On February 12 at the Living History Center at Union Baptist Church, the Pleasant Hill Quilting Club stimulated student and adult interest in how slaves used the Underground Railroad and secret quilt codes to escape to freedom during the mid-19^th Century.  With a custom made quilt, period dress, narration and song, the seven accomplished ladies captivated school children from Jefferson and Queen City with a timely under told story from the past.

 

Left: Group Leader Flo Stevenson points to the Jacob’s ladder code on the customized quilt.
Right: Group Picture

As each Club member stepped forward to reveal data related to the next “code”, Ms. Flo Stevenson pointed to the unique design and a song was sung expanding the learning.   At the close of the presentation, Ms. Stevenson took questions from the audience.  From the quality of questions and comments, it was evident that students and adults alike were engaged, interested, and had learned something new.

 

Left: Group members in period dress sing to accompany the narration for each coded symbol discussed.
Right: Group Leader Flo Stevenson points to the Jacob’s ladder code on the customized quilt

Collins Academy and Union Baptist Church wishes to thank the Pleasant Hill Quilting Club for kicking off programming at The Living History Center.  “This is the type program we have in mind.  Since Pleasant Hill goes back to 1843 with its congregation, we may be working with these ladies on our common history if either of the Center’s current funding proposals are awarded,” said Gary Endsley of Collins Academy.

A short video of this program produced by Mike Gannon is available at https://youtu.be/gBZX5L1e3xw .

On Saturday, February 8, Collins Academy Director Gary Endsley joined representatives from Texas A&M University’s Texas Forest Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to deliver a Wild Life and Forestry Management Field Day to about 20 small acreage property owners.  The event was conducted on the property of Michael Weerts in Cass County, which is a site of Pollinator Pals improved habitat started three years ago by several students groups facilitated by Collins Academy.

Topics included wildlife management on small acreages, hardwood and shortleaf pine management, forestry best management practices, pollinator plantings, hardwood management and exotic controls, benefits of prescribed burning and a short prescribed fire demonstration.

The program was free to the public, lunch was provided and field transportation was available for those needing it.  Collins Academy thanks Jessica Rymel with AgriLife Extension in Cass County, Penny Wilkerson with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Michael Weerts with Texas Forest Service for planning and delivery of this successful field day.  Collins Academy looks forward to partnering with this group of highly skilled and motivated professionals for the next iteration of this unique conservation stewardship workshop.

 

 

 

 

 

(L) Buddy Rosser speaks about stream side management.
(R) Michael Weerts shows erosion controls to landowners.
(Below) Penny Wilkerson gives an overview of the day’s activities.

Jefferson ISD’s Junior Historians met with author Denise Jones and Potter’s Point resident Lize Sloan to continue their pursuit of information related to the history of old Smithland.  The 14-5^th Graders met with Ms. Jones and Sloan on Wednesday, January 15 at Collins Academy.  Ms. Sloan’s great-great grandfather, Frank Smith, was the first landowner there and started old Smithland in 1839.

        Lize Sloan shares data about her family and their activities at old Smithland with the Junior Historians.

(L) Denise Jones uses technology to point out landmarks at old Smithland.
(R) Jones and Sloan deliver information.

Junior Historian research products will be used by Ms. Jones in her new book on old Smithland.  Ms. Sloan will be helping develop information and will edit the new publication.

On Wednesday, October 23^rd, fifteen members of the Jefferson Junior Historians gathered at Collins Academy to set out on an excursion to visit the historic African- American, Union Chapel and Cemetery at historic Smith’s Landing six river miles downstream of Jefferson.  Collins Academy Director, Gary Endsley gave the students 5 tasks to complete while visiting the cemetery:  To find the oldest marked grave, the earliest birth dated grave, the number of unknown graves, symbols inscribed on headstones and what those symbols may indicate, and lastly, to watch out for snakes.

The students were shown on a map an historic wagon cut road below the cemetery where area farmers drove heavy wagons laden with cotton and to old Smith’s Landing where the Black Cypress Bayou empties into the Big Cypress Bayou.  The students enjoyed an afternoon snack before heading back into Jefferson.

Joshua Fultz and Eli Kendricks said they love getting to go out in the woods and look around.  They enjoyed finding the very old grave sites and look forward to coming back to find more.  They said, they suspect the open area of the cemetery to contain early enslaved people’s graves.  Some were possibly without headstones while some were simply marked with rocks.  “It was neat looking,” they said.