1. science
2. social science
3. history

From The Porch
FALL- 2014
Inside
Page 1~A Few Words From Our President
Page 2~Pegasus Dedication, Pioneer Days
Page 3~Dolly Gray Oilfield House
Page 4~Past And Future Events
Board Members
Jean Barnhill
Butch Bateman
Julie Benich
Sally Copley
Ann Marie Hopkins
Celeste Howell
Sue Hughes
Ann Jacobson
Phyllis King
Joe Kolb
Nancy Kolb
Martha Lilly
Jo Carol Oberman
Judy Robert
Ron Saikowski
Gertie Spencer
Carolyn Walker
Gloria White
Laney Whiteman
Elva Wilson
HERITAGE MUSEUM OF MONTGOMERY
Staff
Sally Copley, Executive Director
Margaret Melinder, Assistant Director
Advisory Board
Millie Scott
Volunteers
Janet Batchelor
Janet Berwick
Sarah Bess Gray Crow
Jane Dalton
Eugenia Letbetter
Homer Wilson
A few words from our…..
2014-2015 President,
Morris “Butch” Bateman
Greetings everyone:
30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY—We are glad to announce that our 30th anniversary will be January 25,
2015. Yes, our organization of local volunteers have had the pleasure of educating and preserving
county history for that long. Over 29 years, we have been located in our museum headquarters in Candy
Cane Park.
PEGASUS©—The renovated Pegasus© was dedicated May 13, 2014. Pegasus© is the
red neon Mobil Oil flying horse that is now located in front of the Museum next to I-45.
Thanks to City of Conroe, Convention and Visitors Bureau for the grant that made the
renovation and re-installation possible.
STRAKE-GRAY OILFIELD BUILDINGS—Big plans are underway to relocate a 1938 Sears
Craftsman home that was purchased by George W. Strake, Sr. and shipped by rail to Conroe. This building and an accompanying roughneck bunkhouse will be moved to the Museum
area and refurbished for public viewing.
YOUR MUSEUM is working this school year with the Historical Commission's Youth Advisory
Board (YAB). Juniors and Seniors from county schools have been invited by the Commission
to visit the Museum for their November 2014 meeting. We will also coordinate a guided bus
tour within the county for these students so they can learn the history of their county.
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY—Under the leadership of board member, Ann Jacobson, the museum donated to each area high school library, Mr. Larry L. Foerster, J.D.'s book
on the history of Montgomery County entitled, Montgomery County Texas Historical Timeline,
ExxonMobil’s “125th Anniversary” Book, Know Your Texas History by Flossie S. Keels, and
The Declaration of Independence and Other Great Documents of American History 17751865 edited by John Grafton.
VIDEO HISTORY PROJECT—We have interviewed senior citizens who are long time residents of the county and can tell us "the way it use to be”. DVD’s on sale in the gift shop for
$15.00.
BECOME A FRIEND OF THE MUSEUM and join our organization. A Friends of the Museum
Application is enclosed for your convenience.
THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY—THANKS to all the citizens and friends who have donated
Montgomery County historical documents and artifacts to the Museum!
YOUR MUSEUM - Please stop by for a visit and learn more about Montgomery County’s rich
history and find out how you can be a Sponsor!!
PEGASUS© DEDICATION
MAY 13, 2014
The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County held a lovely reception for the lighting “of the flying red
horse—Pegasus” © on May 13, 2014. The William “Bill” Conroe Family donated Pegasus © to the
museum and were in attendance to see the grandeur during the lighting of Pegasus©! Butch Bateman, President of the Heritage Museum Board welcomed the guest speaker and visitors to the museum. Butch introduced Rev. Mark Denison. Rev. Denison opened the dedication with prayer. The
guest speaker was, Bob Davis from ExxonMobil who gave a brief presentation about the progress of
the ExxonMobil Complex and the impact on the economy in Montgomery County. He also gave each
guest a book entitled “125th Anniversary of ExxonMobil” as well as a Pegasus Pin. Also, Hutch
Hutcheson, City of Conroe, Convention and Visitors Bureau, gave a brief presentation about the grant
awarded to the museum for the purpose of renovation and relocation of Pegasus©. Gertie Spencer
gave a brief overview of the Heritage Museum and our mission statement and goals for the museum
in preserving Montgomery County’s Rich History. Ron Saikowski, Events Chair, was pleased with the
attendance of over 100 people at the dedication. His committee provided refreshments. Joe Kolb, Past
President and board member, was kind enough to make an “on switch” which was thrown by Tommy
Conroe at dusk to illuminate Pegasus©.
