No Need to Knead

Few of us can resist the aroma of fresh bread. Make plans to attend a demonstration by Joyce Kidd on BREAD MAKING, the first in a series of food presentations, offered by the Heritage Association of San Marcos Guild.

The event will take place on Saturday, September 29th from 9:00AM to 11:30AM at the Cock House Museum located at 400 E. Hopkins St. Cost for the event is $12.00. Space is limited.

Contact Diane at 512-618-2890 to reserve your seat today.

Joyce will show us an easy method of preparing artisan bread. She will also share with
us one of her favorite cake bread recipes. After the bake, we will take a taste. Coffee, tea,
and water will be provided. Guests will receive recipe instructions to take home.

Joyce Kidd is well known by many San Marcos residents for her pastries and desserts.
She first served her delectable food at an elegant Christmas dinner for the Heritage
Association. She opened the Tea Room at the Antique Outlet Center and after a short
“retirement” reopened the Tea Room at the Price Senior Center. Joyce has officially
retired, but remarked “I don’t believe anyone in San Marcos enjoys baking more than I
do”.

The Charles S. Cock House Museum was the setting in June for a special luncheon honoring all of the past chairs of the Heritage Association Guild.  Current Guild Chair Carmen Imel proposed the gathering to provide an opportunity to reminisce and express appreciation to this special group who have demonstrated the true spirit of volunteerism.  Current Heritage Association President Jane Hughson thanked the ladies for their efforts.

Pictured left to right: (front row) Martha Jackson, Ann Cauthorn, Carmen Imel, Polly Wright, Betty Banks; (second row) Virginia Moore, Rose Ayers, Bettye Nagy, Lee Festervan, Phyllis Klein; (third row) Sunny Sappington, Ellie Stewart, Sue Cohen, Phyllis Whitaker, Bobbie Gilbert, Diane Studebaker, Marianne Moore

Since its inception in 1975, this group has made major contributions to historic preservation in the San Marcos community, including the renovation of the Cock House Museum and the Eli Merriman Cabin. 

In the beginning, a small group of women known as the Bicentennial Belles dressed in long prairie-style dresses every Friday, brought in their own card tables and folding chairs, and made soup, sandwiches and desserts to serve to attendees.  Since then, the effort has grown to approximately 35 groups in town who host Friday lunches, providing warm, friendly service to anywhere from 50-100 patrons.   

HASM members and guests celebrated Flag Day, June 14,  with an old fashioned Ice Cream Social.  The City Park Recreation Hall was decorated with flags, bunting, and soda shop props.  Music of the 50's and 60's further set the mood.  Attendees feasted on ice cream, homemade cookies, and lemonade as they visited with friends and viewed exhibits.  Featured exhibits included video slide shows of San Marcos scenes in the mid 20th century, and  table displays of photos and memorabilia courtesy of Madeline DeLong, Shelley Henry, Robert Frizzell, and Bill Wyatt.  HASM scrapbooks from the beginning years of the Heritage Association were also on display.   Attendees had opportunities to browse and remember (or discover) our city in earlier years.  

A number of guests took the opportunity to become members of Heritage.  We welcomed Connie Ulmer, Mitsie Benton, Glenn and Frances Longley, Kathy Dial, Andrew Cox, Veronique Hahn, Madeline De Long, and Samantha Armbruster. 

Bonnie Barrow and Thea Dake awarded door prizes.   San Marcos businesses contributing door prizes or support toward refreshments were HEB, Sam's, Rhea's Ice Cream, Victory Cleaners, Goodyear Auto Service Center,  Gil's Broiler, Cool Mint Cafe, Pennington's Cakes, Sur-Powr Battery, Center Point Station, Dixie Cream Donuts, San Marcos Baptist Academy, Aquarena Center, the Heritage Guild, and Hays County Historical Commission.  Thea Dake also contributed a door prize.

The event was planned and hosted by the HASM Membership Committee.  Pictured left to right: Ann DuPont, Cathy Dillon, Sue Cobb-Chair, Thea Dake, Shelley Henry, Mary Compton, Bonnie Barrow, Diane Studebaker, and Bonnie Hughson.

We have joined forces with the Friends of the San Marcos Cemetery to organize a “Cemetery Walk” at the San Marcos City Cemetery on Saturday, October 27 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Using the theme “If the Dead Could Talk…,” the Cemetery Walk promises to be an educational, entertaining and inspirational stroll through the historic city cemetery.  The self-paced tour will take participants to the gravesites of more than a dozen men and women who served their country in the military.

San Marcos High School Drama students, under the direction of theatre director Jack Moore, will portray the honored veterans at each of the designated gravesites.

