For Black History Month, a tale of the Wharton County Courthouse cornerstone

A century ago, no such thing as Black History Month existed. However in Wharton, it might have been called Erase Black History Month if there was one then.

I will tell you a dismal tale, but it was followed by an act of redemption one century later. It has to do with the stately Wharton County Courthouse, erected in 1889. 

The names of two county commissioners disappeared from the building's original cornerstone. Julie Freeman, in her 2015 master's thesis, writes: 

The original stone bore the names of the county’s first two black county commissioners, who were elected during Reconstruction. They resigned amid racial tensions after the White Man’s Union Association took political control of Wharton. The story is told that the original cornerstone was dropped and its pieces dumped into the Colorado River during the 1935 renovation to obscure the significance of blacks in Wharton’s history. 

That excerpt is from "Up She Rises: The Birth and Legacy of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program," published by Baylor University, 2015. 

I covered the debate over whether to save, restore, or demolish the county courthouse from the day I became a reporter in September 1982 until the day I left for the chamber in June 2007. If walls could talk. 

The year 2007 was same year as the dedication of the fully restored county courthouse, a miracle, considering the roller coaster ride of politics that got us there. But there was another miracle: a huge, one. 

Freeman writes: 

Even the courthouse cornerstone was recreated. ... (T)he county’s true history was restored along with a cornerstone that had been duplicated, down to the very font used in the original inscription. 

The two Black county commissioners that returned to the cornerstone were R.H. Tisdale and A.D. Speaker. Tidwell's and Speaker's descendants were invited and came to the courthouse rededication on Aug. 4, 2007. The descendants were given front row seats. 

I remember it was hot that day, with a large crowd

on the Houston Street-side of the county courthouse. The story of how we got there was told. The people involved were thanked. And the building's cornerstone, corrected as it should have been all these years, was unveiled. 

Does this story have a happy ending? It's a chapter, not a book, however. Let's agree, at the very least, that it gives a person hope. 

God bless you all. 

Correction: This ceremony took place on April 16, 2005.

Special thanks go to Patricia Blair, president of the Wharton County Historical Commission. Her husband, Jeffrey, should also be thank — he was instrumental in the drive for the complete restoration of the courthouse and was the master of ceremonies on Aug. 4, 2007.

Our water problems could have been more worse

Residents of the city of Wharton, at least, had slightly less to worry about than some others. During the freeze, Wharton residents did not have to boil their water. The city water system did not fail. There is lots to be upset about, frozen pipes, busted pipes, no power. But it's not bad that Wharton did not have the additional hurt of a water system collapsing. It might not seem like much, but it is something. Things don't always have to get more worse. It is a credit to the folks who lead the city and work for the city to not add more suffering. The lessons that can be learned are glaring. It is the human condition. But better government and better public policy is hard work and not a blame game. The things that go wrong in any crisis did not stop the front-line folks from doing their jobs to their own personal risk. In an entire year of hurt, it's our firefighters, our medical personnel, our EMTs, our police officers, our emergency management and emergency support staff, and all the neighbors who helped their neighbors. We will be judged by what we do when no one is looking. Don't get mad, say thank you. I am a broken record from my memories. During the days of building a Boys and Girls Club, Dwight King taught a small group of people a mantra that Got 'Er Done: "Make It Better".

Da Delle Street subdivision

Looks like work has begun on a new subdivision at Wharton. Heavy equipment is being moved intoplace at the deadend of La Delle Street. I understand 38 residences will be built there. If you have more info, please let us know. Post it or email ron.sanders@whartonchamber.com.

Thank You!

We salute our retiring board members and board chair. They are 2018-2020 board chair Michael Limas and 2017-2020 board members Kaytee Cenko, Stacie Hoyt, Jacob Roberson and Cody Sweat.

Chad Faucett is the new board chair, and new board members are Debbie Folks, Sandra Kachmar, Kristi Kocian, and Steve Wisnieski. Carry-over board members are Traci Knight, Darve Smith, Richard Lockley, Debra Evans, Laura Reyna, David Tripulas and Lacy Border.

Question: How do I get vaccinated? Answer: Keep calling.

We get asked throughout the day: How do I get vaccinated? Are we we giving the best asnwer we can? I wanna know. "We have no official direction, but we tell (people) what we think we know: call your primary care doctor, call health care providers, get on as many lists as possible," I said in an email query to County Judge Phillip Spenrath. "Can you provide guidance when we are asked about where to obtain a vaccine, and whether Wharton County will become or be part of a hub?," I asked. He replied, that's as good as it gets — he gives the same advice we do. However, I have no reason to celebrate that we got it right. "You are currently answering just as I do.(County emergency management coordinator) Andy (Kirkland) is talking with Colorado County about possibly coordinating a hub. There is still a lot to be worked out," the judge replied to my email. You may ask, what is a hub? Here is the definition from the Texas Health and Human Services: "Beginning in January, Texas established large vaccination sites or hubs around the state. The goal of these hubs is to provide more people the vaccine and a simpler way to sign up for an appointment. Providers will focus on vaccinating areas and populations hardest hit by COVID‑19." Wharton County is not in a hub at the moment. No need to dwell on what we are not doing, so I advice dwell on what we can be doing. That's call, and keep calling. Correcton: I should have also mentioned pharmacies on your call lists.

It's going to be a while, folks

When will people start traveling full throttle again? It may take a year. In the interim, vacations and mini-vacations will look quite different, the experts say. People mostly will go by motor vehicle. They will prefer the outdoors — open spaces. And safety will be the top priority. Usually, the priority is a great experience. Now the experience takes a back seat to their safety and the safety of their families. I heard all this, and more, at a webinar produced by the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University. (Temple is my alma mater, though my degree is from the School of Communications, Department of Radio, Television and Film). And then, this group of experts discussed how long it will take for the world to return to somewhat normal. They think it might not be until next January. This coincides with other things that I have heard. I hope all of them are wrong. I think you would too, So what do we do? We keep doing what we are doing. And that’s doing the very best we can.