PIONEER DAYS
July 6—10, 2015 & July 13-17, 2015
Borden’s, Inc.
Donation for Churning Butter
Kroger
Donation—Pimento Cheese,
Cheese Sticks, & Ice
Jack Shepherd
Portraying
Dr. Charles B. Stewart
Pioneer Days, a summer program for children between the ages of 8-11, is anticipated to be a HUGE
success! We begin with morning and afternoon sessions on July 6-10, 2015 and then again on July
13—17, 2015. With many new activities, combined with old favorites, there are 80 spaces for children
to sign up for these exciting pioneer programs. Registration begins May 15, 2015. Parents must come
into the museum to register their children and it is on a first come, first serve basis. During Pioneer
Days, the children experience life as a pioneer child by sawing logs, branding leather, churning butter,
shucking corn, making bead bracelets, learning about beekeeping, dipping candles, and yes,
…..MORE!
The DOLLY GRAY Family
DONATION OF STRAKE—GRAY OILFIELD HOUSE AND ROUGHNECK HOUSE
Our newest acquisitions are the Strake-Gray Oilfield House and Roughneck House, due to relocate to our site, in late 2014. One of the Donors is Sarah Bess Gray Crow. Her Dad, Dolly
Gray, and his family were the second family to live in the home; while Harvey Lee was the first.
The home was the Superintendent’s House for Strake Oil. Dolly Gray was instrumental in forming the Strake Oil baseball team, named the Strake Wildkats.
The house was a pre-fab house with screened porch and garage ordered from Sears and Roebuck. The house fabrication was called portable construction, built in 1938 for $3,200, and
moved onto property in Conroe. The Strake-Gray Oilfield House is a 3 bedroom/2 bath home
with some original pine flooring and some carpet. Part of the exterior is original and rests on pier
and beam pilings. In back of the home is a screened-in porch with some original wood and the
original cabinets are still in place. There will be oilfield town and baseball exhibits in the home
when the relocation and furnishing are completed.
We are currently seeking sponsorships, either monetary or in-kind donations, for the project. If you
would like to be a sponsor, please call the museum at 936-539-6873.
The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. If you wish, you may
donate to the museum by going to our website: www.heritagemuseum.us- click the DONATE button and
follow the instructions ~ Thank You.
Courtesy of Kolb Graphics-Graphics Design
Heritage Museum of Montgomery County
Physical Address: 1506 I-45 North
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2262
Conroe, TX 77305
936.539.6873
NON PROFIT ORG
USPOSTAGEPAID
CONROE, TX 77305
PERMIT NO. 111
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.heritagemuseum.us
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A FEW OF OUR DONORS AND CONTRIBUTORS ARE:
Borden, Inc.
City of Conroe Convention & Visitors Bureau
Conroe Service League Sustainers
Sarah Bess Gray Crow
ExxonMobil Community Partners
Kroger
Montgomery County Commissioner’s Court
Montgomery County Community Foundation
Montgomery County Historical Commission
George W. Strake, Jr. ~ Strake Foundation
Carolyn M. Walker and Family
Walmart Foundation
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The Heritage Museum is proud to host many types of events for the public, as well as, sponsor projects for the
Community. We are available as a meeting venue and often give tours by request. Below is a list of past events
and future programs available at the Museum!
Monthly Board Meetings
Annual Board Dinner Meetings
Board Retreat
Chamber of Commerce After Hours
Pegasus Dedication
Friends of the Museum Receptions
Video History Project Celebration
Brown Bag Lunch and Learn
Meeting host for various organizations which have included Daughters of the American Revolution and
the Conroe Service League
FUTURE Events
Youth Advisory Board Meeting for Montgomery Co. Historical Commission-November 2014
“Friends” Christmas Reception-December 2014
“We love our Librarians” Reception-February 2015
Celebration of our 30th Anniversary-March 2015 (Organized January 25, 1985)
Pioneer Days for Students (age 8 - 11)-July 2015
Dedication of the Strake-Gray Oilfield House and Roughneck House-TBA