what she thought needed a correction, but the particular sentence regarding a video could not be then found in the minutes. On a motion by Lucia Weaver, seconded by Jose Gavito, the minutes were approved as distributed.

Report from the Chair -- Mary Torres welcomed the members and guests and thanked the Brownsville contingent for hosting the meeting. Guests were introduced.

Treasurer's Report – Jose Gavito reported the current CCHC balance of $5,179. A deduction of $200 rent had been paid during the month to the Port Isabel Museum for two months of CCHC record storage. It was noted that Priscilla Rodriguez was working to relocate the storage to the Market Place facility. Present containers were unacceptable, and many records would have to be transferred to new boxes. Additional shelving is also required. The cost for these would come out of the "office supply" budget item. The physical transfer would be arranged with the city. Once in Brownsville the storage fees for the record would then go to the city. On a motion by Norman Rozeff, seconded by Larry Lof, the treasurer's report was approved.

Museums/Oral History –- Larry Lof noted the re-opening of the Brownsville Heritage Museum in January. From a static display it has now been redesigned to be more inter-active and appealing to both youth and adults alike. The Stillman House is exhibiting "An Old-fashion Christmas."

Norman Rozeff reported that the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum had this week opened its annual Festival of Trees exhibit. The opening night reception saw over 500 persons in attendance. He then went on to outline the efforts being made to establish a veterans/military history room in what is now the activities room of the museum.

Shirley Vega noted that San Benito had planned to replace the historic covered rest areas along Sam Houston Blvd. with newer ones. She spoke of the city's Lighted Christmas Parade as being the most impressive in all the Valley.

Joe Gavito enlightened all on the continuing efforts of state authorities to document veteran history, and especially those of WWII, who we are rapidly losing. Oral histories by these men and women are especially valuable. He then touched on the need to record any WWII military-related activities that took place in Cameron County. Rozeff reminded the group that he has solicited, then compiled a list of these for the state which was making a survey about a year ago. He would put the survey on the CCHC website, so readers could possibly add to it.

Cemeteries – Rozeff stated that he has submitted historic cemetery designation applications to the Texas Historical Commission for the Old Brownsville Cemetery (across from the Dancy Courthouse) and for the San Benito City Cemetery.

Mary Torres happily announced that the Harlingen City Cemetery had recently received new fencing and new gates. A website to carry the cemetery's database is being worked on.

Gene Fernandez of Brownsville was to be recognized for his work on the Old City Cemetery.

Roads – Rozeff summarized a letter that he had received from the Cameron County Department of Transportation. It wanted comment on prospective road names for roads in the Barreda Gardens and Rio Hondo Park Townsite subdivisions. Neither of the two unnamed roads had any particular historic significance that would impact anything. Lucia Weaver moved and Jose Gavito seconded a motion that the names as submitted be approved. The motion carried.

Restorations –Lof stated that restoration work on bringing back the Fort Brown Commandant's House to an earlier period status had been completed. The next project to be attacked will be the 1850s Neale House for which Rozeff gave Lof a May 10, 1936 Brownsville Herald background article.

Jose Gavito then ran a power point presentation that showed structures in Brownsville that the Brownsville Heritage Committee had worked with. The preservation results shown were outstanding. The tax abatement program of the city appears to be working well in offering incentives for professionals and individual families to move ahead with preservation and restoration on historic properties which they own.

Brownsville Architect Miguel del Pozo with Grupo Ayusa gave a short presentation that emphasized the need for master planning by cities. He is working on concepts and possibilities for Brownsville and in Harlingen for the former Reese-Wil-Mond Hotel/Heritage Manor and for Blaschka Towers.

Website/Newsletter – Webmaster Clint Thomas confirmed that new articles continue to be added regularly to the site. He suggested that the site possibly consider having a pop-up box that each day noted an historic event (whether local of national) for the date. This is a catchy idea but would require considerable research to compile.

History Markers –- Committee Chairman Rozeff announced that the final wording on the J. C. Canales marker was agreed upon by the THC and local submitters. The Getsemine Presbyterian Church marker wording from the THC is still being reviewed by locals who have some problems with it. Two last minute subject marker submissions were made. One was for the First United Methodist Church of Harlingen and the second for the Solis (San Fernando) Cemetery northwest of La Feria. In a discussion that followed Lucia Weaver asked that we initiate action in securing a marker for the Weaver Family Cemetery near Santa Maria and south of the Old Military Highway. She said that the cemetery already has a THC designation. Rozeff agreed to work with individuals whose names Weaver presented. Rozeff also offered that the people, who several years ago sought a marker for the Judge Reynaldo Garza House, will be re-contacted and told of the alternative in the form of a subject marker.

History-Art Contest – no report.

Publicity – No report but Larry Lof indicated that Priscilla Rodriguez is working on some items..

Allan Peakes reported that the University and the Coast Guard are negotiating an alternative tower site, one removed from the neighborhood of the old historic former station.

Nothing has been done on the quickly deteriorating Laiseca Building. Rozeff suggested , that at minimum, a heavy duty tarpaulin be placed over its roof.

Lucia Weaver informed the group that Father Tom M. connected with the Santa Maria Catholic church had passed away. It was thought that with both a new priest and a new diocese bishop more positive results could be achieved in the old Santa Maria Church restoration.

There was no new business.

The February meeting to be held in La Feria, February 21, 2010.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 2:37 p.m. Our hosts then conveyed us by van to the UT-Br/Southmost College Campus and the 1867 Commandant's House. A tour of the premise revealed that an outstanding restoration job had been done on the 4 by 4, one and a half story structure. Both exterior and interior and highly appealing and utilitarian. All those involved in the long process are to be commended.

Respectfully submitted,

Norman Rozeff

CCHC Secretary

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