Kerr County Historical Commission
November 10, 2025
Kerr County Historical Commission
To preserve, protect, and promote the historical and cultural resources of Kerr County
To preserve, protect, and promote the historical and cultural resources of Kerr County
Kerr County Historical Commission Meeting:
Monday - November 17 @ 12 noon at the Union Church Building
Program: 2026 Smithsonian Exhibit Coming to Kerrville and How You Can Help!
Kerrville is one of six rural cities in Texas selected to receive a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street Exhibit with this theme: Spark! Places of Innovation. The touring exhibit highlights innovation in rural America from the perspective of the people who lived it - their words, images, and experiences. The
goals for each community exhibit on what shaped innovation and innovators:
explore the unique combination of circumstances, people, and places
feature the artistic, heritage, social, and technology stories
inspire conversations on history, the present, and the future
motivate innovation and invention to solve problems and utilize resources
Speaker: Lanza Teague, Executive Director of the Kerr Arts & Cultural Center
Lanza has nineteen years of experience working in the arts and non-profits. She developed a walking history tour of downtown Kerrville and is a local historian with a bi-weekly column in the Kerrville Daily Times. Lanza is also a member of KCHC.
Veterans Day Dedication of the Kerr County Courthouse Annex in Kerrville:
Ceremony to name the building in honor of Allie Burton
Tuesday - November 11 at 3:00pm Location: 550 Earl Garrett Street Open to the Public
The dedication ceremony will officially name the building as the Allie Burton Annex. Expected to participate in the building dedication program and ribbon cutting are Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly,
Kerr County Commissioner (Precinct 3) Jeff Holt, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., the Comfort High School JROTC Color Guard, and the Schreiner University Drum and Bugle Corp, among others.
Now 101 years old, Colonel Allie Burton is a proud Kerrville native whose remarkable life began on the very same street where a building will now bear his name. His 28 year career in the United States Air Force stands as a testament to courage, service, and dedication to his country. A decorated pilot, Colonel Burton served in both World War II and the Korean War. He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement during aerial combat. After surviving nearly a year in harsh conditions as a prisoner during the Korean War, he continued a distinguished military career before eventually returning to Kerr County. Allie became an active and respected community member in his hometown of Kerrville.
Jenna Sanchez, Kerr County Veterans Service Officer, noted that "Allie Burton's story embodies the very best of our veterans - strength, sacrifice, and an enduring love for both country and community. It is our privilege to dedicate this building in his honor, in the same town where his journey began more than a century ago."
Kerr County Historical Commission: Events for November 2025
Native American Heritage Month: November
Friday – November 28 in 2025 is Native American Heritage Day.
(Public Law 111-33 - passed in 2009 by Congress - Native American Heritage Day Act designates the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving Day each year.
Honoring the month long heritage month and the Friday following Thanksgiving Day are opportunities
to pause and realize that native peoples were on the continent of North America as early as thirty thousand years ago. In more recent times in Kerr County, the archeological evidence points to native peoples living in the Guadalupe River valley more than ten thousand years ago. The two main groups of Native Americans in Kerr County were the Apache and the Commanche.
To learn about the history and present day events and celebration of heritage, visit these websites:
Bullock Museum in Austin - https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/discover/campfire-stories/american-indians
Official Website of The Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas - https://www.lipanapache.org/
Texas Historical Commission: November
The Texas Historical Commission announced that veterans of the Armed Forces will be granted
free entry to all state-operated 42 historic sies on Veterans Day - Tuesday, November 11.
To find a locations, go to the State Historic Sites landing page: https://thc.texas.gov/historic-sites
Veterans receive reduced admission the Texas historic sites year around. Active duty military members of the Armed Forces receive free admission year around.
THC Events Calendar: https://thc.texas.gov/events
Comfort Heritage Foundation: Meeting
Monday – November 10 at 7:00pm Meetings open to the public and free of charge
Location: Old Bank Building at 7th and High Streets in Comfort
Presentations of those nominated for the annual heritage awards will be held and then voted on during this meeting. Nominations by the public were made to recognize the contributions to the preservation of the heritage and culture of Comfort and its surrounding area. Everyone is welcome to attend. Refreshments are provided.
Archives are open: Tuesdays from 9am to noon and Saturdays from 10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm
There is assistance in research and viewing local historical documents and artifacts.