Co-chairing the joint venture are new Heritage members Amanda and Josh Erwin, who opened their law practice in downtown San Marcos last year.  An interest in local history and in community service spurred the new Heritage Association members to volunteer to take the lead in organizing the first cemetery walk. 

Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students of all ages over 12.  There will be no charge for admission for children under 12. 

You know that fall has arrived when the weather finally turns cool . . . leaves begin to turn . . . football fever strikes . . . and Heritage members come together for the Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Dinner.

This year's event is set for Thursday, Oct. 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the San Marcos Academy Dining Hall.  Highlights of the program will include the 2012 Landmark Awards and the announcement of the Heritage Member of the Year and Community Volunteer of the Year.  The new slate of officers will also be presented for a vote during the business portion of the meeting.

One of our partners in local preservation work, the Hays County Historical Commission will provide the evening's program, "Documenting History," a presentation of excerpts from the commission's documentary film programs on Jack C. Hays, Buck Winn, Parks Johnson, World War II veterans, and the "Voices of Hays County" series.  Film-maker Richard Kidd will also share about how these programs were shot, edited and distributed for the benefit of Hays County students and residents.

Mark October 25, 6:30 p.m. on your calendar, and look for your invitation in the mail in a few more weeks!. 

Christmas will be here before we know it and Historic San Marcos: An Illustrated History, is still available.  It can be purchased for $30.00 (plus tax) at the LBJ Museum at 131 N. Guadalupe St (west side of the Courthouse square); the Main Street office (202 E Hopkins St, corner of Hopkins and N LBJ); the Crystal River Inn gift shop (326 West Hopkins); and Walgreens (639 East Hopkins Street), all in San Marcos.  And the book is always available when the Cottage Kitchen is open

Held on the shores of our Sacred Springs in San Marcos, considered by many to be the oldest continuously inhabited site in North America, this year’s Powwow will be held on October 6.  The Association is a sponsor of the Powwow.

Admission suggested is $2.00 for adults or 2 cans of food for the Food Bank, no charge for Elders, Veterans, Students, or Children.

The Powwow offers visitors, residents, and future residents a magnificent cultural experience that is unmatched in Texas.  It will be a full day of Native American exhibition dancers, performances by Aztec groups, Native arts and crafts booths, and indigenous food, in a celebration that brings economic opportunities and an enhanced, positive image to our local community.  Visit the Indigenous Cultures website for more info

Lunches at the Cottage Kitchen return from summer vacation on September. Every summer, the little house on Hopkins Street takes a two month hiatus for some rest and relaxation.  During July and August of this year, the front porch was repaired and painted, and the kitchen floor was shored up.  Guild members also did a thorough cleaning.

Horizon Bay Retirement Living will host the lunch on Friday, September 7th with a menu that includes brisket and all the trimmings.  The chef at Horizon Bay will be preparing the brisket on their own smoker.  Beans and potato salad will round out the menu.

So call your friends and make a date to enjoy the best lunch deal in town.  Only $7.00 for a delicious hot meal, iced tea, coffee and a yummy homemade dessert of your choice.  The entire $7.00 goes to the Heritage Association.  Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

See you there!

As a follow-up to Heritage Weekend, which we launched in conjunction with the Tour of Homes, the Heritage Association will continue to support "First Saturday Heritage San Marcos" each month to celebrate our rich and diverse history.  Visit the "First Saturday" page on our website for a complete list of sites and hours of operation.  Contact Linda Coker (512-705-5913) if you can help with this initiative by serving as a docent for the Cock House and Merriman Cabin.  Participants in First Saturday are:  Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, Johnnie Armstead’s Calaboose African American History Museum, LBJ Museum of San Marcos, Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and Historical Exhibits at the Hays County Courthouse sponsored by the Hays County Historical Commission.

More than 200 people filled the Texas Music Theatre August 11, bringing in over $2,500 in profit for the day from ticket sales and DVD sales (we keep a portion of all DVD sales at the event).  After seeing the award-winning documentary, guests at the event were treated to a bonus feature: video footage of the recent removal of the two submarine theatres from Spring Lake.

Filmmaker Bob Phillips introduced Brenda Russell (daughter of Margaret Russell who trained many of the Aquamaids); Shirley Rogers, one of the first Aquamaids; and Scott McGehee, former General Manager to talk about Aquarena and take questions from the audience.   

We appreciate their attendance which made the event even more special.

Many Heritage members answered the call to help make the afternoon such a success.  Among those who worked at the event or contributed in other ways were Chris Secrest, Jane Hughson & Terry Blackwell, Jim and Doni Weber, Sue and Jimmy Cobb, Ed & Sally Kuny, Diane Baker, Thea Dake and her grandson, Bibb Underwood, Diane Studebaker, Bill & Janet Fly, Marianne Moore, Anne DeStefano, and Shelley Henry.