Historians donate CDs filled with local lore

The Gregg County Historical Commission is making local history easier to access for county residents.

Compact discs containing the commission’s historical research files are being donated to area libraries and schools. The CD has detailed information on local state historical markers and dozens of historical photos. Also included are minutes of annual commission meetings.

Amanda Nobles of Kilgore, GCHC president, said commissioners wholeheartedly approved of the plan because access to valuable historical information was somewhat limited, especially after the courthouse underwent renovations a couple of years ago.

She said the county was storing the files in the records storage facility, which was difficult for the public to get access without an appointment.

“We didn’t want all of this history to be hard for public research and the histori- cal commission doesn’t have any research facilities but our libraries do,” Nobles explained.

She said she is especially pleased the information will now be easily available to students doing historical research.

Nobles praised the late Dr. Norman Black, longtime president of the historical commission who was passionate about research, especially for Texas Historical Markers, of which Gregg County has more than 100. Every marker required extensive documentation to submit to the Texas Historical Commission.

“Individuals put a lot of time and effort into getting historical markers, often with Dr. Black’s assistance. The files were developed over the years, largely by Dr. Black, and they were in good shape for scanning,” Nobles said.

According to Nancy Ruff, GCHC member, “The material should be valuable to students and historians researching local sites and families. By placing a copy of the CD in area libraries and schools, the commission has gone the extra mile in making records available to the public.”

Students and patrons using the CD will discover a wealth of information on the county’s many historical sites.

Included is detailed information on Alexander Institute, Big Inch Pipeline, county courthouses, Driller Park, local churches and cemeteries, Fredonia townsite, James Stephen Hogg, Longview Junction, Northcutt House, Rockwall Farm, the World’s Richest Acre and dozens of other historic spots.

Nobles said the CDs are being hand-delivered, along with detailed explanations to libraries, and if they are not at the local libraries yet they soon will be.

The historical commission is an arm of county government responsible for preservation of Gregg County’s historical heritage. Commission members are appointed by the county judge and commissioners court.

For more information about the CDs, contact Ruff at 903-753-7879.