Doyle Center: Veterans Day Program
Tuesday – November 11 at 11:00am
Location: Doyle Community Center @ 110 West Barnett Street in Kerrville (830-257-4446)
Event: Honor the sacrifice and service of veterans in a meaningful opportunity to show support, reflect, and connect with our community. Guest speaker will be Dr. John Burditt, DDS, who is a retired Air Force veteran and he will share his experiences and insights. Lunch will be provided and all are welcome to attend!
| National Museum of the Pacific War | THC - Texas State Historic Site |
Location: Memorial Courtyard at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg
Event: 2025 Veterans Day Commemoration
A time to honor those who have served and a time to pay respect and show support for veterans: the Keynote Speaker is Brigadier General Kevin Jarrard, who assumed command of the 4th Marine Division in May 2024. Commissioned after graduating from The Citadel in 1995, he has served around the world, including Africa, South America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and completed two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Past roles include commanding 3d Force Reconnaissance Company, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff at Marine Forces South, and Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Marine Division. A U.S. Army Ranger and Airborne school graduate, he holds degrees in history, education, and national security studies.
Center Point Area Historic Preservation Association: Meeting
Thursday – November 13 with a General Meeting at 5:30pm/History & Heritage speakers at 6:00pm
Location: Red Roof Building in Center Point Heritage Park
Membership dues are $10 per year (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026).
Mail checks (donations or memberships) to PO Box 610 Center Point, Texas 78010
Kerrville River Trail Cleanup
Saturday - November 15 from 8:00am to 12 noon
See website for extensive details: https://www.ugra.org/major-initiatives/river-trail-cleanup
The City of Kerrville and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority are the sponsors of the Kerrville River Trail Cleanup. The plan is for a group of 200 volunteers to take on the task of cleaning up the trail and river system from Tranquility Island to Kerrville-Schreiner Park, including the segment from G Street to Schreiner University. Volunteers will be split into six groups that will cover sections along the trail, as well as park, publicly accessible areas along the river adjacent to the trail, and in the river itself.
If you have questions, please contact Matt Wilkinson at UGRA (830-896-5445) or rivercleanup@ugra.org
Registration is required. Each individual, including minors, must register separately.
Hill Country Archeological Association: Meeting
Saturday - November 15 with doors open at 12:30pm Meetings are free and open to the public.
Location: Riverside Nature Center - 150 Francisco Lemos Street in Kerrville
Program: Hill Country Archeology Before & After the Flood -
New Discoveries & Recovery at Crying Woman Ranch
Speaker: Mike McBride, Principal Investigator at the Crying Woman Ranch Project
In the past several years, the work of the Hill Country Archeological Association at the Crying Woman Ranch Project has recovered new evidence to secure the advent of ancient earth oven cooking technology in the
Hill Country during the Late Paleoindian Period prior to 10,000 years ago. This presentation will review the discoveries of new artifacts and dating methods that that can impart images of community, technology, and survival among the First Texans to inhabit the Texas Hill Country.
Although the site suffered significant flooding from the heavy 4th of July rainfall, dedicated HCAA members
are salvaging renewed opportunities to continue the pursuit to document and understand these ancient people and their way of life.
| National Museum of the Pacific War | THC - Texas State Historic Site |
Webinar: "Epic Ambush - The Attack on Oahu Airfields December 7, 1941"
The webinar will discuss four of the airfields and the consequences of enemy aggression: Ford Island, Kaneohe Naval Air Station, Wheeler Field ,and Hickam Field.
Speaker: Gary D. Laine, DDS, was a dentist in private practice with a specialty in prosthodontics for forty years in Palo Alto, California. His father served in World War 2 and the Korean War as a dentist. Dr. Laine served in the US Navy Dental Corps at Naval Station San Diego during the Viet Nam Era, 1973-1975. He has had a lifelong interest in the history of World War 2 and is currently interviewing and videoing veterans who served in the conflict.
Registration for webinar is required:
https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/event/epic-ambush-the-attack-on-oahu-airfields-december-7-1941
Kerrville Genealogical Society: Meeting
Wednesday – November 19 at 2:00pm Meetings open to the public and free of charge
Program: Unveiling Your Roots - Explore Genealogy Resources at Logan Library (Schreiner University)
Speaker: Lisa McCormick, Director of the Logan Library
Dive deeper into your family history with the online research tools Schreiner University’s Logan Library has to offer including ProQuest Fold3 Library Edition, Heritage Quest Online, JSTOR, WorldCat and more. Explore Fold3 Library Edition, a treasure trove of US military records, with personal stories, photos, and documents of veterans, and delve into Heritage Quest Online with a rich collection of primary sources, local and family histories, and interactive maps to discover your ancestors’ communities. Learn basic search and navigation strategies.
