WilCo Seeks Williamson County Historical Commission Members

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The county is looking for potential members to join the Williamson County Historical Commission.

The historical commission is tasked with coordinating and supervising historic preservation under the direction of the Williamson County Commissioners Court. Its purpose is to preserve, protect, and promote history within the county.

Commission Chair Eloise Brackenridge recently reported to the commissioners court that enthusiastic progress has been made despite the current pandemic, officials reported in an advisory. The group meets monthly by teleconference, and the various committees are actively working.

For its part, the Cemetery Committee continues its association with the Williamson County Cemetery Restoration Volunteers on keeping up 20 neglected or abandoned cemeteries on a rotating basis. Volunteers right, level and restore monuments and tombstones and clear brush and weeds, and in some cases, conduct actives such as re-laying the fifty-foot marble wall at a Rice’s Crossing cemetery. Information about Williamson County's cemeteries may be found on the WCHC website https://wilcohistory.org/

WCHC’s website contains a wide variety of entries. Among some of the topics: Historical markers, photos of pioneers, Chisholm Trail drives, old bridges, and the 13,000-year-old Gault archaeological site, consistently occupied during the pre-historic era and under current excavation. Also, the WCHC posts on the website oral histories which the Oral History Committee collects by recording the lives and stories of residents in the county.

The WCHC raises funds two ways -- selling memorial bricks in honor or memory of persons or organizations that are then placed at the Williamson County Courthouse and sponsoring historical presentations. The latest presentation featured the railroads that were essential in creating the towns of central Texas. In recognition of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, a presentation was done reenacting a conversation with a colorful Texas suffragette.

The WCHC is composed of at least seven Williamson County residents who have demonstrated an interest in the preservation of Williamson County’s historical heritage and preferably live in Williamson County. Individuals wishing to serve on the WCHC should fill out an application and submit it to their Williamson County precinct commissioner or the county judge. Voting members must be 18 years of age or older. Applications and a copy of the WCHC by-laws are available on the website www.wilco.org under Commissioners Court under Historical Commission Applications or at this link.

The County will be accepting applications for membership in the WCHC until the positions are filled. The applications will be reviewed, and the Commissioners Court members will be appointing individuals to the board as needed. Members are appointed by the Williamson County Commissioners Court and serve for two-year terms. The Commissioners Court also appoints people to fill expired positions.

For more information or to submit an application, contact the precinct commissioners’ offices or County Judge’s Office listed below.

County Judge Bill Gravell

710 S. Main Street, Ste. 101, Georgetown, TX 78626

512-943-1550

Precinct 1 Commissioner Terry Cook

1801 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Round Rock, TX 78664

512-244-8610

Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long

350 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park, TX 78613

512-260-4280

Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey

3010 Williams Drive, Ste. 153, Georgetown, TX 78628

512-943-3370

Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles

3001 Joe DiMaggio Blvd., Unit 1300, Round Rock, TX 78665

512-943-3761