History

Matagorda County history: From paleo-Indians to STP

News Staff
Thursday, August 29, 2024
   Matagorda County is in the Coastal Prairie region of Texas, bounded on the north by Wharton County, on the east by Brazoria County and the Gulf of Mexico, on the west by Calhoun and Jackson counties, and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and Tres Palacios, Matagorda, and East Matagorda bays.
Courtesy photo/Amanda Campos Members of Matagorda County Historical Commission (MCHC) were recognized for receiving the Texas Historical Commission’s Distinguish Service Award by Commissioners Court at its meeting Monday, Aug. 26.

Courtesy photo/Amanda Campos Members of Matagorda County Historical Commission (MCHC) were recognized for receiving the Texas Historical Commission’s Distinguish Service Award by Commissioners Court at its meeting Monday, Aug. 26.

County receives Distinguished Service Award from Texas Historical Commission

News Staff
Thursday, August 29, 2024
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) awarded a 2023 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to the Matagorda County Historical Commission (CHC).This annual award affirms Matagorda CHC appointees for managing well-rounded history and preservation related programs that enrich Texas communities.
Courtesy photo After nearly two years of community action, the Luther Hotel was sold to preservationist and philanthropist JP Bryan Monday and it will be restored to its former glory, according to Margaret Doughty, with the Palacios Preservation Association.

Courtesy photo After nearly two years of community action, the Luther Hotel was sold to preservationist and philanthropist JP Bryan Monday and it will be restored to its former glory, according to Margaret Doughty, with the Palacios Preservation Association.

Luther Hotel sells to preservationist

News Staff
Thursday, August 22, 2024

Hawkinsville headquarters for J.B. Hawkins

News Staff
Thursday, August 22, 2024
   Hawkinsville was a plantation community seventeen miles from what is now Van Vleck in southeastern Matagorda County.      It was at a site on Caney Creek, where the rich bottomlands supported a thriving plantation economy before theCivil War.

Hawkins, family moved to Lower Caney in 1840s

News Staff
Thursday, August 22, 2024
   James Boyd Hawkins, early Texas planter, was born in Franklin County, North Carolina, on December 27, 1813, the son of John D. Hawkins.    He married Ariella Alston in 1834, and they had eight children.

Historical marker observes Van Vleck school history

News Staff
Thursday, August 22, 2024
an Vleck ISD was dedicated a Registered Texas Historical Subject Marker recognizing the history of the second oldest school district in Matagorda County.  Education was a priority to the earliest residents of Matagorda County.
Courtesy Matagorda County Museum

Courtesy Matagorda County Museum

Hlavinka creates steamboat model

News Staff
Thursday, August 22, 2024
  Did you know that this large model, made by Craig Hlavinka, is fashioned after the wreckage of a 19th century steamboat found in the muddy waters of Caney Creek?    Not much information is available about it, but there are three theories as to why it is there and what happened to it.
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