Location: Guadalupe Basin Natural Resource Center (UGRA) - 125 Lehman Drive in Kerrville
Research Center & Library open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Phone: 830-315-1836 Email: kgs@hctc.net
Friends of the Texas Historical Commission: Webinar
Thursday – November 20 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm Free program - Registration required
Program: Visions of Sugar Plums - Cooking Historic Recipes for Christmas
This cooking demonstration will feature holiday treats from historic cookbooks. Christmas was becoming a more popular holiday in the 1840s after newspapers reported that Queen Victoria and her family in England celebrated the day.
Presenter:
Laura Fisher is an Educator/Interpreter at the Barrington Living History Farm and has worked at the site for eight years. This State Historic Site is located at 23400 Park Road 12 in Washington, Texas and is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10am to 4pm.
Registration: https://www.thcfriends.org/event/visions-of-sugar-plums-cooking-historic-recipes-for-christmas/
Kerrville - Merry on the Square and 24th Annual Holiday Lighted Parade
Saturday – November 22 at 5:00pm - Merry on the Square at the Kerr County Courthouse Square
Event: features entertainment, food trucks, shopping vendors and children's crafts
Saturday – November 22 at 6:00pm - Holiday Lighted Parade
Parade Route: begins at G Street and proceeds west on Water Street to Earl Garrett &
north on Earl Garrett and ends at Jefferson Street
The tree lighting ceremony on the Courthouse Square follows the parade with music, a visit from Santa Claus, and announcement of the winners of the parade categories.
Ingram - Light Up the Y
Sunday – November 23 at 5:30pm - Light Up the Y in Ingram
Event: Come and Sing-a-Long Holiday Music with the Ingram Tom Moore High School Band
Lighting of the Tree at Tom Moore Lumber & Hardware in the Parking Lot at the Y in Downtown Ingram
and Meet Santa & Mrs. Santa Claus
The Talking Texas Book Club: November Meeting - note date change
Tuesday - November 25 from 12 noon to 1:00pm Call BHML Reference Desk for info: 830-258-1274
Location: Kerr Regional History Center at 425 Water Street in Kerrville
Book discussion: Follow Me to Hell - McNelly's Texas Rangers and the Rise of Frontier Justice
by Tom Clavin (published 2023 - 384 pages - nonfiction)
Recording Memories and Stories for Future Generations
Friday - November 14 from 10:30am to 12:30pm Call BHML Reference Desk for info: 830-258-1274
Location: Butt Holdsworth Memorial Library - First Floor Meeting Room at 505 Water Street in Kerrville
Event: Journal Writing Workshop with Rhonda Wiley Jones
Join our engaging journaling workshop to uncover the life-changing benefits of writing. In this relaxed atmosphere, you will learn various simple yet powerful techniques that will motivate you. Whether you're an experienced writer or just starting, this workshop is designed for everyone—so bring your favorite notebook and a pen, and get ready to develop a personal writing practice that nurtures your creativity and inner voice. Join us and let your words flow!
Saturday - November 22 from 10:30am to 12:30pm Call BHML Reference Desk for info: 830-258-1274
Location: Butt Holdsworth Memorial Library - First Floor Meeting Room at 505 Water Street in Kerrville
Event: Digging for Gold - Creative Writing with Kathleen Hudson
Join a workshop that aims to unlock new ideas, perspectives, and dreams. Through the use of thoughtful writing prompts, participants will embark on a journey of self-discovery and creativity.
To register, call the Reference Desk at (830) 258-1274 or visit the Reference Desk @ BHML.
Recover and Restore Events
Riparian Restoration Workshops - RSVP required - see bottom of flyer
Was your property directly impacted by the July 4th flood? Don't know what to do with the flood debris? Was the debris completely removed, leaving you with a bare landscape?
This workshop was designed for you. Choose from 3 locations. You will receive sound and proven advice, seeds and live plants and hands-on practice. Don't delay. Sign up today!
2025 Schedule: November 17 2026 Schedule: January 26 February 23 March 16
2025 Officers: Chair: Barbara Oates First Vice-Chair: Bunny Bond Second Vice Chair: Noel Putnam
Secretary: Bonnie Arnold Treasurer: Stan Kubenka
2025 Kerr County Commissioners Court: Liaison - Jeff Holt, Commissioner Precinct 3
